A major bonus to living in Venice is being surrounded by amazing Angeleno architecture. From Dennis Hopper’s corrugated compound to Frank Gehry’s Chiat/Day Building accented with larger-than-life-size binoculars courtesy of Claus Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, Venice boasts some of the best buildings in town. And lucky for me, they’re all within walking distance of my digs.

Finding the right jeans can be a daunting prospect, a little like setting out for the holy grail. Let these five denim retailers ease the pain as your search for the perfect pair.

As the summer draws to a close, my boyfriend and I have been enjoying lazy weekends spent surfing, catching up on our reading lists (“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” was amazing) and generally laying low. This weekend, that’s all about to change. We’re planning to put on our party hats and paint the town red. Or at least Santa Monica.

The marinière has long been a sartorial staple. Bridget Bardot, Andy Warhol, Jean Paul Gaultier and Kate Moss have all been spotted sporting the famed French striped sailor tee. When paired with large sunglasses or slim-fitting cigarette pants, the look is the epitome of Gallic chic.

I first fell in love with Zero + Maria Cornejo years ago, when I was a too cool for school twenty-something, bumming around downtown New York. After moving to Los Angeles, I would think every now and then of the Zero boutique and sigh. I always made sure to visit the boutique on trips home to stock up Cornejo’s geometric designs crafted with origami-like draping and precision.

Every girl I know flips for a trip to the salon. There’s nothing like indulging in a little “me time” spent turning your tresses over to the care of your hairdresser. A long scalp massage followed by the snip of the scissors can turn any day from ragged to rich. But what about grooming for gents?