Rodeo Drive

If you’re reading this, you probably don’t have enough money to go on a serious spree in the shops of Rodeo Drive. The hottest stars and other big-spenders come here to purchase the best and most expensive goods the world has to offer.

Have you ever seen a $1,500 pair of pants? Walk into the Chanel (400 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310/278-5500, www.chanel.com [1]) store and you’ll be able to. You’ll see original artwork, catalogs, the very edgiest high-end clothes in existence, and salespeople who will look down their noses at you if your outfit cost you less than four figures.

Head upstairs for racks of on-sale clothing from last season, though you’ll quickly learn that “on sale” is a relative concept. If you’re lucky, you might even get dissed by one or more of the über-rich women wearing fur hats and carrying little yippy dogs (they’re unaware of the irony).

Hunt the racks for the classic tweedy Coco Chanel dress—you will find it. Or if you prefer another designer, head outside and find one; all the big leaguers, from Dior to Michael Kors, maintain storefronts on Rodeo. Though Rodeo Drive is most famous for its designer apparel, many other retailers offer a vast array of expensive things, from sunglasses to jewelry to housewares.

If you’re looking for (or just want to look at) the perfect diamond ring, walk past the guards into the huge hallowed halls of Tiffany’s (210 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310/273-8880, www.tiffany.com [2], Mon.–Fri. 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Sat.–Sun. 10 a.m.–6 p.m.). The store has three floors of the most exquisite necklaces, bracelets, rings, watches, and accessories you’ll ever find anywhere. This storefront compares easily to its sister store in Manhattan. You’ll find the sales help here a bit friendlier here than in the clothing stores, since even the middle-class of L.A. come to Tiffany’s to purchase special-occasion jewelry.

The wealthy who want to fall asleep with their skin soothed by the softest sheets around go to Frette (459 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310/273-8540, www.frette.com [3], Mon.–Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 12–5 p.m.) to make their purchases. This store doesn’t get as crowded as many others on Rodeo and much of Frette’s business goes to high-end hotels. But the doors of this open, airy retail store remain defiantly open, beckoning shoppers who love luxury more than life itself. Salespeople encourage you to pet the merchandise, comparing one set of sheets to another and imagining the feel of the plushy bath sheets after your next shower.