The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Store
Once you’ve emerged from MOCA’s subterranean galleries, make a beeline for its airy store, located steps above street level. There you’ll find shelves filled with art books, jewelry, home wares and perfumes by Santa Monica-based Fiele Fragrances ($85). Watch for the Los Angeles Mug by Sisters of Los Angeles ($15), artsy tote bags (from $34) and ceramics made by Ben Medansky in his downtown studio ($60-$190). Perhaps the most coveted gift of all is the limited-edition Jeff Koons Balloon Dog (Yellow) sculpture plate: a collaboration between the artist and French porcelain company Bernardaud. The price is steep—$8,000—yet priceless in the eyes of an art collector or Koons fan. Reserve the piece by calling or emailing storeonline@moca.org. Your purchase is for a good cause: The net proceeds benefit MOCA’s endowment. 250 S. Grand Ave., downtown, 213.621.1710. moca.org
Kitson Kids
This trendy boutique basks in the spotlight of the rich and famous, who are frequently photographed toting blue bags labeled “Kitson.” Since launching in 2000, the brand has branched into Kitson Men’s and Kitson Kids, perpetuators of the mommy-and-me and daddy-and-me dressing trends (see Kim Kardashian and daughter North West). The children’s store on Robertson carries kids’ clothing by popular lines like Loud Apparel and Haus of JR, as well as Ray Bans, My Little Pony and Hello Kitty accessories, Darth Vader backpacks ($48), adorable lunch kits and books about all sorts of fun stuff, including food trucks and Star Wars. Kitson has multiple locations, but the Kitson Kids stores on Robertson Boulevard and in the Malibu Lumber Yard are dedicated to, well, kids. 116 N. Robertson Blvd., Ste. C, L.A., 310.657.0450; Malibu Lumber Yard, 3939 Cross Creek Road, Malibu, 310.317.1421. shopkitson.com
Sugarfina
Sugarfina gives adults full license to act like kids in a candy store. The stylish sweets boutique, decorated in blue and white, channels Marie Antoinette, the queen of France, whose flair for lavishing tables with exquisite dessert stands and tiered tortes is reimagined here by stacking pretty see-through boxes filled with Rainbow Raisins, Apricot Hearts and Espresso Caramels, plus grown-up candies like Absinthe Chocolate Cordials and Martini Olive Almonds. Need to satisfy someone’s sweet tooth back home? He or she will love the Beverly Hills Candy Box, available until the end of 2015, which comes as a three-piece “bento box” (Champagne Bears, Chocolate Mint Caviar and Sugarfina Pearls; $30) or eight-piece set ($65) including Peach Bellini, Sugar Lips and Bling Ring. In the queen’s not-so-exact words, we say, “Let them eat candy!” 9495 S. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, 855.784.2734; One Colorado, 20 Hugus Alley, Pasadena, 424.384.8515; The Point, 850 S. Sepulveda Blvd., El Segundo, 855.784.2734. sugarfina.com
Taschen Store
L.A. has the luxury of two Taschen bookstores; the Grove-adjacent Farmers Market location is a laid-back version of the refined North Beverly Drive boutique. Titles by the book publisher that encapsulate the city’s zeitgeists include Hollywood in the 30s ($49.99; 162 pages), a world of silent films, talking pictures, glamorous stars and movie-industry politics, re-created by illustrator Robert Nippoldt and film critic Daniel Kotherschulte; The Charlie Chaplin Archives ($200), a 560-page history of the world’s first international film star as told through letters, scripts and a 12-frame strip from City Lights (included in the first 10,000 copies only); and Los Angeles. Portrait of a City ($69.99; 562 pages). Check out the collection of 2016 calendars and diaries as well. 354 N. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, 310.274.4300; 6333 W. 3rd St., L.A., 323.931.1168. taschen.com
Wittmore
This menswear store is one of the few shops that carry the optical and sunglass collections by L.A.-based brand Matsuda. Each pair of glasses, handmade in Japan using precious metals and mineral glass, requires more than 250 manufacturing steps. Check out the collection (from $475) at Wittmore’s downtown flagship location. Other top L.A.-made items include watches made with Swiss precision by Weiss Watch Co. (from $950; they sell out fast); the popular and incredibly soft Jungmaven hemp cotton tees (from $35); ties, handkerchiefs, pocket squares, bags and hats by the Essential Man (from $58); and new brand CWST (pronounced “quest”), whose understated sweats, tees, shirts and hoodies epitomize upscale California cool (from $146). The Yards at One Santa Fe, 300 S. Santa Fe Ave., downtown, 213.626.0780; 8236 W. 3rd St., L.A., 323.782.9791. shopwittmore.com
Valerie Confections
A few years ago, renowned chocolatier Valerie Gordon introduced a Classic California Cakes line that pays homage to the city’s bygone bakeries. Her renditions are based on recipes hunted down from childhood haunts, like the Coffee Crunch Cake from Blum Bakery, whose layers of sponge cake and coffee whipped cream covered in honeycomb crunch have turned it into a born-again best-seller. There’s also the rum-laced Chasen’s Banana Shortcake inspired by the glamorous 1930s Hollywood hot spot; and Bullock’s Wilshire Tea Room’s Coconut Cream Pie, a daily tearoom tradition for ladies who lunched at the onetime luxury department store on Wilshire Boulevard (its art deco building still stands). In addition to the Valerie Confections shop in south Silver Lake, Valerie has cafés in Echo Park and downtown’s Grand Central Market. Enjoy cakes by the slice at Grand Central Market ($6), otherwise buy them whole (available in various sizes from $45) online or in the shops. 3360 W. 1st St., L.A., 213.739.8149; 1665 Echo Park Ave., L.A., 213.250.9365; Grand Central Market, 317 S. Broadway, E3-4, downtown, 213.621.2781. valerieconfections.com
Harry’s Wine & Spirits
Harry’s Wine & Spirits is located among the juice bars, beauty salons and coffee shops of bustling Brentwood and has a well-edited selection of California, French and Italian wines. Now that Malibu wineries have been granted their own AVA, options have increased: Dolin Malibu Estate Vineyards 2012 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills ($29.50) is a top drop, thanks to well-rounded berry flavors that linger on the palate; the estate also makes an excellent 2013 chardonnay with Malibu Coast-grown grapes ($39). For bubbles, try N/V Roederer Estate Brut Rosé ($29.99), a sparkling wine from Anderson Valley with a fine effervescence and hints of strawberries on the nose. As for spirits, Casamigo Blanco tequila ($49.95; co-owned by George Clooney and Randy Gerber) and Anchor Distilling Co. Junipero Gin from San Francisco ($39.50) are sure bets, though the staff (including Harry himself, who has run the shop for over 35 years) is always on hand to help navigate the selection. 11684 San Vicente Blvd., L.A., 310.820.9988. harryswinela.com
Jonathan Adler
Jonathan Adler is a lover of midcentury modern, a designer of beautiful gifts and a purveyor of colorful home wares. Basically, if you’re looking for the perfect gift, head to his stores. During the winter holidays, the branded collection comes alive with beautiful Christmas decorations—the gilded King and Queen collection set ($58), a dove ($24) and a wide-eyed owl ($24) are impossible to resist (if traveling, bubble-wrap these fragile items well). If you’d prefer something Los Angeles-inspired, consider the Lucite Bel Air Scoop vases (various colors and sizes from $98), which make luxurious stocking stuffers. Adler also offers a chic Hollywood duvet (from $268) in gray-on-white or his classic navy-on-white print. 8125 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, 323.658.8390; 395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, 310.393.6803; Westfield Topanga, the Village, 6600 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Canoga Park, 818.491.3738. jonathanadler.com