Shopping in Santa Monica

Jackalope's buyers travel the world to curate an exotic collection of home and garden accessories, filling their boutique with ornamentations from Asia, Mexico, and towns across the globe. The eclectic décor, which has been featured on HGTV's The Outdoor Room, spills out from the multicolored store into a peaceful outdoor oasis teeming with intricate pottery, stone statues, and dulcet wind chimes. Fountains gurgle as eyes take in the sun-soaked scene of vividly colored pots, sculptures, and gleeful Buddha figurines that counsel garden gnomes on how to achieve enlightenment.

Before making his away across the country to own and operate Fleet Feet Sports' Encino-based shop, Trey Barnes developed a passion for running in his native North Carolina. Now, the avid marathoner and his team of dedicated gazelles help fitness buffs find the appropriate gear to match their routines and ability levels. By carefully accessing specific foot types and gait cycles, staffers can match customers with a brand-name solemate to cradle their feet during long jogs or power strolls, and a hearty stock of technical gear keeps men and women comfy in weather-appropriate attire. Meanwhile, the store's calendar of events stays up-to-date on races, marathon training, and fun runs.

A full-service bike shop embracing road, mountain, and casual riders alike, Santa Monica Mountains Cyclery suits every whim and riding style, from its mechanics performing basic repairs or complete system overhauls to its supply of custom-built frames and wheels. Two-wheeled mounts from brands such as Trek, Jamis, and Knolly wag their handlebars from racks along the wall, and the shop rewards new adopters with a slew of perks, from free tune-ups for a year to unlimited cups of coffee for owners and hot WD-40 for bikes. In addition, 5% of all pre-tax profits help benefit organizations dedicated to preserving California’s natural gems and cycling havens, such as the Santa Monica Mountains Fund and the Mountains Restoration Trust.

Andrew Christian stocks an arsenal of men's high-quality active wear within its three Los Angeles–area retail locations, which have earned accolades from Men's Health and New York Magazine. Shirts and tanks shroud torsos in classic designs, whereas outerwear in the form of hoodies and blazers keep bodies looking sharp as they walk down the street or into a space shuttle. A 365-day return policy, online shopping, and gift-wrap services augment customers' experiences with the celebrated men's apparel emporium.

In the 1930s, using stone quarried from his nearby ranch, silent-movie actor Francis Lederer finally made noise building a horse stable for his wife, Marion. Over the years, the site became a historical and cultural monument that now houses the Hidden Chateau & Gardens, an event space rented out for weddings and parties. Outside the chateau's impressive façade, swatches of greenery trim stone paths, and sprays of water trickle down the tiers of garden fountains. Towering shade trees wrapped in twinkling lights and lush, verdant flora sprout throughout the 1.5-acre property.

Inside, under a Spanish-style roof, two private rooms ensure brides and grooms don't see each other before their blind date down the aisle. Aside from weddings and other private parties, the gardens also play host to public events such as wine pairings, art shows, and bridal expos. Additionally, an onsite boutique collects everything from furniture to work by local artists, with some items available for rent for events that take place on the property.

SwimSpot brings high fashion poolside by amassing a collection of designer bikini and one-piece swimsuits by brands such as Athena, Guess, and Nautica. Each swimsuit and cover-up incorporates contemporary trends such as asymmetrical cuts or tropical colors to create stylish silhouettes, and a fit-specialist service provides body-shape searches and remote one-on-one discussions with experts to find a flattering suit for any shape. Lauded in the pages of People Style Watch, Lucky, and Seventeen, an online bikini builder enables the beach bound to build their own ensemble by mixing and matching tops and bottoms using a tool that yields more than 1,000 possible combinations. In addition to providing detailed descriptions and material breakdowns, each swimsuit offered in the online store is modeled in a video that offers a 360-degree view, allowing customers to get a better idea of what they’ll look like as they run into the surf or slowly back away from a sleeping bear.:m]]