For those not inclined to wait, Los Angeles offers variety like few cities in the world; from the polished megastores of Beverly Hills to the charming boutiques on Melrose, if there's something in particular you're looking for, you'd be hard-pressed not to find it in LA.

Such as mohair sweaters hand-knitted by a former sitcom star, for example. Justine Bateman, who spent years on the hit Michael J Fox vehicle Family Ties, has abandoned all notions of Hollywood and turned to fashion; she now spends her days knitting spiderwebby sweaters. But there is nothing mumsy about these: featuring touches like long, flared-edge sleeves, they retail for around US$2,000 (HK$15,580), and are being snapped up by style-savvy celebrities.

Bateman's label is one of the many on offer at Beige (7274 Beverly Boulevard; (323) 549-0064). The shop also stocks hot homegrown labels including Rima, Rhyme and Josh & He Yang. The best-sellers: sexy jeans from Frankie B, feature the lowest cut and the shortest crotch imaginable.

The same cut is replicated on jumpsuits - very Farrah Fawcett - which are having a bit of a comeback here. If you've got the flash sensibility of, say, the Dixie Chicks, there is only one place to go - Lord's (7526 Melrose Avenue; (323) 653-6202). This haven of made-to-order tailoring is a must for rock stars, who come here to get edgy, second-skin leather pieces.

For one-stop shopping, you can find just about anything you're looking for on Melrose Avenue, around the ultra-chic Fred Segal (8100 Melrose Avenue; (323) 655-3734). All shopping expeditions stop and end with a visit to this shopping mecca, which carries only the very latest, always before anybody else gets it. Barkly Hope - Items For Princesses (7763 Melrose Avenue; (323) 658-5683) sells just that: panelled pants, super-cute denim lines and pretty takes on chiffon. Also big: jeans with lacing up the sides and on the front. Also check out Liza Bruce (7977 Melrose Avenue; (323) 655-5012): the British designer makes very sexy bikinis for serious babes.

Then scoot over to Naked (181 North Martel; (323) 964-0222) for artsy, architectural pieces. Also a must-see: Laura Urbinati (867 Sunset Boulevard), which is said to have the finest collection of Martin Margiela pieces in town. Nearby is the Tracey Ross boutique (8595 Sunset Boulevard; (310) 854-1996), which pulls together all of the season's key looks in an easy-to-digest way.

Vintage remains big news, with Decades (8214 Melrose Avenue; (323) 655-0223) leading the fray. Owner Cameron Silver is the resident expert on all things 60s and Pucci - and with his couture-led collection, be prepared to spend.

But for golden oldies at more affordable prices, Wasteland (7428 Melrose Avenue; (323) 653-3028) is a good bet. We found 10-year-old Chanel suits for US$225, Lanvin shirt-dresses from the 70s for US$150 and non-designer label goodies for well under US$50. Just stay away from the beaded lambswool cardigans - very Yue Hwa Emporium.

Of course, no shopping trip in Los Angeles is complete without a stroll down Rodeo Drive, especially now that international designers are embracing the bigger-is-better philosophy. Major names such as Valentino (#240-250), Prada (#343) and Louis Vuitton (#295) have staked their claims on huge chunks of street-front property along the gilded avenue.

By year's end, Christian Dior (#230) plans to open a 12,000 square foot boutique carrying the entire ready-to-wear line. Tod's (#333) has just opened a three-storey, 7,500 square foot flagship store, which features the latest in must-have retail concepts: a room exclusively for celebrities and their stylists. After all, the Oscars are just weeks away.