In the summer, when it comes to choosing your outfit in a heat wave, less is definitely more. So if you’re wearing a little sundress or a simple skirt and top, you have to make sure your accessories deliver a lot of pop. Cheap and cheerful, colourful bangles are a great start. Check out these eye-popping patterned bracelets from Kitson. The stretchy metallic bracelets are just $12 each – and will look great with a tan. Also available online at ShopKitson.com.

I am firmly of the camp that a woman can never have enough shoes. Plus if you’re having a fat day, bad hair day or  nothing looks good, a new pair of shoes can immediately perk you up. If you’re looking for a new shoe fix, try the newly opened Twenty Two Shoes in Los Angeles. This boutique is the brainchild of  husband and wife Chris and Alexandra Silverman. They design everything, and all the shoes are handcrafted by a small family-run business in the Le Marche region of Italy. Twenty Two Shoes also sells handbags, and celeb fans include Jessica Biel and Sienna Miller. This Honeysuckle sandal, pictured, retails for $280. Twenty Two Shoes Los Angeles, 8304 West 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90048. Phone: (323) 782-1929.

Since most hotels these days seem to be designed in an Asian, minimalist style, it’s refreshing to see a place embracing lots of eye-popping colour. One place that is getting rave reviews (and not only for its bright design) is Oceana in Santa Monica. The look is bright beachy fun, with suites painted in sunny yellow, and some rooms are decorated with hot pink and green accessories. Colour wise, it reminds us of the Todd Oldham-designed The Hotel in Miami.

And here’s further proof that people in LA really do eat carbs. The restaurant Melograno has recently opened there, featuring a classics with a twist Northern Italian menu. The name means pomegranate and the luscious fruit shows up in a few of the dishes and was also the inspiration for the warm decor. Don’t expect any freaky dishes with garnishes of pomegranate seeds; the pom’s influence is subtle. On the menu there’s homemade fresh angel hair pasta served with Barolo wine braised hare and pomegranate reduction sauce ($16.50) and homemade potato and nettle dumplings sauteed with butter and sage ($14.50).

Move Over, Victoria's Secret- those angels have nothing on Kiki de Montparnasse. This high-end emporium of lingerie and personal pleasure items has taken New York by storm (celebs like Angelina Jolie and Madonna are apparently  fans) and a new location in LA just opened a few days ago. The opening party attracted the likes of Selma Blair and Ashley Olsen. The LA store looks like a sexy boudoir, and has luxe dressing rooms with multiple light settings along with an aphrodisiac garden. And in case you didn't know, the brand is named in honour of the Parisian cabaret singer and bon vivant Alice Pirin, who was known as Kiki and lived in the bohemian enclave of Montparnasse. Kiki de Montparnasse, 8280 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, Phone: (323) 951-9545

There are some occasions when you just have to sleep near- or at- the airport and more often than not, the hotel selection is usually a grim conference site. But if you want to be near LAX, or within a short drive to the business areas of Los Angeles,  book into the very new and very funky Custom Hotel. The building's exterior is black and gothic, and was originally built by mid-century architect Welton Beckett, designer of the Capitol Records building. The interiors are funky and playful. The lobby area features fuzzy sheep (and why not?) and each guestroom has all the necessary luxuries, like high thread count sheets, wireless internet access and iPod docking stations. Custom Hotel will also soon be opening an in house bistro and pool side grill- and all this comes at a mere $129 a night, going up to $149 in 2008. Custom Hotel, 8639 Lincoln Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90045Phone: (310) 645-0400.

Could macarons be the next cupcake? Here in London, Laduree has opened inside Harrods, and it seems that every street corner now has a Paul bakery selling fat, chewy macarons. Now it appears the craze is igniting in Los Angeles, with the recent opening of Paulette. This patisserie is the brainchild of  Paulette Koumetz and French pastry chef Christophe Michalak. Paulette only sells macarons, and the flavours on offer include Madagascar vanilla, caramel, chocolate and violet cassis. Paulette, 9466 Charleville Boulevard at Beverly Drive, Los Angeles, Phone: (310) 275-0023.

Murray Moss, the influential owner of the uber trendy Moss design store in New York, has just opened Moss in LA. Located on Melrose Avenue, Moss has some pretty good company; its near Paul Smith, the Pacific Design Center, and Marc Jacobs. While the New York store is all about sleek minimalism, the LA showroom has gone pure Hollywood. The 4,000-square-foot store will showcase limited-edition exhibitions. Right now, the exhibit is Glitter & Smoke, which includes a 1938 Steinway baby grand piano which has been charred by a blowtorch, as well as 18 chandeliers designed by Georg Baldele for Swarovski Crystal Palace. Moss Los Angeles, 8444 Melrose Ave., (323) 866-5260

Bottega Veneta was recently given some love in an article about “stealth wealth”- mainly it was saying there's a whole new breed of people who don't want to wear visible logos (amen to that!) So give away that Chloe Paddington bag and replace with its something subtler- like a handbag from Bottega Veneta. This Italian's luxury goods company is all about understatement and elegance. We love the brand's signature Intrecciato weave, which shows up everywhere from clutches to the back of a dress to the wrap of a candle. Bottega Veneta is also gearing up for a little makeover; the company's LA store is being renovated and relaunched with tons of more space, which means even more goodies to snap up... Bottega Veneta, 457 North Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, California, Phone: (310) 858-6533.

There is a common affliction that nearly all women suffer from- an addiction to shoes (as well as Starbucks Frappucinos and cupcakes but that's another story). Shoes- we need them, we can't refuse buying another pair when we see the perfect ones and we're convinced that a new pair of shoes can completely transform our mood- as well as an outfit. Self-confessed shoe junkie Beth Whiffen (and former Cosmopolitan writer) has recently opened Il Primo Passo in LA, for equally shoe obsessed gals. Her girlie boutique stocks favourites such as Maloles, Christian Lacroix, and Pucci, and also carries handbags and jewellery from by 3.1 Phillip Lim, Anna Corinna and Vivia Ferragamo.  And best of all, you can buy as many shoes as you'd like without feeling guilty. Il Primo Passo, 1624 Montana Avenue, between 16th and 17th Streets, Santa Monic, Los Angeles, Phone:  (310) -828-4149 .