fullcortex.net

The Attic 1018 S. Main St., 702/ 388-4088. Riding high on a VISA commercial that debuted during the final episode of “Seinfeld,” The Attic continues to be the most popular vintage boutique in Vegas. Beaded curtains, zebra-print carpeting and freaky mannequins in club gear all create a whimsical time-warp atmosphere. The Attic’s selection of merchandise is overwhelming; displayed throughout the two-level store is clothing, shoes and accessories for men and women, furniture and housewares, and a coffee shop. For women, there is no lack of sequins, feathers, velvet, tie-dye and polyester. The Attic carries the hot fashion items of the moment, but not without equally trendy prices: a vintage cardigan with intricate beading is $84.95, a 1950′s style black lace cocktail dress is $41.95, and the ubiquitous men 1970′s polyester shirt is $26.95. A $1 admission fee is charged at the door - what is this, VintageLand? But folks don’t seem to mind much. Remember to hold on to that postcard they give you at the door-it’s your lifetime pass to vintage chic.

Betsey Johnson 3200 Las Vegas Blvd. South (in the Fashion Show Mall), 702/735-3338. Betsey Johnson wears tutus and hair extensions and does cartwheels down the runway after every fashion show — and her clothes are as free-spirited and feminine as her personality. Johnson follows her own fashion formula, which means despite the trends, Betsey will always favor whimsical, flirty, body-conscious designs. Visit the hot pink and floral store in the Fashion Show Mall for clothes that will get you in touch with your feminine side. Just you try not to break into a dressing-room chorus “I Feel Pretty.”

Buffalo Exchange 4110 S. Maryland Pkwy., 702/731-3960. Buffalo Exchange means business; they recycle fashion, and how. The Exchange boasts excellent trade value on purchases, great prices on recent fashions and a hip young staff. Remember to forgo a shopping bag; the Buffalo Exchange will make a donation to the charity of your choice instead.

Diesel 3500 Las Vegas Blvd. South (in the Forum Shops), 702/791-5927. Arguably the store with the highest cool quotient in Las Vegas, Diesel at The Forum Shops offers fashion-forward merchandise for men and women that screams “urban trendsetter.” With a design team based in Italy and flagship stores located in major cities around the world, Diesel has established itself as a cutting-edge retailer providing fashionably offbeat designs to hipsters internationally. The Diesel Style Lab collection for men and women is the most experimental collection, offering looks straight from the fashion runway to the store racks. Also available is the Spare Parts accessories line and 55-DSL, the advanced sportswear line. The bi-level store is modern and attractive, a description that also is true of the sales staff. Don’t forget to check out the merchandise on sale upstairs for prices that aren’t so - dare we say - trendy?

Poise 7581 W. Lake Mead Blvd., 702/341-8090. Problem: You want unique, fashionable pieces that set you apart from the crowd, and you’re tired of seeing your purchases all over town. Solution: Visit Poise, a boutique that carries an eclectic mix of designers, but doesn’t carry too much of a good thing-so you can be one of few to own that special piece. Poise has a great selection of last summer’s fashion must-have of the summer-the colorful and whimsical Custo tees and dresses. Brand names well known to the fashion pack, like Daryl K, Replay and Lucky jeans are also part of Poise’s trendy inventory.

Retro Vintage Clothing 906 S. Valley View Blvd., 702/877-8989; 1647 E. Charleston Blvd., 702/366-9448. All you have to do is take one look at the proprietor—lovely, elegant Melina Crisostomo—and you’ll realize you’re not in your average vintageland. Favoring quality over quantity, Crisostomo’s signature assortment of distinctive vintage clothing and accessories distinguish her stores from thrift stores with warehouse quantities of undesirable used clothing. Come to Retro for items from the 1940′s to the 1970′s in optimum condition and for designers like Lilly Pulitzer, Tori Richard and Fred Perry. The atmosphere at both of Crisostomo’s cozy boutiques is friendly and laid-back, but the Charleston store is our favorite. Flip through a fashion magazine on the blue couch, check out the beautiful selection of beaded and sequined hand-bags and hats displayed on the walls, and chat with Sales Associate J.J. Watson, who moonlights in local funk band The Watson Family. But don’t bother asking where Crisostomo finds her distinctive merchandise. The clothes aren’t talking, and neither is Watson.

Shauna Stein 3500 Las Vegas Blvd. South (in the Forum Shops), 702/893-9786. The first clue that the Shauna Stein boutique in The Forum Shops is not for the budget-conscious is the uniformed security guard standing post outside the shop’s entrance. The female counterpart to the Bernini store, this upscale boutique carries merchandise from some of Italy’s most renowned fashion houses, like Dolce & Gabbana, Moschino, and Jean Paul Gaultier. In addition to clothing and accessories from these famed designers, the store carries lower-priced trendy items, like colorful tees from Jane Doe and Custo. Burgundy velour couches, leopard print chairs and gilt mirrors compliment the oh-so-chic merchandise. And the saleswomen are as coolly refined as their surroundings. This is not a boutique to visit in your cut-offs and flip-flops-who knows, you may just bump into your favorite soap star or Los Angeles socialite eyeing a D&G dress..

Stash 9410 West Sahara Ave. #110 (in Village Square), 702/804-1640. For Los Angeles transplants and native fashion plates who would look like them, Stash boutique offers clothing by designers who also sell their wares to the trendy boutiques on Melrose Avenue. Stash’s line-up of au currant designers includes Bisou Bisou, Morgan, Betsey Johnson, Bette Paige and Ann Ferriday for women and BBK, Smash, Venue and Filter for men. For anyone who doesn’t believe that designer jeans have made a comeback, Stash’s selection of hip jeans labels will prove them wrong. Included in their collection is the coveted Red Engine line, which Fred Segal on Melrose also carries, as well as jeans by For Joseph, Aviatic, Miss Sixty, Lucky Brand and Big Star. Top these off with the requisite designer tee and some shades and you’ll become familiar with the deathless phrase, “No autographs, please.”

Shoes and Accessories:

Body Care Company 5650 W. Charleston Blvd., Ste. 10, 702/870-2010. You can count on the body care company to provide you with all the skin care and hygiene products you will need. With a wide selection of massage oils, cremes, lotions and books you can’t go wrong. If you’re looking for a quality massage, then don’t miss this one.

Desert Birkenstock 2427 E. Tropicana Ave., 702/454-0114; 2192 N. Rainbow #103, 702/638-8008; 2732 N. Green Valley Pkwy., 702/433-6336. You may laugh at your Birkenstock-wearing associates. You may cry, “Hey, you Hippies, get off my lawn!” when a few of them come to visit. Yet you can’t escape the hard facts: These European beauties are sheer magic for your miserable, battered soles. Desert offers a dazzling selection of its namesake comfort footwear, in traditional styles plus more progressive designs, including thongs and animal prints.

Eye Options 2837 Green Valley Pkwy., 702/454-1133. When you’re ready to shop for that special pair of eyewear, sunglasses or contact lenses, drop by Eye Options. Eye Options offers full-service and the latest in fashion eyewear. Friendly staff, including an on-site optometrist.

Hot Topic 3680 Maryland Pkwy. (Boulevard Mall), 702/ 731-3011; 4300 Meadows Lane (Meadows Mall), 702/870-0081; and 1300 W. Sunset (Galleria Mall), 702/456-6605. Fifteen years ago, Hot Topic couldn’t have made its way into a mall with a bulldozer. These days, the boutique can’t open mall stores fast enough for the proliferating number of “underground” devotees and outright poseurs clogging the nightclubs. Alt.rock T-shirts and bumperstickers, funky Gothic jewelry, temporary tattoos, wacky rave wear and velvet longcoats—in other words, pretty much everything your average evil youth needs to hit the clubs—fill the room to capacity.

Jungle Zone 4300 Meadows Lane (Meadows Mall, upper level), 702/877-5600. After hours of hacking through the detritus of mall dinosaurs (legal in this state), you’ll welcome the sight of this locally-owned outpost. The Jungle Zone is fully justified in declaring itself “an adventure in culture.” If you’re looking for African hats, Egyptian jewelry, Native American beads, world beat music or the good old American Deadhead Zippo lighter, this is where you’ll find them in abundance. Want to embrace niobium? Jungle Zone also prides itself on its body piercing. Stop in and pull on Jason’s sideburns for us.

Lock Stock & Leather 4640 Paradise Rd. #10, 702/796-9801. Lock Stock & Leather’s motto—”Accessorize, Accessorize, Accessorize”—barely hints at the titillating merchandise adorning the shelves of this Gay District boutique. If you’re in the market for club gear, fetish wear, kinky accessories, edible lubricants or a clear vinyl miniskirts, a stop here is strongly advised.

Sole Addiction 4110 S. Maryland Pkwy., 702/732-7653. Doc Martens purveyors beyond compare, Sole Addiction feeds your furious foot fetish with Docs in every style and color—high, low, black, white, flower-print, you name it. Pick up a pair to go with the recycled goodies you snag from Buffalo Exchange, just next door. By the way, UNLV students get a discount; just present ID.

Tattoo Parlors:

Accents in Art 5640 W. Charleston Blvd., Suite B, 702/259-5580. This family-owned business has been in the business for more than eight years. Mom, Dad, and Son run the tattooing and body piercing shop—the warm, bright and clean environment features privacy booths. You’ll get personal service here, along with great prices, the latest equipment and artist designs in the business.

Diversity 2310 Las Vegas Blvd. South, 702/382-8820; 300 S. Decatur, 702/877-9577; 509 E. Fremont St., 702/384-7379; 4700 S. Maryland Pkwy., 702/736-0916. Diversity’s following grows by leaps and bounds; the tattoo and head shop has gone from one location to three in the space of a year. Portrait, tribal and freehand work, full body piercing and complete privacy are all available just by asking.

Sin City Tattoo 101 E. Charleston Blvd., 702/387-6969; 1506 S. Las Vegas Blvd., 702/471-6610; 2309 S. Las Vegas Blvd., 702/791-6969. For a city that did not (until recently) have a real art museum, Las Vegas is extraordinarily well served in the body art department. Tattoos R Us is one of the brightest stars of this fringe art. You can also get your tongue pierced here for just 20 bucks. The Charleston location is the largest tattoo parlor in town, insuring there’s never a wait and the atmosphere is relaxed, professional and confident.

Studio Tattoo 1433 N. Boulder Hwy., 702/564-7841. Studio Tattoo is home to Dean’s Gloryhole Body Piercing, the place to go for quick and (mostly) painless puncture. Dean will gladly show you a photo album of her many satisfied clients. Unlike many other piercers in Vegas, you’ll be hard pressed to find even one dissatisfied Dean customer—solid testament to her dedication.

Swag Body Piercing 4972 S. Maryland Pkwy., 702/736-1990. Swag is fortunate to have Dirk Vermin as one of its tattoo artists-in-residence. His portrait work draws heavily on 1950s movie monsters, punk rock iconoclasts and Betty Page—a range of interests that results in striking and unique work the likes of which you’ve never seen before.