The Girl from Z. Paneva: Z. Paneva Necklaces

Your nemesis, Muffy, has gotten away with a lot lately. She’s taken control of the tennis whites, the perky ponytails, and the monograms.
Well, she can troll the club for a politician hubby all she wants. She’s not getting your pearls.
Especially not the new ones from Z. Paneva. Made by Bulgarian ceramic tile designer Zlatka Pirin Paneva and her daughter Vera Neykov (a Parsons student), these are ivory strands with a twist.
Asymmetrical motifs include large resin ovals, leather ties, and Japanese freshwater pearls in unabashed color combinations from peach and black to fire engine red. Even nonpearl pieces — like simple, organically shaped resin pendants in conch shell and green tea shades with gold floral detailing — are edgy-pretty.
Just try and take that, Muffy.
And hands off the Arnold Palmers, too.

Available at Andana, 1045 Swarthmore Avenue, between Sunset Boulevard and Albright Street, Pacific Palisades (310-454-6515 or andanashoes.com).

Style Wins has five Z. Paneva necklaces to giveaway to five lucky readers. Email stylewins@yahoo.com by August 15, 2009 for your chance to win!

Elevated Status: Takami Sushi and Robata and Elevate Lounge

Love lift us up where we belong. Where the eagles cry, on a mountain high.
Or, at the very least, on the 21st floor.
Take the elevator to Takami Sushi and Robata and Elevate Lounge, where indoor/outdoor 360-degree views let you spy on The Standard, Pegasus Lofts, and the rest of Downtown.
The Takami side (taking reservations for Saturday and beyond) gives you kimono-covered walls, an orange leather sushi bar, a peek-a-boo wine and sake room, and Katsu-Ya and SHU vet chef Kenny Yamada’s innovative bites like Pop Art Crab and shishito peppers.
For Lotus Blossom and Lychee Mojito cocktails, cross the hall to Elevate Lounge (open now). If the mosaic bars are packed, duck into the VIP lounges (with individual mini dance floors) or hit the patio.
The sky-high duo is sure to stick in your memory for a long time to come.
Not unlike a certain Joe Cocker/Jennifer Warnes duet we know.

Takami Sushi and Robata and Elevate Lounge, 811 Wilshire Boulevard, between Flower and Figueroa Streets, 21st floor, Downtown (213-236-9600 or takamisushi.com).

Style Wins has one $200 Takami Sushi gift certificate to giveaway to one lucky reader. Email stylewins@yahoo.com by August 1, 2009 for your chance to win!

A Budding Operation: Juliet Flores Flowers

Everyone always knew little Suzy Needleman would grow up to be a doctor, just as David Payne’s future in pro wrestling seemed favorable from birth.
So guess what Juliet Flores is up to? Yep, the young designer’s bespoke floral business has just gotten off the ground.
After starting out as a teen selling flowers in a hut in Santa Monica, Flores spent years apprenticing for designers throughout L.A. — so when it comes to style, she has quite a range. Taking cues from the location, occasion, and, of course, clients’ preferences, she offers weekly deliveries to home or work, as well as intimate weddings and special events.
Pretty a dinner party with sweet and old-fashioned buds. Find a fresh conversation starter in something contemporary and architectural. Or request fragrant blooms to brighten your day.
Doesn’t it all sound good, Miss Adoresanicebouquet?

Juliet Flores (323-719-1835 or julietsflores@gmail.com).

Style Wins has one $100 to Juliet Flores to giveaway to one lucky reader. Email stylewins@yahoo.com before August 1, 2009 for your chance to win!

The Whole Story: Hela Spa Opens

When's the last time you felt whole, entire, and complete?

Aside from that incident at the all-you-can-eat buffet at Sizzler, we mean?

Chances are, its been awhile. So stop by the new Hela Spa in Georgetown and get your fill of relaxation and contentment.

Named for the Swedish word meaning "whole", the spa has applied the idea to body and soul, creating a multi-faceted approach to wellness and beauty. With a full range of customized treatments and medical-grade services, they'll tailor everything to your needs and wants, including purifying and renewing facials, firming masques, glycolic peels, photo rejuvenation, and laser hair removal. Massage options include deep tissue, reflexology, and of course, Swedish.

The Scandinavian-influenced space is done up in calming whites and serene greens - and the result is a wholly satisfying experience.

Or as the Swedish might say, Hela good.

Hela Spa, 3209 M Street, Washington, DC

Style Wins has 1 $250 Hela Spa gift certificate to giveaway to 1 lucky reader. Email stylewins@yahoo.com before July 15, 2009 for your chance to win!

Chick Lit: “Going for the Bronze,” by Sloane Tanen

Pretty and clever. Charming and witty. Vain and self-effacing.

But enough about you. Let's talk about the chickens.

Sloane Tanen's chickens, to be precise. The charming diorama dwellers we first fell for (read: identified shamelessly with) in Bitter with Baggage Seeks Same are back in all their fluffy splendor. Only this time, they're Going for the Bronze, with their usual mix of bravura, wit, and lunacy.

No matter how you look at it, it's tough to be a modern young chicken. And Tanen, an astute social critic whose medium happens to be fuzzy yellow chicks, spares no punches as she takes on diets and divas, botox and boyfriends, slackers and starlets, annoying new mommies and Boris the boy genius.

Which is to say you'll recognize yourself and your whacked-out friends in the meticulously composed and hilariously detailed scenes. The book, which consists of photos of the dioramas and witty captions, feels like eavesdropping and window shopping on very crazy (yet utterly typical) lives.

Or, put another way, peering into the madhouse that is your henhouse.

Available at Amazon.com.

Style Wins has 20 copies of Going for the Bronze to giveaway to 20 lucky readers. Send an email to stylewins@yahoo.com for your chance to win!

Gracias De Nada: Denada Design Bags

Remember the foreign language feud of 1989? You wanted to take French (visions of chocolate, fashion, a semester in Paris). The 'rents insisted on Spanish (visions of practicality).

As a result, the necessary basics have stuck: Donde esta el bano? Necesito mas cerveza. And, of course, de nada.

So you'll appreciate Denada Design, creators of some of the prettiest little bolsas (purses, silly) in town. Created by D.C. artist Virginia Arrisueno, the bags come in a variety of shapes and sizes - hobos, city totes, wristlets - and are made with standout fabrics patterned with bold, graphic designs like deco-y flowers, cool camo, and even a psychedelic toile.

Our fave has to be the mini amber floral striped tote with a magenta lining.

The best part? The bags cost only $30 to $50.

Which means you'll have much dinero left over for those French lessons.

Available at Denada Design.

Style Wins has 1 Denada Design bag to giveaway to 1 lucky reader. Send an email to stylewins@yahoo.com by July 1, 2009 for your chance to win!

A Fitting Reward: Jalda Handbags and Accessories

Handbags and wallets are a lot like Goldilocks would describe the bears.

Papa's too big. Mama's too small. And Baby's perfect. But only with your light blue dress with the green embroidery. (Damn that one dimensional family.)

So hail the versatility of Jalda Handbags, which has accessories for just about any occasion. Each is made with crocodile-embossed leather and comes in an array of colors. There's the turquoise card case for when you want to go out with just an ID and credit card, the pumpkin-colored passport cover for when you need to get on the plane, the fuchsia PDA case for meetings, and the metallic purple clutch for for when you need to carry a whole slew of things.

You can use them separately, of course, but put them all together and they look very polished.

Or juuuuust right, as our aforementioned golden-haired lass might have put it.

Available online at Shopbop.

Style Wins has 1 Jalda Handbag to giveaway to one lucky reader. Email stylewins@yahoo.com by July 1, 2009 for you chance to win!