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South Coast Plaza is considered one of the premiere shopping centers in the world in retailing circles; Fashion Island a ritzy outdoor destination that showcases the wealthy, coastal lifestyle.

Amid these retail heavyweights, The Shops at Mission Viejo, remodeled in 1999, continues to carve Alain Silberstein Sport Krono Bauhaus AS-8 its own upscale shopping niche.

Nike Women is opening a store at the center, as is Babystyle, a high-end boutique for maternity and baby clothes. Apple opened in February, and Saks Fifth Avenue began selling furniture there this spring.

Retailers say they like the demographics -- high incomes and families with children -- and the growth from new communities such as Ladera Ranch.

The average household income within a four-mile radius of the shopping Alain Silberstein Tourbillon Marine Blue Sea AS-10 is $107,993, the second highest around a shopping center in the county after $118,653 for Fashion Island in Newport Beach, according to data compiled by shopping center consultant Gregory Stoffel from Claritas, Inc.

Nearby residents are highly educated. About 43 percent have a bachelor degree or higher, which is also second to Fashion Island with 54 percent.

Shoppers say they love having quality stores and restaurants in their own backyard, mall features such as fountains and comfy leather sofas, that the mall isn't too big, and the open, airy feel.

"South Coast Plaza is a very nice mall, but I'm not going to go to stores like Alain Silberstein Tourbillon Marine Blue Sea AS-9 everyday," said Fawn Gonick, 32, of Mission Viejo, who was shopping with her 2-year-old twins and a friend. "Here I go to Gap, Nordstrom, Pottery Barn Kids. Normal stuff." The success of The Shops at Mission Viejo shows that "South Orange County is coming of age," said Stoffel, of Gregory Stoffel & Associates in Irvine.

And while the mall doesn't draw shoppers from as far away as Palos Verdes and West Los Angeles like South Coast or Fashion Island -- Shops executives say the primary customer lives 5 to 10 miles away -- it has carved out its own niche as a convenient alternative with quality stores, Stoffel said.

A good portion of South County shoppers still visit South Coast Plaza for the Baume & Mercier CapeLand Quartz Chronograph BM-1, said Stoffel, who has studied the issue for retail clients.

Many retailers have flagship stores at South Coast Plaza that carry more merchandise than stores elsewhere. In fact, South Coast Plaza has logged double digit sales gains in the last 12 months and had its best year ever in 2003, said Debra Gunn Downing, executive director of marketing.

But shoppers will also head to The Shops when time is an issue.

Girl Mania, a four-store chain that carries clothing and hosts parties for preteen girls, opened at The Shops because so many customers were trekking to its Fashion Island store.

"We wanted those same people to become more regular customers," said General Manager Louise Wallace.

Apple also wanted to be closer to its South Orange County customers and Baume & Mercier Rivera BM-17 its Mission Viejo store has not cannibalized sales from Fashion Island and South Coast Plaza locations.

"We love Orange County," said Ron Johnson, senior vice president of retail.

Sunglass maker Oakley Inc. of Foothill Ranch lowered its profit projections for the year Alain Silberstein Caravan Collection AS-3 after disappointing second- quarter sales in many sectors of its business.

Chief Operating Officer Link Newcomb said the company experienced several problems: production glitches for two new popular sunglass styles led to fewer unit sales; other new styles didn't catch on with consumers; sales of prescription glasses increased but not as much as expected; U.S. sales of spring footwear and clothing fell below expectation after some retailers canceled orders or didn't replenish stock; and internationally, consumers continued to favor fashion brands over Oakley's sporty look.

"It doesn't sound like a lot went right in the quarter," said Mitch Kummetz, an Alain Silberstein Caravan Collection AS-4 with D.A. Davidson & Co. who had projected sales of $165 million for the quarter. Oakley said sales reached $152 million, a 5.7 percent increase from the same period last year.

The company will give a full report of second-quarter earnings on July 21.

Previously, Oakley had forecast 2004 earnings of 65 cents per share with sales of $585 million. Monday, the company said sales will range from $575 million to $585 million with earnings per share of 60 to 65 cents.

On a brighter note for the company, a new product launch for the holidays is expected to offset some of the second-quarter shortfall.

Thump, which Oakley unveiled Monday, is a sunglass line with a Alain Silberstein Les Complications Skeleton AS-7-in MP3 music player.

Circuit City already has placed a large order for the holidays, Oakley executives said.

The glasses have adjustable speakers mounted to the frame which allow the wearer to flip up the speakers to answer the phone, for example. Volume, song selection and power are controlled on the ear stem.

The glasses will sell for $395 and $495, with more memory and polarized lenses for Alain Silberstein Sport Krono AS-5 higher-priced model.

Oakley announced its second-quarter sales after the market closed.

The average household income within a four-mile radius of the shopping center is $107,993, the second highest around a shopping center in the county after $118,653 for Fashion Island in Newport Beach, according to data compiled by shopping center consultant Gregory Stoffel from Claritas, Inc.

"South Coast Plaza is a very nice mall, but I'm not going to go to stores like Tiffany everyday," said Fawn Gonick, 32, of Mission Viejo, who was shopping with her 2-year-old twins and a friend. "Here I go to Gap, Nordstrom, Pottery Barn Kids. Normal stuff." The success of The Shops at Mission Viejo shows Alain Silberstein Sport Krono Bauhaus AS-1 "South Orange County is coming of age," said Stoffel, of Gregory Stoffel & Associates in Irvine.

While the mall doesn't draw shoppers from as far away as Palos Verdes and West Los Angeles like South Coast or Fashion Island -- Shops executives say the primary customer lives 5 to 10 miles away -- it has carved out its own niche as a convenient alternative with quality stores.

They say dogs are man's best friend, diamonds are a girl's. Apparently, both are best A.Lange & Sohne Richard Lange Mechanical Watch ALS-38 of Carmel Plaza, already home to a dogs-only drinking fountain and soon-to-be home to Tiffany & Co. The upscale jeweler recently signed a lease with the outdoor shopping center, solidifying monthslong rumors and speculation by Carmelites that the store was moving to town.

"We heard the stirrings about it last year, ... but until a tenant signs, nothing is for sure," said Cara Wilson, marketing manager. Now it's for sure, Wilson said -- Tiffany is expected to move in next spring. Terms of the lease, including exactly where and for how much per square foot, were not disclosed.

Tiffany could be a good fit for Carmel Plaza, which is already home to some relatively upscale retail tenants.

The 44-year-old center on Ocean Avenue is owned by Macerich Co., which also A.Lange & Sohne Richard Lange Mechanical Watch ALS-39 Northridge Shopping Center in Salinas as well as a half-dozen other Northern California retail centers. It bought Carmel Plaza as well as a Corte Madera center in August 1998 for $165.5 million.

Carmel Plaza is anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue and features national retailers Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Talbots, Sharper Image and Louis Vuitton. Next month, Sur La Table is expected to move in on the center's lower level.

Sur La Table, the national kitchenware and appliance chain has been in A.Lange & Sohne Richard Lange Mechanical Watch ALS-41 since 1972 and is expanding throughout the United States. Its Carmel outlet is scheduled to open Aug. 16, four days after another one is due to open in Carlsbad. (The nearest outlet to Monterey County is in Los Gatos.)

Amidst all the new in store for Carmel Plaza, the center continues a couple of its favorite traditions.

On Aug. 5 and Sept. 2, the center will hold its final Dancing in the Plaza events of the season. The free A.Lange & Sohne Sax-o-Mat Collection ALS-20 brings live music to the center's courtyard, attracting families and boosting evening sales. On Aug. 21, the center will hold its second annual tribute to dogs at its Fountain of Woof, a dogs-only drinking fountain dedicated last year.

"Carmel is just nutso about dogs," Wilson said. "This is their place." All Carmel Plaza merchants "are dog-friendly," she said. "If they're not, they're not going to survive in this town." The party, from noon to 2 p.m., will include a fashion show featuring clothing and accessories from Carmel Plaza shops. Canine models also will strut clothing furnished by Diggidy Dog and Macki's Parlour -- A Pet Boutique, both on Ocean.

There will also be pet adoptions available. Mayor Sue McCloud will get the party Alain Silberstein Automatic AS-6, and celebrity resident and dog-lover Betty White will address the crowd. Guests are encouraged to B.Y.O.D. -- Bring Your Own Dog.

The whole influence of art photography has been huge in the last couple of years," says Laird, citing Larry Sultan's images of the new Kate Spade campaign as a strong example. Sultan brings "more of a conceptual than product vision" to his images, Laird says. "A fashion eye looks strictly at the product. As more and A.Lange & Sohne Lange 1 Ursa Major ALS-1 art photographers start to get involved in campaigns, a myriad of different styles emerge," he continues. "You start to get more insight into the person or situation or what you may not be seeing. It may be quite dark as in Nan Goldin's work." Laird says the Kate Spade campaign is the best example of taking art photography and "commercializing it without exploiting it. They truly let Larry be Larry, bringing his style into it but at same time capturing the essence of Kate Spade as a brand. They did a really good job."

He adds, "The way people are using digital photography and manipulating photography I think is a big influence." In the ads Mert and Marcus produced for Louis Vuitton, Laird says "basically the entire skin tone and setting is all manipulated to be highly stylized. We went through a time of naturalism. Now I see a A.Lange & Sohne Langematic Tourbillon ALS-49 to this kind of highly stylized imagery."

Another example is Prada's fall campaign shot by Steven Meisel. "People are all sitting in chairs and the image looks like it's painted or like very early airbrushing and retouching techniques were used, but in a much more artistic and modern way. After so many years of straight lifestyle and naturalism, I think we'll continue to see the computer used as more of a creative tool to achieve new effects."

Laird considers Mikael Janssen the "most underrated" photographer. "He lives A.Lange & Sohne Power Reserve ALS-44 Sweden and is such a low-profile guy. But when you look at the work he did for the new Calvin Klein jeans campaign and the Gap ads he's produced for us, the images are very much on the pop-cultural landscape and part of what you see every day."

SUZANNE DONALDSON

Photo Editor

Glamour

"I really believe it's not about new photographers right now. Instead of the A.Lange & Sohne Replica Watches - A.Lange & Sohne Ursa Major ALS of new, young photographers that emerged in the Nineties-people like Vincent Peters, Sølve Sundsbø, Carter Smith, Mario Sorrenti, Nathaniel Goldberg-it's more about the established ones representing things in a sharper, clearer way," says Donaldson.

"People are relying on the older boys to hold the fort for everybody. David Sims and Michael Thompson are doing incredibly strong work. But again, these are all people who've been shooting [for years]."

She notes, "Because of the economy, everyone's had to play it so safe that young A.Lange & Sohne Richard Lange Mechanical Watch ALS-12 haven't been able to make an impact. If they do, I don't think it's paid attention to. If [their work] is too far out, it's not accepted."

The most populartrend of the moment, he says, is "clean": no sex, no skin, no violence. "Being weird and being different for different's sake is out. Now it's just people looking good and looking healthy. That's always been the case, but for a while you had heroin chic, and then you had a wild period, then all of a Bvlgari Ergon Chronometer BL-76 it's just being nice and pleasing and attractive. Lots of smiles. Lots of smiles.

"That'll be around for a while, but it all depends on the leader. If you look at when Clinton was in office, it was different from when Reagan was in office. Fashion is an extension of that. When Reagan was in office, it was an opulent time. You couldn't get enough stuff. Couldn't get enough stuff. Then George Bush comes in and says,'This is a quieter time,' and it's a quieter time. All of that opulence and the gowns and jewelry are out. Then Clinton's in office, and it gets wild and sexy. You've got Bush now, and the war, and things are Bvlgari Ergon Ladi Size BL-86."

TONI TORRES

Creative Director

Big

Some of his favorite photographers, Torres says, are Stefan Ruiz, Norbert Bvlgari Ergon Ladi Size BL-87, Taryn Simon, Mikako, Phil Poynter and Cedric Buchet. "For me, my favorite is Mario Sorrenti. He's somebody I highly respect. Not that I think any photographer is infallible. I don't think any photographer is. People tend to fluctuate between greatness and being just good.

"Advances in technology, including the digital format, have lent credibility to fashion photography and photography in general. The digital camera has pushed photography on film one step up. We all know the great things you can do on the digital format, but to be able to come up with great imagery on film has become more credible."

The art world, Torres says, is a strong influence on fashion imagery. "This has been fueled by advertising agencies. The boutique agencies are looking for a more interesting approach to photography. There are more creatives willing to gamble, and some clients are willing to be more risky. That has fueled the willingness of some agencies to use photography that's not your normal, standard photography. A lot of advertising has brought in art photographers to do fashion work. An example is Camper in Europe, which used to do campaigns with Stefan Ruiz."

In America, fashion imagery has become "safer," says Torres. "It's a little bit too Bvlgari Ergon Quartz Chronograph BL-19 driven. There are not many chances for people to do new stuff. A few publications allow them to do things that aren't too happy-happy, and maybe a little dark. In Europe, they're willing to take risks editorially, but in America the tendency has been to be safe. Everything in life is a cycle, and hopefully things will change."

Though the snapshot look is still around, he says, at Big,"We're into the really high-quality, large-format photography. Quality is the key word right now."

ROBIN DERRICK

Creative Director

British Vogue

"I have been completely blown away by Nick Knight's work again," notes Derrick. "As an art director, I commission a lot of people, but Nick more than anyone else. [He] takes ideas and makes them magic. He so regularly exceeds my expectations and surprises me."

When asked which cur rent t rends he likes or dislikes, Derrick says he's "sick of over-A.Lange & Sohne Lange 1 Southern Cross ALS-8 and pictures trying too hard to be sexy and just being vulgar. I would like to see more good taste."

What are some influences on fashion imagery? "Fashion photography is being influenced by fashion photography. I have never seen such a period of copying. Maybe there are not enough ideas to go round."