The Earring Show, now through Sept. 26, is the must-see and got-to have-it event at Taboo Studio, a shop owned by jewelry artists Jane Groover and Joanna Rhoades, on tree-shaded West Lewis Street in Mission Hills. For two decades this has been the top shop for handmade contemporary jewelry by local and international artists like Steve Brixner and Arline Fisch. Some of the more than 100 pairs of earrings could grace your lobes.

On the same block, step inside Le Bel Age and you're transported to the fabled land of fashion indulgence. Imagine an exotic bazaar crammed with billowing skirts, silks, pearls and leather goods, armloads of bangles and scarves — enough for an entire harem. For fall, owner Valeric Lee says she has plenty of wildlife prints and menswear fabrics but done up in a feminine way.

Another wow factor accessory idea is a handbag that's curiously different. Be the first one at the new Cucina Urbana or your favorite wine bar to show up with a Ransom + Scout bag, in a variety of sizes and shapes, in rich Italian leather, and each with their own character story. Prices range from $65 for a wallet to $450 for the big Apollo shoulder bag.

We caught up with former San Diegan Dennis Nothdruft while he was in town from London. He is curator of the Fashion & Textile Museum in South London, which has become a trendy area with shops like United Nude for shoes.

He says there's lots of new talent coming up in London, including Giles Deacon, and fast fashion, like the tunic dress that's here today, gone in two weeks. Nothdruft's got a big Foale & Tuffin 1960s mod exhibit coming to the FTM in October.

While readying an upcoming feature on Palm Springs designer Steven Cheroske, who just opened a San Diego office, we discovered our shared passion for fashion. Cheroske, while studying interior design, was visual director for many stores, including Macy's, Saks and Neiman Marcus, working with big names like Bob Mackie and Nolan Miller, Carolina Herrera and Emanuel Ungaro, including a meeting with Hubert de Givenchy at Danel Foxx in Palm Desert. Cheroske's interior design has included St. John boutiques in Europe and major department stores in Asia. What a CV.

Page above: Taboo Studio in Mission Hills is known for contemporary jewelry. Exceptional earrings are featured this month.

This page: Le Bel Age is crammed with fashion for all ages. Each Ransom + Scout leather handbag tells a story.