Michelle Obama could have worn jewelry by anyone in the world on Inauguration Night – Harry Winston, Graff, Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, Tiffany. However, in keeping with her seeming-philosophy to go with more singular designers – as well as American names – her jewelry was by L.A.’s own Loree Rodkin.

Angelenos are quite familiar with Rodkin, but we wouldn’t think Washingtonians would be. A former actors’ manager of The Brat Pack stars of the early eighties (Robert Downey Jr., Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, Virginia Madsen), Rodkin turned to jewelry design after managing, and turned Gothic crosses and imagery from rock n’ roll into diamond jewelry that was irreverent and beautiful and singular. She’s often associated with designing jewelry for her friends Cher, Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, and Courteney Love. In L.A., she’s sold at Maxfields and Neiman Marcus, and was also carried in Tracey Ross’s store, till it closed on New Year’s Eve.

And how did Michelle find out about Rodkin? She discovered her, as she did Jason Wu, Isabel Toledo and Narciso Rodriguez – at Chicago’s very best boutique, Ikram. It seems the owner of Ikram, Ikram Goldman,  has really shaped Michelle’s style.

Ms. Goldman is also known as being a collector of incredible vintage fashion.

Rodkin’s Inauguration pieces will be donated to the Smithsonian Museum in D.C., which means Rodkin probably covered the costs of the long diamond earrings of rose cut and briolette diamonds, a 20 carat rose cut diamond ring, and 20 pave diamond bangles herself – the value is said to be about a quarter of a million dollars retail. No doubt, the name value will make it well worth it.

You can check out her wares on Loreerodkin.com. – Merle Ginsberg

If you think shopping doesn’t get any more desire-worthy than Wilshire, Robertson and Melrose Place, drive an hour and a half south and check out South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa one Saturday afternoon, preferably when the sales are on. All under one roof are Nordstrom, Burberry, Valentino, Chanel, Bottega Veneta, MaxMara, Balenciaga, Barneyes Co Op, Hermes, Harry Winston, Marni, and even H&M. You feel like you’ve died and gone to fashion heaven – where you don’t need cars, subways, or even to deal with traffic lights.

On Tuesday night at the South Coast Plaza mall, the 1.5 billion dollar annual selling mall held a chic dinner – right in the center of its new wing, dubbed “The Penthouse.” Catered by the mall’s best restaurant, Marche Moderne, the 20,000 square foot wing is home to brand new stores by Oscar de la Renta, YSL, Canali, Christian Louboutin – who visited and christened the store on Tuesday all the way from Paris – and SoCa, the new less expensive but still chic concept from Orange County’s own St. John Knits. SoCa opened their first shop in The Penthouse, and plan to roll out at least 30 more across the world in the next few years.

The dinner was held for executives from Christian Louboutin, from South Coast Plaza, men’s store Canali, and for L.A. journalists from Angeleno Magazine, Women’s Wear Daily, InStyle Magazine, C Magazine, Los Angeles Magazine (Laurie Pike), The Los Angeles Times Magazine (Annie Gilbar), – and of course, Fashion Rules.. They were treated to visits to the new boutiques, all ooohing and ahhing over the fact that YSL has different handbags and shoes at South Coast’s Penthouse – that Louboutin actually stocks different shoes – and that Oscar de la Renta has dresses there we’ve never seen.

From autumn salad with pears to a fish course to beef and lobsters, to the outstanding crème brulee with Calvados and peanut brittle, everyone agreed that a trip to the OC can be very chic – and that you have to be ready to pound some serious – escalators. We’re thinking – Christmas at the Penthouse?? – Merle Ginsberg