Crème de la Crème

There's a lot to get excited about when it comes to the Palazzo at the Venetian. Restaurants from culinary aficionados such as Wolfgang Puck and Emeril Lagasse offer top-of-the-line dining experiences. Jay-Z's famous New York sports club, 40/40, adds a tantalizing option to Vegas' vast menu of nightlife sources. For local fashion lovers, however, those temptations pale in comparison to the Shoppes at the Palazzo.

The golden child of the upscale mall is undoubtedly Barneys New York, but new-to-Vegas boutiques such as Diane von Furstenberg, Chloë, Tory Burch, Catherine Malandrino, Van Cleef & Arpels, Michael Kors and Anya Hindmarch certainly deserve an enthusiastic reception as well.

"We are incredibly pleased and proud of our list of boutiques and brands," said Daniel J. Sheridan, executive vice president of General Growth Properties, which owns Shoppes at the Palazzo. "It's one of the most impressive collections of luxury retail anywhere in the world -- including Las Vegas."

Take a look at some of the highlights you can expect from this fruitful new shopping center.

BARNEYS NEW YORK

If you're not sure what you can expect to find at the Shoppes at the Palazzo's anchor store, Barneys New York, creative director Simon Doonan gives a taste. "Shoppers will find a sophisticated edit -- the best of the best -- of the spring collections from New York, Milan and Paris," he said. A few of them include Lanvin, Balenciaga and Fendi, along with Kate Moss' line for Topshop. "You will also find hordes of celebrities."

The latter is nothing new here, but the chic department store certainly is. In the beauty department, brands such as Lipstick Queen, Kanebo, Red Flower, Tracie Martyn and Frederic Malle adorn the shelves. The decor is described as "Italian 1950s elegance" complete with mosaic floors, etched glass and elaborate murals.

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN

You've grown used to finding the red-soled man killer shoes in department stores around town, but not this many. According to Shawna Rose, director of communications at Christian Louboutin, the 1,500-square-foot boutique will feature from "80 to 100 styles per season." Plus, shoppers now can choose from an assortment of handbags.

As a play on the Vegas setting, the store will also boast a roulette wheel. Shoppers can take a spin and winners are awarded the shoe style they land on. Christian Louboutin projects an early March opening.

POLECI

This women's brand, pronounced "policy," makes your body its policy. "Our clothing ranges from T-shirts to fur coats," said Janice Levin-Crock, co-founder of the Los Angeles-based Poleci. "We're not overly trendy; we're classic modern."

A VIP area gives shoppers a peek at the collection in a private space, a feature of both the Los Angeles and New York City boutiques. But only Las Vegas will carry the eveningwear collection. Cocktail dresses and some gowns make their debut here. Poleci opens in late February.

EDIDI

This luxury handbag brand has been sold at Wynn Las Vegas and Bellagio boutiques already, but this will mark its first-ever stand-alone store.

"The Edidi woman understands luxury and quality and design," said Theresa Hiner, Edidi sales director. "But she's not a slave to trends. Our bags are like fine jewelry." Pricepoints start at $1,200 and go beyond $8,000. It takes six to eight weeks to make one of these extravagant minaudieres.

Select shoppers will have the opportunity to design their own in the boutique's VIP room. The design of the store, scheduled to open the end of the month, will resemble an Edidi bag turned inside out. Fine jewelry from Italy is also on the horizon here.

Contact fashion reporter Xazmin Garza at xgarza@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0477.