Anything Goes

Dior Vitalie silk chiffon with medallion print dress, Caliea flounced knit with fox fur cardigan, crocodile-printed grained calfskin Duchesse low boot, Miss Dior cannage lambskin bag; stockings, stylist's own; (right) Dior Simple Glory silk chiffon blouse, velvet calfskin Metheus jacket, thin velvet calfskin Simple Ada skirt, Poudree chain necklace; stockings, stylist's own, all available at Christian Dior/South Coast Plaza; Louis Vuitton suede Fetish high boot, available at Louis Vuitton/South Coast Plaza; Slide Lock fullbead bag, available at Judith Leiber/South Coast Plaza :: According Peter H. Lomakin, this building used to be "a quaint little mom and pop neighborhood store," the type common in Santa Ana until 20 years ago. We looked in the windows – it appears vacant now.

Fendi navy wool jabot dress, Chameleon shoes and Chameleon stingray clutch; (right) Fendi leather jabot dress and Chameleon shoes, all available at Fendi/South Coast Plaza; Rebecca Minkoff Park Avenue leather clutch, available at Saks Fifth Avenue/South Coast Plaza :: La Chiquita, 906 E. Washington St., Mexican Food :: Located in the historic Logan Barrio, La Chiquita has been at the same location with the same menu since 1950. The owner, Sammy Montoya, purchased the restaurant, which celebrated its 60th anniversary last year, and the similarly named mini-grocery store next door, in 1994. One of the oldest remaining Mexican restaurants in the area, this old school spot sports photos behind the register of four generations of locals who have gorged on the giant portions of taco salads, chile verde, and burritos. We walked out happy, and a couple of pounds heavier.

Versace blue and teal coat with leather belt, fur collar and suede lace-up boots, available at Versace/South Coast Plaza :: All Nissan, Infiniti, Mazda, 826 E. Washington Ave., auto dismantling :: Sasha Esfahani, the current owner of this junkyard paradise, said he buys cars from auctions and private sellers. "People bring them in still running, they've had accidents, sometimes we fix them, sometimes we use the parts, we part them out, and sell them to a metal company after we strip them." Esfahani informed us that "junkyard" is a passe term. "We are now called auto dismantlers."

(Left) Louis Vuitton knit wool cardigan and cotton briefs, leather collar, Fetish patent leather strap pump, Fetish techno fur gloves, and monogram Vernis bouclette Lockit; right Louis Vuitton embroidered guipure silk and mink jacket with embroidered guipure silk and mink briefs, Fetish high boot and wool hat, all available at Louis Vuitton/South Coast Plaza; Wolford stockings, available at Wolford/South Coast Plaza. :: We could not find out anything about the history of this building. The woman next door said her husband owned it but he didn't seem to want to talk to us. We definitely drew some curious onlookers here. Then a guy in a truck drove by, rolled down his window, and asked, "Is this still a boxing studio?" Mystery solved.

Burberry wool coat, Miss Dior black cannage lambskin bag, and Yves Saint Laurent bag, all available at Saks Fifth Avenue/South Coast Plaza; Oliver Peoples sunglasses, available at Saks Fifth Avenue and Oliver Peoples/South Coast Plaza Southern California Edison Washington Substation :: It's a mini substation that serves this neighborhood. We thought it had cool lines.

Gucci cognac matt creponne pois satin long sleeve deep neck dress and high heel platform Mary Jane pump, available at Gucci/South Coast Plaza; Judith Leiber rectangle Ocean Blvd. Aurum Multi bag, available at Judith Leiber/South Coast Plaza; Oliver Peoples J Gold sunglasses, available at Oliver Peoples/South Coast Plaza; right Oscar de la Renta black single face wool crepe boatneck banded dress with tweed, fringe and black patent Stella shoes, available at Oscar de la Renta/South Coast Plaza; Alexander McQueen orange clutch, available at Saks Fifth Avenue/South Coast Plaza; Oliver Peoples Myriel sunglasses, available at Oliver Peoples/South Coast Plaza :: Bradfield MFG, Inc., 806 E. Washington, manufacturer of curvilinear stairs :: Bradfield Manufacturing, Inc., is one of Orange County's oldest and Southern California's largest spiral and curvilinear stair builder. Started in 1951 by Paul D. Bradfield, the shop was taken over by his son Rod in 1980, and continues to build custom stairways. The company designed and built many of the machines and tools that curve, twist, bend, or roll all the plates, pipe and channels into stair stringers. All of this is done without the use of heat.

Roberto Cavalli orange ruched V-neck dress, Michael Kors fur stole and Yves Saint Laurent patent Tribute pumps, all available at Saks Fifth Avenue/South Coast Plaza :: Santa Ana Diesel, Inc.,/730 N. Poinsettia St., complete truck and trailer repair, engine and head rebuilding :: Tom Martinez has owned Santa Ana Diesel for 36 years, and for a guy who “fixes big trucks,” he managed to charm our crew. He told us the building was empty when he purchased it 13 years ago, but it holds quite a history. During World War II, it was a machine shop for bomb parts, and the all-woman staff sat in bays along the street. "Two separate guys told me their moms worked here, and they used to stop in the windows and say hello to them on their way home from school." After that, Cox model airplanes had their first little gas engine headquarters here, and following them was Harley Davidson golf carts.

Valentino long sleeve rose embroidered blouse and feather embroidered A-line skirt, available at Valentino/South Coast Plaza; B Brian Atwood Edeline suede ankle boots, available at Saks Fifth Avenue/South Coast Plaza :: Santa Ana Diesel, Inc.,/730 N. Poinsettia St., complete truck and trailer repair, engine and head rebuilding :: Tom Martinez has owned Santa Ana Diesel for 36 years, and for a guy who "fixes big trucks," he managed to charm our crew. He told us the building was empty when he purchased it 13 years ago, but it holds quite a history. During World War II, it was a machine shop for bomb parts, and the all-woman staff sat in bays along the street. "Two separate guys told me their moms worked here, and they used to stop in the windows and say hello to them on their way home from school." After that, Cox model airplanes had their first little gas engine headquarters here, and following them was Harley Davidson golf carts.

Giorgio Armani silk top and pant, feather cape, suede pump with Lucite heel, and beaded handbag, available at Giorgio Armani/South Coast Plaza :: H.P. L. Mechanical, Inc., 1041 Logan St./Plumbing, piping, site utilities, and storm drains :: Since 1975, Peter H. Lomakin has been president of H.P. L. Mechanical, Inc., a contracting company for plumbing and site utilities, which also includes underground fire lines. Often, fire hydrants are attached, and that's what caught our eye – Lomakin's collection of vintage fire hydrants that sit outside his Logan St. warehouse. Lomakin would replace the old hydrants with new hydrants and he started putting a few of the discarded sculptures out front in his driveway. "Initially we didn't think much of it, but over 10-15 years, people have taken photos of them and they've tried to buy them, but I don't sell them – my art supply would diminish!"

(Left) Louis Vuitton knit wool cardigan and cotton briefs, leather collar, Fetish patent leather strap pump, Fetish techno fur gloves, and monogram Vernis bouclette Lockit; right Louis Vuitton embroidered guipure silk and mink jacket with embroidered guipure silk and mink briefs, Fetish high boot and wool hat, all available at Louis Vuitton/South Coast Plaza; Wolford stockings, available at Wolford/South Coast Plaza. :: We could not find out anything about the history of this building. The woman next door said her husband owned it but he didn't seem to want to talk to us. We definitely drew some curious onlookers here. Then a guy in a truck drove by, rolled down his window, and asked, "Is this still a boxing studio?" Mystery solved.