Gold Coasting

The Leopard Lounge on Worth Avenue credit: Graciela Cattarossi

Never was a street so aptly named as WORTH Avenue, a tradition in shopping since the colorful inception of Palm Beach. This mecca for seekers of luxury goods spans less than a mile from ocean to Intracoastal (look for the idling Bentleys and Rolls-Royces), but pound for pound, it packs an incredibly elegant punch. The two hundred boutiques lining the avenue and side streets are a parade of sophisticated names, from Dior to Chanel and Armani. Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, the grandes dames of the street, anchor her east end while discreetly providing a buffer from blowing beach sand. True, Saks and Neiman have stores nationwide, but here they are uniquely Palm Beach. Saks (172 Worth Ave., 561-833-2551; saksfifthavenue.com) will open on Sundays or after hours by appointment for special customers. At Neiman (151 Worth Ave., 561-805-6150, neimanmarcus.com), an escalator ride is an ethereal two-story descent through dangling strings of white feather butterflies and mirrors.

Via Mizner is just one of a dozen courtyards tucked in behind bougainvillea-covered arches along the avenue. In Via Parigi find Stubbs & Wootton (4 Via Parigi, 561-655-6857 or 877-4-STUBBS), purveyor of exclusive velvet embroidered slippers (slippers, $225; slides, $450). The truly well-heeled request these Palm Beach must-haves with hand-stitched initials.

Palm Beach is balmy year-round, but shoppers prepare for cool evening breezes and blasts of air-conditioning at Au Cashmere (323 Worth Ave., 561-655-0203) in the Via De Mario Courtyard. The sublimely soft pieces are mostly Italian and Scottish even though the chic, friendly owner, Genevieve Poitout, hails from France. To find something French, check out the swimwear for men, direct from St. Tropez, at Vilebrequin (150 Worth Ave., 561-659-6569). The hot styles and quick-drying fabrics are a hit with Prince William, Pierce Brosnan, and George Clooney. Mister (313½ Worth Ave., 561-835-0777) is another must-stop shop for guys with an eye for style. The store’s ever-changing collection includes La Martina polo shirts ($100-$2,000) from actual English, Brazilian, Argentine, and American teams. Also very cool are Laguiole pocket knives in Day-Glo colors. Speaking of knives, Grande Armée Military Antiques (256 Worth Ave., 561-835-1958 or 800-278-8212, grandarmee.com) offers antique weaponry to die for — everything from hand-painted toy soldiers to armor from Austrian Dragoon Guards (circa 1890).

If diamond baguettes are more your bag, boutiques such as Bulgari, Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, and Tiffany are a bastion of bling — with premium prices. For a less costly but highly appealing alternative, try the costume jewelry at Mariko (329 Worth Ave., 561-655-5770). Although the boutique offers many pieces of real jewelry, such as the ivory, Lucite, and silver ethnic baubles from New York sculptor Patricia Von Musulin (black wood bracelet with inlaid onyx, $3,600), its specialty is “travel” jewelry — replicas of fine jewels or very sparkly alternatives. The imposters don’t come cheap, though (Fantasia three-strand cubic zirconium necklace: $6,000). Non-wearable art also abounds on the avenue. Find Tiffany glass and delicate art deco pieces at Spencer Antiques Gallery (240 Worth Ave., 561-833-9893) or stake your claim on modern masters from Magritte to Matisse at Gallery Biba (224A Worth Ave., 561-651-1371).

At day’s end, drop your bags at Taboo (221 Worth Ave., 561-835-3500), an English Colonial-style bistro featuring innovative American fare (tremendous burgers!) and myths to match. According to legend, the first Bloody Mary was made here as an antidote for Barbara Hutton’s hangover, and Joe Kennedy once locked himself into the ladies’ room with Gloria Swanson for an entire evening.