Chunky resin necklace by Dominique Denaive, at Wellesley’s newest jewelry store.

Cult favorite Adamas Fine Jewelry, in Newton Highlands, has opened a new boutique called Impulse by Adamas Fine Jewelry in Wellesley’s Linden Square. The brother-sister team of Anto Aboyan and Veronica Sagherian decided to devote their original store in Newton to their own exclusive designs, while the new Wellesley boutique will showcase collections by emerging designers. High-fashion standouts include Dominique Denaive’s all-the-rage chunky, colorful resin pieces and Zeffira’s diamond-studded buffalo horn bangles. A small selection of Aboyan and Sagherian’s own designs also graces the new store, cleverly displayed in eye-level glass cases. We fell for Gillian Julius’s multirow cotton cord bracelets with silver, pearl, and crystal adornments, as well as Heather B. Moore’s charm necklaces and personalized leather wrap bracelets (look out for her trunk show at Impulse on April 4). Suzanne Kalan’s ultrafeminine pieces also catch the eye with their pretty, faceted gemstones and ruffled-looking pendants. Expect to see new lines from Gillian Julius this spring. 180 Linden St., Wellesley, 781-416-1800

When Aesop decided to choose a second US city in which to open a boutique (it has three stores in New York), Boston prevailed. “Our core customers are urban, educated, well traveled, and intelligent,” says Giovanni Lepori, president of Aesop. “Boston epitomizes all those qualities.”

The 26-year-old beauty brand has cultivated a faithful following due to its botanical-based formulations and holistic approach to skin- and haircare, and products such as the new, deliciously scented Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Facial Treatment (packed with antioxidants like carrot seed oil and parsley seed in a fast-absorbing formula for all skin types) are under-the-radar classics. With a commitment to smart design—its bottles showcase literary quotes—Aesop had to look no further than Greater Boston to find the perfect designer for its Newbury Street boutique: MIT School of Architecture and Planning Assistant Professor William O’Brien Jr., recipient of a 2011 Architectural League Prize for Young Architects and Designers.

“We work as much as possible with local architects and take inspiration from the city to build something that fits in with the neighborhood,” says Lepori. “We want to become part of the architecture of the neighborhood.” O’Brien’s design fuses new and reclaimed white oak, restored crown moldings, and wrought-iron detailing in a modern take on Boston’s historic roots. 172 Newbury St., 212-899-3450

Bold diamond Sfera ring ($7,000)

INSPIRED BY THE VENETIAN SYMBOL of good luck and protection, Italian luxury house Bottega Veneta’s Sfera collection reimagines the ancient sfera in an alluring collection of yellow-gold cocktail rings. Whether encircled by a single row of pavé diamonds in a variety of colors or completely enveloped in brilliant stones, the handwoven spheres call to mind images of a glittering New Year’s Eve ball, to make for a festive and sophisticated accessory to ring in 2013 during First Night or the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay’s Big Night event. By special order, Natick Mall, 508-652-9707

Minaudière case in red lacquer with onyx cabochons ($7,000)

Inspired by a vintage jewelry box found in the Parisian maison’s archives, Cartier’s exquisite octagonal box clutch showcases winter’s classic rich tones of crimson, black, and gold, in luxe fabrics such as lace and silk. The bag’s delicate silver clasps are studded with black onyx, which references the panther—an iconic symbol of the house. Two Russian faceted cabochons in chrysoprase, onyx, or cornelian sit at either end of the clasps, while semiprecious stones adorn limited-edition styles. No doubt the sophisticated clutch will be one of the most coveted accessories of the season. 40 Newbury St., 617-262-3300

Louboutin signs autographs for fans of his signature red-soled shoes at Saks.

The famed French shoe designer made a grand appearance at Saks Fifth Avenue this season, autographing hundreds of pairs of shoes from his latest collection and thoughtfully musing about footwear— from menswear-inspired detailing to flip-flops. His favorite shoe in this collection is his tone-on-tone high heel with spikes. “I like the idea of the spikes becoming more of a decorative rather than rock ’n’ roll element,” he says. He was inspired by young showgirls—“what I call va-va girls.” When Louboutin is designing he imagines a woman in a moment of her life. “She’s moving her leg or showing off her ankle,” he says. While masculine motifs inform his feminine line, the designer has made the official leap into men’s shoes, opening his first men’s boutique in Paris in 2011—just in time for the brand’s 20th anniversary in 2012. He’s been surprised by the response. “When I first designed them, I had no idea who would be the customer,” he says. “I have seen actors, entertainers, athletes, but what unites most of them is that they love women. Men have said to me that they were jealous of the excitement their girlfriends feel about shoes. Now they can share in it.” While he enjoys the architectural construction of his new collection, among other styles Louboutin says he most admires is simple Havaianas. “They’re like jeans—they work in every culture. They are sexy on both men and women, and the classical design goes back to ancient Egypt and China. I wish I had designed them.” But we’re very glad he’s perfected the pump. Saks Fifth Avenue, The Shops at Prudential Center, 617-262-8500

Barcelona-based skincare brand Natura Bissé has welcomed a new jewel to its luxury lineup. The recently debuted overnight treatment, Diamond Life Infusion, boasts a patent pending retinoid-replicating complex (known as Bio-Magnet Nanosomes) that combats sun marks, dryness, irritation, and inflammation. The potent serum also incorporates 16 additional anti-aging ingredients to further its rejuvenating power and help eliminate wrinkles and under-eye sagging. In pre-launch testing, participants lost an average of 3.9 years off their skin's age. Best suited for women over 35, you can bet this super-luxe overnight treatment will be on the bedside tables of Boston’s society elite—an .08 ounce bottle checks in at $590. Celebrity fans of Natura Bissé include bombshells like Sophia Vergara, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Beyoncé. 

Unwind in the treatment room at SpaTerre.

Bliss
Attend to your digits with the Manly-Cure at Bliss at the W hotel. A hot-cream hand massage is followed by a cuticle soak and maintenance, then nail buffing and clipping. W. 100 Stuart St., 617-261- 8747.

Canyon Ranch
While guests here focus on healthy living, the spa focuses on healthy grooming with the gentleman’s hydrating manicure and pedicure or the rejuvenating and purifying gentleman’s scalp renewal treatment. Complete the spa experience in the men’s locker room, equipped with saunas, steam rooms, and a whirlpool. 165 Kemble St., Lenox, 413-637-4100.

Chuan Body + Soul
The Executive Indulgence includes a hand-and-foot soak and massage followed by a hair treatment and scalp massage. We also appreciate the Man’s World, which entails a gentle back exfoliation followed by a massage and facial cleanse. The Langham, 250 Franklin St., 617-451-1900.

Dolce Med Spa & Boutique
Men who are missing the summer sun can indulge in Dolce’s subtle and discreet spray tans. The spa uses a certified organic antiaging formula that will give skin a healthy tone and help turn back the clock. 2001B Washington St., Hanover, 781-792-0919.

Emerge
The Men’s Club is an exclusive masculine retreat with a private men’s locker room, flat-screen TVs, and comfortable seating. Start with the sports massage to relieve overworked muscles, and follow it with the sports manicure and pedicure to smooth and exfoliate. 275 Newbury St., 617-437-0006.

Equinox
Want a better workout? Get a massage before you lift. The sports massage uses deep-pressure stretching to help warm up muscles before a gym session and promotes flexibility and recovery. Manny Almeida is our go-to guy. 225 Franklin St., 617-426- 2140.

Skoah
The Mancial facial is designed just for guys. It starts with a deep cleanse and skin exfoliation and continues with neck and beard treatments to reduce redness, irritation, and ingrown hairs. Feet are then exfoliated and detoxified with powerful alpha hydroxyl acids and peppermint-infused foot lotion. 641A Tremont St., 857-350- 4930.

The Spa at Omni Mount Washington Resort
Spend a long morning on the slopes, then unwind at the 25,000-square-foot spa at this luxury resort in the mountains. The aptly named Skier’s Massage will help both novices and experienced adventurers relax with a 50-minute treatment that utilizes trigger-point therapy to target tired ski-specific muscles like burning quads. 310 Mt. Washington Hotel Road, Bretton Woods, NH, 603- 278-1000.

SpaTerre
Guests at the stately Hotel Viking resort can enjoy the gentleman’s transformation facial and scalp massage, which reduces the appearance of wrinkles, firms and tones the surface, and addresses men’s skin concerns for a healthier, brighter complexion. Hotel Viking, 1 Bellevue Ave., Newport, RI, 401-848-4848.

State Street Barbers of Boston
Gentlemen look their best with a hot-lather shave from this beard and haircut expert. This classic shave starts with hot towels, dollops of warm lather, and cooling aftershave balm. The deal also comes with a shoulder massage and a beverage to sip on. 1313 Washington St., 617-753-9990.

Maria Lekkakos and master hairstylist Marc Harris.

Power couples are a bit of an anomaly in the salon industry, but celebrity esthetician Maria Lekkakos and master hairstylist Marc Harris are making waves together in this competitive field. The owners—and in Harris’s case, also CEO—of successful salons bearing their names tied the knot in Boston in August. In addition to their new marriage, Lekkakos and Harris are excited about their endeavor to unveil Salon Week in New York and New Jersey in October.

The two conceived the idea for Boston in 2010, and last April they recruited 20 Boston-area salons to participate in the nation’s first Salon Week. The promotional weeklong event offered customers service discounts much like its forerunners, Restaurant Week and Spa Week. “We wanted to make sure that we got the best salons to band together in doing this so that we could protect the integrity of each other’s brands,” says Harris. Lekkakos and Harris hope that a biannual Salon Week will bolster awareness of premium salons on a national level, with plans to roll out Salon Weeks in Chicago and LA by spring 2013 and additional US cities the following fall.

Lofty goals and fierce determination yoke these beauty powerhouses to one another, though individually they each have great pull in the industry. As Miss Massachusetts 2004, Lekkakos set the stage for a career in the spotlight. Besides running her salon, Lekkakos is esthetician to the Hollywood elite, including Salma Hayek and Rosario Dawson. She is also the hired spokesperson promoting Mary Kay’s new Botanical Effects line. Harris contends that his Southie roots hardly groomed him for beauty school, but that he always evoked a stylish edge and quickly realized during his training that he could skillfully wield a razor, creating innovative cuts that stylists would one day covet. Now he has made Back Bay his home turf, where he oversees 100 employees.

The couple’s paths first crossed at a friend’s party. Harris, with two drinks in hand, was searching for a friend and struck up a conversation with Lekkakos. He was shaken, she was stirred, and the friend never got his drink. M. Lekkakos Salon, Spa, & Boutique, 154 Main St., Wenham, 978-468-9540. Salon Marc Harris, 115 Newbury St., 617-262-2222; 125 Broad Street, 617-443-8633; The Sports Club/LA, 4 Avery St., 617-375-8510.

If you’re a fan of the classic Lady Dior, get ready to meet her minimalist sister: Diorissimo, a modern update with traditional undertones. Launched this year, the handbag by Dior boasts streamlined styling, with top handles inspired by the Lady Dior, while those beloved charms take on more rounded proportions. A detachable pochette inside can store small items or be used as a quick clutch. Offered in more than 10 color and fabric combinations, each Diorissimo takes two days to complete, with two pieces of contrasting leather stitched together and then turned inside out to create its distinctive texture. We’re enamored with the tweed patchwork Diorissimo for classic summer style. The raw, organic-inspired fabric offsets the structural style, adding an earthy ease. Paired with black crocodile trimmings, Diorissimo is très chic. Dior ($9,200). Copley Place, 617-927-7577.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN KLUTCH

Tropical print ankle-cuff pump, Gianvito Rossi for Altuzarra ($795). Neiman Marcus, Copley Place, 617-536-3660. Black canvas clutch with etched landscape, Dries Van Noten ($720). Barneys New York, Copley Place, 617-385-3300.

For spring many designers looked to dramatic foreign landscapes, utilizing digital and photo prints as a way to bring those exotic inspirations home and give them new life. Peter Som took classic blooms and presented them in whimsical saturated blues, while Mary Katrantzou designed digital tromp l’oeil interiors. It was Joseph Altuzarra's lush hothouse tropics and Dries Van Noten’s dreamy 17th century botanical etchings that brought these bold graphics to front of mind, though. Such super-charged accessories have us daydreaming of far-off destinations and channeling our own adventurous spirit—through our wardrobe, that is.