As summer segues to fall, all fashion talk turns to transition pieces. This means nubby knee-length socks ’neath chunky sandals, boy blazers over feminine frocks, and for we West Coasters, the all important rain slicker.

Defeat downpours with Lily + Jae’s Charley Cape ($180). Made of rain repellent waxed cotton with double-breasted snaps, the cute hooded cover-up is perfect topper when caught in an unexpected September shower.

In black or caramel, the cloak can be found at the label’s new four month pop-up shop within One of A Few. There you can also snap up the rest of the sophisticated collegiate fall collection, past pieces and vintage sourced by designer Jude Feller on her global escapades.

Now you're cloaked in style.

Lily + Jae in One of a Few, 354 Water St., Vancouver, 604-605-0685, www.lilyandjae.com

A modern day Holly Golighty looking for fame-worthy frocks would shop where the walls are painted Tiffany Blue.

That shop is the brand new Holly. Stocked with lines beloved by stars (La Rok, Rachel Pally, Jay Godfrey) and made by stars (Nicole Richie’s House of Harlow, Erin Wasson’s Low Luv), thumbing through the boutique’s racks is like flipping through the style section of US Weekly. What would we get snapped in? Kain grey pocket tee ($98), Genetic Denim black lace cigarette jean ($290) and Charlie My Love blue tie-dye sandals ($280).

Someone tell TMZ style has flown North for the spring.

Holly, 215-332 Water St., Vancouver, 604-681-8883, www.shopholly.ca

Criminals love a good chapeau (see Bonnie & Clyde, Al Capone), and while we aim to walk the straight and narrow we can’t help but steal their stylish caps.

Where we’ll be buying them however, is the new Goorin Brothers hat shop that’s popped up in Yaletown, the first of its kind in Canada. Its Hamilton Street space tips its hat to where those wicked wearers of yore would have frequented, an old saloon or gentlemen’s club, with rugs, aged wooden floors, and leather and velvet chairs.

As for the show toppers themselves, the wide-brimmed Bella ($65) and the handmade Clockwork bowler ($140) are the two hats we’d get in trouble for.

Goorin Brothers, 1188 Hamilton St., Vancouver, 604-683-1895, www.goorin.com

It’s time to trade auld for new and exchange carols for Carrall Street.

That’s where you’ll find new boutique, Lynn Steven. What once housed a rowdy saloon where Joe Fortes served drinks some hundred years prior is now a house of style. Owner Nicole Dennis Durnin has stocked her shop with brilliant embellished basics, like white tees covered in studs (Monrow, $105) and little navy dresses adorned with zippers (Isabel Lu, $160).

There’s also cozy knitwear by local line Granted, gemstone jewellery by celeb-favourite Pade Vavra and, come spring, luxe tops by Toronto designer Erin Kleinberg.

But it’s not just the new product that’s worth stopping in for. In the centre of the store, a circular wall made of 5,600 old books conceals the change room—that’s what you call chic lit.

Lynn Steven, 225 Carrall St., Vancouver, 604-899-0808, www.lynnsteven.com

Tact can’t be taught and style can’t be bought, but pretty frocks can be sought at The Fair.

The shop, which started as a strictly virtual venture, has broken ground in Gastown. Inside, owner Tammy Joe and Jennifer Nosek stock Academie, their own line of limited edition silk dresses ($270) and one-of-a-kind repurposed vintage pieces, alongside cool imports from Korea, including wool boyfriend blazers ($130). There are also scores of vintage shoes and accessories, which the fashion-passionate Joe sourced when she was a travelling medical software consultant.

Let's hope this fair never leaves town.

The Fair, 415 Abbott St., Vancouver, 778-882-3565, www.shopatthefair.com

Whether it’s from the house of Chanel or Alexander Wang, leggings or sleek little dresses, there’s more leather than ever these days. And if your closet needs a boost of something buttery, there’s a new store in South Granville you must see.

Known in the wholesale industry as experts in leather, Marquis of London has a new label name and its first retail store, Identify. While the space is simple and unassuming, the leather outerwear, all designed in Vancouver, is quite divine. The perfect motorcycle jacket made in grey ($450), a cool toggle coat in crinkly black ($625) and a hip hooded zip-up ($475) were all begging to be bought. And that’s just the leather. There’s also a plaid equestrian jacket with suede elbow patches and tweed blazer with of-the-moment zipper detailing (both $350) to mull over.

That’s five different jackets we identified with. Here’s hoping the significant other will still identify with us when we bring them all home.

Identify, 2662 Granville St., Vancouver, 604-736-8885.

If deciding what to pack—whether for a week in Venice or a weekend in Vegas—sometimes seems as difficult, complicated and time-consuming as international relations, we give you Diplomatic Immunity.

Catering to the jet-set man and woman, the new South Granville store has all kinds of sojourns covered with its four-in-one collection that includes nautical-inspired Cruise, khaki-driven Safari, city-ready Cosmopolitan and comfy-chic Airport Lounge. Owned by a Vancouver architect, designed by a Parisian and fashioned locally in European fabrics, the line is inherently international. Walking through the gorgeous space with its intricately carved white wall, artful window display, and ogee arches is a trip in itself too.

We honed in on a classic lightweight knit top with ties aptly called the Jacqueline ($255) that definitely befits a first lady of fashion.

Diplomatic Immunity, 2956 Granville St., Vancouver, 604-734-0060.

We asked five fashionable ladies behind some of the best boutiques in town what one item takes top spot in their spring wardrobe. Herewith, their picks:

Genevieve Allen, Violet
“The piece I can't live without this spring is the elle dress ($628.00) by Sachin and Babi. It's effortless and beautifully detailed. It's also featured in the April issue of Vogue—and what girl could resist that!”

Katrina Wright, Blubird
"I can’t wait to wear Single Dress’ floral patio dress ($555). I love its vibrancy, femininity, and flirtatiousness. I’ll wear it with my flats or wedge heels, at work or play.”

Veronika Baspaly, Lark
“My spring pick is the stand collar pullover ($338) by Chimala, because it's made with the most amazing fabric that feels like nothing else. It layers under sweaters easily, and on its own will take me into the summer in a style that I love.”

Natalie Tersigni, Gravity Pope Tailored Goods
“My must-have this season, and well beyond, is Alexander Wang’s leather and suede classic motorcycle jacket ($2,065). His luxurious designs and fabrics are the talk of the fashion world right now and so worth the splurge. I tried it on and fell in love.”

Michelle Rizzardo, One of a Few
"The Minimarket zipper wedge boot ($360) is my absolute must have. The boot is comfortable, edgy and really sexy. I can throw them on with pants, skirts and dresses—in other words, I won't need another shoe all season." 

If we had our own genie in a bottle, he’d look like Jake Gyllenhaal and he’d grant us these three things from the new Wish.list Boutique in Kits:

1. The sporty Jamie handbag ($260) from Elise Caarels—an Aussie line you’ll only find here.
2. A glam Swarovski velvet headband ($62) by celeb favourite Michelle Roy.
3. Gorgeous scented stationery ($38) from the Soap and Paper Factory.

There are also cute gifts for baby and bridal showers, mod housewares from Torre & Tagus and brilliant body products by Whish. Guess the rest of our list will have to be left up to loved ones (hint, hint).

Wish.list Boutique, 2811 W. Broadway (at MacDonald), Vancouver, 604-676-8070, www.wishlistboutique.ca

Forget diamonds: Bright, brilliant-cut dresses are a girl’s best friend.

And we found plenty at Kerrisdale’s latest jewel, Jules & Eve.

There’s cocktail-ready Tracey Reese, Cynthia Rowley and Jay Godfrey's to be had, and we couldn’t find a MINT Jodi Arnold number we didn’t like (all of which were ridiculously chic and fit for The City crowd or a Gossip Girl).

But the real reason to finger through their racks for party frocks? The store carries Stila and with that new dress you buy comes a complimentary makeover. Just let them know when your big event is and they’ll book you face time.

Head to toe sparkle suits us just fine.

Jules & Eve, 2009 West 41st Ave., Vancouver, 604-569-0844, www.julesandeve.com

See our favourite Jules & Eve pieces on today's Editors' Diary.