Daaaaaaaaaaaaahling, where did you get those shoes? Paris? New York? Rodeo Drive? Try the Bellagio after a hot streak at the craps table. Whether it's shoes to stroll the Strip, or a handbag to carry away your winnings, Vegas has it all. In fact, some have come to believe that Vegas isn't just a Mecca for shopping, it's THE Mecca for shopping. Anyone who's anyone in the fashion world has set up shop here - from Versace to Armani, Kenneth Cole to Jimmy Choo, Gucci to Fendi, with so much eye candy in between, you'll get cavities in your eyes. The merchandise here leans toward the pricey, but really, who comes to Sin City for bargins? So call the credit cards and tell them to up your limit a grand or two. Because like everything else in Vegas, shopping here is larger than life.

Speaking of larger than life, the largest mall of them all, MGM Grand Avenue at the MGM Grand. So big, it's divided in two sections: Star Lane Mall and Studio Walk. Consider yourself warned: Most never get through the entire shopping areas here. So plan your time wisely. Otherwise, you're bound to come under the hotel's spell and wander on, carelessly letting time and credit slip away with barely a notice.

The 115,000-square-foot Studio Walk has been designed to look like a Hollywood sound stage. And after visiting some of the clothing stores, you'll come away feeling like star on the red carpet. Bernini offers a beautiful selection of men's apparel from top Italian names like Versace, Armani, and Brioni. The Resort Collection offers a full array of women's casual and formalwear. And Peruzzi boasts a line of jewelry so fine you might consider putting it in a safety deposit box rather than wearing it.

Star Lane is on the same floor as the Monorail, so there's always a bigger crowd. But do venture in, just for the impressive array of unique gift shops. Most notably Emerald City Gift Shop, which offers lots of goodies directly imported from The Land of Oz. You may even bump into Roger Baum, the great-grandson of The Wizard of Oz creator, L. Frank Baum. Houdini Magic features a magic show every 15 minutes, every day until midnight. (For a large tip, the magician on hand might be able to shrink you down to a size 2.) If your luggage was lost on the plane, it might be a blessing in disguise. El Portal Luggage carries handbags and other luggage accessories by such names as Ball, Ralph Lauren and Fendi.

How did the ancient Romans shop? Head to the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace and find out. Don't worry, there's no chance of being fed to any lions (unless you don't pay your bill). You'll find the streets of Rome circa 300 BC to 1700 AD, beautiful sculptures, shimmering fountains, as well as a laser show which beams every hour (who knew they had lasers back then?). There's also the 3D IMAX show "City of Atlantis" - perfect to drop the kids while you're doing the stores. And stores there are: Women will find Ann Taylor, DKNY, Express, bebe, to name a smidgen. Men have their choice of Hugo Boss, Bernini, Armani, as well as many others. Teen faves NIKETOWN and Virgin Megastore have also set up camp here and there's FAO Schwartz for the little tykes.

If you really won big or happen to be one of those lucky people with a Platinum American Express card, you might want to take a stroll down a rather expensive area of The Forum Shops called The Appian Way. Lying beneath an exact replica of Michelangelo's masterpiece David, wide corridors of marble are lined with shops that suck money faster than the slots. Amongst them are the jewelry store Le Paradis, Gallerie Michelangelo, selling fine art, and the Venus Salon, a place that'll make you look like a million bucks. And in a mall as swank as The Forum Shops, that's not a bad image.

Everyone knows the Bellagio is beautiful. But, we know what matters most here: THE MALL. And what a mall it is. Via Bellagio is the Bellagio's offering for the world's most discriminating shopper. And, if this is the answer, the question must be, "I'm REALLY rich, where are the best stores in town?" From the flower-lined walks, stores with exclusive one-word names beckon you with treasures. Prada. Chanel. Tiffany. Gucci. In case you left your bathing suit at home, Capri contains an outstanding collection. Renowned jeweler Fred Leighton has set up shop here with a dazzling collection of rubies, diamonds, sapphires, and a few choice pieces that belonged to the Duchess of Windsor. In case you don't want to be seen dropping a bundle, Giorgio Armani offers personal shopping as well as wardrobe consultations in the privacy of your own hotel suite. The old adage holds true here - if you have to ask how much, you probably can't afford it.

Wear flats to the Grand Canal Shoppes in the luxurious Venetian hotel. The Grand Canal simulates the best of Venice, Italy, twisting and turning down a cobblestone street for nearly a quarter of a mile. Gondolas float along an indoor river steered by serenading gondoliers, leaving its passengers awestruck, and the people trekking that quarter-mile green with envy. The Grand Canal comes to a head at a stunning recreation of St. Mark's Square, complete with a Venetian sky that shifts and changes before your eyes. Don't get your head lost in those artificial clouds, though, you've got shopping to do and by this time, your feet are probably crying for a new pair. Princess Diana's shoemaker-of-choice, Jimmy Choo, has a store here, with so many handmade shoes, pumps and sandals, Imelda Marcos would be delirious. Ripa de Monti offers glass, masks, and other handmade collectables imported from Venice. At In Celebration of Golf, you can buy some outrageous golf apparel and also set up tee times and lessons at courses around the city. And, if you'd like a little something "important," check out Regis Gallerie, which features oil paintings and antiques from the 19th and 20th century.

Energy running low? Need to recharge your shopping batteries? Sneak up to the Canyon Ranch Spa on the fourth floor of the Venetian. One of the top-rated spas in the United States, Canyon Ranch offers its guests a plethora of spa treatments. Anything from a simple body massage to a variety of health and wellness therapies is available here.

When you tire of Venice, head about a block and a half down the Strip to the Paris hotel. There, you can stroll along Le Boulevard, which features a fantastic array of exclusive stores, most of which begin with Le, La, and L. A mere 31,500 square feet, Le Boulevard may not be as gigantic as many of the others, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in quality. La Boutique by Yokohama de Paris features five mini-boutiques by designers we all know and love - Cartier, Celine and Coach, to name three. For those who like to dress their children like characters from Gigi, there's Les Enfants. L'Art de Paris offers beautiful Impressionist-style paintings, porcelain dolls and coffee-table books. Want to look like you've just come from the Avenue Montaigne? Paris Line features gorgeous apparel from designers such as Yves St. Laurent, Nina Ricci, and Christian Lacroix. And to satisfy your scandalous side, lingerie shop La Vogue is guaranteed to make your lover shout Viva La France!

Shouts and partying raises hardly an eyebrow at the Rio hotel's Masquerade Village. There's over 60,000 square feet of shopping, plus four parades per day. Guests can get in on the action by riding on floats and wearing costumes that correlate with the theme of each parade. So if you want to party while you buy,this is the place. Gary's Island or Dick's Last Resort brim with tropical wear sure to bring you relief from the Desert heat. Silk Fashions Gallery contains nothing but apparel made with 100% moth. If you've met the man of your dreams, or a gentleman who hit 11 numbers in Keno, Roland's Boutique has bridal wear appropriate for any 24-hour chapel. And, if you want to include a stogie as part of the celebration, Mardi Gras Cigars offers a selection sure to compare with even the best Cubans.

Hardly anything in Vegas lacks a theme, and Desert Passage, located at the Aladdin Resort is no exception. Shoppers are taken on a colorful journey through Morocco, Africa, the Arabian Sea, and finally, India. This shopper's bazaar, at 500,000 square-feet, may take you 1,001 nights just to get through it. Wish for a magic genie who will grant you comfortable shoes. Anything you want, from almost any store you want, is contained within these walls. Jeanne Lottie, Ann Taylor, Eddie Bauer, Victoria's Secret, Tommy Bahama, Godiva, Origins - the list goes on and on. Sephora contains over 365 different shades of lipstick, and offers a cosmetic line for women AND men. African Odyssey contains handcrafted furnishings fashioned from exotic hard woods. Build-A-Bear lets kids-of-all-ages build their own personalized plush animal. What bears are doing in the desert, we have no idea. (But our researchers are working on it.)

Overwhelmed by the amount of malls and stores in Vegas? Well, hold onto your head and your checkbook. The grande dame is about to get grandeur. Once the extension is completed, in October of 2003, the Fashion Show Mall will be 1.9 million square feet in size, and will host eight anchor tenants. It remains open for business during construction, with anchors Neiman-Marcus, Macy's and Robinsons-May. Saks Fifth Avenue and Dillards are on their way, along with Nordstroms and Bloomingdales. All in all, it promises to be one of the largest malls in the nation, if not the world. Pack some handkerchiefs. You may begin crying from feeling emotionally overwhelmed and financially inadequate.

There you have it. So, get busy, good luck, don't carry too much cash, and remember: a good shopper is just like a good gambler. They know when to quit. And if you learn how, let us know.

MGM Grand Avenue
MGM Grand
(702) 891-7777

The Forum Shops
Caesars Palace
(702) 893-4800

Via Bellagio
Bellagio
(702) 637-7111

Grand Canal Shoppes
Venetian
(702) 414-4500

Le Boulevard
Paris
3655 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 946-7000

Masquerade Village
Rio
3700 West Flamingo Rd.
Tel: 702-252-7777

Desert Passages
Aladdin
(702) 866-0703

Fashion Show Mall
3200 Las Vegas Blvd. South
(702) 369-0704