If you’re spending a day in Palm Desert, this is where you want to end up. The Gardens on El Paseo is this beautiful open air luxury shopping center, so you’re browsing under real sunshine instead of fluorescent lights, and there’s something here for everyone in your group. So let me walk you through where I’d stop if I were making a day of it.
Janie and Jack
Start here if you’ve got kids to dress. I love this one because it leans classic and a little elevated, exactly what you want for a special occasion outfit or something photo ready for an upcoming session.
Learn more at Janie and Jack.
Alo
If activewear is on your list, Alo is the move. Everything here doubles as workout gear and everyday wear, so it’s an easy stop whether you’re heading to a class or just want something comfortable for the rest of your shopping day.
Learn more at Alo.
lululemon
Right along the same lines, lululemon rounds things out with all their usual staples, leggings, joggers, the kind of pieces that work just as well poolside as they do on a hike.
Learn more at lululemon.
Sephora
You can’t do a shopping day without a stop at Sephora. Grab whatever you’re running low on, test a new fragrance, or just wander the aisles for twenty minutes, it’s the reset button in the middle of a long day of browsing.
Learn more at Sephora.
Sottovoce Cafe
This is where you take a breather. Sottovoce is tucked right into The Gardens, and it’s the perfect spot for a mid-shopping espresso or just a place to sit down and regroup before round two.
Learn more at Sottovoce Cafe.
Anthropologie
Save some time for Anthropologie. Between the clothing, the home goods, and the seasonal displays, you’ll lose track of time in here, in the best way possible.
Learn more at Anthropologie.
Time Your Visit Around These Events
If you’re coming to the desert over the holidays, the first Saturday in December is Santa Magic. Photos with Santa, a holiday party right on the center lawn, and the whole property decorated top to bottom. It’s a great excuse for a family walk through The Gardens even if shopping isn’t the main plan that day.
If your trip lands between January and March, look into their annual concert series. Your ticket gets you a glass of wine and a tribute band playing under the stars, and it’s just a fun night out in the middle of the season.
And if you’re coming in mid March, that’s when Fashion Week El Paseo and the Palm Desert Food and Wine Festival both happen. Two of the bigger events on El Paseo all year, worth planning a trip around if you can.
Make a Day of It
The Gardens on El Paseo is easy to underestimate until you’re actually there for a few hours. Outfits, activewear, beauty essentials, a coffee break built right in, it’s just a genuinely good way to spend an afternoon in Palm Desert. It also makes for the perfect before and after to a session with me. Get your makeup done at Sephora or Saks, pop over to Agim Salon just steps away for your hair, and once we wrap your shoot, come right back here for dinner to celebrate. A full day, start to finish, without ever having to leave El Paseo.
August 29, 2026
