The economy stinks, but that doesn't mean you should deny yourself the finer things. Instead of clogging your closets with junk, why not go for the truly enduring? Objects of uncommon beauty, superior performance, and ambitious design. There's no better time than now for finding that... One Perfect Thing These pages are a good place to start.
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(FORTUNE Magazine) – 1 ROBERT AUGUST SURFBOARD Endless Summer star Robert August has made a longboard like the one he rode in the 1966 surfer classic. The limited-edition Endless Summer Classic Model 1963 ten-footer features a one-inch redwood stringer and tail block. $1,250; 714-841-6292; robertaugust.com.

2 LOUIS VUITTON DHANURA YOGA BAG AND MAT Be the envy of the ashram. Louis Vuitton's supple, full-grain-leather yoga bag comes complete with a washable mat, two inside pockets, a lock, and a luggage tag, so it can double as a travel bag when life takes you beyond the yoga studio. $1,440 (black, mocha, red, and mandarin); 866-884-8866; vuitton.com.

3 HELLA JONGERIUS Dutch designer Hella Jongerius's works have been exhibited in some of the world's great museums. Happily, that doesn't mean you can't showcase one of her pieces in your own home, such as an urn that's classical in shape but modern in material. It's made from soft polyurethane, so go ahead, play ball in the house. $1,200; 866-888-6677; mossonline.com.

4 PAUL SMITH SPECTACLES Hip Brit designer Paul Smith teams up with eyewear savant Oliver Peoples on a line of shades that will make you long for those squintingly bright days. paulsmith.co.uk; oliverpeoples.com.

5 UNFORGETTABLE LINGERIE The Paris boutique Sabbia Rosa is all about discretion. But if the St. Germain des Pres Metro stop is a bit far to go for its exquisite handmade lingerie, you can slip into Barneys New York. Camisole, $425; 888-822-7639. The Italian designer La Perla, which began as a corset maker, knows and appreciates a woman's curves--and that shows in its ultrafeminine lingerie made from silk crepes and tulles, with intricate embroidery. Bustier, $432; brief, $108; 866-527-3752; laperla.com.

6 L'ECOLE DES CHEFS RELAIS & CHATEAUX COOKING MASTER CLASS Turn off the Food Network and sign up for L'Ecole des Chefs, which dispatches students to one of nearly 100 kitchens of master chefs in 16 countries; the chefs include Charlie Trotter, Charlie Palmer, and Thomas Keller. The two-to five-day programs offer one-on-one, hands-on instruction and individualized itineraries. $1,100--$2,600; 877-334-6464; ecoledeschefs.com.

7 BURBERRY WOMEN'S GOLF SHOE Step stylishly onto the 18th--not to mention the 19th--hole with the Burberry golf shoe for women, featuring a leather-and-cotton upper, a rubber sole, and of course that signature novacheck plaid. $450; 800-411-6515; vivre.com.

8 PRIOR SNOWBOARD Crafted in Whistler, British Columbia, Prior's Swallowtail Splitboard pulls a highly successful Jekyll-and-Hyde: The backcountry snowboard breaks into skis when you're going cross-country or uphill, then reconnects when you hit fresh powder. $825; 877-937-7467; priorsnowboards.com.

9 JURA-CAPRESSO IMPRESSA F9 Starbucks who? This Swiss-made machine grinds beans, brews coffee or espresso, then discards the grinds to a separate tray. The frother steams milk for cappuccinos or lattes, and a water-filtration system removes impurities. But perhaps the best part is the machine's built-in rinse cycle, which does the cleaning for you. $1,799; 800-767-3554; capresso.com.

10 LAGUIOLE POCKETKNIFE Laguiole's Prestige line is meticulously hand-crafted with the finest materials: Swedish Sandvik stainless steel and 30 different options (including acacia, ebony, and serpent wood) for the handles. $63--$199; 877-346-0059; laguiole-elite.com.

11 STEELCASE LEAP WORKLOUNGE AND OTTOMAN, COACH EDITION After four years of research--27 scientists, 11 studies, and over 700 test participants--style marries substance in the ergonomic WorkLounge, which performs the neat trick of contouring precisely to your spine. Available in 11 rich Coach leather colors. Chair: $3,600; Ottoman: $900; 888-783-3522; steelcase.com.

12 STATE-OF-THE-ART SKIN CARE Packaged in 30 individual doses, Prada Beauty Shielding Lip Balm SPF 15 with shea butter softens lips while panthenol heals and conditions. $60; neimanmarcus.com. Z. Bigatti Re-Storation Skin Treatment delivers alpha, beta, and cyclic hydroxy acids to renew skin, while antioxidants protect against damaging free radicals. $150 (two ounces); sephora.com. La Prairie's Soleil Suisse Cellular Protective Body Emulsion SPF 30 has it all: plant extracts to moisturize, Parsol 1789 sunblock, and an antipeeling complex. $100; laprairie.com. Purveyor of the ultimate woman's suit, Chanel also makes the ultimate eye cream. Packed with organic complexes, lipids, and vitamins, its No. 1 Skin Recovery Eye Cream is rich and fragrance-free. $95; gloss.com. And one for the metrosexual: Fresh Skin Soother, a lightweight, skin-hydrating balm that relieves post-shaving irritation. $34; fresh.com.

13 PUMA AND MINI have collaborated on the Mini_motion 2, a driving shoe in two parts. Using the technology developed for Formula One drivers, the outer street shoe enhances ankle movement and gives extra heel support. The removable inner bootie is as comfortable as a slipper. $150; puma.com or minimotionusa.com.

14 TITLEIST PRO V1 GOLF BALL An ultra-performance ball: high-speed, low-spin, and superior distance. Wind effect is minimal, and the trademarked Drop-and-Stop technology means just that on the green. $56 per dozen; 800-225-8500; titleist.com.

15 MACALLAN SINGLE MALT VINTAGE 1946 This 57-year-old rare malt, created by one of the world's finest distillers, is deemed a collector's item. The specs: golden topaz in color, with lemon, green-apple, and subtle wood flavors and a long finish. $2,599.95. Price giving you a hangover? Try the 30 Year Single Malt, a limited single malt with dried fruit, spice, and subtle wood flavors. $395; 212-838-7500; sherry-lehmann.com.

16 ANN SACKS KUO COPPER BATH Soak in artist Robert Kuo's two-foot-deep, double-walled copper tub with ergonomic interior. Kuo specializes in repousse, the art of hammering decorative relief into metal, which means that each tub is handcrafted and one of a kind. Double-dip--there's enough room for two. $35,000; 800-278-8453; annsacks.com.

17 VOSS WATER This is a case where the packaging--a sleek glass cylinder designed by a former creative director at Calvin Klein--is as pure as what's in it, which is water from Norwegian fjords and glaciers. Low in sodium and nearly mineral-free, the status water (available in still or sparkling) has made its way to the sorts of restaurants and hotels where tap just won't do. $1.75--$3.49 a bottle; 877-525-8677; vosswater.com.

18 LONGMIRE CUFF LINKS London-based jeweler Longmire's whimsical designs call for the resurgence of French cuffs. They'll custom-make cuff links to sport your initials or family crest--they'll even create miniature replicas of your car. It's hard to choose a favorite, but a pair of enamel ladybugs comes close. $2,950; longmire.co.uk.

19 JULIE HOLCOMB LETTERPRESS STATIONERY A handwritten note beats an e-mail with "Thanks" in the subject line every time. San Francisco Bay Area--based Julie Holcomb Printers creates beautiful letterpress note cards: initials or images are pressed deeply into 100% rag, artisanal, archival paper for an embossed look and feel. Holcomb also offers custom designs. $15 for set of six; 877-654-2595; julieholcombprinters.com.

20 PING GOLF CLUBS Master custom fitter Ping creates clubs according to your height, wrist-to-floor distance, stance, and swing. Clubhead, lie and loft angle, shaft length and material (graphite or steel), and grip size--all are up to you, even if your score isn't. $110--$165 (irons); $200--$465 (woods); 800-474-6434; pinggolf.com.

21 RIEDEL WINE GLASSES Smart oenophiles turn to Austrian glassmaker Riedel, whose lead-crystal Sommeliers glasses are designed to enhance the intensity and complexity of wines, from Alsace to Zinfandel. There are about 35 mouth-blown glasses in the series, including the 37-ounce Burgundy Grand Cru stem, which earned a place in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. $55--$89; riedel.com.

22 F.A. PORSCHE KITCHEN TOOLS Your kitchen drawer becomes a garage for Useful Things: a line of five tools from housewares manufacturer Leifheit International U.S.A., which brought the brains, and F.A. Porsche, who brought the sex appeal. In brushed stainless steel, the scissors, jar opener, can opener, bottle opener, and corkscrew are very va-va-vroom. $39--$75; 866-695-3434; leifheitusa.com.

23 MANDARINA DUCK FROG LUGGAGE Bring pleasure back to traveling with Mandarina Duck's technical and sleek Frog luggage. Pieces are rugged enough to handle airport obstacle courses, but light enough to toss into the overhead compartment with ease. $360--$445; 877-354-4481; flight001.com.

24 LEICA D-LUX DIGITAL CAMERA The 3.3-megapixel, seven-ounce digital camera features a 1.5-inch color LCD monitor, triple zoom lens, and USB 2.0 port. It may look retro, but the technology is anything but. $820; 800-222-0118; leica-camera.com.

25 LA MAISON DU CHOCOLAT CANDY BAR Rich candy from the famed French chocolatier, made in different cocoa strengths, from a 35% milk-chocolate Merida bar to a 100% sugar-free Coro bar. $7--$15; 800-988-5632; lamaisonduchocolat.com.

26 BMW Q6.S FOLDING MOUNTAIN BIKE What happens when you combine BMW motorcycle design technology with punishing mountain trails? The Q6.S, a 27-speed full-suspension foldable bike as thrilling to look at as to ride. A special accessory turns it into a stationary bike for spinning workouts. $3,995; $299 for stationary trainer; 888-269-6654; bmw-online.com.

27 PRATESI CASHMERE ROBE Pratesi robes are made in Pistoia, Italy, from the softest Mongolian cashmere. The unisex version has a shawl collar, and the women's has a quilted collar lined with silk. You'll never want to get dressed again. $1,980; 800-332-6925; pratesi.com.

28 FINEST WINE Only the lucky few on Screaming Eagle's mailing list have an option to buy their $250-per-bottle cult cabernet. The Napa Valley boutique winery (which doesn't conduct tours or tastings) produces only 500 cases annually: 707-944-0749; screamingeagle.com. More accessible but also highly sought-after are the wines created by grape goddess Helen Turley. Turley, who's now the resident winemaker at Martinelli Vineyards & Winery, is still famous for the exquisite Pahlmeyer chardonnays and Bordeaux-style blends she crafted before she left in 1999. 707-255-2321; ahlmeyer.com. Hint: The $40 Martinelli Road Chardonnay is delicious, at two-thirds the price; 707-525-0570; martinelliwinery.com.

29 GHURKA FISHING-ROD CASE Whether you're headed to the Canadian Rockies or the Turks and Caicos Islands for angling action, transport your gear in style with Ghurka's sturdy, water-resistant vintage-leather fishing-rod cases. $750--$1,200; 800-587-1584; ghurka.com.

30 ZEISS-MINI (DIADEM) BINOCULARS Stuck in the nosebleed seats? Grab the Zeiss-Mini (Diadem) 3.6x12 binoculars, whose high-precision optics deliver crisp images and brilliant color. At about six ounces and 2.4 inches tall, they're almost as easy to tote as your event tickets. $230; 800-441-3005; zeiss.com.

31 HERMES NOMADE WATCH Not only will you keep perfect time, you'll also know where you're going--this watch opens to reveal a precision compass. $3,100; 800-441-4488; hermes.com.

32 SEIZE SUR VINGT In addition to custom-making stylish dress shirts and cashmere sweaters, New York's Nolita clothier makes bespoke suits. All are mostly handsewn, with fine European wools and meticulous attention to detail--they require at least three fittings. A perfect fit is yours in about six to eight weeks. $1,550 and up; 212-343-0476; 16sur20.com.

33 TIFFANY & CO. PET TAG Rex will be the most glamorous canine at the dog run with a sterling-silver tag from Tiffany & Co. Choose a bone, paw-print, or pet-bowl shape. $65; 800-526-0649; tiffany.com.

34 KARIM RASHID BACKGAMMON SET Good thing the game board and storage case are transparent--the bright-rubber playing pieces and translucent dice are too cool to hide. $60; momastore.org.

35 PUCCI IPOD CASE Exclusive to the chic Colette boutique in Paris, Pucci's vivid, durable case protects your MP3 player, and like playlists--no two cases are alike. About $112; colette.fr.

36 GRADE-A RESERVATIONS One of the toughest tables to land is at the French Laundry in Napa Valley, which accepts reservations two months in advance. Serving French-influenced American cuisine, chef-owner Thomas Keller offers three menus that change daily, including a nine-course chef's tasting menu for $135. P.S.: Keller opens a yet-to-be-named restaurant in New York City's Columbus Circle early next year: 707-944-2380; frenchlaundry.com. Mediterranean bistro A.O.C. in Los Angeles serves up shareable plates and more than 50 wines by the glass: Tapas-style entrees $7--$13; 323-653-6359. Jamie "Naked Chef" Oliver trained 15 youths to man the kitchen at his first restaurant, Fifteen, in London. All proceeds go to charity at his establishment, whose cuisine is described as "Mediterranean, heavily influenced by Italian." Entrees $17--$42; 44-20-7251-1515; fifteenrestaurant.com.

37 FLEUR DE SEL DE GUERANDE AND DAVERO DRY CREEK ESTATE XVOO Humble condiments? Not. Farmers gather crystals from marshes on the southwest coast of France for sea salt, like this kind harvested by Didier Aube: $6.95; splendidpalate.com. The olive trees may come from Tuscany, but this extra-virgin olive oil is Californian, specifically, Sonoma county's Dry Creek Valley. It has won international praise, many awards, and a place in chef Mario Batali's kitchen at New York City's Babbo. $24; davero.com.