Inside that bright gold building in the middle of Hollywood Boulevard is Australian makeup mogul Napoleon Perdis’ 5,000-square-foot American flagship, where LA glamazons can learn to beautify or simply pay someone to do it for them.

When asked why he chose Hollywood Boulevard as the place to open his flagship store, Napoleon Perdis replied, “Dreams are made in Hollywood.” Already a superstar in his native Australia, Perdis pulled out all the stops with his Hollywood boutique and makeup academy. The exterior is bathed in gold with a black-and-white striped awning; inside, the store features mirrored tables where samples of lip gloss, mascara and eyeshadow welcome giddy experimenters. Known for putting playful taglines as well as application instructions on his packaging—his foundation primer cries “Not to prime is a crime”—Perdis also grants vocational degrees in makeup artistry at the in-house academy. These courses, as well as one-day workshops on how to apply foundation and other cosmetic FAQs, are held in the studio space to the left of the retail area. Through a long hallway lined with photos of Perdis with his celebrity clientele is the VIP room and concierge, where monied scenesters can privately get primped before a night out at nearby hotspots Mood and Parc. —Enid Portuguez