Archive for January, 2006

My Marie Chavez necklaces came as a very special birthday present. I was stunned by their simple beauty when I first glimpsed them, and every time I wear the necklaces I’m again surprised by how exquisite – yet how bohemian – they are as well. I have two gold necklaces from Marie Chavez – one is just choker-length, with dangling black beads and a center tag with an exotic, Sanskrit-like design. The second necklace is much longer – I often wrap it around my neck twice – and alternates between uniquely shaped black beads and a glass-like, textured bead. When I wear the two together, I feel regally beautiful.

All of the unique Marie Chavez pieces are gorgeous – and if you have trouble deciding on just one necklace, I highly recommend two or more that can be paired together! Find them at mariechavez.com.

Ever wish you could walk a mile in golden girl Sandra Oh’s strappy sandals? Now you can, and for a good cause. The Clothes Off Our Back Foundation’s second annual online Celebrity Clothing Auction is officially live, so bidding can begin on the stars’ Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild awards finery. Proceeds benefit UNICEF’s work in the Sudan, Half the Sky and Cure Autism Now, so you don’t have to feel guilty about dropping some cash on your red carpet relic. Oh’s shiny Golden Globes sandals (the ones she strutted in while accepting her best supporting actress statuette, no less) are on the block, with an opening bid of a mere $100. If you’re feeling especially generous (and brave!) check out the slinky navy Versace gown It-girl Jessica Alba donned for the Golden Globes (starting bid $1,000). Or, if you’re looking for something to brighten up your workday, count down the seconds ‘til 5 o’clock on The Office star Steve Carell’s Charles Winston Couture Golden Globes watch (opening bid $100). The auction runs through the evening of March 31, 2006. Grammy, Oscar, and Sundance Film Festival wares will be added as the events happen, so check in early and often if you want to snag some 2006 awards season goodies. Find the charitable auctions at ClothesOffOurBack.org

When I was a child there were few pleasures that surpassed playing with my mother’s makeup. I wanted so desperately to gain access that adult world of beauty and glamour and those delicate tubes of lipstick seemed to hold the key. The only thing better than playing with Mom’s beauty products was looking in my grandma’s jewelry box. The elegant treasures inside were definitely of a different time.
Amazingly, Besame Cosmetics has a line of products that somehow combines my love of makeup with my adoration of everything oldtimey. The line not only looks ripped straight out of the forties with its beautiful and elaborate packaging, but the products themselves are so rich and luxurious looking on your skin that it just makes you think of a time when starlets conditioned their hair with mayonnaise. Plus, the Besame website gives amazing makeup tips for those who love the vintage look not just in their cosmetics but on their face, too. It’s perfect for those nights when you want to show up at dinner party looking as elegant as Grace Kelly. Check it all out at Besamecosmetics.com.

No bones about it: skull jewelry is hot. Mischa Barton has been sighted rocking a sweet skull and crossbones charm on a pearl strand in London and L.A., and with a new Pirates of the Caribbean film due out in July, this trend is just coming to life. But beware: there’s definitely a fine line between “flair” and “scare.” As always, choose glam over goth, and ixnay anything that looks like it should only be worn as part of a Hell’s Angels Halloween costume. Me & Ro offers up the perfect solution in tiny sterling silver skull earrings embellished with rubies. The New York jewelers, popular with the Friends set and Julia Roberts, often infuse their designs with Tibetan and Sanskrit symbolism. Skulls, say designers Michele Quan and Robin Renzi, are symbolic of “the transitory nature of life; the skull reminds us to live fully and mindfully.” Measuring a mere quarter inch each, Me & Ro’s subtle skulls are delicate enough to complement even your everyday workwear, and the tiny twinkling rubies give them just enough oomph to draw attention to your excellent new conversation pieces. When your friends ask about your new pirate-style booty, tell them about how the skull is an ancient symbol of the wisdom found in facing mortality; and don’t forget to get in a few words about what a trendsetter you are!
Price: $300

Find It: Me&Ro’s Skull Pendant and Skull Earrings are available at eLUXURY.com.

Shop: SINGER22.COM

Best Seller: Johnson ‘Millicent’ Shorts

Why they’re flying off the shelves: Johnson shorts are the favorites of Nicole Richie, Mischa Barton, Nicky Hilton, Jessica Simpson and more… They are the must-have item of the season. They come in a variety of fabrics and colors. ($220)

Get a pair: 10% off for SheFinds readers by entering coupon code ‘shefinds‘ at checkout on SINGER22.com

SheFinds Says: These shorts are everywhere. While we’re not fans of the patterned tights, ankle boots combo- heels with a dressy top or flats with a rocker chick tee is definitely the way to wear them. We’re dreaming of the warmer days to come when we can throw on a tank and flip-flops with this great find.

What: [url=htp://www.activasports.com/cgi-bin/activa/activa/product.jsp?baseProdKey=ACPMA187&BV_SessionID=@@@@0008677031.1137433104@@@@&BV_EngineID=haddfjegflhlbekgcgecfeedh.0]Puma Anjan[/url]

Why: What’s the best motivation for sticking to your New Year’s resolution to get in shape? A new pair of kicks that looks great on and off the treadmill. It’s no longer necessary for your gym gear to include a pair of bright white sneakers that you hide in a tote bag until you can escape to the locker room to lace them up. I was delighted to find the Puma Anjan at the Activa semi-annual sale because I think it’s the cutest of all the puma styles. These sneakers work double duty as you can pair them with spandex or jeans and look retro-cool either way. Snap these babies up for a healthy and fashionable workout.

Price: $65.00

Find it: [url=http://store.puma.com/pumaUSStore/search.asp?siteid=1&keyword=anjan&submit.x=35&submit.y=10&submit=submit]Puma.com[/url] has the best color variety, but not the best prices. SheFinds recommends Buckle.com or Zappos.com where shipping is free.

Just in from London…


Target continue to raise the mass retail bar with a new international collection by the spirited Brit, Luella Bartley. The collections from high fashion designers from all over the world will only be available for 90 days (or until they’re sold-out, which is definitely going to happen first.) Bartley is just the first of many collections that Target is trumpeting from trendy overseas designers. Her clothes can only be described as whimsical. The resort collection is fun, young, colorful with handbags and accessories to match. The best part? The clothes come in at typical Target prices, unbelievably affordable. I could buy the whole collection for the less than the price of a Prada bag. I’ve been a lifelong Target fan and this new direction solidifies my devotion. Play dress up with this sweet and sexy strapless dress. Pair it with white bangles and cherry pattern clutch. It’s a little vixen, a little girl next door. Find it at Target.com.

It’s a story seen all too often common in business: The corporate man accused of stealing ideas from a small business, sucking up its creativity and crushing its retail potential. This phenomenon is even more common in fashion, where the term “copied” is replaced by the less offensive “inspired by,” and designs aren’t patent protected.

The latest offense? According to Consumerist.com, online t-shirt purveyor Madapollam.com alleges that Urban Outfitters, that behemoth of mass-produced hipster retailer, stole their design of a panda eating a stalk of bamboo. While the actual design seems like something silly to fight about (it’s a silk-screened panda, for goodness sake), the underlying issue is not. Is it mere coincidence? Or is Urban Outfitters guilty of pulling the panda design? It’s a mystery…and the panda isn’t talking. Buy ‘the hottest selling item at Madapollam’ at madapollam.com. The alleged copy at Urban, not quite a duplicate. Find it at UrbanOutfitters.com

In college, where the backpack was the accessory de rigueur, mine was a catch-all for books, bagels, makeup, and a spare pair of sandals (fashion-obsessed, even then!) I still carry just as much stuff to work, but the backpack doesn’t have a place in the professional world. Designer Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff is answering the call of fashionable women with bone and muscle pains by creating her Bird In Hand bags, consulting with chiropractors and physical therapists. Her bags are big enough to hold a laptop, with practical side pockets so you can easily fish out your cell phone and keys. The bamboo handle and subtle bird stamp on the side of the faux-leather handbag add style. No animals were harmed in the making of this hot handbag. Your shoulders won’t be harmed in the carrying of it. Find Bird In Hand bags in camel, black, and white at the company’s website, getbirdinhand.com.

Managing Editor’s Note: I am a bag lady, not just in my handbag collection but in the amount of stuff that I lug around the city on a daily basis. For obvious reasons, my laptop is a permanent accessory. I love my Bird in Hand bag. The simple style is completely versatile- matching whatever wardrobe whim I’m indulging in. The lining is fabulous- bright colors, funky pattern with tiny metallic accents. This bag is on my “must-have” list.

How many times have you ordered something over the web from a small designer or company that looked so good online and so not good when you finally got it? Wrapped in tattered tissue, wrinkled and even stained, I have seen it all. No note, no invoice, no thank you. It’s almost as if the company doesn’t care that I’m spending my hard-earned dollars on their product. If you’re sick and tired of that experience, you ought to check out Bags With Style. I recently received a set of shoes bags in the wickedly futuristic “Future-Ella Black” fabric, and a bag for my boots in “Fashion Girls Aqua”. I was not disappointed, one bit.
The bags are cute and well made. Lined with soft flannel, these bags will take care of your softest leather and sweetest suede. I would have ordered cotton balls from this designer, if she packaged it like her bags. The obvious pride in her product, attention to detail, and the fact that a portion of proceeds from each sale goes to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, makes this one company to support. A great find at bagswithstyle.com

So we’re what, a few weeks into the New Year now? And how are your resolutions coming along? This year I purposely declined from making any empty promises to myself. Rather I renewed those that I made last year- the most important one was to just work on me. To become more grounded, chilled out, able to leave stress behind and become healthier and better adjusted me. This requires constant effort. It also requires consistent reminders to take care of myself. I particularly love my ChakraVibe Jewelry. It’s a visual reminder of the vow I have made to myself to work on all areas of my life. Accessories linked to the seven chakras of the body- it’s a good addition to any self-help arsenal. The Yellow crystals necklace triggers work on the solar plexus chakra (associated with ambition, intelligence and spontaneity). The Indigo blue set is for the brow chakra enhancing perception, wisdom and understanding. The Combined Chakras simply cover all your bases. Not only sparkly and stylish, but jewelry with a purpose for body and soul. A great find at Chakravibe.com.

Deal Alert! Until Valentine’s Day the ChakraVibe Combined Chakras heart bracelet, and the green Heart Chakra necklace come with a free pair of single crystal earrings as a gift to customers. What a nice way to say “I love you”…to you!

When I got wind of these deals, I couldn’t, in good conscience, start my weekend until I shared them with you. Happy shopping.

T-Shirts starting at only $9.98. I’m a fan of wearing t-shirts at the gym, on the couch, just about anywhere. Replace the ratty tees your guy has worn one too many times. Lucky Brand Closeout Sale

EXTRA $30 OFF * Only $99.98 (Price Was $129.99) .25 cttw Diamond Circle Pendant, 14K White Gold These circle pendants have packed style punch for awhile now, and they’re not going out of fashion anytime soon. This is no CZ ladies.

Dropping jewelry hints with a certain holiday in mind? Pass on these links to your sweetheart. But I always advocate self-reliance, if you want something- go out and get it for yourself!

EXTRA $50 OFF $399.98 (Price Was $449.99) 3.00 cttw. Diamond Bracelet in 10K White Gold

EXTRA $40 OFF 1/2 cttw. Princess-Cut Diamond Stud Earrings Only $259.98 (Price Was $299.99) 1/2 cttw. Princess-Cut Diamond Stud Earrings

EXTRA $100 OFF 1.0 cttw 3 Stone Diamond Ring White Gold Only $499.98 (Price Was $599.99) 1.0 cttw 3 Stone Diamond Ring White Gold

Have you noticed the bizarre trend of celebs wearing wedding rings, on either hand, when they’re not hitched or even engaged? Not so bizarre, diamonds are a girl’s best friend when they frost your fingers just for fun.