Brightly Colored Jeans for Every Age

 
It seems like a safe bet to say that brightly colored jeans are a trend that is here to stay. Visit any fashionable boutique or the contemporary department of a major department store, and you'll feast your eyes on a kaleidoscopic collection of brightly colored denim.

Check out J Brand's incredible new denim colors here and don't forget to also investigate the awesome J Brand collaboration with Christopher Kane; the sorbet-colored styles are simply divine. Paige denim also has some new colors to covet; check out their "New Arrivals" and scroll down for styles with names like Arabian Pink, Royal Turquoise and Toast. And it's not just the high-end denim lines that are going color-crazy; check out these hues from the Gap, which include purple, blue and red.

A trend like colored denim may seem to be something strictly for a very young demographic, but we beg to differ! There are so many shades that are totally wearable at any age- a deep purple can look very sophisticated, for instance, as can a burgundy or rust or even red. And you can totally tone the look down of bright jeans by adding a classic black blazer, or a simple solid-color sweater or T-shirt.

Still think this trend is strictly for the young? Check out the brightly colored offerings from the famously mom-friendly denim line, Not Your Daughter's Jeans. They have a wide array of bold hues, ranging from red to blue to pink, proving that this trend crosses generational divides.

So break out of the blue-jean box and experiment with some color in your denim wardrobe!

InStyle Magazine: Sparkly Tank Tops for Every Age

This month's edition of InStyle Magazine includes a great feature called "Fashion Director vs. Fashion Assistant," which demonstrates how the magazine's director of fashion, Cindy Weber Cleary, and her assistant, Alexandra Michler, style the same sparkly tank to make it work for their respective ages.

At first glance a garment like a sparkly tank top might seem to be more in the domain of the young "Fashion Assistant," but the elder "Fashion Director" makes the glitzy tank appear much more grown up by adding heels and a tailored blazer.

Meanwhile, you might expect the younger "Fashion Assistant" to style her sparkly top for evening, but she takes a surprising twist on the tank by styling it down for day instead. She adds a trench coat, colorful jeans and tough little shearling booties to the make the outfit casual yet unexpected and fun.

We love how InStyle demonstrates not only how the same garment can be great for different generations, but also how a single item- in this case, a shimmery tank top- can be styled for work or weekend, inspiring us to make the most of what's in our wardrobes.

Mother-Daughter Missoni Style

 
Who can forget the fashion frenzy that was last fall's Missoni for Target collaboration? The collection infamously crashed the Target web site and some stores sold out within minutes (but did you know you can still score select items from the collection on Target's web site?)

Of course, Missoni, the nearly 60-year-old Italian fashion house, is celebrated for its iconic colorful zigzag prints which are coveted worldwide and which retail in high-end stores for prices in the thousands.

Originally started by Rosita Missoni, now 80, and her husband, Ottavio, in 1953, today the fashion house is led by their daughter, Angela, age 52, and granddaughter, Margherita, age 28.

The Missoni women, and the clothing they create, are great examples of inter-generational style. In a recent interview with Net-a-Porter Magazine, the mother-daughter duo Angela and Margherita explain how their designs are "transgenerational."

The three generations of Missoni designing women could be the brand's best advertisement, modeling how their fashions can be worn by women in their 80s, 50s or 20s. They serve as an inspiring example of how great style is timeless, and ageless!

Buy of the Day: Amazing Handbags and Accessories, On Sale!

Last summer we had the pleasure of visiting the gorgeous New York City showroom of handbag and accessory label La Gioe de Tuscana and meeting the designers, Sharon and John, the husband-and-wife team behind the brand. We were blown away by their unbelievable unique designs, incredible attention to detail and their very affordable prices. Check out this slideshow of some of their handbags and you'll see why what we are talking about- their styles are amazing!!

Since we visited with Sharon and John they have opened up their flagship retail store in NYC, located at 12 E. 52 off 5th Avenue. If you are in New York, visit them and see their beautiful merchandise first hand.

But no need to travel to New York to get a GREAT deal on La Gioe de Tuscana: the company is offering some amazing deals on their website including 30 percent off the purchase of one handbag, or 50 percent off the purchase of two.

For the ultimate great deal, check out La Gioe de Tuscana's accessory sale: they are offering buy-one-get-one free now through December 24! These deals are amazing and would make for perfect gifts. The wallets and wristlets rock, and check out these awesome handmade fox pins for $75 (buy one get one free)!

Email Sharon at sharon@sharongioehandbags.com for more information and let her know that we sent you! Happy shopping!!

Manicure Musings

While I am the "daughter" in the "Like Mother, Like Daughter" equation, I am also a mother of young children myself. Being the mother of young children obviously poses many challenges. One of the more trivial but also more fashionable and fun challenges is the seemingly endless quest for the perfect kid-friendly nail polish color.

What makes a nail polish color "kid-friendly?" Simply, the polish must be a color which straddles that evasive fine line between being cool and calling out "notice me!" while also at the same time being a light enough natural/nude color so as to sustain chips without needing to be promptly removed.

While I do adore the Deborah Lippmann polishes (honorable mentions to the child-rearing friendly shades of Baby Love and Fashion), my favorite shade du jour is Butter London's fabulously named Yummy Mummy. While the Butter London web site describes the color as a "medium beige," it also has mauve undertones and a hint of shimmer.

What's also great about Butter London is that their formulas are free of formaldehyde, toluene, DBP and parabens. Such formulas are especially great for expectant mothers who don't want to expose themselves to these chemicals.

The bottom line: Yummy Mummy looks cool, and forgives chips enough that you don't have to remove it the moment is starts chipping.

The Butter London site has free shipping over $75, but you can buy it with free shipping and no minimum purchase at Nordstrom.

Susan Says: "I am big fan of Butter London, too, but I have to vote for the Deborah Lippmann Collection, which also is free of formaldehyde, toluene, DBP and parabens and which is not tested on animals. My favorite new shades are Glamorous Life (pictured above), which is perfect for the holidays and New Year's Eve (especially if you are sporting a tan) and P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing), which is a soft demure look."

The Season for Giving: Beauty Buys with Benefits

With a dwindling number of  pre-holiday shopping days left, we wanted to give you a few more ideas for little gifts or stocking stuffers that allow you to feel good, look good and do good.

These buys offer some of the most luxurious beauty products in gorgeous exclusive limited-edition packaging with an amazing payoff: your purchase will benefit some incredibly worthy charities for children. Now that's a beautiful thing!

The Buy: Kiehl's Limited Edition Jeff Koons Balloon Flower Creme de Corps Lotion. Kiehl's teamed up with the artist Jeff Koons to create limited-edition versions of their popular, super-hydrating, super-enriched Creme de Corps Lotion which are embellished with Koon's iconic artwork. A luxury lotion encased in an art-embellished canister is deluxe enough, but if you really want to get fancy, you can add one of these outrageous decorative Koon's Balloon Flower toppers too. Through 12/14 (today!), Kiehl's is offering free shipping plus a deluxe sample on orders over $35; use the promo code PRESENT.

The Benefit: Kiehl's is donating 100% of net proceeds up to $200,000 to the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC). According to an IMEC press release, "Most people know Jeff Koons for his art, but less known is that he is also the father of an abducted child, Ludwig. He has battled on two continents to get his son back, yet despite his fame and influence, his son was not able to be returned to his custody. Jeff Koons is a fervent advocate for protecting children..." Read more about the Kiehl's initiative here and more about the organization at icmec.org.

The Buy: Lancome "Golden Hat" Illuminating Smooth Powder. The actress Kate Winslet created a line of holiday products with Lancome, including an amazing red lipstick, and all the products are encased in cool limited-edition black packaging embellished with the "Golden Hat" as well as Winslet's signature in glamorous gold script. While all the products look lovely, we especially adore this gorgeous golden illuminating powder, which is available at Nordstrom (by the way, did you know that Nordstrom now offers free shipping and free returns, all the time?)

The Benefit: Lancome is donating over $200,000 to the Golden Hat Foundation, a nonprofit founded by Winslet to better the lives of children with autism.  Winslet collaborated with the beauty brand to create the Golden Hat holiday makeup collection to support the organization which she founded after she was asked to do the voice-over narration of a documentary about a severely autistic boy.  She made a video to explain the importance of the cause.

The Buy: Clarins FEED 25 Set is a compilation of four full-size skin care products including some of Clarins most iconic products: the Beauty Flash Balm; One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser; Smoothing Body Scrub; and the Moisture-Rich Body Lotion. The contents of this set are a great introduction to the Clarins brand, or a treat for someone who is already a Clarins devotee, and it's all wrapped up in the FEED stenciled tote bag. You can order your FEED 25 Set here, or if you want a smaller version, check out the Clarins FEED 15 Set, which offers a smaller stenciled pouch and a different variety of smaller-sized products, and which is available at Nordstrom.

The Benefit: The FEED Project was founded by model/activist Lauren Bush in 2007 with the mission of feeding hungry children and the nonprofit has distributed over 60 millions meals worldwide. With each purchase of a FEED 25 Set, Clarins and FEED will contribute 25 meals to children worldwide through the United National World Food Programme. (Likewise with each FEED 15 Set sold, the organizations will distribute 15 meals.) 

Star Style: Anna Wintour and Bee Shaffer

When it comes to amazing style it's clearly going to be hard to beat the dynamic duo of legendary Vogue editor Anna Wintour, age 62, and her beautiful daughter Bee Shaffer, age 23.

Wintour and Shaffer not only always look amazingly fashionable (of course!), but they also often demonstrate how the same styles can look awesome and age-appropriate on women of different generations.

In the photo above, Anna and Bee both model gorgeous graphic prints in black and white. While both women are sporting skirts of a similar length, Anna's dress is a more conservative sheath style, while Bee's is a youthful strapless confection.

In this photo taken at the Spring 2011 Proenza Schouler fashion show, Anna and Bee both sport similar black-and-color dresses, but while Bee keeps her look light with simple open-toe shoes, Anna adds more age-appropriate elegance by layering on a chunky statement necklace and a black cardigan.

In this last example of mother/daughter style, Anna and Bee both donned print dresses in conservative cuts but with audacious bright colors. Anna made her bold dress more age-appropriate by adding tall boots and a dark cardigan over her shoulders, while Bee made her sheath more playful by adding bare strappy sandals with fun embellishments.

Fascinating!

Why are fascinators so fascinating? 

A form of a headpiece, designed to be worn in lieu of a hat, the increasing popularity of fascinators became most apparent at the recent royal wedding. Time Magazine reported that "the millions watching the April 29th Royal Wedding on television cared less about Prince Williams' suit and Kate Middleton's dress than they did the hats atop the attendees heads..." The public was especially intrigued by royal wedding guest Princess Beatrice's outrageous fascinator which spawned its own Facebook fan page.  As further evidence of the fascination with fascinators, Lady GaGa was recently spotted sporting a hot pink one.
 

Fascinators were largely worn by royalty, especially during the reign of Louis XVI.  Then, in the 1970's, master milliners Stephen Jones and Philip Treacy began designing and popularizing them.  In fact Philip Treacy designed the famous Princess Beatrice fascinator.

We're fascinated with fascinators because they add drama, whimsy and style and elevate an outfit to a whole new level. We're fascinated with fascinators because they are like wearing mini works of art.

And we are especially fascinated with the creations made by a local designer here in SW Florida. The company is called Dixie's Daughter and in addition to fascinators, the line extends to clothing and accessories as well.  The fascinators range in price, starting at $75.00, based upon materials and complexity of design.

Here are some of our favorite styles:

We spoke with the designer behind Dixie's Daughter and she gave us some insight into her artistic process: "I choose a base to build on: velvet, silk, tulle, leather, for instance, and layer different elements: sparkling, velvety, shiny, smooth; mixing colors to achieve the perfect effect," she explained. 

"The result I look for is an eye-catching, constantly-changing, and unique work that captivates and charms.  I want to create drama, make the wearer irresistible to watch.  That's the definition of 'fascinator,' isn't it?" 

To order a fascinator from Dixie's Daughter, contact dixiesdaughter@aol.com.

Why Buy Organic?

We have already realized the value of eating organic foods. But why consider organic when it comes to clothing?

Because conventional cotton receives 25% of the world's insecticides, which makes it the  most toxic crop grown on the planet! Yikes!

We haven't made the switch to organic clothing, but the idea of toxic chemicals in fabric is a good reason to check out more sustainable, healthy alternatives. So we were excited to hear about Thoughtful Threads Organic Clothing and Sustainable Lifestyle in Naples, Florida.  Thoughtful Threads is an extension to Food & Thought which is a great place to purchase organic fruit and vegetables, or pick up a healthy lunch.  In addition to their grocery section, Food & Thought has an amazing cafe with wonders like Tropical Broccoli Salad, homemade hummus, and Vegan Bliss Shakes that are made with no sugar and coconut cream.

If you are in the Naples area, stop by the sister shops from December 9th through December 10th for some fabulous buys on organic products to eat and to wear. If you aren't in Southwest Florida, check out the Thoughtful Threads and Food & Thought web sites for lots of interesting information answering the question, "Why organic?"

Some of Thoughtful Threads and Food & Thought's weekend specials include: 

Organic cotton bras: SRP $38.00, sale price: $19.00 

Organic cotton beach towels: SRP $36.00, sale price: $18.00 

ERGO organic baby carriers: SRP $135-$160.00, sale price: $99.00

Organic bananas are a steal at 39 cents a pound

Vine ripe certified organic tomatoes are 99 cents a pound

All pottery is on sale at 50% off

All fresh veggies and berries picked from an organic farm will be at 20% for the two day sale.

Let's help save the planet and eat well and dress well!

Susan's Secret Steal Web Site: Denim Extravaganza!

 
I recently let you in on my favorite "secret steal" web site, 6PM.com. I was AMAZED when I came across some of the deals this web site is running on high-end designer denim. These are not even advertised specials but these are the absolute best prices I have seen for higher-than-high-end jeans.

For example, they have Seven for All Mankind for up to 70 percent off retail, including these adorable skinny cropped rolled jeans in a trendy deep indigo color for $59.99, which is 65 percent off the original retail price of $149. Take a look at the styles which include everything including wide leg, skinny, cargos and shorts. While some styles are limited in size availability, it's worth browsing through to see if you can find your perfect pair for a fraction of the price.

Another great label available at great prices is Joe's Jeans (one of my personal favorites).  I am loving these belted leg pant casual pants. The MRP is $143.00 but they priced on 6PM.com at $42.90 (70% off retail) and they have lots of sizes in stock!

Also check out the offerings from William Rast and Adriano Goldschmied!

And don't forget that 6pm is offering free shipping on all orders and returns are trouble-free! I am off to place my order!

Star Style: Mother/Daughter Designing Duos

Some of our favorite celebrity moms and daughters have taken their mutual love of fashion to the next level and have collaborated with one another to create amazingly successful fashion lines all their own.

Here is a roundup of some celeb mothers and daughters who are partners in style and in business:

Madonna and Lourdes Leon: The iconic singer, age 53, and her daughter, Lourdes, age 15, launched a collaborative line last year which is sold exclusively at Macy's.  In an article about the clothing line, MTV reported, "fashionistas agree that the mother/ daughter duo has discovered exactly how to bring out your best style at any age." While the line is primarily aimed for the younger demographic, there are plenty of styles to suit different age ranges. For those who like a whimsical flair, this shoe sweater is especially darling.  

Beyoncé and Tina Knowles: Back when Beyoncé was performing with the group Destiny's Child, the singer's mother, Tina Knowles, would design and sew the costumes for all the group's members. In 2004 the superstar and her mother launched their own clothing line, House of Deréon, drawing inspiration from another generation- Tina Knowles's late mother, Agnés Deréon. Their line keeps expanding- they just introduced their clothes to the UK during London Fashion Week. They even have a line of bedding available at Bed, Bath and Beyond!

Jessica Simpson and Tina Simpson: The singer/actress/former reality star and her mom, Tina, are the dynamic duo who serve as co-creative directors behind the phenomenally successful retail empire that is known as the Jessica Simpson Collection. The collection features apparel, accessories, shoes, fragrance, luggage, handbags... the list goes on and on! When we say the collection is a phenomenon, we mean it: the Jessica Simpson Collection is on pace to bring in almost a billion dollars by the end of next year. Their merchandise is sold basically everywhere: Macy's, Lord & Taylor, Nordstrom, Dillard's and more.  For fun, check out a cute little feature called "Just Like Jessica" on the company's web site which allows you to see complete outfits from the Jessica Simpson Collection fully styled à la the younger Ms. Simpson herself.

The Season for Giving: TOMS Gift Guide

"Giving is what fuels us; Giving is our future." - TOMS Founder Blake Mycoskie

You may be familiar with TOMS shoes and their policy of donating a pair of shoes to a needy person in a developing country for every pair of TOMS shoes sold. The company's founder, Blake Mycoskie, calls it a "One for One" policy. TOMS has donated over 600,000 pairs of new shoes to children in need through giving partners around the world.
 

It is difficult to imagine the daily hardships faced by children who do not have shoes; these hardships which go way beyond the obvious and can have life-altering or life-threatening consequences. For instance, many countries will not permit children to enter school unless they have a pair of shoes, which means having no access to shoes can equate to having no access to education. Also, children in Third World countries who go barefoot are prone to getting soil transmitted diseases which penetrate the skin through bare feet, so being barefoot is a serious health risk as well.

So this holiday season, when you are buying gift for family and friends, consider buying one of these fabulous TOMS products and, when you do, you'll be simultaneously giving a gift to a person in need.

Here are some fantastic TOMS gift ideas:

TOMS Shoes: Of course, TOMS is famous for their signature shoe. The Glitter shoes below are especially fun for the holidays. Also, many stores have artists who come in to paint TOMS shoes with original designs, gratis, for shoes purchased at a painting event; a pair of TOMS shoes embellished with original artwork makes for a fabulous gift, too.

TOMS Sunglasses: Mr. Mycoskie has expanded his "One for One" policy to include a new line of TOMS sunglasses.  Using natural materials with hand painted accents, the eyewear is extremely fashionable. For every pair of sunglasses sold, a pair of eyeglasses will be provided to someone to save or restore their vision.  A pair of TOMS sunglasses would make a great holiday gift, too!

TOMS Book: Mr. Mycoskie has written a book entitled Start Something That Matters.  Available on Amazon, this book offers inspirational reading with profits going to the "One for One" movement.  A great holiday read.

TOMS Gift Pack:  This great gift pack contains a $50 gift card for TOMS.com, a DVD of a documentary about the company and a TOMS poster. It's also offered at a great price of $50, which means the poster and DVD are basically free. Check it out here.

Star Style: Andie MacDowell and Sarah Margaret Qualley

This week's issue of People magazine features a photo of the actress and model Andie MacDowell, age 53, and her daughter, Sarah Margaret Qualley, age 17, looking gorgeous and demonstrating how denim jackets can look fabulous at fifteen or fifty.

Susan Says: Accessorizing for Charity

While I was at work the other day, I had the good fortune of stopping to admire a necklace and earrings worn by one of my customers.  I thought she probably bought it at a wonderful boutique because of its beauty and complexity of design.

I was overjoyed to learn that the artist who created the necklace, Michelle Levine-Troupp, creates the jewelry for charity, with all proceeds going to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.  

A cancer survivor for over 16 years, Michelle learned first hand what it is to receive a deadly diagnosis.  She vowed to do something to make a difference for children battling cancer and she was strongly moved by the fact that St. Jude's never turns a patient away, even when the patient does not have the financial resources to pay for medical costs.

Made of real gemstones, each of Michelle's pieces is unique, one of a kind, handmade, and not available in any store. All of Michelle's pieces are very reasonably priced, because she only charges enough to cover the costs of the gemstones plus the donation. Michelle's creations won top prize at a recent juried art event in Bonita Springs, Florida and Michelle was profiled in today's Naples Daily News.

We hope that everyone will take a moment to browse her website and make a purchase. Your purchase will directly support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and you'll love wearing Michelle's amazing designs. Visit her web site, uniquedesignsbymichelle.com, to buy now.

Bargain Buys: Banish Bad Hair Days

With the aging process, hair texture often changes, including thinning of the hair, which can leave many moms feeling blah about their hair's appearance. 

But bad hair days are not just a problem for the older generation. Many young women are frustrated with fine, flat hair, too.

Mothers and daughters alike can banish bad hair days with a few low-investment products that provide total bang-for-your-buck. We have tested the products listed below and we believe that with these bargain buys, you'll never have a bad hair day again!

L'Oreal EverStrong Sulfate-Free Fortify Shampoo: Shampoos that are sulfate-free can strengthen and add body.  One of our favorites is L'Oreal EverStrong Sulfate Free Fortify System.  With just one shampoo, the bio ceramide complex strengthens the hair. You can order it for $5.59 at Amazon.com.

 

Redken Time Reset: Recently, Dr. Oz did a segment on the subject of thinning hair during which he mentioned a product by Redken called Time Reset which claims to combat five signs of aging.  We went to the local cosmetic store and were told that they product was almost sold old due to the publicity on the Dr. Oz show. With this product, you can purchase travel sizes, 1.7 fluid ounces, and give it a try.  You can read more about the anti-aging properties of the products here. Redken products are sold exclusively in salons; click here to find a salon near you.

Osis + Dust: Another product we have tested is Osis + Dust; this is a matifying powder which can be used on the roots of dry hair to provide volume. Find a salon near you here or check out the deals at Amazon.

Kiehl's Stylist Series Super Thick Volumizer: This product provides lift and support at the root.  My hairdresser suggested I spray on my round brush while blow drying and it has been very effective.  It utilizes sunflower oil, sesame oil and soybean oil to condition and protect hair. You can buy at at Barneys.com, where they are offering free shipping.

Spornette Little Wonder Brush: Our favorite remedy for flat hair is the Spornette Little Wonder teasing brush. Lift hair and push the brush down three times; it is the same as "back combing" or "teasing" the hair with a better result. It can be found on sale on Amazon. We purchased ours on sale at Sally Beauty Supply for $4.99.

Elnett Hairspray: L'Oreal Paris Elnett Satin hairspray is the best kept secret for keeping your hair looking great. A good tip is to spray underneath at the nape of the neck or in between layers for maximum volume.  For fine hair we suggest the extra-hold version. Elnett is available at Amazon for a great price.     

Susan Says: Forever 21 Rocks for Fashion and Furry Friends

One of my favorite stores is Forever 21.  The name says it all.

I work for a major retailer and I recently admired a jacket worn by someone in our designer department, who is in her late forties.  To my utter surprise, I learned that the jacket was not purchased at our store's designer department, but rather at Forever 21.  In fact the jacket was a fantastic low-price version of a designer look. The amazing thing about Forever 21 is that prices are unbelievably low!!!  At first glance, Forever 21 may seem to be solely the domain of the very young shopper, but I believe mothers and daughters can both delight in this shopping destination.

And now, Forever 21 is officially in my Fashion Hall of Fame for doing a benefit for the ASPCA, a charity which is near to my heart.  Forever 21 has created a shirt exclusively for the ASPCA, which can be purchased beginning December 9th.  One dollar will be donated to the ASPCA for every shirt sold. Visit their web site or see below for more information.

Dana's Dream Buy of the Day: Givenchy Sun Visor

"Eat your veggies!" "Take your vitamins!" There are certain things that moms are always exhorting their children to do, even when those children are now adults. One thing my mom is always after me do is to wear a hat or visor when I am outdoors, even when I am just running errands, in order to protect my skin from wrinkles, sun damage and skin cancer.

In this case, mother does know best and I do try to follow my mom's advice. Protecting one's skin from the sun is a definite fashion "do." I mean, who wants sun-damaged skin?

I would like to wear a hat all day, but it gets annoying to wear a hat around all the time, so I prefer a visor, since it doesn't interfere with my hair and is less obtrusive to wear. The downside? I feel sometimes like a major dork walking around town in a sun visor. I want to protect my skin, but I also want to look good while doing so.

So you can imagine my excitement when I spotted this Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci sun visor in a recent fashion magazine. A fashion-forward solution to stylish sun protection! My face would never suffer sun exposure again!

My visions of myself as an uber-cool sun-free girl-about-town were tempered, however, when I realized that the magazine quotes the price of the visor at just under $1,000. Sigh. I guess I will have to keep searching for a stylish way to keep shady.

Susan's Better Buys: The Swedish Acupressure Mat

Last year for the holidays, I got a subscription to a national massage chain, but I became frustrated when I realized how difficult it was to obtain an appointment with my favorite masseuse, not to mention the challenge of trying to fit a massage appointment into my busy schedule.

So number one on my holiday wish list this year, and already on order today, is a Swedish Acupressure Mat which I saw on a recent segment of the Dr. Oz show.

Widely used in Europe, these mats have thousands of calibrated pressure points. The acupressure therapy helps your cortisol levels to drop, which in turn is said to reduce belly fat. The mat is also said to help induce sleep and reduce back pain.

I purchased my mat for a great price on Amazon.com. I got the Body Back Accu-Mat for $29.95 (regularly $39.99) with free shipping. You can also check out the Halsa Mat which also is on sale for $29.95.

I am taking a leap of faith and endorsing this product because I believe it will deliver what is promised. We need to feel good in order to look our best.

I'll update you next week after I have had a chance to test out the product! 

On Location: NYC Discount Shopping Guide

For anyone heading for The Big Apple this holiday season, shopping can be both economical and fun. Here are some of our favorite haunts:

• Sample sales.  Go online and find out which manufacturers are having sample sales, which typically run for a few days or a week.  You can snare a big ticket item for a fraction of the retail price. One of our favorite perennial sample sale destinations is Clothingline, which operates sales for major manufacturers about 40 weeks a year. Located at heart of the garment center at W. 36th between 7th Ave. and 8th Ave., they can be counted on to have amazing deals on designers such as Theory, Tory Burch, Helmut Lang and Milly. Check out their web site for updated information on the latest sales: http://clothingline.com/

• Daffy's.  With locations in New York as well as Pennsylvania and New Jersey, you cannot beat Daffy's for phenomenal fashion. Lots of imports from Italy and lovely houseware finds. The store was founded upon the motto, "clothing bargains for millionaires," and has 40-80 percent off designer clothes every day.

• Century 21.  No, not the realtors. This Century 21 is a discount department store offering up to 65 percent off retail, 100 percent of the time. Now celebrating their 50th anniversary, this store has expanded in recent years beyond their original New York and Brooklyn locations and can now be found in Long Island and New Jersey as well. They have even launched an exclusive online members-only shopping site featuring private designer sales. Membership is free at c21stores.com.  

• H&M: Sadly, living in Southwest Florida, we miss shopping at H&M, a super, awesome megastore, with 100,000 pieces of affordable clothing.  Like Target, H&M is known for their awesome designer collaborations; for instance, you can snare a silk skirt for $70 done by Versace for H&M.  The store receives fresh shipments every day so if you failed to find what you wanted (which would be hard to fathom), just try again tomorrow!
  

• Fox's: If you are in the Big Apple, it is worth a trip to Brooklyn, Queens or Long Island to visit this off-price discount mecca. They have been in business for over 20 years and subscribe to the motto: "Catch the thrill of a great buy."  The Mineola, LI, location is conveniently located walking distance from the Long Island Rail Road stop.  If you make the trip to Mineola, you will enjoy not just one, but two, Fox's destinations, since the store operates a separate discount shoe store across the street from the clothing outlet. If you are not making it to New York any time soon, the chain has expanded to include locations in Illinois (Skokie, Chicago, Oakbrook Terrace), Florida (Aventura, Boca Raton), Georgia (Atlanta), New Jersey (Marlboro, Ridgewood, Whippany) and Connecticut (Stamford).

Susan's Secret Steal Web Site

 

Having worked for a major retailer in the handbag and shoe department, I know a really amazing secret for purchasing current merchandise from the best brands at the lowest prices. I've already shared this secret with Dana ... and now I am sharing it with you, too!

The secret is a web site called 6PM.com.  Every day at 6 AM EST they feature vendors offering merchandise at up to 90% off retail.  You'll be amazed each day at the incredible "daily deals" on the featured labels.

But incredibly, it's not only the daily featured merchandise which can be found at amazing prices on 6pm.com. In fact, today's find (featured in the photo above) is not today's "daily deal" on 6pm, but rather an item for sale from their regular stock.  The shoe is called the Lorissa and it is by one of my favorite vendors, Sam Edelman. It is currently available in major retailers but here it is offered at half off retail.  This pump is amazing; with the studded back it can double as a weapon!!!  It is available in both closed and open toes, in black and neutral.

Here is another great find for those of you who are heading off on a cruise: check out a sandal by Kelsi Dagger known as the Cameilla which is being offered at 6pm.com for the astoundingly low price of $26.99.  I have these sandals in bone, pewter and black and I can assure you that I paid well in excess of the price of $26.99 even with a generous employee discount.  The sandals are comfortable and age appropriate for mothers and daughters and can complete just about any outfit.

 

So when you get up tomorrow, check out the daily deals at 6pm.com while you have your morning coffee. Oh, and in case any of your purchases happen not to work out for you, you can return the merchandise to 6pm within 30 days; I have found the return policy to be easy and foolproof.

Buy of the Day: Cell Phone Chic

Need to carry your cell phone while still looking chic?  You must check out the Boulevard Cell Phone holster.  All of the personal shoppers at a major retail store wear them so they have easy access to their phones while scouring the store pulling merchandise for their customers.  

The holders come in black, chestnut, pink, and glitter and retail for $54.95. They come with a ribbon strap plus a chain strap and a key ring.

You can buy them today on shoebuy.com for 15% off with free shipping and no tax. Use code: blowout15. Hurry, the 15 percent is good for today only!

Dana's Shopping Hero

Alicia Silverstone is my hero. Not just because she starred in Clueless, the best movie ever which I was obsessed with when it was released in 1995 and still can't resist watching when I find it while channel-surfing on the TV. Not just because I absolutely wanted to be her when she starred in those amazing Aerosmith videos. Not just because she is about my age, super talented and amazingly accomplished.

For about a year now, Alicia has been my kitchen hero, too, since I am a huge fan of her awesome vegan/macrobiotic cookbook, The Kind Diet. The recipes are simple, yummy, healthy and of course, kind to the planet. If you haven't checked it out, you must take a look at both the book and her accompanying blog, The Kind Life.

And now, after reading this People article, Alicia is my shopping hero too! Alicia told People that she buys everything second-hand, which I think is awesome and admirable.

Most of the things we want and need are available second-hand, either at thrift or consignment stores, or via Craigslist, or just in the good old fashioned classified ads. Most of the times, with a little perseverance and patience, you can find everything you are looking for used. You'll be doing both the planet and your wallet a favor, since used merchandise will cost you nothing but a fraction of the retail price, and, as Alicia points out, you are buying "really locally, and it already exists."

PS: Susan adds: "Alicia is my hero, too, because of her ongoing animal rescue efforts!"

Susan Says: Six Super Shopping Tips

As a super shopper and an experienced retail salesperson herself, Susan is the perfect source to give us some tips for how to secure the best bargains while out in the stores this holiday season. Here are her top six shopping tips:

1.  Make Friends: Become acquainted with the sales associates at your favorite stores.  They can be an informative source for learning of upcoming promotions and unadvertised deals. Your sales associate friend can also tip you off as to what days of the week the store does their new markdowns and adds merchandise to the sale rack. Sales associates may be familiar with the days of the week for incoming merchandise in off-price stores to ensure that you get access to the best picks.

2.  Go "Off," Not "Out:" Off-price stores most often beat outlet stores in terms of price, quality and up-to-the minute fashions.  Very often, outlet stores only have last year's merchandise or merchandise manufactured specifically for their outlet store.  Off-price stores do not only receive last year's merchandise; they receive new styles that were "overrun" by the manufacturer.

3.  Request a "Price Adjust:" Always inquire as to whether a retail store does competitive price matching.  Additionally, many major retailers will provide a price adjustment on markdowns within a certain time frame.

4.  Be "Thrifty:" Haunt thrift stores.  You can even score brand-new merchandise still in original packaging, since retail stores and individuals often donate never-used merchandise.  Shop at thrift stores not only allows you to buy on the cheap, but you also get to make a difference by supporting charities that the proceeds are donated to.

5. For Big Buys, Stick with a Store You Trust: Shop with retailers who stand behind their merchandise.  High ticket items should stand the test of time.  When buying a big-ticket item, buy from a trusted retailer who you know will stand behind the quality of the product.
 
6. Say "No" to Layaway: A definite no-no is layaway. Stores often charge as much as 20% to hold the item; then, if it goes on sale, you do not receive the discounted price. Additionally, if you decide against the item being purchased, you may be charged a penalty. Read the contract and avoid layaway.