Susan Says: Killer Heels and Foot Fiends

Dr. Stuart J. Mogul, a renowned New York City podiatrist, appeared on a recent segment of ABC's The View.  With my experience in selling designer shoes, I have seen first-hand the damage that the wrong footwear can do, so I am happy that Dr. Mogul exposed not only the dangers of wearing high heels (especially for protracted periods of time), but also the hidden risks to seemingly benign footwear such as ballet flats, flip flops, and, oddly enough, athletic wear. Here is a run-down of the potential pitfalls of perilous footwear:

• High Heels: One can develop a "pump bump" on the back of the heel which, besides being extremely unsightly,  can lead to bursitis.  Another problem for high heel addicts are bunions and hammertoes which develop from squeezing the foot into high heels and can compressing the toes, which can lead to Morton's Neuroma, a numbness and tingling in the third and fourth toes.  Dr. Mogul stated that the more you wear high heels, the more you will need to wear high heels, because the shoes actually change your feet.  Over a protracted period, high heels elevate the rear of the foot and cause the Achilles tendon to contract and get shorter so that it becomes difficult to wear a flat or go barefoot because the foot becomes fixed and rigid.  Two to three inch heels are a safe way to go, according to Dr. Mogul.  If you are going to wear a heel, when standing on tip toes, your feet should be 1-2 inches from the floor.   

• Ballet flats: These seemingly harmless flats actually present another set of problems. Although they may be flexible, they often offer little or no support and can lead to arch problems and leg pain and can progress to Posterior Tibial Tendon dysfunction which can require surgery. Yikes! Best bet? If you are sporting a ballet flat, put an orthotic insert into the shoe.

• Athletic shoes:  One would imagine that the more padded and cushioned the sneaker, the better. However, Dr. Mogul advises that what appears to be a benefit can actually be a problem in that the more constructed the sneaker, the more chance there is of causing stress on your heels.   Surprisingly, less constructed sneakers may result in less stress on the heels and may be more attuned to the natural foot.

• Flip flops:  Flip flops are easy to wear and seem like the epitome of comfort, but the negative effects of flops on your feet can be anything but cozy. Torn nail pads and especially puncture wounds can be extremely hazardous, particularly to diabetics.  Dr. Mogul states that powder around the toes will help prevent rubbing and the best type of flip flops are the ones with the deep heel cup and lift.

Dana's Dream Buy of the Day: Surfer Girl

I can't stop staring at the surf imagery on these amazing acrylic clutches from Jimmy Choo.

Just looking at these bags takes me away to the shore- I can practically hear the ocean's roar and breathe in the salty sea air. It's not often that you find an accessory that is practically meditation-inducing!

The photo-realistic images wrap around, giving you a breathtaking beach view on both the front and back of the bag. The fantastic images fit right in with the plethora of prints that are being shown for Spring. 

Lined in satin and trimmed in leather, the bags are part of the Jimmy Choo's "Candy" clutch collection. All the Candy clutches, which feature drop-in gold shoulder straps, are quickly becoming modern classics. The bags are made in a structured, edgy style and come in an assortment of colors including classic black and sleek or sparkling metallics.

The bags are available now, but with a $795 price tag, for now, I will just have to dream of strolling in the sand at dusk while clutching a Jimmy Choo surfer bag.

Susan Says: What I'm Reading Now

New York Times bestselling author Lisa Scottoline has collaborated with her daughter Francesca Serritella, who has won multiple prestigious writing awards, to deliver a memoir, "Best Friends, Occasional Enemies: The Lighter Side of Life as Mother and Daughter."

Not since Erma Bombeck have I laughed out loud and had so much reading a family memoir.  One of my favorite chapters was entitled "All's Fair in Love and Wardrobe," in which Lisa and Francesca were going to a book-signing event and Lisa purchased a blazer for Francesca because she said it would be the most appropriate attire for the event.  What she also did, without notice, was purchase the identical blazer for herself, despite the fact that she owned dozens of blazers already.   Petty bickering (including Lisa suggesting they both wear the same jacket) ensued and in the end, Francesca caved in and wore a dress.

The book also offers some adorable notable quotes, including:

  

Francesca on being a daughter:  "My mother is always right.  Just ask her."

Lisa on being a Mom:  "Motherhood has no expiration date.  Francesca lives in the city and I worry about her all the time. My daughter moved out so why am I still lactating?"

Francesca on closet wars:  "My mom is a great dresser. Mostly because she is wearing my clothes."

Francesca on apartment living:  "When I saw a mouse, the first person I called was Mom.  She told me to call my super but I felt bad bothering him.  I hate to bother people.  But I love to bother my Mom."

So cute and such a good read!!!

Beyoncé and Tina Knowles

When it comes to celebrity mother-daughter duos who share a mutual love for fashion, few can rival superstar musician (and new mom herself!) Beyoncé Knowles and her mother, Tina.  

We've previously blogged about their fashion label, House of Dereon, which they launched together, and how Tina, a skilled seamstress, designed the costumes for Beyoncé's former group, Destiny's Child.  And when Beyoncé married Jay-Z in 2008, mom Tina designed her wedding gown.

Recently Beyoncé told Glamour magazine that her number-one genius beauty tip is, "Listen to your mother."  

“My best beauty advice came from my mother,” says Beyoncé. “She always says that outer beauty fades and inner beauty has a lasting effect. She also told me to wash my makeup off before going to bed. I don’t always, but I’m trying!"

Susan Says: March Beauty Steals

 

I just recieved the new flyer for one of my favorite makeup destinations:  Ulta. If you are not already familiar with this beauty mecca, run, don't walk, to your nearest location and join their Ulta Club rewards program, which allows you to accumulate points for every purchase, which you can then redeem for coveted merchandise. What's so great about Ulta is that they have the best, most beloved beauty brands, from drugstore labels all the way up to high-end department store brands, giving you an amazing selection.

 

So you can imagine my delight when I read in the mailer that from March 11 through March 31st, Ulta is  holding a beauty steal for each day! Among the best bargains for high-end products, here are my favorite picks; mark you calendar accordingly: 

 

• Monday, March 12th: Stila Smudgestick waterproof liner: Regularly $20; buy one get one free

• Tuesday, March 13th: Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara Regulary $19; buy for $10.00

• Wednesday, March 14th:  All Kinerase skincare; buy one get one at 50% off

• Thursday, March 15th  Pur Minrals; Regularly $1.50; buy at $12.00

• Friday, March 16th:  bareMinerals Prime time Eyelid Primer; Regularly $18.00; buy at $10.00

• Saturday, March 17th:  Philosophy Purity Made Simple Wipes; Regularly $20.00; buy at $12.00

• Also offered on March 17th, at participating locations, free Benefit brow wax with ay $50.00 Benefit service of product purchase

• Sunday, March 18th: Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara, Regularly $18.00; buy for $10.00

• Monday, March 19th:  Lorac Starry Eyed Baked Eyeshadow Trios; Regularly $18.00; buy at 50% off

• Tuesday, March 20th:  Napoleon Perdis Shadow Quad; Regularly $36.00; buy for $18.00

• Wednesday, March 21st:  Strivectin SD or SD & Sensitive; Regularly $69.00; buy at $49.00 each

• Thursday, March 22nd; Stila Smudgestick Waterproof Liner; Regularly $20.00; buy one get one free

• Friday, March 23rd:  Benefit Prrowl Mascard & Lipgloss combo; Regularly $28.00; buy at $9.99

• Saturday, March 24th:  All bareMinerals full sized mascaras; Regularly $9.00; buy at 50% off

• Sunday, March 25th:  Benefit Realness of Concealness:  regularly $18.00; buy at 50% off

• Monday, March 26th:  Butter Lodon Tops & Tails nail polish; regularly $25.00; buy at $15.00

• Tuesday, March 27th:  Amazing Cosmetics Large Concealer; Regularly $21; buy at 50% off

• Wednesday,March 28th:  Cargo Beach Blushes; Regularly $15.00; buy at 50% off

• Thursday, March 29th:  All Hydroxatone will be offered at 20% off

• Friday, March 30th:  Urban Decay Deluxe size Razor Shar Ultra Definitio Finishing Powder is offered free with any $25.00 purchase of Urban Decay products

• Saturday, March 31st:  Philosophy Kiss of Hope Lip Balm; Regularly $16.00; buy one get one 1/2 off

For a complete list of events and beauty steals go to Ulta.com. Also, the above products are part of Ulta's "Prestige" line, but if you purchase any product outside of Prestige or Fragrance and hair artistry brands you can go on Ulta's web site and print a coupon for $3.50 off a $10.00 purchase (again, of the lower-end products).  If you get an aforementioned Ulta Club card, which is free, you will get flyers, which, as you can see, are a great way to get a jump on great beauty sales.

Susan Says: Skincare Steals

It seems that everyone is always striving to look a few years younger, and who doesn't love a good deal? A recent segment of The Dr. Oz Show featured three plastic surgeons who accepted the Dr. Oz challenge to find drugstore products, all under $20, that will help you to look ten years younger!

The doctors who accepted the challenge were Dr. Shirley Madhere, Dr. Anthony Youn and Dr. Stuart Linder and they searched stores from New York to L.A. to find the products they believe will do the most good for the least amount of money.  Each plastic surgeon brought back products that we can all use as plastic surgery alternatives:

Dr. Linder, whose area of expertise is facelifts, discussed the major complaints he hears from his patients: loss of elasticity, sagging skin and, also, age spots.  One of Dr. Lindner's products of choice for a home remedy is L'oreal Paris Revitalift Double Lifting Treatment which helps firm up the skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.  The product gives results in minutes and retails for under $15.00.  

Dr. Youn's specialty is injectables for lips.  He also does fillers in the lips and smile lines.  Of course the lip injection procedure is expensive and painful.  One of his favorite drug-store finds is Too Faced Lip Injection Plumping Serum, which be aware, does sting on contact but the price does not.

Dr. Madhere's specialty is eyelifts.  Her recommendation to temporarily combat under eye bags, sans surgery, is Sudden Change Under Eye Firming Serum, which tightens the under eye area in only 1-2 minutes.  It firms and dark circles, wrinkles, lines and puffiness are instantly diminished. It lasts for a day and can be refreshed during the course of the day, as well. 

 

 

Marni Madness Coming Soon to an H&M Near You!

H&M has always been a great place to find beautiful fashions at amazingly low prices, but with the launch of the Marni at H&M in stores on March 8th, the store will be a mecca for anyone who, like us, has long coveted the eclectic designs of the Italian label, which was launched by designer Consuelo Castiglioni in 1994.

The H&M collection does not disappoint. The collection will be available in around 260 stores worldwide, as well as online. It includes high-quality accessories which mimic the high-end items and we were thrilled to learn that nothing will retail for over $149.  


The full lookbook for the Marni at H&M collection, which includes menswear, is available online, complete with pricing information so that you can fully plan your purchases now. We love everything in the lookbook; for example, check out the  patent leather sweater for $149, the gold jacquard weave ankle-length pants for $79.95, and the fabulous sequin Peter Pan collar which is $19.95.

Previous designers who have created lines for H&M include Sonia Rykiel, Comme des Garcons, Matthew Williamson, Lanvin and most recently, Versace.  After viewing part of the collection online, we are convinced that this will be the most successful collaboration the Swedish retailer has had to date.  In fact, to be able to purchase this line at a fraction of the price of such stores as Bergdorf Goodman  and Barney's is indeed a fashion coup!