Jennifer Lopez is lovin’ Dior nail polish
Not that I believe every gushy note that lands in my in box, but celebrity manicurist Elle Gerstein says her client Jennifer Lopez is raving about the new Dior Vernis polish shades in Black Sequins and Pure Diamonds, both $19. Pure Diamonds is available at specialty stores and you can get Black Sequins at Sephora stores or on sephora.com.
Dior Black Sequins
On A Whim 11th anniversary celebration features MacKenzie-Childs and more
On A Whim will celebrate its 11th anniversary Nov. 21 with champagne punch and cookies while visitors learn about the design and manufacturing of MacKenzie-Childs pieces.
MacKenzie-Childs CEO Lee Feldman will be in the store, as well as representative Janine Irwin. Shoppers will receive a Courtly Check enamelware key chain with a MacKenzie-Childs purchase of more than $50. The first 25 customers with a purchase of more than $300 will receive a complimentary MacKenzie-Childs ceramic teapot trivet.
The celebration also includes a Troo trunk show featuring crystal embellished scarves and yoga clothing.
On A Whim is at 7118 N Western in Oklahoma City. The phone number is 848-3488.
Cheap (well, maybe) holiday gift ideas ideas coming soon
Starting Monday, I hope to include holiday gift ideas daily through Dec. 24. That’s a big undertaking, especially since more of my time is spent in front of the computer rather than out in the stores. We gotta change that.
Anyway, check here often for fun, unusual and useful stocking stuffer and holiday gift ideas. And if you’ve got any suggestions, share. Please.
Eco-friendly and fashionable totes
Still looking for ways to be eco-friendly and fashionable? Check out Kipling’s new Ellie: On-The-Go Tote, which folds to fit into a small purse, then expands when needed. Designed to reduce the use of disposable bags, the budget-friendly Ellie is available for $22 on Kipling’s Web site.
The tote is super lightweight, water-resistant nylon and comes in six colors. It would also be great for traveling.
The holidays are fast approaching. Maybe this would be a good gift for someone on your list.
No need for an ironing board when a hair straightener works great
Here’s a high five to my husband, who had to get creative when he couldn’t find the iron.
The collar on one of his dress shirts had a crinkle in it, so he went to get the iron and ironing board to give it a quick swipe. He couldn’t locate the iron and couldn’t reach me, so he used a flat iron that our daughter sometimes uses to straighten her hair.
He said it worked great on the collar and he didn’t have to get the ironing board out. I’m betting the hair straightener may have a new use.
Shop smart: tips to help you get good deals
It would be easy to turn into the grinch who stole holiday cheer this season. Instead, why not be smart about cutting down spending.
The January 2009 issue of ShopSmart, from the publisher of Consumer Reports, offers these tips to prevent overspending this season and help us get the best deal every time. Here are some shopping screts:
Start online.
* Try on shoes and clothes for size in the store, and then watch for them to go on clearance online.
* Check eBay first. Even if you skip the auctions and only buy items that have the “buy it now” option, you can save $$$ off the retail price.
Dodge hidden charges and unwanted merchandise.
* Always check return costs and see if items bought online can be returned to a local store, especially for large purchases.
* If it’s a bargain, grab it, but think twice about final-sale items.
Don’t pay full price.
* Before you check out online, Google “promotion code” and the name of the product to find additional savings.
*When planning a trip to outlet stores, find printable coupons online for preferred stores.
* Request a price adjustment after you have made a purchase if you find a lower price in sale circulars or on sites such as Price Protectr.com that can track prices for you.
Shop when you’re at your best.
* Don’t shop when you’re exhausted. You’ll be less likely to shop around and you won’t pay attention to prices.
* Get dressed up when you go shopping. You will feel less desperate for a makeover and avoid blowing big bucks.
It never hurts to ask.
* Don’t underestimate your bargaining power, even at the doctor’s office.
* Ask sales associates for advance notice of sales. Then shop the night before the sale and ask to have full price items put on hold until the sale starts.
Get the biggest bang for your buck.
* Ask for freebies. For example, if you buy a TV ask for free delivery.
* If a salesperson won’t budge on a price, see if you can negotiate an upgrade.
Naifeh Fine Jewelry’s 10th Anniversary Celebration
Naifeh Fine Jewelry is marking its 10th anniversary with a big celebration from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 19 at 9203 N Pennsylvania.
Meet designer Temple St. Clair and participate in drawings for up to $5,000 in prizes. A trunk show featuring Memoire also is planned.
A cocktail receiption will be be from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Ten percent of all sales will be donated to the Village Library.
Diamond-accented wedding gown on display at B.C. Clark Jewelers
A few weeks ago I wrote about a wedding gown embellished with diamonds and designed by D’Plazzo Couture Designs in Edmond. The $100,000 gown, pictured here, will be on display at B.C. Clark Jewelers in downtown Oklahoma City.
D’Plazzo partnered with B.C. Clark Jewelers to embellish the gown with 130 round Lazare diamonds. Two 20-inch platinum strands of Lazare diamonds are secured and draped across the sweetheart neckline. The diamond necklace strands, weighing more than 20 carats, can be removed to make necklaces for the bride.
The gown will be on display from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Nov. 17-22 at the store at 101 Park Ave.
More budget tips from wedding planner Donnie Brown
Donnie Brown, a wedding planner in Dallas, said draperies and lighting are two of the easiest and least expensive ways to add to drama and sophistication to a wedding or reception.
I wrote about Brown’s budget-saving ideas in today’s Life section. He also said linens can make a big difference in the feel of a room. If a venue doesn’t provide linens, he urges brides to rent them. Many rental companies offer them for $25 to $37 each; if there are 10 tables, it can cost as little as $250 for a lot of look.
“You can’t beat that to totally transofrm the room. Celebrities have theirs made, but who is going to know the difference?”
Brown’s clients include singer LeAnn Rimes. Brown is also on Style Network’s “Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?”
While even most celebrites have a budget in mind (it’s just much bigger than most brides), the easiest way for brides to get the wedding of their dreams and save money is to hire a wedding planner.
“Don’t ever consider a wedding planner expensive,” he said. “Consider them an expense you can’t live without.”
Wedding planners can save money on flowers because they use florists regularly and can buy at wholesale. They know the trends, the different ways to cut expenses, the small things you can do to make your wedding different.
“You want your wedding to have an edge to it,” he said. ” Hire a wedding planner so they can help you make your wedding fresh. Girls want all their girlfriends to say this is the nicest wedding I’ve been to … they want that response.”
Other budget-cutting ideas to think about:
* Buffets can be more expensive than seated dinners because buffets must be constantly replenished so guests can eat to their heart’s content.
* Consider European dining service, one of Brown’s signatures. Have wait staff bring mutliple entrees and courses on a platter to the table. Guests can select fish, chicken or beef, but when the food is gone, it’s gone.
* Or opt for dual entrees — instead of 8 oz. of fish, give them 4 oz. of beef and 4 oz. of fish.
* Forget national averages for the cost of a wedding. You don’t have to spend $15,000 on a gown. Consider one of last year’s styles at a fraction of the cost. They’re still beautiful gowns, and who really is going to know that it was in last year’s collection. What’s the point of spending all your money on a gown if you can’t afford flowers or food, he said.
* Use a credit card (one that’s different from the one you use on a regular basis) to pay for your wedding. Pay it off each month, and make sure it has a bonus program (air miles, hotels, etc.) so you get a benefit from all the money you’re spending on your wedding.
* Whether you use a wedding planner or not, determine what percentage of budget should go into each category — food, flowers, lighting, etc. Meet with each vendor with a dollar figure in mind.
* A simple wedding can be just as beautiful as an elaborate one.
* Remember, the reception is where 80 percent of the money goes.
* Eliminate problems. Think smarter, not harder.
You can still win a free moisturizer
It’s not too late to enter the drawing for the tube of Keri Glassman’s Skin Appetit Nutri-Collagen Daily Moisturizer SPF 15 with nutrx 8 complex.
The moisturizer’s advanced collagen-powered nutrients boost lipid production to visibily smooth lines and wrinkles, according to the box. The nutrx 8 complex of whole food extracts feeds your skin with blueberries, cnatalouipe, grapeseed extract, creamy yogurt, wild honey, fig, walnut oil and dark chocolate.
It retails for $15.
E-mail your name and address to fashionmatters@oklahoman.com to be included in the drawing. Deadline is Nov. 25.
