Re-Tales: confessions of a shopaholic

Kiddie Couture

imageIt’s a fact of life. Hit the big 3-0 and suddenly your mailbox starts brimming not only with fertility pamphlets, but baby announcements. One of the first such postcards I received was plastered with a picture of my two-week-old nephew, Levi (yes, the cutie is named after a pair of jeans). But with six consecutive envelopes arriving from friends as well, how many more Baby Gap visits could I possibly endure? To save my sanity, a friend turned me on to the experts at Alex Casey Baby. A chic e-boutique that sells of-the-moment clothing, accessories and organic skincare for pint-sized peeps, Alex Casey Baby is a one-stop-shop for busy moms from Beverly Hills to Boston.

Conceived by Jill Notkin and named after her baby girl, Alex Casey Baby has become the go-to spot for proud new parents and aunties alike in search of a fun and stress-free shopping environment. A breeze to navigate thanks to catchy categories like “Dress Me Up!,” “Feed Me!” and “Pack Me Up!,” Alex Casey Baby makes it easy for even a novice like me to buy multiple baby gifts. With a handpicked assortment of primo products that are beyond gorge, I was tempted to special order every item in my size. Some of the staples I stocked-up on included designer diaper bags (the PackaBe in Perky Perennials), cozy cashmere hoodies with matching blankies (spotted on every Hollywood “It” baby), cotton onesies adorned with animal prints to pretty pink tutus for prima ballerinas. Thanks to Alex Casey Baby, my nephew is now the best-dressed Vancouverite playing in the sand box.

Special Fashion Junkie deal just for YOU! alexcaseybaby.com is offering subscribers 10% off any item of your choice from Monday, June 25, 2007 through Monday, July 23, 2007. Enter the code “FJFIX” upon checkout to redeem your discount. Happy shopping!

Visit alexcaseybaby.com and workathomemom.typepad.com (Jill Notkin’s blog) to learn more about the latest and greatest baby must-haves.

  • Alex Casey Baby
  • 866.574.3536
  • alexcaseybaby.com
  • $12-$150
  • refunds within 10 days of purchase on unused items, with receipt and original packaging
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Filed: Clothes Encounters

Weekly Steals & Deals

With big name designer brands cleaning house to make room for stunning pre-fall shipments, now’s your final chance to score some serious summer bargains. While the thought of cramming into a communal changing room with dozens of sweaty (and naked!) serial shoppers may not sound appealing, these sizzling sample sales are worth taking off your skivvies for. Happy shopping!

  • Who: Catherine Malandrino
  • What: over 5,000 gorgeous dresses, tops, skirts, coats and pants, up to 80% off retail!
  • When: Friday, June 22nd, 10am-8pm; Saturday, June 23rd, 10am-6pm
  • Where: Metropolitan Pavilion, 123 West 18th Street, 5th Floor (btw 6th & 7th Aves.)
  • Contact: 212-840-0106

 

  • Who: Miguelina
  • What: signature gauze tunics, silk camis with lace and flowing chiffon dresses at deeply discounted prices
  • When: Friday, June 22nd, 11am-6pm
  • Where: 20 West 36th Street, 6th Floor (btw Fifth & Sixth Aves.)
  • Contact: 212-290-2996

 

  • Who: Rachel Roy 
  • What: ruffles blouses, cropped pants, bubble dresses, embroidered camis and chic jackets, up to 75% off!
  • When: Friday, June 22nd, 12pm-7pm
  • Where: 25 West 39th Street, 14th Floor (btw 5th and 6th Aves.)
  • Contact: 212-629-7170

 

  • Who: Shecky’s Girls Night Out
  • What: a fun-filled shopping extravaganza featuring the wares of 100+ hot designers, plus deluxe goodie bags and complimentary cocktails.
  • When: Tuesday-Saturday, June 26th-30th, 4:30pm-10pm (noon-4pm and 5pm-10pm on Saturday)
  • Where: The Puck Building, 293 Lafayette Street (@ Houston St.)
  • Contact: To purchase tickets, visit sheckys.com or call 212.242.2566

 

  • Who: Isabella Oliver
  • What: must-have maternity clothes including sexy peasant dresses, halter tops, hipster thongs, sweater tunics and chic capes, up to 60% off!
  • When: right now!
  • Where: exclusively online at IsabellaOliver.com (while supplies last)
  • Contact: 1.866.614.9387
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Filed: Shop Talk

Complexion Perfection

imageIt may have been cool to look like the Coppertone girl when we were eighteen, but now we know better than to bask in the sun George Hamilton-style. Years of tanorexia eventually take their toll (read: pre-mature wrinkling and age spots) and you have to accept your penance. While you can’t turn back the clock, you can repair any damage that’s been done, thanks to Intense Pulse Light (IPL).

A virtually painless in-office procedure that’s ideal for girls on the go, IPL (a.k.a. Photorejuvenation) produces younger, smoother-looking skin on the face, neck and chest, without the downtime or scarring from going under the knife. Created by Board-certified dermatologist, Patrick Bitter Jr. MD as a non-invasive method of improving the surface of the skin, IPL has since been a savior not only for people with fine lines, but also for those plagued by rosacea (serious facial redness and flushing), stretch marks, cellulite, broken capillaries and blotchy pigmentation. IPL’s ground-breaking laser technology works by zapping the damaged superficial layers of the skin and rebuilding the collagen, which promotes a more youthful, less prune-y-looking appearance over time.

Ready to put yourself on the program? Book an IPL consultation with a trained dermatologist who will customize a plan that’s right for you. Each 20-minute session (expect up to six, over three-week intervals) begins with a cooling gel to soothe the burning sensation, followed by a series of pulses of red light that feel like the snapping of a small rubber band. Finish off by applying a cold compress to the treated area for just a few minutes and out the door you go.

Beauty junkies beware: picture-perfect skin doesn’t come without a cost. Each IPL treatment ranges from $500 per session. And since the results aren’t permanent, you’ll need to budget for annual touch-ups.

To find an IPL specialist near you, visit skinandhealth.com or call 1-877-Lumenis.

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Filed: Beauti-Fixation

Talk To The Hand

Find out why Fashion Junkie is so fixated on the DevaSun Dryer

I’ve been test-driving the DevaSun Dryer all week and lemme tell ya… this thing seriously blows away the competition.

A “handy” device designed especially for curly girls, the DevaSun Dryer is truly unlike anything I’ve seen on the market. Even those el cheapo Hot Sock foam diffusers don’t come nearly as close to doing the deed as well (mine’s completely torn from traveling). Why I’m so smitten? For starters, the Freddy Kruger-esque claw attached to the dryer (a.k.a. DevaFuser) was designed to replicate how stylists use their hands to cradle curls while they dry. So it dries gently, without dislodging curls or blasting them into a bushy halo. Anyone in the kinky-haired clan can relate to that. Plus, its powerful ion-generating technology dries hair incredibly fast and thoroughly, so you’ll never be out-the-door with damp roots, which is a big bonus during winter.

While at first I was skeptical (I’ve purchased dozens of dryers, most of which have fried my hair into a bushy Brillo-pad consistency), but when the DevaSun Dryer arrived at my doorstep, I couldn’t wait to crack open the pretty lime green and white box and begin my new blow-drying regimen. Here’s how it went.

DevaSun Dryer and DevaFuser Directions

Step 1: Immediately after showering, I combed my hair, added a dollop of DevaCurl AnGell and gently scrunched my strands with a few sheets of paper towel – a tip I learned from Lorraine Massey, co-owner of Devachan, NYC’s cult curly-hair salon. Contrary to popular belief, heavy towels actually promote frizz, so try to stick with paper towels. And don’t worry about waste… you can air dry paper towels and re-use them as often as you wish. 

Step 2. I plugged in the blower, flipped the switch to high and closed the lid on the toilet. What can I say, I’m a spazz, ok?

Step 3. I tilted the DevaFuser slightly for a full 360-degree airflow, then flipped my head over to one side and placed the plastic claw onto my scalp, starting with the nape area. I held it there for about two minutes to evaporate the moisture and seal the curl. Then, I repeated the same process on the other side.

Step 4. I placed the DevaFuser on the top of my scalp (a.k.a. the temple region), right above my ears. Two minutes later, my curls were transformed into tight, Shirley Temple-like corkscrews.

Step 5. For extra oomph in front, I glided the DevaFuser onto my forehead (not too close, it gets hot!) and tilted the drier upwards. The end result: super shiny, voluminous hair that held in place all day.

Total drying time: about six minutes.

Fed up with your Roseanne Roseannadanna-like fro? Don’t fret… check out devachansalon.com or call 1-800-573-4303 to order your DevaSun Dryer and DevaFuser today.

The proof is in the pictures!


Dara test-driving the DevaCurl Dryer & Deva Fuser


The final result: Shirley Temple-like corkscrews.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Filed: Uncategorized

Surf’s Up!

imageWith the 4th of July only a few weekends away, now’s the time to plan your wardrobe for that beach getaway. While there’s an obvious list of essentials to pack including over-sized shades, a Brazilian bikini and a steamy Candace Bushnell novel, don’t even consider hitting the sand without the latest arm candy: a Surf Betty funboard. That’s right… surfboards have suddenly become girly.

Not unlike a designer purse, a Surf Betty board when slung under your shoulder makes an undeniably cool and stylish statement. And thanks to the slew of surfing shows that have sprung up over the years including Babe Watch (err, Baywatch), Blue Crush, and now, HBO’s John From Cincinnati, it’s becoming more and more chic for chicks to catch the wave. Hot on the heels of this girly phenomenon is Aussie-based Global Surf Industries, the world’s largest distributor of in-demand surfboard lines such as the NSP (New Surf Project) Surf Betty. A femme-tastic range of boards made exclusively for women, Surf Betty, delivers a balanced, easy ride and comes in an assortment of sleek designs and punchy floral patterns, making it the board of choice for beginners and experienced surfers alike. With up to five Surf Betty models to choose from, not only will you develop a sleek physique (surfing burns calories big time), but you’ll also be the most stylish babe to hit the beach.

Exclusive Fashion Junkie deal just for YOU! Global Surf Industries is giving away a 7’2” NSP Surf Betty (pictured above) to one lucky subscriber (a $375 value!). All you need to do is forward this email to five friends and you’ll automatically be entered to win. The winner will be notified via email on July 9th, 2007. You must be over the age of 18 to qualify.

  • Global Surf Industries
  • 877-474-6503
  • surfindustries.com
  • $345-$499 (Surf Betty Boards)
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Filed: Clothes Encounters