10 Valentines Day gifts that show style

Valentines Day is a time to remember your sweetheart, and you don’t have to empty your bank account to give a thoughtful and memorable token of love. Gifts can range from practical to indulgent, depending upon the recipient’s likes and personality. And in this age of time crunches, high fuel prices, and unpredictable weather, there’s nothing like surfing the ‘net and sending quality, affordable gifts from the convenience and comfort of home - or anywhere else you have access to the Web.

We’ve done some looking for you and come up with 10 items for men and women that might inspire you as you mull seemingly endless options. You can click on any picture to browse and see what else the e-store has to offer. It seems that everybody has some great merchandise on sale.

For the woman who likes pampering, Fabulosity Body Souffle’ is an amber-infused delight at BabyPhat.com. With notes of plum, coconut milk, Tasmanian honey and vanilla absolute, she might be tempted to eat it.

 

 

 

 

If she has a thing for haute shoes, she might like this textured, 4-inch peep-toe pump at Dereon.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brown is the new black, and messenger bags are taking a back seat to sleek leather briefcases such as this model at Wilson’s Leather.

 

 

 

 

A chic bag is always appreciated. Debbie Rott Boutique’s funky Dolly Red design with silver hardware is at eBags.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With months of cool weather still to go, he can ward off the cold in style in this silver metallic North Face jacket. It’s reversible to black.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some guys collect watches like women collect bags. MisterWatch.com has this Tommy Hilfiger beauty of stainless steel and silver enamel that conveniently self-winds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The gift of diamond conveys deep love. The Past-Present-Forever necklace at Gordon’s Jewelers has an overall diamond total of 1 carat and is set in 14-karat white gold.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most guys appreciate a great pair of jeans. Ben Sherman’s five-pocket, button-fly Icon style can be dressed up and down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Any chocoholic would appreciate this Ghirardelli gift basket at Chocolate.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For lovers of interior accessories, UncommonGoods.com has this interlocking-hearts paperweight hand-carved from lead-free pewter.

GoSmile’s easier, cheaper way to whiter teeth

It’s amazing how fast technology evolves, particularly in the booming anti-aging sector of the health and beauty industry.

Consider the profusion in recent years of over-the-counter teeth-whitening products. You no longer need a prescription or an in-office appointment with a specialist to get a brighter smile. Multiple options are a few clicks away, or as close as the nearest drug store.

I’ve tried many tooth-whitening procedures, from strips and toothpastes to trays and brush-on liquids that eat away stains and yellowing. Now there are even hi-tech electronic devices that do the trick with a special light.

But my hands-down favorites for maintaning whiter teeth are GoSmile’s handy little tubes. A clear whitening liquid is squeezed through a sponge tipped ampule and rubbed against the teeth like a small circular toothbrush. After use, just toss.

The product comes in several tasty flavors, including pear, peach, fresh mint, watermelon mint, and green apple. They’re welcome departures from the bad-tasting gels in many other tooth-whitening products.

Also, the gel in GoSmile ampules is strong, but not an irritant to sensitive gums. And it contains Smileceuticals, a trademarked proprietary blend of free radical-fighting vitamins and antioxidants. The company also makes an array of complementary whitening products, including the Greater Than Rinse mouthwash and toothpastes in flavors such as lemonade and gingerbread.

Click on the picture to check out kits, travel sets, and everything else in the GoSmile online store.

Trend with a twist: Tiffany’s new charm bracelet

Stacked bracelets and large metallic cuffs are hot adornments for women’s wrists in the increasingly accessory-driven fashion world.

But a bigger style story flying under the radar is the charm bracelet, a personalized piece popular among all age groups. They can be had for a few dollars at stores such as Target and Delia’s, and they can cost thousands when created by the likes of Prada, Gucci, Hermes and Louis Vuitton.

Tiffany has scores of charms ranging from under $100 to a stunning gold and diamond Jean Schlumberger Egg charm for $7,200. Some Tiffany stores have “Charmed by Tiffany” bars where customers can assemble a charm bracelet, anklet, or necklace on the spot. Charms are embellished with diamonds, pearls, colored gemstones, and the like and are made of lacquer, sterling silver, stainless steel, platinum, titanium, and yellow, white, and rose golds.

Tiffany’s newest charm bracelet pays homage to the luxury brand’s storied history. It’s a platinum design with 20 platinum and 18-karat gold charms handset with gemstones and diamonds. Each is a brand icon, from the Tiffany key and Atlas medallion to the world-renowned Tiffany Blue Box in hand-carved turquoise.

It’s not surprising that Tiffany would take something as simple as a charm to lofty new heights. This was the company that made headlines back in 1837 when founders Charles Lewis Tiffany and John Young dared to set non-negotiable prices for their fine stationery, silverware and luxury gifts.

In 1940, Tiffany moved to its current flagship location at 57^th Street and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Designed by Cross and Cross, the same architect that designed the Lincoln Memorial, it was New York City’s first business to have central air conditioning.

Among some of Tiffany’s many other famous but not widely known distinctions are the design of the NFL Vince Lombardi Trophy, Major League Baseball’s World Series Trophy, the Great Seal of the United States, the Medal of Honor, the invitation for the 1886 opening of the Statue of Liberty, and numerous sets of White House china.

From the grave, Laszlo still transforms skin

Erno Laszlo changed my face.

Doesn’t matter that the Hungarian dermatologist had been dead for decades by the time I learned of the prestige skincare line based on his formulas. My 44-year-old complexion is unusually healthy largely because of his face-splashing ritual and Laszlo products in my regimen such as Advanced Retexturizing Complex, TRANSpHUSE, and the near-miraculous black Sea Mud Soap.

Now there’s a new Laszlo product, adding a splash of bright blue to an ocean of clinical black-and-white jars and bottles. The color is appropriate, because Laszlo Blue Firmarine SPF 30 contains mineral-rich deep sea water to nourish skin.  The firming face cream, formulated for skin types ranging from slightly dry to slightly oily, also contains organic green tea, a multi-mineral complex, and vitamins A, C, and E to lift and tighten skin and promote collagen production by increasing circulation.

The product is $195 for 1.7 ounces at ernolaszlo.com and select upscale retailers such as Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue. The price tag is predictably hefty because Laszlo’s “surgiceutical” skin care line occupies the same rarefied air as Darphin, La Mer and La Prairie. All of these luxury brands command higher prices largely because of the quality of their ingredients - all vitamin Cs are not created equal - and their reputation for delivering results.

What makes Laszlo unique is his long list of firsts. He was the first to create sunscreen products, to pH balance skincare, to formulate water-based products for oily skin, and to create skincare items specifically for men and teens.

The doctor emerged in the 1920s, initially treating a small roster of clients handpicked from among European royalty, nobility, and high society. He opened the Erno Laszlo Institute of Scientific Cosmetology in Budapest in 1927 and quickly gained a renown that forced him to branch out to other continents. He moved to the United States and established his U.S. institute on New York City’s posh Fifth Avenue in 1939, and along with wife Sibille became a U.S. citizen in 1945. Until his sudden death of heart failure in 1973 at the age of 75, he treated some of America’s most famous faces: Ava Gardner, Audrey Hepburn, Lillian Gish, Gloria Vanderbilt, Truman Capote and Yul Brynner, to name a few. Even Marilyn Monroe and Jackie Kennedy, who we assume were never booked back-to-back.

Dr. Laszlo customized skincare regimens at a time when that was unheard of, convinced that any complexion could be healthy if it were properly cared for. He created a clock that categorized skin types far beyond simply dry, oily, or combination, and he was passionate and strict about the discipline of a skincare ritual that prevented, corrected, and protected. He once nearly threw Ava Gardner out of his office after gazing at her countenance and accusing her of lying about implementing a regimen he had prescribed. She fessed up and was allowed to stay after promising to follow his instructions faithfully.

“A woman may not tell me the truth about everything,” he once said, “but her skin will never lie.”

A wake-up call for the eyes by Origins

Is it possible to notice a difference with an eye cream in just a week?

When such products first began to show up on store shelves some years ago, the answer was a rounding no. But with discoveries in science and technology, the answer now is “it depends.”

So, I was impressed when I noticed diminished appearance of puffiness, darkness and wrinkling under my eyes after not even a week of morning and evening application of GinZing Refreshing eye cream, a new product by Origins.

Several factors contribute to wrinkling, bagginess and darkness around the eyes, from allergies and smoking to stress, inadequate rest and poor nutrition. I’ve become pretty good at guessing somebody’s approximate age by looking at the skin around their eyes, but products like GinZing are probably going to lower my average.

GinZing contains some of the same ingredients found in similar products: caffeine to soothe skin as an anti-irritant; chestnut extract to aid in the exfoliation of dead surface cells; shea butter to hydrate; and silica and mica to diffuse darkness and illuminate. But there’s also Panax ginseng (an herb that dates back 7,000-years) and vitamin B complex to strengthen skin and combat puffiness, magnolia extract to reduce the appearance of dark circles, and extracts of apple and cucumber to brighten skin and even its tone.

GinZing is $29.50 for a 5-oz. jar and just became available this month. You can buy it by clicking here. And remember: the best time to start using an anti-aging eye product is in your 20s.

Chic heels designed to wear (and run in!) all day

A lovely woman who appeared to be in her 40s approached me at a recent social gathering and inquired about high-heel shoes that could be worn comfortably all day - even during commuting time, when many women wear sneakers rather than their office heels. I responded that her question was right on time, because Kenneth Cole has just launched a collection of heels made with a patented cushioning system.

The New York brand’s 925 Technology was named in reference to the average workday and the blisters and aches that so many working women’s feet develop while wearing heels. The line, in Kenneth Cole stores now, combines comfort with style in five Silver Edition shoes ranging from flats to stilettos. All have silver heels. The technology includes a pillowed arch, sheepskin lining, soft rubber soles, and several layers of materials to absorb shock and to mold feet to a comfy foam bed. In the future, the technology will be incorporated into pumps, motorcycle boots and all other Kenneth Cole women’s footwear. You can get the Silver Edition styles now at Kenneth Cole stores while supplies last.

Bono, wife promote sustainable employment with Edun

The big green movement sweeping much of the world is about more than seven-year light bulbs, eco-friendly cleaning products and sustainable farming methods. Increasingly, companies are sending clothing to market that is biodegradable and that was constructed from materials “responsibly”grown.

Some progressives are going one step further with sustainable employment. Edun is one of them. The ethical clothing company was established in 2005 by superstar entertainer Bono and his wife, Ali Hewson. The Irish couple’s goal is to promote sustainable employment in underdeveloped countries while aiding the production of socially conscious clothing.

Edun apparel is currentlymade in India, Peru and African communities in Uganda, Kenya, Tunisia, Lesotho, Mauritius and Madagascar. One of Edun’s goals is to help erase extreme poverty in Africa by encouraging the fashion community to do business on the continent. Africa has 12% of the world population but only 2% of world trade. If the continent could get just an additional 1% of world trade, that would equal about $70 billion more in export earnings in each year - several times more than the amount Africa receives annually in international aid.

All of Edun’s t-shirts are made of 100% organic cotton. Edun’s fashion offerings for men, women and children include jackets, dresses, denim, knits, sweaters and other tops and bottoms priced from $36 to $400.

The company’s future looks promising. LVMH, parent company of Louis Vuitton and many other fashion, beauty  and retail brands, recently bought a minority share in Edun - an indication that the infant label has a lot of growth potential and could be around for a very long time.

Click on the clothing images to shop Edun.

Serena Williams debuts new beauty line on HSN

Fresh off her Wimbledon victory last week, tennis great Serena Williams announced her entry into another arena- beauty. Her MISSION Skincare Active-Beauty Line: Featuring Serena Williams will debut July 23 and 24 on the Home Shopping Network.

The line’s centerpiece product is Oxygen-Active Daily Facial Cleanser, a self-foaming makeup remover-cleanser-toner that requires no water and works in 90 seconds. Other products are a honey sugar body scrub, honey sugar restorative body butter, and paraben-free and preservative-free SPF 15 lip balms in pomegranate and pink lemonade. All products contain a proprietary blend of 10 vitamins and antioxidants and are priced between $3.99 and $39.99.

Williams co-founded the brand and developed the products along with Dr. Bryan Adams, chairman of the American Academy of Dermatology, and with input from consumer groups of women with active lifestyles. She also launched a fashion line several years ago, Aneres (her name spelled backwards).

You can enter a contest through July 21 to meet the tennis great. Tell her what you can do in 90 seconds and you may win VIP tickets to one of her upcoming tournaments, an autographed tennis racquet and other prizes. You can follow her on Twitter at serenajwilliams for contest updates. More details at www.SerenasMISSION.com.

New Havaiana flip-flop glows in the dark

Some things have become such a fixture of New York Fashion Week that the semiannual event wouldn’t seem right without them. The MAC lounge is one and Judith Ripka’s fine jewelry boutique is another. But more popular than either and perhaps anything else is the booth where anyone inside the Bryant Park tents can get a free pair of semi-custom Havaianas. To the uninitiated, Havaianas are comfortable, durable, affordable, Brazilian-made flip-flops. Many consider them the best in the world. And while they are readily available to the masses, there are always men and women willing to wait in a long line - often for more than an hour - to have a pair assembled in the colors of their choice. After several seasons of creating limited-edition looks for show guests of designers such as Rosa Cha and for the event’s title sponsor, Mercedes-Benz, the company has just launched a style that glows in the dark. The ” Cool” design comes in three color schemes and is $28 a pair at havaianasus.com. They’re sure to add interest to sunset beach parties, garden soirees and twilight strolls. And you don’t have to worry about losing them in the dark.

Lagelle knit accessories evoke whimsy, classic sophistication

For two year, Tahisha Crawford has been knitting dainty scarves, girly headwear and mod pins as she builds her fledgling Lagelle label. She never expected a simple scarf-knitting project to turn into a passion and a business.

“After I completed the scarf and wore it, I received lots of compliments,” says the Brooklyn native. So she decided to design accessories rather than apparel “because every fashionista desires to express their creativity and individuality through accessorizing.”

Lagelle designs are soft, feminine, and colorfully captivating. They’re in tune with the current trend toward homespun knits, yet timeless in their design and feel.

Fashion wasn’t foremost in Crawford’s mind as a child attending Catholic school, but her mother’s style was a strong influence. Crawford’s love of fashion and sense of style had grown so much by high school that classmates voted her “best dressed” their senior year.

She’s a lover of accessories - especially Marni shoes and Foley & Corinna bags - and saw Lagelle as a way to combine that with her fashion marketing education.

“I’ve always wanted to be in business for myself, and knitting has provided the outlet for my dream,” she says. “It’s an exciting time in my life to be an entrepreneur and designing my own line.”

Lagelle is a variation on her mother’s maiden name, Laguer. Crawford describes the Lagelle customer as “a woman who possesses a free spirit, enjoys a little bit of whimsy and appreciates classic sophistication.”

Pieces in the line range from $35 to $175 at Flirt Boutique Park Slope in Brooklyn and online at www.lagelle.com. The site also offers a small but interesting selection of vintage and eclectic footwear, bags, apparel and housewares.

Crawford is talking with boutique owners in Pittsburgh, Colorado and New York City about carrying the Lagelle line, and a goal is to have it sold in Anthropologie stores.

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