Everything She Wants

Mondo Guerra  should have won season 8 of " Project Runway ." That's a fact. His vibrant designs -- typified by colorful separates and eye-catching accessories -- wowed both viewers and judges Heidi Klum, Michael Kors, and Nina Garcia. Okay, Nina and Michael weren't big fans of his finale polka dot tube dress, but Heidi and guest judge Jessica Simpson loved it. Mondo tee for Piperlime, $50 Instead, plain Jane hippie "chic" designer Gretchen Jones was awarded the season 8 title.  Although Mondo was totally robbed of the top honor, he emerged as the season's favorite designer and will hopefully become one of the world's biggest new designers.  He's already off to a good start. Mondo tee for Piperlime, $50 In celebration of  Word AIDs Day  (Dec. 1) and to help raise awareness, the HIV-positive designer has joined forces with Piperlime and created two limited-edition, bold graphic tees ($50 each), printed on Nation LTD t-shirts.  ...

It's Cyber Monday.  So let your fingers do the clicking. And in the spirit of Small Business Saturday, you can still support small online businesses. Vintage Shaun '80s ethnic necklace, $30.80. Vintage Shaun '60s cross body snakesskin clutch, $50.80. My friend, Shaunya Hartley, has a fab vintage shop on Etsy called  Vintage Shaun  and through Wednesday she's offering 15 % off!  Just add the coupon code SHAUN at checkout. Tracy's Pop & Shop Too retro top, $22. Tracy's Pop & Shop Too knit maxi dress, $40. While you're on Etsy, check out my vintage shop, Tracy's Pop & Shop Too .  I've added some new pieces that will spice up your retro holiday wardrobe.  Since I'm feeling festive, I'll include a gift with every purchase.

Take a break from the mall and mainstream stores, and show local and small businesses some love. During the first ever Small Business Saturday , American Express cardholders who signed up will get a $25 credit on their billing statement when they spend $25 or more at a small business today. Even if you don't have an AMEX card, many local businesses are still offering deals and discounts.  Here are five Small Business Saturday incentives I found: F.N.U.E. founder Halley Barney. F.N.U.E. (From Now Until Eternity) by Halley Barney is a romantic, whimsical jewelry line fashioned from sterling silver, 14-karat gold, 18-karat vermeil, and precious gemstones.  Get a piece of her lovely collection, like the Cloud No. 3 bracelet ($195), for $20 off with the code "LOVE." Andrew Clark's Wishbone earrings, $15. Katrin Reifeiss Spiderweb scarf, $47.50. AC AGATES designer Andrew Clark is known for unusual handcrafted jewelry.  I discovered the Brooklyn craft...

Every Black Friday, my best friend Cindy rises early with her brood and heads to Best Buy, Sears, and other major chains for door busting deals on electronics and housewares.  I'm always tempted to join her on her 5 a.m. budget shopping jaunt... then I roll over in my PJs. Photo from Black Friday 411.com Eventually I make it to Target or the mall around nine or ten in the morning and find that when it comes to clothes and accessories, there are still plenty of sales.  And to be honest, I already did some bargain hunting this week ($57 boots from Banana Republic and $7.99 Tucker for Target blouse).   But I'm sure I'll be lured to shop some more on Black Friday (not to mention the first ever Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday incentives).   Here are a few deals I found in my inbox: I'm dreaming of a Norma Kamali sleeping bag coat for Christmas. Today (Wed, Nov. 24) through Black Friday at the  Norma Kamali  store (11 W. 56th Street...

Oprah showed us hers.  Wanna see mine?   That is, my favorite things for holiday gifts.  Over the past several months I've tirelessly pounded the pavement collecting samples from press previews and holiday gift shows and here are my 10 best beauty and wellness finds: 1.  Sanrio Fragrance Collection  ($6.00 - $39.50) is the latest addition to the kitschy Demeter Fragrance Library.  The three scents are: he Japanese fruit-flavored gum-inspired "Sanrio 50th Anniversary"; "Badtz Maru," named after the mischievous penguin character with frisky notes of unsweetened pineapple, cranberry, raspberry and honeydew melon; and my favorite, the chocolate-y " Chococat " named after Sanrio's beloved brown boy cat.  2.  Arbonne Ginger Citrus Body Butter  ($32) is an all-natural, lush and thick cream that will leave your skin smooth and irresistibly soft.  Contact Jennifer at  jennifer.weitzman15@gmail.com to purchase this or any other fab Arbonn...

Some people like to chase twisters.  I like to chase clothes.  Yesterday I was on a mission to find a piece of Lanvin's limited collection for H&M to call my own.  Although I wasn't serious about purchasing a cocktail dress for $200, I was at least hoping to snag one of the coveted line's t-shirts or accessories.  But no such luck.  Those items were sold out and the only accessory I could find was a Lanvin tote bag for $3.95. In fact, some shoppers were so serious that they camped out before the New York City stores carrying the merchandise opened. My compulsion curiosity led me to four H&M stores and each only had a couple racks of dresses left (the flagship store on Fifth Avenue also had plenty of men's items).  If I'd been thinking more like an eBay reseller, I would have purchased at least one to flip later. En route to my final H&M of the day in Soho, I spotted a young woman on the F train touting four fully loaded ...

The holiday season means a busy social calendar. So you have to look good from head to toe, including your eyebrows. Browhaus (56 Spring Street, 212-431-1124), a new brow salon in New York City's trendy Nolita nabe, will hook you up. I visited the modern, industrial-looking salon for a Browgraphy ($38 -$42), which includes shaping and a color tweak.  Browhaus' styling chairs recline all the way back, so your neck and feet are comfortably supported.  If you've ever had your eyebrows threaded (you have to hold your head back and lift part of your brow so the stylist can reach all angles), you know this makes a big difference. Then your brows are expertly shaped by threading, tweezing, or a combination of the two.  Once the shaping is done, the stylist blends in matching color to fill in your brows.  Goodbye daily eye pencil; the color tweak lasts for about a month.  My eyebrows haven't looked this good in months. My beautiful Browhaus brows. Browhaus ...

I wasn't one of the lucky bloggers invited to preview Lanvin 's limited edition collection for H&M ( but I was invited to a first look at the  Last Call Studio  by Neiman Marcus store in Paramus, NJ and the new Forever 21 at 21 Fifth Avenue, so there ). Image courtesy of H&M. Nevertheless, my interest has been piqued.  I wanna see what all the fuss is about.  Anyone who knows me or has read Everything She Wants knows that I live for a bargain.  Yes, H&M is one of my fave stores, but no matter how pretty or sexy, cocktail dresses that range from $199 to $249 aren't my idea of a deal. The reporter in me, however, wants to be part of the action and I plan to pop in Manhattan's flagship store on Fifth Avenue. Perhaps I will fare better with one of the accessories, more reasonably priced from $19.95 to $49.95.  And according to CNNMoney.com , the most affordable Lanvin for H&M collector's item is a tube of iconic red lipstick for $9.9...

Here on Everything She Wants, I like to champion products that will make readers look and feel good.  So World of Green, a one-stop web shop featuring eco-friendly and fair trade beauty and fashion items, is a natural fit.   To help with your holiday shopping, through December 16th you can enter win during World of Green's " 30 Days of Free Eco-Friendly Holiday Gifts ." I chatted with World of Green founder Roberta Modena about her company and her passion for sustainable style. Roberta Modena Everything She Wants: What inspired you to start World of Green?  Roberta : I was inspired by all the eco-friendly, unique products I was finding.  But it was also frustrating to try and remember all the different sites.  I really wanted to simplify the process because my friends and family would ask me about certain products that I owned, and I always had to get back to them with the company names or URLs. I decided I wanted to create a memorable de...

Everything She Wants' holiday gift guide is coming soon.  In the meantime, here are three cool websites with irresistible jewelry and accessories for the eclectic girl on your holiday gift list ( even better if that girl is you ): Send the Trend, Dahlia Pearl Necklace Send the Trend : Christian Siriano is the chief stylist and curator for this new ecommerce site where all of the fashionable accessories... get this ...are only $29.95 each including free shipping. Fierce! To help every girl find her look, accessories including funky costume jewelry, scarves, and sunglasses are divided into five categories: trendy, bohemian, edgy, glam and classic. My pick: Dahlia Pearl Necklace  ($29.95) Sacred Accessories, Leather bracelet by Linea Pelle Sacred Accessories : One of the best kept secrets on the web, this online boutique features unique designer fashion accessories.  Most of the items are made of fine fabrics and precious and semi-precious metals and gemstones...

I have a jewelry crush on  Dannijo .  Recently I met dynamic design duo Danielle and Jodie Snyder during a preview of their spring 2011 collection.  At their light-filled Meatpacking District showroom, the girls told me how they got their start making jewelry from their father's medical supplies. Dannijo sisters Jodie and Danielle. Although they initially pursued other careers, their fascination with making wearable art stayed with the sisters, who launched their first boutique in their hometown of Jacksonville, FL while they were still in high school.   Jodie, 28, graduated from the University of Florida in 2004 and moved to New York City to pursue a career in fashion, and Danielle, 25, joined her big sis in the Big Apple after she graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2007.  They started designing jewelry together again in 2007 with a capsule collection benefiting a non-profit organization where Jodie worked. Dannijo officially launched in 2008. The eye...

I've never owned a pair of Uggs . I always thought they looked like Yeti feet, but at the same time I'm intrigued by their fugliness.  So when FitFlop came along with a similar style of the sheepskin boots that also have a fitness benefit, I had to try 'em.  And thanks to the kind folks at FitFlop I received a pair to wear this fall. Classic Mukluk Like the sandals, FitFlop boots have the patent-pending Microwobbleboard technology, which helps to tone and tighten your leg muscles with each step. According to the website, "it's footwear with a gym built in." FitFlops also absorb more shock than a normal shoe, help realign ground force reaction closer to your joints, and reduce foot pressure and ache in your hips and knees. Even though winter hasn't officially started, I've been wearing my classic Mukluk boots in black for about a month. The ergonomically-shaped boots come in a breathable shearling upper and I was surprised by how comfortabl...

Bling in the New Year with the LOFT Collection, a unique capsule collection of statement jewelry that features a downtown-chic combination of luxe stones and tough chains.  Pieces range in retail from $49.50 to $74.50 making this everyday glamour truly attainable. These rich pieces are available in LOFT stores nationwide and make the perfect gift to give, get, and keep! You even have a chance to win a bold statement necklace that would make Lady Gaga go gaga from LOFT's capsule collection (above photo, $74.50 value) if you do all of the following:  1) Retweet this post. 2) Subscribe to Everything She Wants. 3) Follow me on Twitter @TracyEHopkins 4) Leave a comment and tell me where you plan to wear the necklace? Enter today! The contest ends on Friday, Nov. 12 at 11:59 p.m.

I recently discovered  Kiss New York , a new brand of makeup for women of color.  Although Cover Girl has been my go-to brand for a while now,  I'm impressed by Kiss New York's flawless coverage. Before I went to a press preview I applied the Ultra Cover & Stick Foundation in "Chocolate," a maximum coverage-yet-lightweight foundation that matched my skin tone perfectly. The "True Tone" formula mimics the warm yellow and red undertones for women of color. Without realizing that both of the samples I received were foundation, I also applied a thin layer of the Acne Cover & Cream Foundation , which gives you natural-looking coverage and helps banish your blemishes. But even with two foundations on, I didn't look like a contestant on RuPaul's "Drag Race." The active ingredients in the cover cream ( soothing salicylic acid, green tea, macadamia seed oil, shea butter oil, and vitamin E ) are great for oily and acne prone skin.  The...