Fig Hand Wash

Lemon Verbena Hand Wash

From now until the end of the year I’m going to post a few gift ideas a week. I’m always trying to find something new and gift-worthy and here’s my pick for today: bath and body goods from Henri Bendel. They opened a store at NorthPark Center a month ago and it’s been received incredibly well even though it’s much different from what you find in NY. HB in Dallas concentrates solely on their private line of giftable items.

Lip Glossary

They’ve got a little of everything from enamel and metal stackable bangle bracelets to scarves and handbags. For something more general, you can’t go wrong with the soaps, glosses, and body lotions, all of which has a nod to HB’s signature chocolate brown and white stripe.

Bendels collection

Trinity bracelet

Cartier at NorthPark Center threw one heck of bash earlier this week to honor The Dallas Opera alongside Joyce & Harvey Mitchell and Ellen & Donald Winspear. Not only did they have a party, but they brought in the Cartier Tradition Collection – some of the most gorgeous vintage pieces you’ve ever seen – which will be in store until November 21.

Rotunde Central Chronograph

A few other things to take note of: The limited edition Trinity bracelet above is embedded with 100 tiny diamonds, one for each year Cartier has been in the US and the new chronograph comes in rose gold – i know, right – and is a new style in their Fine Watchmaking Collection.

Besame mucho, ODLR

Closet Casers, listen up. Bagsnob.com is hosting a virtual chat with master of all things luxe and lovely, Oscar de la Renta, tomorrow, November 4 from 10 am to 12 pm EST. This is your chance to ask Mr. de la Renta about his inspiration for his line, what’s on the horizon for fall 2010, and most importantly, how it’s possible that he’s so handsome.

Gold Linen

Good news for all of us that have worn our beloved TOMS into the ground and are looking for a new pair to replace them. TOMS debuts its new exclusive collection for Neiman Marcus this month and the color combinations are giving me a serious case of the i-want-them-nows.

Pink and Navy Preston

Sussex

Soles for the new collection

The shoe concept remains the same: buy one, give one and the collection at Neiman Marcus ranges between $78 and $125 because of the premium fabric, limited edition grosgrain, and special soles. So far TOMS founder Blake Myscoskie has given 150,000 pairs of shoes to children in need. Don’t you want to up that number? This is the number one item I’m giving to everyone on my Christmas list. What could be better?

It's on counters now

It’s time to put away Essie Ballet Slippers and slink into something more rich for the season. Chanel’s Noirs Obscurs collection has my number. My favorite is a deeply dark, almost black, purple lipstick, Hysteria, embedded with tiny flecks of shimmer. I’d wear with something with a how-do-you-wear-that silhouette, something that makes you go hmmm, possibly from Complexgeometries.

Fall 09

Fall 09

Fall 09

Austin-based jewelry designer Kendra Scott teamed up with the People’s Choice Awards for a design contest where tons of aspiring designers submitted their ideas inspired by Scott’s line. The top three made it to the People’s Choice Awards website and thousands of votes later Kaki Gaines, a University of Texas at Austin senior, won. Gaines gets to attend the awards with Scott on Jan 6, walk the red carpet  - as does her design – and the necklace will serve as inspiration for a capsule collection Scott will design for her namesake line.

Waylande bowls

Don’t miss this cocktail party on Thursday, November 5 at sloan/hall’s Houston location. That evening the boys will be celebrating the relaunch of Waylande Gregory Studios, a brilliant house dedicated to ceramics. Gregory’s pieces have been collected by The Whitney, The Met, The Smithsonian. I know, right? From 6 to 9 pm Armando’s will serve booze and bites and, get this, Kristine Mills and her band will perform songs off her new album, Bossanovafied.

turq and gold tray

bowl

Intimacy founder and expert bra fitter Susan Nethero is on Oprah today. About two months ago I posted about her store’s new Dallas location at NorthPark Center. I had a personal fitting with Nethero and I’ve not turned back to tape measure-wielding bra fitters since. If you aren’t lucky enough to live in Dallas or a city with an Intimacy store, be sure to watch her today on Oprah so you can see for yourself how transformative wearing the right size bra can be. She’ll reveal how to get rid of back fat (don’t act like you don’t have it!), how to stop straps from falling down, and how you can look thinner when you wear a bra that fits.

Unbridaled on South Lamar

One of Austin’s most unique bridal boutiques, Unbridaled, has moved to its new location at 701 South Lamar and you’re invited to stop by on November 11 from 4 to 7 pm to check out the new space while noshing on bites from Primizie Osteria and Michelle’s Patisserie.

VSA Lucha pendants

VSA earrings

VSA necklace

The annual Family Place fundraiser, Partners Card, begins tomorrow October 30 and runs through November 8. Buy a $60 Partners Card and get 20 percent off all purchases at more than 700 stores across Dallas. Tomorrow at Ylang:23 stop by for a HUGE Virgins, Saints, and Angels trunk show that runs through Saturday featuring the new 22 karat gold collection. I love the Lucha pendants, so perfect for Halloween.

If you want to kick off the super savings with clothing, Merge in Preston Royal Shopping Center is having mimosas and muffins from 8 am to 11 am.

The West Village is having a gathering party from 5 to 7 pm where each card purchased gets you a free tee. Sip on Sam Adams and listen to tunes that DJ Paul Paredes spins while shopping around the outdoor shopping center.