The Weekend Just Got Better: Urban Zen Trunk Show at Number One

A look from Urban Zen's "Reflections" collection (photography courtesy of Urban Zen)

Number One is hosting a trunk show this weekend for Urban Zen. The clothing collection is a fashion-based philanthropic endeavor of Donna Karan’s. It’s made up of lifestyle pieces, soft separates, drapy dresses, cashmere, jackets, and scarves that Urban Zen calls “seasonless, ageless, and timeless.” I agree. You can live in this line. Everything’s soft and drapy, ruched into flattering silhouettes, and in an earthy palette, easy for mixing into any wardrobe. The latest collection, Reflections, is full of cowl necks, long dresses that can double as glamorous evening attire and loungewear, leather leggings, and rich, dark colors made edgy with thick cuffs. Shop the line this weekend and 10 percent of proceeds will benefit The Family Place and Donna Karan’s Urban Zen Foundation, which caters to a variety of organizations.

Where: Number One
When: Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6

Local Hari Mari Launches Second Sandal Collection in Pretty Pastels and Easy Neutrals

photography courtesy of Hari Mari

I loved the concept of Dallas-based Hari Mari right away: the eco-friendly reprocessed rubber, foam, and biodegradable hemp make-up, the financial donation to children’s hospitals per pair sold, and the recycling incentive (bring your old pair back, get 15 percent off your new pair), but after trying on a pair, the deal was sealed. They’re truly the most comfortable sandals I’ve ever worn with the cushy footbed and thick, soft straps. One caviat: the white footbed gets dirty quickly. (To clean, Hari Mari recommends using a soapy towel or towel with Shout.) The new Scouts collection hitting stores next week, however, has an “earthen-tone” hemp foot bed with khaki colored soles which should alleviate some of the dark footprint problem. The straps come in campground-inspired hues such as bright yellow, sea green, pink, navy, red and nude for ladies and include army green, sky blue, and neon green for guys. Rolling onto shelves next week, find Hari Mari’s Scouts collection at Luke’s Locker, Original Octane, The Biz, and these other retailers.

Fair & Square Imports in McKinney Makes Shopping a Good Deed

photography by Josh Martin

I don’t make it to McKinney very often, and that’s a shame. Stores like Bloom and Another Time & Place live there, and I would love to visit them more often. And then there’s Fair & Square, featured in the latest issue of D Home.

Looks a little World Market-y, and the merchandise compares: bamboo picture frames, paper lanterns, earthy home decor items made of wood (stools, vases, tchotchkes, and baskets), rugs, bird houses, chimes, and jewelry. Silver bangles, dangling earrings, colorful beaded necklaces abound. The difference is the crafting of the goods. Everything here is fair trade and handmade. Get the scoop.

photography by Josh Martin

Put Fur Coats to Better Use: Donate Them Back to Animals at Buffalo Exchange

Who knew fur could be put back to use to benefit animals? I love the fur recycling program happening at Buffalo Exchange through Earth Day on Monday, April 22. Bring in your used fur apparel (coats, stoles, purses, even trims) and Buffalo will send it to Coats for Cubs, a Humane Society program that accepts donated furs and ships them off to animal rehabilitation units, where they’re used as bedding for orphaned animals. Aw. Happening at Buffalo Exchange at 3424 Greenville Ave.

Spin for a $15 Donation to North Texas Food Bank at New Flywheel Sports

Just how I like to ride: in a huge stadium so no one can pay attention to me. (photography courtesy of Flywheel)

If you’ve been thinking about hitting up that new spin gym in the Shops at Highland Park, today’s the day to reserve a seat at Flywheel Sports. Take a trial class on Monday for a half-priced $16.82 ($15 plus a fee) and not only do you get to check out a potential new gym, all the proceeds from the class go straight to North Texas Food Bank. This class is a one-time offer for Monday, January 21 at 7 pm. Lots of seats are still available and waiting for your hiney to come grab a good workout. Buy your ticket here.

Pretty in Pink

photography courtesy of vendors

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and retailers around the world are raising awareness with limited edition items, which send a portion of their proceeds to help find a cure for the disease. So shop with a conscience and pick up a little pink. Below are some of our favorite Breast Cancer Awareness products – all available from retailers in the Dallas area.

(clockwise from top)
Endearing “Go Girl” rings, $76-$210 by local designer Diane Malouf
Danielle earrings in rose, $60 at Kendra Scott
Pink Ribbon Gaiam yoga mat, $21.98 at Target
Bobbi Brown Pink Peony set with blush and brush, $45 at Macy’s and Nordstrom
Smashbox BCRF BE Legendary Lipstick, $19 at Ulta

Margaux Anbouba is a ShopTalk intern.

Go Get Your Dallas Partners Card

This year marks the 20^th year of the Dallas Partners Card. This nifty little item is more than a piece of plastic that gives you a great discount at some of the best retailers in town, it is the main fundraiser for The Family Place, a local domestic violence agency. Through the Partners Card, they have raised over $12 million in the past, and each and every penny spent on the Partners Card goes to supporting survivors. From October 26 – November 4,  you can use your card to receive 20% off at any of the 750 participating stores, including Equinox fitness clubs, Hemline, Intermix, LAFCO New York, Thomas Pink, Drybar, and more. Purchase your card online now for $70.

Get Pampered. Give Back. All Happening at Lily Med Spa Tonight

photography courtesy of Lily Med Spa

September is National Hunger Action Month, and Lily Med Spa is doing their part to raise awareness. Tonight, from 3 pm to 6 pm, the spa is offering champagne, wine, and hors d’oeuvres, as well as special prices on Botox, Juvederm, photo facials, MicroLaser peels, Jane Iredale makeup, and more. For every treatment purchased, Lily Med Spa will donate a meal to the North Texas Food Bank. While services must be purchased during the event to receive the special prices (and have a meal donated), they can be redeemed at a later date. Take advantages of these prices, which will let you feed your ego as well as someone in need.

Margaux Anbouba is a ShopTalk Intern.

Lavender Locks and Purple Pedicures at Daireds Salon & Spa Pangea for Domestic Violence Awareness

Gemma Ward photographed by Craig McDean for Vogue Paris August 2004 and Butter London's HRH polish

I dream of having lavender locks. I swoon when I see violet strands tied up on bows on Tumblr. I Pin and re-Pin purple hairdos thinking one day, I’ll get the guts to do it myself. Until then, temporary purple hair extensions could be the ticket at Daireds Salon & Spa Pangéa during their Women in Purple campaign.

Throughout the entire month of October, the Arlington salon is raising awareness (and money) to fight domestic violence with purple beauty services. Grab a purple extension or two for $15 a pop and a manicure ($35) or pedicure ($55) in Butter London’s shades of purple polish, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to SafeHaven of Tarrant County, a local domestic violence resource center and women’s shelter.

Where: Daireds Salon & Spa Pangéa
When: October 1-31, 2012
To Book: 817-465-9797

ShopTalkers, Have You Heard About The Big Read Dallas?

From the editors of D Magazine:

Have you been Facebooked and mass emailed about North Texas Giving Day over the past week? I’m sure you have, and you’ve probably heard from us at D Magazine. We are working with the Friends of the Dallas Public Library to raise money to buy books for DISD ninth and tenth graders through The Big Read Dallas program. Our goal is to harness the generosity of D friends and families to purchase 18,500 books for a reading program that will be conducted in 2013. Simon & Schuster is giving us a huge discount on Fahrenheit 451, but we have to place our order this fall. Please (please, please) consider a donation. If you give $25 or more, the Communities Foundation of Texas will match a portion of that today only from 7 a.m. to midnight. If you have friends, co-workers, entire companies, or social friends who might want to give books to our DISD kids, send this around. Every $5 buys a book. Five bucks, folks. Let’s do this! Click here. IMPORTANT: in the notes section, write “The Big Read Dallas.”

Champagne & Cupcakes at Kendra Scott to Benefit Lauren Scruggs

A few pre-fall Kendra Scott gems

It’s been about seven months since Dallas girl Lauren Scruggs was first all over the news. (If you’re out of the loop: a horrific incident involving a spinning plane propeller left the beautiful girl without one hand and one eye.) Since then, it seems she’s hardly missed a beat, blogging, writing a book, being captured hitting the streets in workout gear, and tweeting such glowing positivity as “Life is fun.” We’re sure she battles tough moments on the side and we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to help her continue to succeed with the Kendra Scott Gives Back event benefiting Lauren Scruggs. Both designer Kendra Scott and Lauren Scruggs and family will be in the store for this special night.

What: Champagne, cupcakes, and shopping. Plus, 10 percent of the evening’s proceeds go directly to Lauren’s medical expenses.
Where: Kendra Scott
When: Thursday, July 19 from 5 pm to 8 pm

We Know You’ve Had Botox. Now You Can Call it Philanthropic.

Sure. Your forehead looks like a teenager’s naturally. (Eye roll.) But, if you’re interesting in getting your first (wink, wink) injection, you can do it for a cause with Lily Med Spa.

Tama Tran, a veteran aesthetician with 10 years of experience at her mother’s Lily Day Spa, opened her med spa this past December. Now, she operates a combination of treatment-oriented spa therapies and medical procedures, like Botox, fillers, and laser technology. Plus, she’s partnered with The North Texas Food Bank. Every time she injects a client’s forehead with Botox, a donation is made that covers three meals. Vanity married with charity? We’ll take it over plain ol’ vanity.

Heroes for Children Lends a Helping Handbag

Brown satin and ostrich feather evening bag by Anthony Luciano

Erin Ahlfinger, D Magazine intern and fearless reporter, tackled the Heroes and Handbags event Friday, May 4. Her review below:

The seventh annual Heroes and Handbags Luncheon was the place to be Friday morning to shop for a fantastic bag for a great cause. Five hundred of the most fashionable women in Dallas gathered at the Hilton Anatole for a silent auction and luncheon benefiting Heroes for Children, a local non-profit dedicated to providing assistance to families of children fighting cancer.

Retailers and private donors contributed hundreds of vintage and designer handbags in styles ranging from elegant evening bags to funky floral totes. Highlights included the custom “Bella” clutch designed by Elaine Turner exclusively for Heroes for Children, but it was a brown satin and ostrich feather Anthony Luciano evening bag that stole my heart, but in auctions, as in life, there’s always the one who got away. (more…)

ShopTalk Giveaway: Limited Edition Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque

Kieh's Rare Earth Rosario Dawson Pore Cleansing Masque for Earth Day

Earth Day month may be over, but you can still get your hands on the limited edition, celeb-designed jars of Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque. The beauty brand has put out Earth Day editions of a favorite product every year for the last four years, and this year’s partners included Florence Welch, Mark Ruffalo, Rosario Dawson, and Spike Lee. For each jar in the label series, Kiehl’s sends 100 percent of its proceeds to Recycle Across America. The Rare Earth masque aims to purify, detoxify, and minimize the appearance of enlarged pores. Amazonian White Clay is said to draw out oil, dirt, and toxins, and oatmeal and aloe vera are soothing, hydrating, and protective of sensitive skin. We’ve got a jar with Rosario Dawson’s label to give away.  Enter here to win. Even more exciting, Kiehl’s is opening up shop in NorthPark this month.

Cancel Your Evening Plans. Head to Original Octane Tonight for Scott James Trunk Show and Make-A-Wish Foundation.

photography courtesy of scottjamesonline.com

Scott James joins hands with The Make-A-Wish Foundation for its trunk show tonight at Original Octane. Check out the line’s spring/summer collection and should you decide to make a purchase (the Arden seersucker suit in gray, perhaps, or a pair of five-pocket pants in lime?), or, if you make a $10 donation to Make-A-Wish, you’ll be entered into a giveaway for a weekend getaway wardrobe selected by Scott James Kuhlman, the brand’s designer. Tonight, April 25 at Original Octane from 6 pm to 8 pm.

Update: There will be margaritas and light bites. Now you’re going for sure, right?