Happy Holidays, ShopTalkers

Deck The Heels, oil on canvas by Janet Hill

May they be full of beauty.

Dallas Celebrity Gift Guide: Nha Khanh, Fashion Designer

In continuation of this week’s mission, Steal Dallas Celeb’s Wish Lists, I bring to you three prized items from a beloved local designer,  Khanh Nguyen of Nha Khanh. At this point, “local designer” is underselling this accomplished creator and mommy. She blew everyone away with her 2011 debut collection and has since been picked up by stores all over the country including Saks Fifth Avenue. Nguyen’s signature pieces have been spotted on celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Brooklyn Decker, Giuliana Rancic, and Ahna O’Reilly and, in November, she was honored with the Rising Star Award by Fashion Group International. So, yeah, she’s kind of a big deal.

Under $50: Senhoa Simplicity unisex cord necklace with antique brass chains, $49
Under $500: Jo Malone Orange Blossom Luxury Candle, $425 at Neiman Marcus
Unlimited: Christian Louboutin Donue open-front bootie, $1,295 at Neiman Marcus

Dallas Celebrity Gift Guide: Amber Venz, rewardStyle President

I’m always thinking of ways to get local notables to spill their personally curated shopping lists. The holidays are a perfect time for a such a request, so I sent out a note to a handful of my favorite Dallas fashion gurus (our local style celebs, if you will), inquiring about the current state of their wish lists. I’m sharing the results with you this week. First up, Amber Venz, former jewelry designer, inspiring blogger, founder of rewardStyle, and internationally loved style setter.

photos courtesy of retailers

Under $50 item: Canadian Birch Straws, $8 at Anthropologie
Under $500 item: Cult Gaia Headband for resort, $100
Unlimited price item: Balmain spring 2013 RTW dress

Dallas Holiday Gift Guide: An Intimate Gift for Your Besties

If you think it’s odd to gift lingerie to your pals, check yourself. This is no creepy babydoll. This, my friends, is one of my favorite wardrobe staples. The Coobie is, as advertised, the most comfortable bra ever. It’s also flattering, one-size-fits-all, and cheap (under $24). Styles come in scoop neck, v-neck with lace trim, and bandeau and new “full size” options are available to cover up to size 42DD. Pads are removable, straps are adjustable, and fabric comes in more than 40 color and pattern options, which make the Coobie bra fun for stocking stuffing. (Who wouldn’t want a sweet polka dot bralette?)

Prepare to pick up handfuls. Jump for the list of local retailers.

See more gift ideas.

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Pencil This In: Holiday Party at Accents

Now that we here at ShopTalk have helped you find gifts for those those on your nice list and told you about our favorite holiday makeup looks, you’re almost ready for holiday party season. Next on your list? Picking up some inexpensive holiday threads for yourself and learning how to style your hair for said party season. For all this, stop by Accents in West Village on Thursday, between 5 pm and 9 pm, for their Holiday Sip, Shop and Style party. Grab a festive holiday cocktail, shop the store with a 25% off discount, receive style instructions on how to do the perfect braided or bun up do, and be entered to win a blow out from Lure Salon.

Where: Accents
When: Thursday, Dec. 13 from 5 pm to 9 pm

Margaux Anbouba is a ShopTalk Intern.

Dallas Holiday Gift Guide: The Best Gift For Your Obsessive-Compulsive Best Friend

Our annual guide to the best stocking stuffers around town has commenced. Every day we’re sharing with you another local find so awesome you’ll buy two–one to keep, of course.

Answer these questions about your potential gift recipient:
Is he/she obsessed with making lists?
Does sheer joy wash over him/her as she crosses off an item on her list?
Does he/she spend more time making lists than getting things done?

(I have a “friend” like this.)

If you answered yes to any of these, the giftee in question needs one (or all) of these mini to-do list Pocket Notes notebooks. The embossed fabric matchbook pads ring up at only $6 a pop and in come in four motifs: Stuff To Do for organized completing-and-checking-off bliss, Stock Up for shopping lists, Great Ideas for brilliant plans, and Note To Self for miscellaneous musings. Available at Byrd & Bleeker.

See more gift ideas.

The Best Gift Shops in Dallas: 9 Stores That Make Holiday Shopping a Breeze

When your job is to dissect, explore, and report on one city, you get pretty good at uncovering all the sweet spots. We have a stellar lineup of shop-savvy editors who are especially in the know when it comes to embellishing homes, creating wardrobes, and delighting friends with the perfect gift. Put us to the test this holiday season. Shop this list of our favorite gift stores.

Society
Candles. They’re a common go-to gift. But they can also be uninspired (and sometimes stinky when the candles are cheap) presents. Not so at Society. Local interior designers Pamela Jackson and Jeremi Headrick recently opened their chic Bishop Arts shop and it’s full of great smelling candles, vintage holders, and the like. My favorite is Society’s three proprietary blends which are a steal for only $32 each.
-Todd Johnson, corporate creative director, D Magazine

Little Bean “for kiddos”
This children’s boutique, tucked away on a leafy Junius Heights street, feels like it’s been curated by your hippest mom friend. The shop is blissfully void of any blinking plastic gizmos, stocked instead with unique, artful (read: pretty to look at) goods that are as fun for kiddos as they are for adults. My go-to items for gifting include the clever Seedling craft kits, tissue surprise balls filled with little treasures (my girls go crazy over these), and any of the smart books on offer.
-Joslyn Taylor, executive editor, D Moms

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Happy Thanksgiving

See you on Monday.

My Wish List Doesn’t Have a Budget

Because it’s a wish list and not a soon-I’m-going-to-get list, I’ve created a little preliminary roundup for Santa. All available at Forty Five Ten. They have the ultimate lineup of wish list-worthy goods. So far, on the agenda? The Haider Ackerman Durell dress ($2,580), Proenza Schouler peacock sweatshirt ($3,295), Kimberly McDonald diamond and opal studs (price available upon request), and Eduardo Garza Dionysus amethyst box ($1,600). There will be more.

The Nasher Gift Shop at NorthPark is Back for the Holidays

And that makes me very happy, as it’s always been one of my favorite gift spots. It opened over the weekend on the first level, near Neiman Marcus, and will remain there until January 6. For smart, beautifully designed gifts for art and gadget lovers, the Nasher Store really can’t be topped. A permanent location is still open for business downtown.

Welcome, Drybar NorthPark! Thanks for Coming in Time for Holiday Parties.

Drybar in Highland Park (photography courtesy of Drybar)

As of today, you can officially do everything at NorthPark Center. Drybar has opened its newest location in the heart of our shoppaholics’ heaven.  It’s kind of big deal. Physically, I mean. It’s the largest Drybar in the country so far. Find it gleaming between Macy’s and Dillards. An exterior entrance faces Central and a valet stand’s waiting for you out front so you so don’t mess up your new ‘do hiking a 5k to your space in the parking lot.

In celebration of this occasion, the girls of Jackson & Flagg, Drybar’s local PR team, is offering up a three-pack of their famous “coasters” (aka blowouts) to use at your leisure. Perfect for upcoming events, parties, holiday festivities, and some good ol’ “me” time. To win, enter here. We’ll draw one winner on Monday. Good luck!

Finally. A Look at the Target + Neiman Marcus Holiday Collection.

I’ve been looking forward to see the results of the holiday gift collaboration between Neiman Marcus and Target since it was first announced. Although I had reservations about the concept of designer-stamped affordable luxuries, I admire the 24 CFDA designers selected and I seriously love Target. As it turns out, the roundup of presents created by these style gurus is admittedly pretty fun. Much better than my ideas. Fashion designer Jason Wu made ornaments, Brian Atwood stuck to women’s accessories with gloves and sunglasses, Oscar de la Renta made beautiful doggie dishes, and Rodarte made wicked cool wrapping paper. Prices run from $7.99 to $499.99. Check out a few of my favs below.

The entire collection will be available in both Target and Neiman Marcus stores on December 1.

photos courtesy of Target

To see the entire look book, click here.

Dallas’ Best Valentine’s Day Spa Packages

photography courtesy of Flickr user The Essex, Vermont's Culinary Resort & Spa

I love holiday themed spa treatments. So festive.

ADRIFT FLOAT SPA
Couple’s Float:
Enjoy togetherness, relaxation and rejuvenation with Valentine’s couple’s floats from Adrift Float Spa, Dallas’ first luxury floatation spa. Couple’s Floats from February 11- February 19 will come with champagne, roses, and chocolates and include all Adrift amenities: robes and slippers, full- accommodation changing rooms, relaxation room with massage chairs and underwater color and music therapy. $139

HIATUS SPA + RETREAT
100% Pure Love:
Spa love, that is….indulge in an 80-minute Hiatus Massage, a Body Glow with rose and ylang ylang essential oils, a signature Facial + the award-winning Mani-Pedi Retreat.
Love Thyself:
With a Heart-Chakra Balancing Massage, Body Glow, Spa Manicure and Perfecting Facial + Peel….the perfect way to get in the mood!
Love On the Rocks:
Or hot stones, if you prefer! This package for two features the 60-minute Hot Stone Couple’s Retreat and Hot Stone Spa Pedicure, plus a glass of bubbly, naturally.

RIVIERA SPA
Chocolate & Roses Facial:
Rich Hungarian cocoa and nutrient loaded organic roses satisfy your craving for deliciously flawless skin! Your highly trained esthetician will cleanse, hydrate and tone with rich Hungarian red roses to refine and renew your skin. Love your skin with a soothing masque of blended roses, rose tea, strawberries and chocolate. Includes a relaxing Hungarian scalp, neck and face massage. Customized for all skin types! (60 min. Reg $110, February special $95)
Couples Massage with Soothing Rose Massage Oil Candle:
Spoil you and your sweetheart with a relaxing Swedish couples massage on rose petal massage tables in our luxurious couples suite. Our YonKa Rose Candle is a natural candle of shea butter, andiroba oil, mango butter and essential oils of rose that melts into a warm, smooth massage oil, melts away stress and leaves your skin nourished and moisturized. This treatment includes complimentary champagne, strawberries & chocolate and a rose candle for you to take home. (50 min. $240)

Jump for the full list, which will be updated daily as I get more info.

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Happy, Happy Holidays. Love, ShopTalk.

We’re off next week. I know there ain’t no sunshine when ShopTalk is gone, but try to enjoy your week. We’ll be thinking of you the whole time and how to entertain you in 2012. Sending holiday happies your way. xoxo, ShopTalk

Dallas Holiday Gift Guide: An Under-$50 Stocking Stuffer for Tweens

Tarte’s holiday set of LipSurgence “lip lustres” in peach, shimmery pinks, sparkly raspberry, and coral red comes in a playful silver glitter box and retails for $24. These pretty hues are shimmery sweet and great for younger ladies adding a little color to their pouts. Pick up a box of lipstick crayons at Sephora.

Check ShopTalk daily for new gift suggestions. See all of our stocking stuffer ideas here.