A Girlfriend Getaway With Your BFF in Turks and Caicos

My best friend Cindy and I have known each other since junior high school. But it wasn’t until our junior year in high school that we truly bonded, fanatically over ‘80s Brit-pop duo Wham! (the name of this blog actually derives from the Wham! hit, "Everything She Wants"). 

Me and my friend Cindy in Turks and Caicos.

Over the years, we’ve maintained our friendship, even as life has taken us in different directions.  My career in publishing transplanted me in New York City, while she stayed in Baltimore and became the principal of our former high school and a multi-tasking mother of three. 

So I jumped at the chance to spend some husband-and-kid-free time with Cindy on the Beaches Friends Forever Girls Getaway at Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa.

During our tranquil trip (minus a choppy catamaran cruise), Cindy had her first facial and massage and did yoga and meditation for the first time.  I’m glad I was there to share those experiences with her.  Read more about the BFF getaway on SheKnows.com.

3 Summer Fashion Trends You Already Own

Summer hasn't officially started, but the summer-like heat and humidity is already here.  And if you're like me, you're scrambling to figure out what to wear.  To give us some styling guidance, DailyCandy's Everywhere Editor, Tiffany Davis, gave Everything She Wants her top three must-have trends for summer 2012.  The good news is that you may already have these looks in your closet.

Kara Laricks' color-block jacket and shorts./Saks Fifth Avenue

1) Remixed hemlines:  This season is all about taking the maxi, midi, and miniskirt hemlines and then re-mixing them to your liking. For example, we’ve had a rash of New York City days involving winter weather in the morning and sweltering temps by noon. I’ve seen tons of women knotting maxi dresses at the ankle, the knee (or even higher) for a quick style tweak on the go. And whether they’re wearing a motorcycle jacket and boots or Grecian sandals, it looks effortlessly chic.

2) Tone-on-tone color-blocking:  My colleague and I had not one – but two – conversations about Fashion Star winner Kara Laricks' tailed, color-blocked coat finished with just a little bit of leather. Gone are the days of matchy-matchy. Accessories and a killer attitude will do more to pull an outfit together this season than anything else.

3) Keep your cool: I love that there are so many options for not letting it all hang out just because it’s warm out. Airy, layer-friendly pieces can still have a cool point of view.  Masculine silhouettes and tailoring are hip for womenswear, as well as an understated, sexy Bianca Jagger-ish pants suit.

Eye Cream Treatments and Benefits from sjal

For years, I've been under the illusion that I don't need to use eye cream.  I thought that a moisturizer was enough to, literally, cover all of my facial needs.  Alas, as the fine lines creeping around the corners of my eyes can attest, I was mistaken. 

Sjal (Swedish for spirit, mind, heart and soul) is a luxury skincare line that melds Western science with an Eastern infusion of precious minerals and gemstones to increase celullar productivity, performance and repair and enhance the skin.  Kristin Petrovich, creator of sjal, has a few tips for Everything She Wants' readers on the benefits of eye cream. 

sjal skincare

When should women start using eye cream? 

Kristin Petrovich: Mid-to-late twenties to help protect, preserve and begin correcting any early signs of aging.

Why is it important to use an eye cream around your eyes instead of a regular moisturizer?

KP: Eye creams are specifically formulated for the eye area. Typically, they are more gentle and have better penetration into the delicate eye area and address specific areas of concern (elasticity, dark circles, hydration, etc). 

How often should women apply eye cream and when?

KP: Day and night, around the orbital eye area.

How does sjal's eye cream differ from other brands?  What are the benefits?

KP: sjal’s orbe is a multi-tasking all-in-one eye cream containing 50 active ingredients. A small amount goes a very long way.  It focuses on toning, lifting, brightening and softening of fine lines and wrinkles.

It easily penetrates and is non-greasy.  It contains prolines, a type of amino acid which naturally occurs around the eye area.  These prolines help to work on tone and elasticity and over-time break down any fatty deposits and naturally helps to stimulate one’s own prolines around the eye area.  Additionally, the eye cream contains a balanced moisture magnet which works according to your skin’s transdermal water loss (TWL). For example, if you are in a desert, it will literally draw moisture in from the air into the eye area.

Memorial Day Flip-Flops from Havaianas

Flip-flops have come a long way, baby.  And at the forefront of the fashionable flip-flop trend is Havaianas.  New for summer 2012, the Brazilian footwear brand has several limited-edition styles featuring the Muppets, Mickey Mouse, and feminine mosaic, flower and geometric prints and patterns.

To benefit Baby Buggy, a non-profit dedicated to providing clothing, products and educational services to families with children in need, Havaianas collaborated on designs with celeb Moms including Courteney Cox and Tori Spelling.  Ten percent of sales will be donated directly to Baby Buggy, so pick up a pair and make every day Mother's Day.

Havaianas also has a new Sole Collection of espadrilles and sneakers that feature canvas uppers with the original, ultra-comfortable flip-flop sole.

Here's a sneak peek of the 2012 collection, now available online and in select stores.

Photos by Tracy E. Hopkins

Bethenny Frankel's Skinnygirl Solutions Shapewear at Macy's

Is there anything that self-professed skinny girl Bethenny Frankel can't sell?  Apparently not, since the reality TV queen turned millionaire entrepreneur recently debuted her Skinnygirl Solutions Shapewear line at select Macy's stores nationwide. Somewhere on the Upper East Side, Jill Zarin is inconsolably kvetching.

Photo by Albert Michel for Alison Brod PR.

Frankel's inspiration for the brand was to develop shapewear that you actually want people to see.
Everything She Wants attended an exclusive preview of the decidedly sexy, lingerie-inspired undergarments that retail for under $65.  Frankel, flaunting her lithe frame in a tight black dress with one of her Skinnygirl Solutions' camis peeking through paired with nude pumps, greeted the press with the irreverent sense of humor that's made her famous.

The natural food chef and yoga enthusiast described her comfortable, versatile shapewear as "user-friendly" pieces you can wear under a blazer or cardigan and then flash for your husband. Skinnygirl Solutions can easily transition from day-to-night, are available in a range of sizes and despite the name are designed to fit a variety of body types. Frankel's first shapewear line, Skinnygirl Smoothers 'n Shapers by Bethenny Frankel is also available online.

Designer Spotlight: Fashion Star Winner Kara Laricks

Former fourth-grade school teacher Kara Laricks won the NBC fashion competition, Fashion Star. Laricks always told her students to be true to themselves, and she finally took her own advice and pursued a career in fashion. She designs androgynous clothing for men and women, inspired by her love of menswear and an avant-garde Japanese design aesthetic. Best known for her hoodie scarves and collar-and-ties, Laricks puts a spin on what is deemed traditional women's fashion. She considers her partner Melissa to be her biggest supporter because she encouraged her to pursue her passion.

Everything She Wants caught up with the designer after her win via email:

How has Fashion Star changed your perspective of the fashion industry?

Kara Laricks: I have always thought of myself as a "high end" designer -- in other words, one that dreams of creating a mood and experience for my customers through a runway show -- telling a story through my collection with a clear beginning, middle and end each season while always maintaining my signature flavor regardless of trend or decade.  I have always admired the designers/artists that hang in Saks Fifth Avenue and am honored to be included in those ranks.  However, during my time on Fashion Star, I realized the thrill of reaching my customers through more affordable retailers like Macy's and H&M.  Going forward, my challenge is to maintain the integrity of my vision, while making sure my customers get the clothes they want.

What was the most valuable lesson you learned from being on the show?

KL: To be me.  Believe in my vision and design from the heart.

What is your favorite garment that you designed during the show?

KL: No question, the tailcoat on episode 4 for Saks Fifth Avenue. I honestly have not taken it off ...well, maybe to try on the black jumpsuit available now at Macy's.  Wink.  I love that one too.

What was the best advice you received from one of the mentors and/or buyers?  Why was that advice helpful?

KL: Do you.  In other words, they gave me great advice about what sells in terms of color and fabrication, but if my designs don't read Kara Laricks, then color and fabric won't matter.

How would you describe the woman who buys your clothes?

KL: A Kara Laricks woman is unique.  She is willing to take a risk.  She acknowledges and embraces all sides of her personality and style. She may want to throw on a light, airy dress from the Kara Laricks collection for H&M on a hot summer day and then switch to the black tailcoat from Saks Fifth Avenue at night.  She might even throw on a sexy one-piece romper from Macy's in between.  She has her own style and is not afraid to incorporate a menswear inspired detail here and there.  She also knows that it pays to save her pennies for a very special piece and splurge on less expensive trend driven pieces to complete her look each season.

Do you have plans to show a collection during Fashion Week in September?

KL: Showing a full collection during Fashion Week has always been a dream of mine, however, when I do it I want it to be just right.  I'm also a businesswoman and I have many decisions to make in the upcoming months to determine the proper course for the Kara Laricks brand.  Stay tuned...

Boho Summer Jewelry Trends from Bee Charming

This summer, you can't have enough friendship bracelets, bangles fashioned from precious stones, crystals, beads and wood, and bracelets adorned with Buddhas, evil eyes and skulls.  Pile 'em on -- the more the merrier.  And e-commerce site, Bee Charming, has plenty of these trendy bracelets to chose from and other funky costume jewelry styles.

Photos by Tracy Hopkins

Founded in 2001 in New York City, Bee Charming's slogan -- "Catch the Buzz -- Get 'em, Wear 'em, Share 'em" -- is fitting since the jewelry is designed to be interchangeable and mixed and matched with fine jewelry.  The eye-catching collection is functional and features zipper necklaces that actually zip, handcuff bracelets that open and close, and leather, and chain wraps that can be worn as either a bracelet or a necklace.

The charming costume jewelry line also has a new Vintage Collection that includes fun nautical charm bracelets, edgy Vintage Buffalo Horn necklaces and new wave-reminiscent triangular Plexiglass earrings with Howlite skulls.

Bee Charming jewelry is available online and reasonably priced from $10-$125.