Everything She Wants

Supporting small-and-Black-owned businesses has never been more important. As strongly recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) , wearing a cloth face covering is also of the utmost importance to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.  Besides the public safety benefits, wearing an Afrocentric face mask is a bold fashion statement and can become a part of your signature style. I have a few to match my mood and to complement my summer wardrobe palettes. And here are a few of my picks for vibrant, African fabric face coverings from independent artisans and sellers. For even more options, check out the "fly face mask" roundup I wrote for  Sisters from AARP . D'IYANU  ($14.99) Tarbaby Hair Design by Janice Brown   ($20) PricelessCulture  ($19.95)

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.

If I had to pick a shopping splurge it would be on jewelry. More specifically, I'd pay more than usual for a piece of jewelry I can wear every day.  With that goal in mind, it seems an initial pendant necklace designed by Ariel Gordon may be in my immediate future. I met the LA-based designer at the Red Light PR preview in New York City. Ariel is a former publicist who started making jewelry as an escape from the hectic job in Hollywood pr. She launched her eponymous collection of simple, modern jewelry made with sterling silver, gold, vermeil metals, semi-precious stones, and diamonds in 2009. Her pieces -- including initial pendant (she created her own funky font) and Zodiac sign  necklaces , geometric-shaped  rings , and sweet hoops-and-stud earrings  -- are reasonably priced ($30 and up) and meant to be flaunted from day to night. Eva Longoria, Claire Danes, and Audrina Patridge are fans. So am I. Heck, Ariel's so crafty she even des...