You can dress for less on New Year's
A $500 dress is so 2005.
If you're lucky enough to have a fancy party to go to on New Year's Eve, you can get a sparkling or sexy dress for as little as $49.99 at a place like Metrostyle.com or TJ Maxx.
The selection at Metrostyle.com includes a Marilyn Monroe-ish dress for $69.99 and a cute sleeveless black halter with some sparkle on top for $49.99. Petite and tall sizes are available.
Or, look like you spent a lot in a gold sequin dress from TJ Maxx. Originally $260, the price tag is now just $129.99.
Wheeling boutique
Sophisticated, luxurious lingerie is the specialty at Romantika, a new boutique at 711 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Wheeling.
The store sells a wide range of sizes (up to bra cup size G) and a variety of products, including upscale European imports and practical items like body lotion, house slippers and bra travel bags. The store is run by friends Kate Gordin and Sasha Tsupina.
Winter products
This winter is not off to a good start, so you might need to rely on these winter weather products to help you.
• Barielle's skin care products specialize in smoothing dry hands or cracked skin. Their Professional Protective Hand Cream was tested on jockeys, whose hands are exposed to rough weather. Another new product is their Heel and Callus Treatment Cream, which is packed with good stuff like vitamin E, aloe vera, shea butter, soybean oil and sea kelp extract. Products range from $15-$22 and are available at suburban C.O. Bigelow and Bath & Body Works stores or at barielle.com.
• Shoe girls in the Midwest usually have to tote their nice shoes with them when bad weather hits. So Chicagoan Rebecca Miller created the SHUELLA shoe covers (combining the words "shoe" and "umbrella"). The lightweight covers fit over your expensive suede and leather shoes and have slip-free bottoms ($49.95 at shuella.com, which includes free shipping). They come in hot pink, apple green, buttercup yellow and classic black.
- Jamie Sotonoff