WORLD
November 8, 2008 | Geraldine Baum, Baum is a Times staff writer.
Her fingers ran over the smooth red buttons with flecks of gold and the wavy sea-green buttons and the black buttons with ridges that made them look like miniature fans. Yoshini Kondo admired them all -- buttons sewn in lots of 12 on yellowing cards, buttons in every color and size, buttons in Bakelite, casein, ceramic, shell, wood, even silk thread. But did she need old buttons in her life?
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October 19, 2008 | Melissa Magsaysay, Times Staff Writer
AFTER THE Dow's plunge this month, it's safe to say many people aren't rushing out to buy the season's latest "it" bags. Even for those who've got the cash, that $2,000 might do better in the bank than hanging from a shoulder. And yet, it's only natural to want a new fall carry-all after years of buying back-to-school backpacks and filling them with shiny school supplies. If you can afford to usher in the season with a leather satchel or oversized tote from Valentino or Prada, live it up.
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October 12, 2008 | Victoria Namkung, Special to The Times
FIRST came nail polish, then acrylic press-ons. Next? How about shrink-wrap color? Though it's still largely under the radar, Minx, a 2- to 4-millimeter-thick film that's cut to fit the nail and affixed with a heat-activated adhesive, has been winning converts -- and celebrity fans -- since it was introduced two years ago. Beyonce has worn Minx to award shows and red carpet events, and other high-profile fans include Blake Lively, Lisa Marie Presley and her daughter Riley Keough.
ENTERTAINMENT
December 24, 2007 | Ylan Q. Mui, Washington Post
WASHINGTON -- Arianne Callender never considered herself a designer handbag kind of girl. Her wallet forbade such frivolous longings. But this holiday season, Callender, 33, will be toting a quilted leather Chanel pouchette that retails for about $400. She'll also be decked out in pearl Lori Bonn earrings and a sterling silver pendant necklace by Elle -- all rented online for a few dollars each day, with no one the wiser.
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December 16, 2007 | Melissa Magsaysay, Times Staff Writer
MENTION aviator sunglasses and "Top Gun" may be the first thing that comes to mind. But a close second should be Ray-Ban, the company that originated the style 70 years ago. Modeled after military-issue goggles, aviators were developed for pilots who needed anti-glare glasses. They became popular with civilians in the late 1960s and early 1970s, only to be eclipsed by the Ray-Ban Wayfarer in the 1980s. In Hollywood, aviators never strayed too far from the spotlight.
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December 16, 2007 | Melissa Magsaysay, Times Staff Writer
An evening bag may not actually hold much more than a valet ticket, some Listerine strips and a Razr phone, but without one, getting dressed up just wouldn't be the same. They can add extra sparkle or an unexpected dash of color to a simple dress, or breathe new life into an otherwise tired old frock. But with the prices of accessories soaring, evening clutches can cost more than you paid for the dress, forcing you to use the same bag every time you go to a formal affair.