It happens to the best of us.
It's eight days before Christmas, and you have not finished your shopping yet. You're darting around frantically -- well, in your head -- trying to figure out what the heck to get that person you promised yourself last year that you'd shop for early this time.
Luckily, the retailers have not run out of merchandise. Here are a few assorted fashionable suggestions for those on your Eleventh Hour Gift List. All are either Arkansas-oriented, or made or sold by Natural State natives/residents/retailers.
• Need a present for a female Hogs fan that puts the "woo" in Woo Pig Sooey? Handbag maker Dooney & Bourke's Arkansas Collegiate Collection has you covered with an assortment of logo-laden bags and accessories in red or white ... wallets, clutches, wristlets, cross-body bags, satchels and totes. The coated canvas items with leather trim are regularly priced from $88-$248 at Fanatics.com. Can't decide between a wallet or a bag? There's the Daphne Crossbody Wallet ($178) for the ultimate versatility. One of our Dressing Room correspondents tried and vouches for the snap-closure wallet, which can be used in any bag. It has plenty of pockets and slots for cards and money; a detachable black strap allows it to function as a lightweight cross-body bag.
• Jewelry is always good, especially jewelry from a local artisan: designer Boots Shirey, whose Oliver & Django collection (oliveranddjango.etsy.com) offers a variety of one-of-a-kind vintage-inspired and contemporary necklaces, and earrings featuring chains interspersed with such details as colorful round and organic beads, tassels, and starburst pendants and brooches ($15-$150). Among my favorites is a Pearl Rhinestone Pendant Necklace, featuring pink and gray glass pearls and beads on a gold-plated wire with a pearl-and-rhinestone starburst pendant ($150, still available at press time). For fashionable entertaining, Shirey also offers a variety of cocktail pick sets -- a great hostess gift. "Selling them like hot cakes. Almost sold out," she says.
• The Afrocentric or African-loving man, woman or child in your life will benefit from your heading to Desirene Afrik -- the African "chic and authentique" boutique that opened Oct. 28 and is operated by Irene Mangan Chedjieu. For the ladies, there are African kente handbags ($55), "authentique" African bags ($48) and leather wallets ($30). Jewelry includes kente clutch/bracelet/necklace/earrings sets ($60) and African leather bracelets ($15). For the children: a boy's African outfit, different sizes ($30), and there are Ankara dresses and skirts galore for the girls and women, too. For the fellas: men's dressy linen shirts with long or short sleeves and African mudcloth detailing, Medium-XL ($55). These can be topped off with African chechias, or kufi-style hats ($25). Desirene Afrik is in the Midtown Center, 5919 H St., in Little Rock (behind the track near Forrest Heights STEM Academy).
• How about one of the hottest of the Haute Hostess aprons from Blytheville native Elizabeth Scokin? Scokin's Glam it Up Luxe collection features sequined, flounced bib aprons in various colors ($350). My eye went straight to the Donatella ("Venetian Vixen,") a stunning, black and gold piece in a florentine pattern. There was only one left at press time; more will be forthcoming if Scokin can get hold of more of this fabric. Model Chrissy Teigen owns the Babe, a gold sequined apron, while her little girl, Luna, owns an apron from Haute Hostess' Little Lady collection ($65). Actress Sofia Vergara owns the Miranda, a pink sequined model, as does Lisa Vanderpump of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Several other Real Housewives also own Haute Hostess Glam it Up Luxe aprons ... the best-seller of which is the Giselle, which features jet pave sequins. Visit hautehostesshome.com.
• And you can always head to The Crown Shop, the family-owned gift store in Park Plaza and at 10700 Rodney Parham Road -- The Village at Pleasant Valley -- in Little Rock for a variety of goodies at various prices. A collection of cashmere-feel scarves was recently showcased on its Facebook page. These fringed scarves can be endowed with the recipient's embroidered initials for $19.99 at the Rodney Parham location. The Crown Shop also also carries PJ Harlow pajamas -- "we sell a ton of these every year for Christmas," a store representative said via Facebook messenger. (A look online revealed that PJ Harlow pieces and sets go for $44-$88.) And back to bags: The Crown Shop is the Vera Bradley bag center, Vera Bradley being the iconic brand of fabric purses, travel bags and backpacks in vibrant floral, paisley and medallion prints.
Purple reign
Prince fans, rejoice. The Pantone Color of the Year 2018 has been announced, and it's ... Ultra Violet.
"A dramatically provocative and thoughtful purple shade, Pantone 18-3838, Ultra Violet, communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking that points us toward the future," according to a news release. "Complex and contemplative, Ultra Violet suggests the mysteries of the cosmos, the intrigue of what lies ahead, and the discoveries beyond where we are now. ... Enigmatic purples have also long been symbolic of counterculture, unconventionality, and artistic brilliance." The late David Bowie and Jimi Hendrix are also credited with showcasing the color.
The Pantone Color Institute is a consulting service within Pantone that forecasts global color trends and advises companies on color in brand identity and product development.
Dressing Room appears monthly. Send Arkansas fashion-related tips and news releases to:
hwilliams@arkansasonline.com
High Profile on 12/17/2017