Shop 'til You Drop: Beat the Winter Blues

By late January, winter fashion is just plain exhausting. Getting bundled up, day after day, in multiple layers is the only option but there must be a way to make it a little more fun.

Earlier this week, I traumatized my inner fashionista with an outfit that consisted of a black Theory turtleneck, a black J.Crew cashmere cardigan, a brownish Theory tweed skirt, black wool Wolfords and black boots—enough to make a fat Buddha frown. The only saving grace, and signal that I wasn’t attending a funeral, was the bright pink Essie nail polish “Mod Squad” and a Designs by the Sea bracelet in turquoise and silver. Ah, ha! The answer, my friends, lies in accessories! So don’t despair, accessories are easy to come by and super fun to shop for.

To brighten up a gray day, head to C. Wonder in Southampton for a bevy of accessories in eye-popping hues. The Polka Dot Hat, like everything else in the store, is on super sale, and nicely combines warm shades of polka dots over a chic camel “background” with a faux coyote pom-pom to top it off. I also think winter is a nice time to do it up with jewelry. In the summer, we’re likely to prefer less shark bait, so for now, go wild. C Wonder has a very pretty collection of cuff bracelets in gold, with little elephants, hearts and zodiac symbols on either end. The Leo bangle includes a scattering of pave stones on an asymmetrical 14k gold-plated silhouette. A little thicker, the Buckle Bangles make a statement and can still be paired with slimmer additions. Channel Grace Kelly with a pair of Forget Me Knot Pave Stud Earrings. The list goes on, so really just head over to see for yourself. C Wonder is located at 5 Main Street, Southampton. Call 631-287-2645 or visit cwonder.com.

Now for those nails! I’m quite fond of Hampton Perfect Nail Spa in Southampton. They truly are perfectionists and the salon could not be in a more convenient location for Southamptonites—at 36 Hampton Road. Call for an appointment, 631-283-3877, or just pop in. Pinching pennies? Go the DYI route and explore the massive nail polish selection at Ricky’s in East Hampton, located at 50 Main Street. Call 631-329-7588 or visit rickysnyc.com.

If you’re looking for unique jewelry, as mentioned above, might I suggest Designs By The Sea, which you can find at Flying Point Surf & Sport, the women’s boutique at 69 Main Street, in Southampton, and at Ananda Yoga and Wellness, which is right above La Carezza. Locally designed and hand-crafted, each piece balances delicacy with strength and harmoniously combines beads, metals and leather. Ananda is located at 39-41 Windmill Lane, between Rogers Memorial Library and the Windmill Lane Firehouse in Southampton.

One way I’ve been keeping warm this winter is by experimenting with all different types of tea and hot drinks. Sometimes, I’ll really feel like having a Chai Latte but it’s so hard to find one that doesn’t have an insane amount of added sugar. Luckily, I came across 5Sparrows “Monumental Spiced Chai,” which is sweetened lightly with stevia and xylitol, both natural plant-derived, low-glycemic (stevia has a zero) sweeteners. Three tablespoons of the powdery mix can be added to hot milk. I tried it with unsweetened almond milk and it was warming with exotic spices and delightfully smooth! 5Sparrows also makes a sugar-free House Chocolate and White Chocolate, so take your pick. Visit 5sparrowsbrand.com to order online.

Plan on doing some heavy drinking on Super Bowl Sunday? Well, don’t drink and drive. And it would also be helpful if you don’t have a splitting headache when you head to work Monday. You can try Forgiven, a supplement meant to be consumed after you’ve had alcohol to avoid hangovers. It is billed as an “alcohol metabolizer.” I woke up on a recent Sunday after a night out drinking and could feel that a hangover was being kept at bay by the Forgiven taken before going to bed. It is chock full of B vitamins as well as zinc. The little bottle looks like an energy shot, but it won’t keep you up all night. Visit takeforgiven.com for info.