What women over 40 want

Spa-Nyc.com is an online resource with a directory of New York City spas. The site features reviews and has a side panel of categories including, but not limited to, medispas, hands & feet, and hair removal. But don’t expect their cyber-holding place to hold an aromatherapy candle to the serene spas they feature. The website is messy. The font is blue and white and highlighted and bold and underline. The featured spas on the front are all smashed in, and it is hard to discern why these are featured. Are they advertisements? Is spa-nyc.com getting commission if they refer customers to these spas? Regardless, the presentation is messy and unpolished. You would think after seven years, they can clean up their website.

But for November, it will be worth it to visit spa-nyc.com because they are offering 50% off all spa services as a “thank you” to their clients. (We think it might be conjunctive ploy with the spas to get people in the door; but either way, we’ll take our discount.) There are different discounts for different days that include half off of the following services: hair cut and color, massages, body scrubs, body wraps, Brazilian wax and laser hair removal. It says “Each day you can find different spas offering 50% off of something great.” (They also need new writers.) So you have to click through the specials to avoid misinterpretation, but when I called to book a few, each place confirmed they were offering the 50% off proving the deal solid.

We’ll get to spa-nyc.com with some feedback on their site. You just use your November discount to relax before the holiday rush.

Emma Dinzebach

Gone are the days where we paid top dollar for buttery beautiful leather. In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past four seasons, here’s an update: Green is a the new black. And that buttery leather is O-U-T. This fall, designers like Stella McCartney and Miu Miu opted for animal-friendly pieces made from polyurethane, a safe alternative to previously popular PVC (AKA polyvinyl chloride AKA vinyl AKA the bad, poisonous plastic).

Eco-bags, jackets and shoes flooded fall’s ready-to-wear, and like all good fakes, they feel so real. This season’s soft faux leather has the weight and texture of real leather, is lined with silky taffeta, adorned with zippers and studs to rock it out, and available in a variety of colors.

The good news: Meat haters can still rock out. The bad news: It won’t come cheap. Veggie-friendly jackets can run you a pretty penny. Stella McCartney has a vegan faux leather jacket for upwards of $500, but you can find a good alternative from f1 (left) for a bit less than $200. Less expensive versions are priced below $100, but lack the weight and polished look of the designer versions.

Emma Dinzebach

Everyone complained that SHO Shaun Herrgat’s location (the 2nd floor of the Setai Hotel at 40 Broad Street) was difficult to find. Then they complained the walk to your table took too long. I disagreed. I found it, and as a developer’s daughter, was quite enthralled with the design. Interior architects at  Robert D. Henry created an emotional, if slightly expansive, space. Think Dubai meets Plaza Athenee in Bagnkok. Actually, think the world meets Wall Street. I half-expected Chuck Bass to be waiting for me at the bar.

Instead I found business men at business meetings, a few sketchy mistress-esque dates, some plain ‘ol normal folk, and my patient date still in his suit from work. He looked very handsome. Knowing I wanted to write about it, he arranged for special treatment. We had an informative tour of the extensive floor to ceiling vino gallery and the private dining room (pictured). (He offered to let us to sit in there, but I thought that would be awkward.) Instead, were given our choice of a couple select tables.

Mr. Hergatt is a master of texture mixture and each dish is perfectly sculpted and presented to this degree. There are emulsions, froths, stacks and drizzles with exotic ingredients and exciting combinations. SHO Shaun Hergatt’s tasting menu is just $69 – a fine dining bargain in tough  times. We skipped that as our meal was pre-arranged. (He is an exceptional date, right?). We started with the peekytoe crab, foie gras, trout tartare and something else that slips my mind as we also tasted a lot of wine. The three day short rib, cod and veal tenderloin were our favorites. I wasn’t a huge fan of the rabbit loins, but it could have been my overall aversion to the word loins.

And then, because I’m lucky like this, Mr. Hergatt emerged inquiring into our meal. I was completely taken off guard and combined with the wine might have stumbled over my words, but eventually abruptly blurted out a slew of compliments. I looked at my smiling date. Who just said, “Dessert?”

SHO Shaun Hergatt  The Setai Hotel  40 Broad Street  212.809.3993

Emma Dinzebach

It’s been a long time since the Fall 2009 Fashion Week, so you may have forgotten the gravity defying hairstyles and wild on eye make-up that graced the faces of models at Marc Jacobs, Valentino, Phillip Lim, Lanvin and more.

This Halloween, you needn’t wait in line to raid the sticky pore clogging make-up section at Ricky’s. Some of the most dramatic costume effects can be achieved using colors, liners and definers you already have. Whether you plan to go as a whimsical fairy, Jem or the increasingly popular Lady Gaga, your Halloween make-up goes hand-in-hot-little-hand with Fall 2009 runway faces and your beauty purchases.

Rather than spending more money on the costume you’ll wear one night, take a peek in your cosmetic bag. If your personal collection looks shy in the color category, make your purchases by keeping in mind colors that can carry you to spring. Let experts at Mac, Sephora or Nars assist you in which bright colors will accent your skin tone and eye color. You can always tone down bright colors by adding some silver or neutral browns for everyday wear, but you cannot create more color pigment by adding more eyeshadow. So even if it seems scary, go as bright as you can.

Then Let the eighties inspire bright pink cheek streaks.  Make like Lim and decorate the bottom lashes for a little bit of rock n’ roll. Be a loud mouth with purple, red and dark colored kissers. Still unsure? Embrace your inner copy cat and go through the Fall 2009 runway pics from the designers above. Don’t worry; they’re flattered.

Emma Dinzebach