Sugar, get thee to Nob Hill Spa at the Huntington Hotel. The seasonal vanilla fig sugar scrub, available through December, does a body good. This treatment takes advantage of the healing properties of vanilla and antioxidant properties of rich figs. After your skin is buffed to a satiny sheen, you’ll get slathered from head to toe in a deliciously scented vanilla fig lotion. Relaxation is also an integral part of the Nob Hill experience, so prepare to sip on herbal tea by the indoor pool and nibble on a vanilla white fig square from the Big 4 Restaurant.

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Brooklyn-based Hayden-Harnett produces luxe leather and fabric handbags (and accessories). The up-and-coming company finds inspiration in its Brooklyn roots but manages to possess a distinctly Manhattan sensibility (note the feminine bows and other detailing on the designs shown here). These handbags are soft and supple, unique and modern, and totally worth a fraction of your next paycheck.

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Take your attention away from your boughs-of-holly-ridden-halls, and bedeck your ears with cherry quartz hoops by California-based Davey Lady, a new brand of women’s accessories created by Lisa Davey. The collection features handbags made from high end leathers, belts and semi-precious jewelry, all of them with classic proportions and contemporary style.


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A great accessory goes everywhere. It’s visually arresting and functional to boot. This is why we own a few whimsical handbags by Jenny Yuen (the screen-printed canvas bags showcase her hand drawn illustrations). Born and raised on the beaches of Southern California, Yuen (now proud a city girl) mixes laid back California chic with New York luxury. That means they’re perfect for those of us who are stuck somewhere in between the East and West Coast.

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Be the belle of the ball, or the smash of your soiree, in this red stunner by Karen Zambos. A bare shoulder adds a suggestive hint of sex appeal without revealing too much skin, and the floaty sleeve looks ethereal when put into motion on the dance floor. Zambos, creator of all things fun and flirtatious, also recently launched leather handbags and clutches worthy of your Mastercard.

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As some of you already know, our dear friend Lizzie Scheck specializes in approachable pieces that juxtapose the vivid colors and rich textures found on the streets of New York (her original hometown). At its core, her collection (handcrafted from platinum, gold, diamonds and colorful precious gemstones) is of an array personal emblems that are delicate, layerable and wearable for casual or elegant occasions. For 2008, get your mitts on the Zodiac pendants, like the Capricorn one shown here.

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The Boyy Club offers glorious handbags for girls, like this Frank bucket tote in sumptuous slick black leather (there’s a Big Frank utility for those who like more room). All of the designs are named for males, like the Travis, the Augustus, the Boris and the Alistair. Tote this baby around town and you’ll never want for compliments—they’re unofficially part of the package.

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Kit Willow, designer of chic lingerie, delights us with coatdresses and dart jackets made from shapely, voluminous fabric that she twists, gathers and manipulates in all the right ways. Her approach to eveningwear is discreetly oriental and lately she’s been using richer fabrics, colors, and textures, which suits us just fine.

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Alina B. brings 49 Square Miles, a line of San Francisco-made handbags named for the famed city’s size, to the East Bay suburbs. Heavy on color and light on hardware, the slouchy, sumptuous designs boast exposed stitching and color-saturated leather that is difficult to scratch or stain. The new Walnut Creek boutique, nestled on Main Street, is also home to a bevy of European clothing and accessory lines, including exclusive jewelry by European indie brand Flint, shown here (for info, email FlintandMore@aol.com).

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