The brilliant Hilton Als, author of the unbelievably fantastic, P.S.-the-best-gift-ever The Women, now has a brilliant blog, Et Als, which all persons should read.

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Right now, there are so many awesome, sexy, you'll-probably-have-the-cutest-one-of-the-night vintage party dresses on eBay, it makes me feel like an overly excited teenage girl. Today's search garnered 784 items—many of which are pretty great—but the following six really drew me in. This draping, sparkly, Grecian-disco dress seems like it would look fantastic on a variety of body types, and it's festive but not scarily over the top. I'm also intrigued by this vibrant-blue short-sleeved number. It has a birdcage drawing on its side, which I can't decide if I think is cool or completely insane, but I'm leaning toward cool. Then there's this fun '80s-style with the big black bow (seriously, did everything in the '80s have a bow?). Or how about a fabulous grayish-black dress with a sleek tiered skirt? Or a simple, super-flirty red ruffled piece? And last, I don't know exactly the woman who'd wear this glamorous white-feathered, '60s shift, but I want to be her friend.

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Here's another item that falls into the category of greatall-purpose last-minute gifts: J.Crew's metallic Stella clutch. It's made of Italian leather with a crinkled, tinfoil-esque finish that's at once vintagey and futuristic (sort of like what Judy Jetson would carry to acocktail party), and would pair equally well with a silky dress or jeans and a trench. And originally, it was priced at $128, but now it's marked down to $39.99, thus making it an incredible bargain. If you're dead set on giving it on time, splurge for the expedited shipping (you've got to order by 10 AM EST tomorrow, so hurry) and it'll be there on Monday. It's an extra $15, but you might think it's worth it.

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In my opinion, only a tiny, tiny minority of people would not be utterly delighted and seduced by one or more of the following items. The items do not appear in the Lucky gift guides because I have repeated them so often as to render them unusable. That doesn't render them any less desirable, however. So, just in case anyone missed my relentless repetitions:

- Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish

- Kiehl's shaving cream

- Large Acqua di Parma soaps

- Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colourtrio: Blue Satin, Ballerina, and Barcelona Red

- Diptyque candle in Baies

—Jean Godfrey-June, beauty director

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Finding a great bargain gift, one that truly looks fancier and more substantial than its price would suggest, is always tricky—which is why it's particularly gratifying to track one down. I just stumbled onto these adorable floral travel bags and am about to run over to the closest Sephora to buy them for all of my girlfriends. Makeup bags are the kind of thing someone can always use another of, especially when they're as cleverly designed as these. The vinyl exterior is durable and keeps the vibrant pattern pristine; they've all got inner compartments for easy organization; and they're insulated so that your makeup won't melt when the weather heats up. They've got two sizes in stock, both roomy enough to hold a hearty supply of cosmetics, and amazingly they're only $10 apiece.

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Among the many, many aspects of New Year's Eve that stress me out is that I never know what to wear. Do I dress sexy and freeze all night? What will everyone else have on? Maybe I should just take the I'm-too-cool-to-care approach and capitulate to jeans? Seriously. Such. An. Annoying. Conundrum. The truth is, I'm a dress girl—and I love any opportunity to throw on something really feminine. This lacy, layered YSL dress is one of the most beautiful and unusual pieces I've ever seen. I imagine pairing it with sheer stockings and little patent leather heels and smoky eyeshadow and soft hair. I also like the simplicity of this red silk Marc Jacobs style, which you could fancy up or down (hair in a neat bun, perhaps some dangly gold gypsy-ish earrings?). Or, if I wanted to make things really easy for myself, I'd throw on this over-the-top sparkly Tory Burch piece with matte black tights and flats.

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Because I have a deplorable tendency to wait until the very last minute to do anything, it comes as no surprise that there are still several things left outstanding on my holiday shopping list, never mind that we're now officially six days from Christmas. Online shopping is not ideal for procrastinators like me unless they're prepared to spend a fortune on shipping—but if you don't mind giving belated holiday presents (and it's the thought that counts more than the timing, right?), consider this incredible set of four tumblers I discovered on Urban Materials + Accessories. The simple, streamlined glasses are decorated with the trompe l'oeil motif of stately Victorian goblets, so they're not only great for daily use, they're elegant enough for fancier occasions.

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I have a dirty little secret: I do not take great care of my skin. As a result, it's often red and blotchy and exasperated-looking, like a mute prisoner desperately trying to cry out for help. Recently the situation has gotten worse: no sleep, French fries and chocolate for dinner, scant water intake, etc, etc. One of my New Year's resolutions is to become one of those ladies who washes and moisturizes every night before bed, who owns creams and serums and exfoliators, who maybe even one day gets facials. In the meantime, I'm going to buy this cool-looking face steamer, which expels built-up dirt and oils, and which, right now, has the added bonus of warming you up.

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Last night, in a fit of wintry insomnia, with the wind rattling the windows of my apartment and the radiator clanking like a hissing ghoul whose purgatory is staying up all night chopping metal with an ax, I had an epiphany: We've reached the point of the season when I need a serious hat. Specifically, I want a warm, furry, glamorous hat, like the one that the gorgeous German actress Martina Gedeck wears in The Lives of Others (a movie I rented over the weekend and am now in love with). This Russian style is similar to Gedeck's, and with the cool little earflaps it actually improves slightly upon the original. I also like this ultra-fluffy piece which would look especially elegant with a three-quarter-sleeved coat and long gloves, or this version, which is more casual, flapperish, and acorn-shaped.

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. . .and its mission is "awareness, understanding, celebration and commemoration of the fabric and all related items." Club meetings (you need to wear at least two corduroy garments, FYI) are held only twice a year: on 1/11 and 11/1, dates that most resemble corduroy's telltale vertical ribbing. Members scoff at velvet ("poor man's corduroy") and are fond of chanting the motto "Hail the Wale!" at meetings, since the club's symbol is the whale—a homonym of "wale," i.e., the raised portion of corduroy fabric.

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