I love nothing more than when one of my friends asks me to find them something on eBay, and I come through, and then they're pleased. This happened just last week with my friend Valerie, who was looking for something I would never think to buy—a compass necklace. Valerie has an offbeat, pretty, urban-earthy style, and this was exactly the kind of unusual item that would complement her super-feminine clothes. Plus, as I found out, compass necklaces are just plain cool—like a surprising take on a pocket watch, except not as weird; or a watch necklace, except not as granny-ish. I found several on the site today including this Victorian version, which I'd wear with a flowy floral dress, and this Girl Scout style, which begs for a fitted tee, blazer, and jeans.

My flight to San Francisco last night was delayed for FOUR-AND-A-HALF HOURS (we were already in the plane waiting for takeoff when repairmen in neon vests stormed in to inform us one of the cabin doors was broken—so reassuring, right?) and my salvation was having Wi-Fi and my laptop to pass the time. Rather masochistically, I ended up surfing the Internet for all the things I wished I possessed at that moment to ease my travel headache. Here's what I came up with:

1) Cashmere travel blanket. Why I haven't gotten around to buying one after spending so many flights using (and being grossed out by) the possibly-never-washed plastic-ish ones they distribute on board, I'm not sure. It's an investment, but I think worth it.

2) I had on Peds, but I realized that going forward, I should always pack an extra pair of knee-high socks to stay warm in freezing cold planes. These striped Juicy ones come in a bunch of colors, and would be very easy to spot in my overstuffed carry-on.

3) The dining options at JFK are dismal. I vowed never to travel without bringing my own snacks again. This neoprene tote insulates hot or cold food for four hours and protects it from getting smooshed. It also folds flat, so it's easy to pack once you're done eating.

4) By the time we were ready for takeoff I knew I'd be desperate for sleep. I'm over whatever self-consciousness I might have felt wearing a sleep mask in public, and besides, this patterned silk version is really cute.

5) I actually own these headphones, and was kicking myself for leaving them at home. Music sounds infinitely better with these, and combined with their noise-canceling ability, it would have been way easier to escape into my own little world.

La Garconne's sale rages on, and the discounts keep getting deeper. Now is probably the time to splurge on something from Mayle at 50% off, since Jane Mayle announced last week that she's going to stop production after her resort line hits stores in November. This makes me sad, since she was the designer I turned to for super-super-special occasions and hers are among my favorite pieces in my closet. Another reason to snap them up (though the prices are still steep, even reduced this much): The sort of craftsmanship and tailoring that goes into her designs is hard to find. There are loads of other steals, too, like blouses from 3.1 Phillip Lim and Alexander Wang dresses.

In a word: Tazorac. Go to the dermatologist, endure a few weeks of misbehaving skin, and have clear skin from there on out. In several words, if prescription stuff is too much for you, Acnostat by Pat Wexler, every night, all over your face, even if it is totally blemish-free (which it will be if you are diligent). And—the ultimate cure for an existing breakout, the true miracle product of all time—Umbrian Clay by Fresh (in the tube, not the bar). It clears anything up in two days, tops.

—Jean Godfrey-June, beauty director

For as long as I can remember (besides a brief Strawberry Shortcake phase when I was about six) I've always gone for an all-white bed. I've seen lots of beautiful alternatives in enticing colors and patterns, but for me, there's still nothing better than crisp, classic, always-inviting all-white. I'm about ready for a new duvet, and for the last couple of months have been mulling over the options. The one I've got now is really simple, made of sleek cotton sateen with barely-there white-on-white stripes. I've been poking around for something that feels a bit more embellished somehow, yet still understated and neutral. Just now on Calypso's site I found it: this exotic-looking bedspread with floral cutouts is perfect (even more so because it happens to be on sale for $99, down from $325). It's romantic and feminine but not too girly, and would add a nice bit of texture to my room. To make it work year-round, I plan to layer a wool blanket underneath.

Okay, stay with me here. I was scanning eBay today with a new challenge in mind. I wanted to find The Find—that sort of scary, unexpected item that, if pulled off correctly, can make one feel like a fashion superstar. And I came across some jumpsuits. I'm not talking about those cute romper-shorts things that were around all summer, but a full-on, neck-to-leg, pants-attached-to-a-top onesie. I understand we've all seen this look go wrong many times, and there are certainly options/Elvis atrocities that are so out of the question that they hurt my feelings. But if done right, with a really excellent fit (like this muted floral version by Christian Lacroix or a more buttoned-up St. John style) I feel like a jumpsuit could channel a breezy, '60s Jane Birkin or Bianca Jagger in her slinkiest prime. And that's the kind of sexy, unique anchor piece we're always looking for, right?

FROM: Emily McCarthy, editorial assistant
TO: Beauty Department
SUBJECT: ZIT-ZAPPING TRICK

Traditional acne medication is way too harsh for my very dry skin. I had given up on being able to do anything but wait for my occasional breakouts to clear up on their own. Then it occurred to me: Pimples are caused by bacteria! So on a sheer whim, I applied Neosporin anti-bacterial cream to a patch of recently broken-out skin. And it worked! Really, really well. My skin cleared up overnight.

Lucky's special sections director Liz Kiernan can really expound on the virtues of a coin purse. She uses them for all sorts of things: coins (obviously), a sewing kit, Tylenol, business cards. I've decided to get on board too, since they're generally affordable and don't take up too much space. I like those that are really bright and colorful, particularly since my bag is a bit more structured and serious. Besides, I travel a lot, and find that they always come in handy if I want to leave my purse behind in the hotel room and run out with some cash and a credit card or two.

These are the ones I'm loving right now:

$14, Anthropologie

$15, Marimekko

$5, Forever 21

$12, fredflare.com

$28, Hayden-Harnett

I keep reading all of these fashion stories about how we all need to start wearing stilettos—how the "wrong" people started wearing flats, so now every shoe you put on should have a heel or you're lame. This bit of news has been making me very sad (like when platforms went out and people were devastated because they felt they balanced out their rears). Then yesterday on the subway, I was sitting next to one of those future-fashion women—the kind who serve as a sort of style oracle and everything they have on now you (or models in magazines) will soon be wearing. This very beautiful girl had on flat ankle boots like these and I thought, "Wait a second. This person is way cool and if she's holding on to her flat things, so can I." So, that's the good news. The bad news? She was also wearing an acid-wash skirt.

My friend Liz and I were chatting a couple of weeks ago and it came up that both of us have been desperately trying track down a tie-dye cashmere scarf. It's a pretty specific item to wish for, and neither of us know where the idea came from (there wasn't a particular version of this that either of us had spotted somewhere that triggered the fixation), but I've been driving myself a little crazy looking for one. The closest I've come is this silk one by Sunshine & Shadow, which is gorgeous, but to be honest, I'm not quite sure what I'd do with a silk scarf (especially in another month or so, when the temperature drops). Were it in cashmere it'd be perfect. If anyone out there has seen the knit equivalent, please let me know!