Sending a great big hug and thanks to the folks at eShakti for sending me this gorgeous sweater.
Introducing eShakti
A fantastic company called eShakti found us and asked if they could send us an item to review. If you haven't heard of them, they are a women's clothing company that offers custom alterations as well as design changes to their styles. Don't like a neckline? Have extra-long arms? No problem! It's like having your own personal seamstress. I selected this Ruched Peplum Sweater Knit ~
I didn't request custom alterations, but I am very pleased with the fit. The sweater is ultra soft and comfortable. It's lightweight so I can wear it right into Spring. The peplum design is so flattering and does a great job at hiding the tummy. The rounded neckline is perfect for wearing a necklace. Two curved tone-on-tone angular seams also add to the slimming effect and bring the eye to the flirty peplum. Ordering was super easy immediately followed up with an email confirming the selection, size, alterations and shipping info. This has quickly become my all-time favorite sweater. Regularly $79.95, it's on sale now for $55.95. New customers can register for a $25 gift certificate by entering their email address.
eShakti also carries a large selection of dresses, including bridesmaids dresses, skirts and jackets. Stay up-to-date with the latest designs, sales and special announcements by following eShakti on Facebook and Twitter.
Valentine's Gift Guide and Giveaway
Once in a while a company will capture our heart, other times it's a product, rarely is it both. That is until One Meaning found us. We love everything about this company from the signs that led founders, Karen and Ingrid, to launch their business, to the story behind their logo and name, to these stunning earrings inspired by St. Patrick Cathedral's Rose Window. In the center of the earrings is the company's logo butterfly crafted from the numerals 813 which means "I Love You"...8 letters, 3 words, 1 meaning. The one is in the middle because love is at the center of everything. Regardless of your religion, love is the great connector. The St. Pat's Window Earrings are available in Sterling Silver, White Gold and 14Kt Gold starting at $398. 20% of every purchase of these earrings is donated to the St. Patrick's restoration project. Karen and Ingrid's stunning creations are available in select fine department stores in the US and online at 1Meaning.com.
For a practical gift with a lot of WOW, this Feminine Gift Box Set by GUESS Watches arrives just in time! A square dial is framed in shimmering rhinestones gives this sporty watch set its pizzazz. Three straps make it the most versatile watch to match every outfit and occasion. Straps include black sequin, red patent leather and white crocodile. One gift, three ultra chic looks. Water resistant and ten-year limited warranty included. It's $100 at guess.com.
Taylor Swift's Limited Edition Red Keds would make the perfect Valentine for your tween or teen-aged girl...or anyone, for that matter, who is young at heart. Those that know me since my youth, know my love affair with Keds has continued for more than 40 years. My all-time favorite tennis shoe is the white leather Keds and I still wear them to this day. Keds are well-made, washable, comfortable and look oh-so-cute. The red canvas is bright and fun. Hurry, being limited edition and knowing Taylor's fans, they won't last long. $50 at keds.com.
Give her a gift as soft and sweet as she is! If she's like me, she'll adore the Sugar Kiss line from LaLicious. For a longer-lasting scent, layer fragrances. Start with Sugar Kiss Whipped Body Soap to cleanse, smooth and exfoliate with Sugar Kiss Souffle Moisturizing Body Scrub, and finish with Sugar Kiss Body Butter. An intoxicating trio to delight the senses and leave skin soft as silk. A 16-oz. jar of Souffle Body Scrub retails for $34, a 7.3-oz. jar of Body Butter retails for $25 and a 8-oz. bottle of Whipped Body Soap retails for $18. Available at LaLicious.com.
Express your love for her on a pair of comfy pj's with these from Cafe Press. She'll love the extra effort and creativity you put into designing her very own custom pajamas. Simply choose font, color, personalization, adjust size and voila! Cozy chic and 100% cotton. Available in sizes S-2XL. $44.50 at cafepress.com.
One of my fav gifts any time of the year is chocolate-dipped strawberries and these Hand-Dipped Milk and Dark Strawberries from ProFlowers are as yummy as they are beautiful. They arrive in exquisite packaging artistically drizzed in milk and dark chocolate and covered in nuts and mini chocolate chips. The berries were ripe and juicy and the chocolate perfection. A lovely gift for loved ones near and far. A dozen retails for $39.97 at ProFlowers.com.
I have not anticipated the arrival of a review product as much as this toaster from Burnt Impressions. Yes, it's a toaster that burns "I ♥ You" onto the toast! LOVE LOVE LOVE this!! There are many burnt impression options available, but who could resist this one for Valentine's Day? Now fellas, we don't recommend giving your wife or girlfriend a kitchen appliance for Valentine's Day. BUT, we do recommend ordering this, sneaking it in the house, surprising her with breakfast in bed and serving up a slice or two of "I ♥ You" toast. It will totally melt her heart! $31.95 at burntimpressions.com and worth every crumb!
For the man in your life, this is the most strikingly handsome iPad case we could find. From Portenzo, the Alano Tessoro combines old world charm and sophistication with rugged masculinity. We received a sample of the BookCase design and were impressed with the quality and exquisite craftsmanship. Each product is handcrafted into a true work of art. A variety of designs and colors are available and each can be personalized with monograms, initials or names, if desired. Kindle, Nexus 7 and iPhone covers also available. iPad cases start at $59.95, the Alano Tessoro retails for $124.95 at portenzo.com.
Guys she'll love this sexy flirty Lacey Baby Doll by Frederick's of Hollywood almost as much as you do. Available colors include the gorgeous Pacific Blue shown here, Bombshell Pink, Frederick's of Hollywood Red, Magenta and more. Underwire cups and graceful draping in the front to flatter her figure. $38 at fredericks.com.
Yankee Candle has combined two of my favorite scents in their Sweetest Valentine Candle. Sparkling Cinnamon and Vanilla Cupcake swirled together in a beautiful medium jar candle. YUM! It delightfully fills the home with cozy warmth. Makes a thoughtful gift for loved ones near and far. $22.99 at yankeecandle.com.
Say "I Love You' with the world's most romantic chocolates, Perugina Baci Chocolates. Legend has it that the world famous Bacio chocolates were created by a chocolatier in Perugia, Italy, the historic home of St. Valentine, to honor her lover. Into each chocolate she slipped a secret love note. Nearly 100 years later, the Bacio tradition is unchanged ~ a luscious blend of milk chocolate is dotted with chopped hazelnuts, crowned with a whole hazelnut enveloped in silky dark chocolate and hugged with a love note. Chocolate perfection. A 28-piece box retails for $14.99 at colavita.com.
Create a beautiful and thoughtful photobook that will become a treasured keepsake. The Mosaic by Mixbook is so simple to create an album from your pictures on your iPhone. The cover is gorgeous and contains a peek of all 20 photos found inside. The quality is superb from the linen cover to the gift presentation box. It arrives in just 4 quick days and it's only $20 at mixbook.com.
A genius invention, the iPower Case by iPowerUp is a phone case that doubles as a charger allowing you to charge your iPhone 4/4s while it's in the case. I know many people who would LOVE to have an extra 5 hours of battery time available, especially after the recent storms that left so many without power. Ideal too for anyone who travels long distances. We ♥ this cool little gadget and so will your loved ones...whether it's a significant other, son or daughter. Available in white or black for $69.99 at iPowerUp.net.
Perfect for a cold winter's night, Mormoreto by Marchesi de' Frescobaldi is rich, fruity and complex. We really enjoyed the ripe flavors of blueberry, black currant, and wild berry jam. The long warm finish of berries with a hint of chocolate was a delightful surprise. The unique blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, and petit verdot is perfect for a romantic Valentine's Day dinner or gift. SRP: $49.99.
We love these AfterShokz Sportz M2 Open Ear Headphones with Mic and so will your sweetie, son or daughter. Aftershokz will help keep them safe allowing them to hear their surroundings while listening to music when out walking, jogging, biking and hiking. A built-in microphone to make/take calls. Play/Pause/Advance Music Button and 12-hour play time. The AfterShokz Sportz M2 is water resistant, very comfortable and the sound quality is excellent. Fits most smartphones, MP3 players, iPods, iPhones and iPads. Includes a carrying case and 2-year warranty against manufacturer's defects. $79.95 at AfterShokz.com.
I love giving baskets filled with the recipient's favorite items. I think the basket is equally important and should be one that can be reused. The uniqueness of this Loop-de-Loop Bowl by Uncommon Goods intrigued me. It's actually designed to be a fruit bowl, but can also be used as a bread basket or to hold bath and body products. It's very sturdy and striking looking. The bowl measures 10" wide by 5.5" high. $45 at uncommongoods.com.
Personalized gifts are always a hit and these Ballpoint Note Cards from The Stationery Studio are perfect for sending love notes. A gift that is as useful as it is thoughtful. Available in white, ivory or pink with choice of ink color, they measure 5"W x 4"H. The boxed set of 50 foldover note cards and envelopes retails for $30.95 at thestationerystudio.com.
Keep her blushing with this mini compact from Mary Kay customized with her favorite mineral cheek colors. The compact mini can hold two cheek colors, swirl the brush over both and create a custom look. I chose Strawberry Cream (lower) and Citrus Bloom (upper) which provided a healthy natural touch of color. The mineral cheek colors fit snugly into the magnetic tray compartment and the lower well holds a mini blush brush or lip gloss. The cheek colors retail for $10 and the mini compact for $16 at MaryKay.com.
The coppery colors in this 100% silk chiffon scarf by Camilla Olson will surely spice up an outfit. Measuring 26 x 76", wear it on the weekends to dress up jeans and a sweater and to work to add a pop of color to your favorite dress. Light and flowing and available in an array of vibrant colors, she'll love them all. $98 at CamillaOlson.com.
This sweet Lavender Mini Heart Wreath from Pier 1 Imports is ideal for a teen or tween's room, guest room or even as a teacher's gift. Made of faux lavender, it measures 9" H x 10" W and hangs from a lavender ribbon with bow accent. $14.99 at Pier 1 Imports stores and online at Pier1.com.
Angel Innocent Eau de Parfum by Thierry Mugler is a floral scent combining notes of honey, fresh almond, pure mandarin, musk, praline and exotic fruits ~ mmmm, all my favorites. It's a casual fragrance he'll adore and she'll be comfortable wearing everyday. The beautiful 1.7-oz spray bottle retails for $58.19 at fragrancenet.com.
This Deluxe Gift Set by Lumnique includes a personalized handpoured soy candle made-to-order in the color and fragrance of your choice, stick matches, luxury gift box, and a custom enclosure card personalized with the recipient's name and gift occasion. Everyone loves candles and the extra special personal touch Lumnique adds is sure to impress. Lumnique offers a large selection of colors and fragrances from which to choose. The Deluxe Set retails for $30 at Lumnique.com.
Chic Giveaway! ~ One lucky reader will receive a goodie box filled with beautiful chic luxuries including beauty products and personal care items valued at $500.
To Enter:
- Visit at least three of the brands featured in our gift guide and leave a comment below listing your favorite product from each of the three sites you visited. Of course, we would love it if you visited all the sites featured for additional entries.
Bonus Entries: {Optional, leave a comment for each entry completed} ~
- Follow @ChicLuxuries on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway, sample tweet ~ Checkout @ChicLuxuries Valentine's Gift Guide and enter to #Win a $500 goodie box! http://ChicLuxuries.com #contest #sweeps #giveaway
- Follow us on Pinterest and repin our pin about this giveaway.
- Like us on Facebook and share one of our posts about this giveaway on your wall.
RULES: We ask that you play fair, spend some time on each of the websites and list your favorite items. This info is very useful to our sponsors. Contest ends 11:59 PM ET February 15, 2013. For Complete Rules and additional Gifting Events, please visit our Chic Giveaways page.
From all of us, a warm and heartfelt "thank you" to the countless brands who have submitted products over the past year without whom this giveaway would not be possible. Special thanks to One Meaning, GUESS Watches, iPowerUp, LaLicious, Cafe Press, Marchesi de' Frescobaldi, Aftershokz, Portenzo, Yankee Candle, The Stationery Studio, Lumnique, Fragrance.net, Burnt Impressions, Mixbook, Keds, ProFlowers, Perugina, Mary Kay, Pier 1 Imports, Uncommon Goods, and Camilla Olson for providing products for this feature.