We love a good reason to break in our new Louboutins (which we nabbed on sale, no lie). And what better place than at the Hello Stiletto “Recessionista Shoe Party” with ladies who can truly appreciate a great pair of heels?

The shoe-loving social networking club gathered recently at the Capital Grille in Burlington, where members donned their favorite footwear for a fashion show on the hot pink carpet. Members were asked to show off the best deal they ever got on a pair. Daring designer steals and trendy $20 finds walked the runway, including board member Debbie Mellor’s lace-up Manolos.

See the slide show. (more…)

On an icy Wednesday afternoon at the Pru, Bostonista snooped inside the bags of 10 satisfied shoppers. See the rest in our slideshow.

Colleen, 26, graphic designer, South Boston Banana Republic black pants for work

Junaid, 35, real estate, Boston Filene's basement black leather gloves, Express shirt

As you’ve probably figured out by now, we’re always up for a cocktail party. Especially when it’s celebrating the opening of a swish nightspot located but a stone’s throw from our office. At last night’s Minibar kick-off soiree, the guest list was tight, lychee martinis went down smooth (too smooth?), and the mini kobe beef hot dogs hit the spot.

Click here for photo evidence.

5 Huntington Ave., Boston, 617-424-8500, www.minibarboston.com.

—MIA GANT

With all this snow, how are we supposed to maintain our girlish figure on weekends when the gym is 42 miles away and the sidewalks are buried under a foot of snow? We could have sat on the couch all day doing biceps curls with our fork, but thanks to a B-mag assignment, we layered up, headed outdoors, and went sledding.

We were working on a story to find the best sled money can buy. The near blizzard conditions were perfect for testing out the the $249 Airboard. It’s basically an inflatable sled (not unlike an air mattress), shaped like an arrowhead, which allows you to steer and carve turns on a slope by shifting your body weight from left to right. Just the shape and the softness of it made us want to curl up on it and snooze, but we had a job to do (poor us). (more…)

If you’re looking for a way to celebrate Obama’s first day as president, how about stopping by a department store to pick up some free makeup?

Thanks to a class action lawsuit, nine beauty conglomerates are being forced to give away $175 million worth of cosmetics for one week starting today. So if you ever wanted to try Lancôme mascara or some Givenchy perfume without paying the hefty price tag, today’s your lucky day. Yes we can!

Stop by any Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom or Saks Fifth Avenue store and you are entitled to one free item from a list of twenty goodies. While the pickings are slim for the actual products that will be distributed, there are some gems to be found among the clutter. (more…)

Yes, Monday night was mighty cold, but that didn’t keep the Boston Home crowd from celebrating the second annual Best of Boston Home issue at the Beehive with us.

Down in the brick-lined cellar decked out with chandeliers, point-lights, and sparkly things, we enjoyed running into Debi Greenberg, owner of Louis Boston, and her husband Mark, a professional race car driver, who told us about his latest venture. It’s a twisted version of the golfing community—instead of building houses and condos around the links, though, he’s going to build big, beautiful vacation houses around a race track. For cars. Better check with the missus before putting down that deposit.

Go here for a slideshow featuring the party-goers

Meanwhile, we were pleased as Svedka punch to see the ever-elegant architect David Hacin of Hacin + Associates, who took the opportunity to talk neighborhood shop with Lekker owner Natalie Carpenter. Neither thought their portraits in our issue looked like them, but got a good laugh nonetheless. (more…)

Sometimes we make fairly monumental sacrifices for our job. Last night, for instance, we grudgingly skipped watching Gossip Girl in real-time in order to attend a Boston Home party at The Beehive. (Life is tough.)

The place was packed, and we were happily chatting about vintage dresses from eBay and the woes of the Boston Public School system (obviously), when a fellow Bostonista rushed over, wildly waving her iPhone and screaming something about a Boston mag GG cameo. Then the music stopped, the lights went on, and the party came to an abrupt end as everyone rushed home to their DVRs. (more…)

Rachel Baker and Sascha de Gersdorff get cold feet about warm winter footwear (well, at least, one of them does).

Sascha: So tell me, Rachel, how are you getting around in all this snow?

Rachel: Ugh. It’s rough. I alternate between my aubergine Hunter galoshes, regular boots, and sneakers. It’s positively soggy no matter what route I take. I’m in desperate need of snow boots…but yours are so ugly. I don’t know if I can make that sacrifice. I mean, I’m no native New Englander.

Sascha: Hmpf. I’m not sure they’re SO ugly… Well, ok, they are. But I’m vaguely superheroinesque in them. I mean, I can dash through puddles, traipse across ice, and wade into snow banks without ever getting cold feet. I don’t think we can say as much about those Puma sneakers you’ve been wearing around.
And how about those three-inch heel things?

(more…)

Rachel Baker and Sascha de Gersdorff get wired up about their technology-eschewing resolutions.

Rachel: Hey Sascha, Happy Thursday!

Sascha: Happy Thursday… and Happy New Year!

Rachel: Right back at ya!

So, the last time I checked you were (sort of) giving up your cell phone, right?

You are so Vince Vaughn in Swingers. I should give you dimes for the pay phone for your birthday.

Though it’s totally cool and hipster of you to give up modern technology, I must say that for those of us still in the 21st century it’s a bit annoying.

And, dare I say it, you’re sort of sacrificing responsibility to make yourself look cool and old school.

Sascha: “Sort of” being the operative words. It was one of my many possibly misguided, possibly impossible New Year’s Resolutions: Revert back to those simpler times when I didn’t swivel my desk chair toward my cell to check for texts every 20 minutes (texts from who? I have no idea). Also, let’s ask: Does anyone have an attention span anymore? What with the texting and calling and Facebooking, etc.

I’ll take Vince Vaughn in Swingers any day. I actually have a bag full of quarters ($26 worth) in my glove compartment for just such occasions.

Though let’s remember that it’s WITH cell phones that people can recreate the painful Jon Favreau scene in which he’s dialing like a mad man.

Geez, I really hope you’re going to spell check this. (more…)

Been dying to rock Rihanna’s pixie cut? Well, chop, chop. Now’s the time to surrender to the scissors—and for a great cause.

Marc Harris‘ Financial District salon is hosting a Locks of Love cut-a-thon on Monday, Jan. 12, from Noon-6 p.m., and they’ll be offering free haircuts to customers who wish to donate 10 inches or more of their mane to the organization.

Locks of Love is a non-profit that gives hairpieces to children who’ve lost their hair to chemotherapy or suffer from long term medical hair loss. All you have to do to help is make an appointment at the salon for Monday, and Marc Harris stylists will give you a complimentary crop that suits your style and face shape. They’ll even take care of the rest by preparing and shipping off your tresses to the foundation. (more…)