By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
Okay, I know this is going to sound vain but I want to look my best for my upcoming high school reunion. It is like Facebook – we want to be seen in the most positive light.
It will be 32 years since I have seen most of my high school buddies and I am really looking forward to this reunion of us all turning 50. Part of me wants to reconnect with some of my long lost friends and part of me is just curious to see what people look like and to know what [...]

We know the joke: “You’re unique. just like everybody else“. But joking aside, we still like to think that we are unique. Which is why at The Succulent Wife, we always like to feature lots of indie and artisan businesses. Because when we shop with them at least we know that the stuff we buy is NOT like everybody else’s…
And, that goes for shoes too. Probably, especially for shoes. And so, we love this company… Shoes of Prey.
Shoes of Prey is a site that allows women to custom design their own shoes. Pick from a variety of heel heights and [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
Just because it is raining outside does not mean we can’t still have great style. Gone are the days of galoshes and plastic raincoats of yester-years (thank goodness).
We proved that last year when we wrote about the Pop-N-Go Rain Scarf. Now it is time to rethink raincoat as a more stylish, yet practical, outerwear solution.
The RainRaps are such a garment. In fact, Rainraps are akin to  fashionable lightweight, water-resistant, reversible pashminas.
They come in four colorful combinations and are the perfect fashion accessory that can be worn all year round (in winter, over coats to “waterproof” [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
I love the idea of creating something beautiful. And when someone compliments me on it I can then say ‘thank you, I made it!’  Sadly, I am not that creative, but there is hope for me yet with For the Makers. This crafty do-it-yourself monthly subscription company was created by Katie Covington and Janet Crowther, who met over ribbons, sequins and beads when they were both designing jewelry for New York fashion houses. They felt that, given the right guidance and material, anyone can learn how to create something beautiful and inspire others to do [...]

By Anne-Marie Kovacs, Chief Wife
I’m dating myself (at this point, it can’t be avoided), but I remember my dresser drawer full of silk, satiny scarves in the 80′s and 90′s. Always the perfect accessory to perk up that otherwise drab business suit (yeah, I used to wear suits to work, even with a silk cravate in the mid 80′s. Scream!). And then, fashion scarves were gone. Until recently. Scarves have made a major comeback and I’m sooooo pleased.
Seriously, what’s not to love about a scarf? Besides their ability to enhance almost any outfit and to add color, scarves are our [...]

As we reported here, Trunk Club, a “mail-order” personal shopping service for men’s clothing is great solution for men who want to look good but hate (or don’t have the time) to shop. But how about us women? It’s – I know! – surprising to admit but many women, even the most coquette amongst us, don’t revel in the shopping experience. Or we simply don’t have the time. In my case, I don’t enjoy the (dreaded) dressing room with the invariably unflattering lighting.
So here’s a fun solution for the woman short on time but high on style: Cakestyle, a “virtual” [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
We love to support companies that do great work here and abroad. By now, we are all now quite familiar with (and wearing) Toms Shoes and we love the great work the company does around the world (Did you know that Toms does eyewear now, under the same One-for-One principle).  In fact, we wrote about them three years ago already. Here are some other shoe companies that also do great work in their own way, whether it is helping the environment, fighting poverty or helping women.
 
For the Young Ones
Chooze Shoes – Here are some perfect [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
Lost and unclaimed luggage? Someone mistakenly walking away with my suitcase at the carousel? That’s just not in our plans this summer. There is nothing like a lost bag (invariably, the one containing all the essentials) to ruin a vacation. So, as I was preparing our family for our summer getaway,

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
Now that I have completely devoted my techno-self to Apple products, I am all about accessorizing them. If you have yet to make the leap to everything starting with an ‘i’ these products just may persuade you.
Stands, Tripods and Grips:

GorillaMobile Yogi – Joby has designed the perfect flexible tripod for either your iPhone or iPad. Wrap it around a rock or tree when out capturing yourself in the wilderness or wrap it around your treadmill so you can watch a movie while you exercise. Buy the GorillaMobile Yogi for iPhone from [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
If your mother is like my mother-in-law, she is at an age that she dislikes shopping for shoes. She has a pair for walking, casual wear, summer, winter and dressy that are all comfortable, simple and go with anything. Now, as us ladies know, shoes and handbags are our statement pieces. My mother-in-law’s shoes say “Please don’t look down!” I love her dearly and she is always impeccably dressed but for the life of me I can’t get her to buy a new pair of shoes. She simply states that she dislikes the “breaking [...]