Photo: Courtesy of Bffl Co.

When your mom, sister, aunt or friend goes into the hospital for a mastectomy, it can be hard to know what to say to her, never mind what to get her. You want to give her exactly what she needs, but...you're not sure what that would be. One clever idea would be to talk to her doctor and get a list of must-haves, and make a care package, like the kind that radiation oncologist Elizabeth Chabner Thompson, MD, used to put together for her patients. Another, even more clever (and easier) idea would be to order one of the Breast Bffl Bags that Dr. Thompson sells through her new company Bffl Co ("Best Friends for Life").

Each nylon duffel has beachy stripes and comes packed with supplies that Thompson, who also had a preventative double mastectomy, deems essential to a comfortable recovery. For example, Thompson explains that after a procedure involving tissue removal, some fluid accumulates at the surgical site, and patients are sent home with special drains they need to tend to. However, Thompson says that most of her patients were so woozy when they heard the instructions that they forgot what they were supposed to do. That's why her bag includes a little drain care kit with specific how-to's--not the sexiest Get Well gift, but one of the most useful, and therefore, one of the most thoughtful. The bag also includes a heart-shaped microbead pillow that women can put under their arms to ease the pressure on their incision, as well as surprises like slipper socks, earplugs (for creating silence in a bustling recovery unit) and high-end face lotion and eye balm. Thompson's company offers other bags designed for the unique needs of patients recovering from brain and gynecological operations and, soon, C-sections. (Fifteen percent of the net profit from each bag Bffl Bag will be donated to a related health charity.)

It will make you feel good to see your VIP (Very Important Patient) using Thompson's road-tested items in the bag during the first days after her surgery...and it will make you feel even better to see her tote the bag to the gym and the beach not too long after that.

Photo: Lorenzo Aguis

Back in October, O editor at large Gayle King presented the Huffington Post's Game Changers award to the models of Versailles—ten African-American women who walked in a groundbreaking French fashion show 38 years ago. "Before that event, I'd never even heard of some of these models," says King. "I thought, We have to do something on them!" Creative director Adam Glassman agreed. "This was an opportunity to expose readers to the women who pioneered the success of today's black models," he says.

Photo: Stuart Tyson/Studio D

Problem: Your favorite pants wear out and you can't find a good replacement.

Solution: Not Your Daughter's Jeans now offers a trouser line with its signature attention to quality and fit. The pants lengthen your legs with a streamlined cut, have a bit of stretch for comfort, and come in a high enough rise that you don't have to worry about muffin top or panty peeks.

($120 each, nydj.com)



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Photo: Dimacci

We thought this adjustable Italian leather cuff had it all when it came in 11 vibrant colors, but now that shimmery cubic zirconium have been added to the horse bit-style buckle we're falling for this accessory all over again. Available in three shades (black, brown, or cognac) and with gold plating or stainless steel, you can stack this with a round-faced metal watch or a collection of skinny gold bangles.   $200, Dimacci.de



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Photo: Ben Goldstein/Studio D

We found pieces to make the most of what you've got...

An old-fashioned girdle cinches you in at the waist, but only slims so far. A smoothing tank eliminates back flab, but doesn't do much for your muffin top. This Soma bodysuit—made of compression fabric and strategically placed, ultra-thin panels—does wonders for both problem spots by extending up to your shoulder blades and holding all of you in like a corset. But unlike that ancient shapewear torture device, the addition of spandex and stay-put silicone edges around the leg openings (which prevent it from riding up and creating lines under a form-fitting dress) make this "torset" more comfortable—without sacrificing any tummy-taming power. Plus, a convenient hook-and-eye gusset at the crotch means you don't have to peel everything off when you need to use the restroom and the open bust design allows you to pair it with your favorite push-em-up bra.

$54, Soma.com

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Photo: Courtesy of Cisco

While bathing suit shopping may be considered the most dreaded of all shopping experiences, trying clothes on during the colder months poses a whole other set of challenges: There are the multiple layers (including a heavy coat to schlep around, the turtleneck sweater that turns your hair into a ball of static  after pulling it over your head, and the boots that nearly throw your back out every time you try to slip them off). Not to mention facing your nearly-nude self in a claustrophobic dressing room after 80 percent of your body hasn't seen the sun in six months.

Here to offer an alternative: Cisco's StyleMe Mirror. Currently available in the United Kingdom and making its way across the pond, this high-tech mirror allows you to virtually try clothes on through a series of gestures. By standing in front of the screen, you can digitally drag clothes onto your reflection and punctuate your look with accessories like belts and necklaces. You can even share a photo of an outfit on Facebook, Twitter or via email and get a second opinion from friends. While this new technology won't provide the most accurate depiction of how an item fits, it can help narrow down your pile—making decisions like what color looks best against your skin tone and if a neckline is right for your shape faster and easier. Meaning you can try on less, and in turn, cut down the time you spend under unflattering fluorescent lights.

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Photo: Thinkstock

I'll be the first to admit that my closet is out of control (at the present moment it is so packed that the double doors don't fully close). Since I'm often scrambling to put an outfit together half asleep before work, I wind up rotating the same ten items out of sheer desperation (and yes, sheer laziness). As a result, three quarters of what I own goes unworn for months at a time—some pieces never even having the tags cut off.

Here to make sense of the endless abyss of shirts, dresses, skirts, shoes, jeans, and jewelry: Stylitics—a new site that logs what you own (allowing you to manually upload photos of all your items or add things via the web), keeps track of your outfit history and recent purchases, gives you new ideas for what to wear, and even tells you the weather so that you that you know to slip on your rainboots or pack an umbrella. According to Stylitics, the average consumer has over 250 items in their closet, but their calendar function ensures you don't repeat ensembles and helps you plan what to put on day-to-day or for upcoming events—making getting dressed in the morning more foolproof. Plus, you can access your virtual closet anywhere you're able to log on—meaning you can double-check what's hanging up at home before buying yet another black dress.

Sign up and start making sense of your wardrobe with code: oprah

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Photo: Sergio Kurhajec

Q: How can I look sexy, without going over-the-top, for date night on the 14th?

A: Ladies, when it comes to dressing for a romantic evening, there is a fine line between seductive and seedy. But you'll never go wrong if you follow my guiding principle: Play up one feature, be it the lips, the décolletage, or the legs; keep everything else demure.

For a seductive look, try: tousled hair; matte red lips; an animal-print scarf; an off-the-shoulder top; short well-manicured nails; a bustier underneath a blazer; a peek of lace; a dress with a slit; a pencil skirt; tights with a small fishnet pattern; and a classic pump, two to four inches tall.

To avoid looking seedy, steer clear of: teased, sprayed untouchable hair; glossy red lips; animal-print pants; a tube top; long red talons; a bustier worn alone; a neon lace dress; a dress with a slit and plunging neckline; an ultra-miniskirt; actual fishnets; and clear platforms heels.

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Online fashion flash sales (like Gilt Groupe or Rue La La) are standard practice when you want to save on a must-have pair of heels or a pricey handbag, but we haven't come across many sites where you can score deals on skis or a surf board—until now. O's creative director Adam Glassman says Seshday.com is one of the first on the Web to offer bargains on top notch sporting goods and activewear for the whole family. Sales typically start on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and last one to three days—offering gear and clothing up to 80 percent off. Even better: Seshday frequently partners with non-profits (like this bracelet that benefits SurfAid International) and donates all or a percentage of sales to charitable organizations.

Get going on those New Year's resolutions to get back in shape or have more fun and let these discounts inspire you to finally take a surf lesson or put down that hot toddy, get out of the lodge, and hit the slopes.


To sign up for Seshday click here: http://www.seshday.com/invite/Oprah

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