LIFE IN THE CITY

Nothing but Net

BY ANDREW MILNER

Nothing but Net

BY ANDREW MILNER

Not everyone is a slave to the latest trends, but you can master the fashion world with these online fashion consultants. FASHION MAJU-COM STYLE EXPERTS www.fashionmall.conVstylexperts/index.asp?fm Here's a website from NYC with more than a dozen fashion experts. From Esquire's style tips for men, to Laura Mercier's makeup advice, to former Philadelphia Style cover girl Niki Taylor's tips, this site has everything. And if you'd rather be emailing, you can get their newsletter delivered to your Inbox. OXTGEN.COM FASHION & BEAUTY ARCHIVE www.oxygen.com/style/beauty/archive.html The new women's cable network has created a top-drawer website, and their fashion section includes such correspondents as Isaac Mizrahi and Betsey Johnson. The archive has articles on everything from aromatherapy to how to buy the perfect bra. VIVIAN LIVES REAL WORLD MAKEOVER www.irivianhves.com/jobs/makeover.html You can't go wrong with a site that gets six million hits a month. Vivian Lives provides excellent fashion tips for women, and once you've finished, you can click on their links and check out the latest from fashion retailers The Real Monica, Swiss Miss and Language. MART LOU ANDRE'S DRESSING WELL www.dressingweU.com/index.htm Get top corporate and individual fashion consulting from this Needham, MA company with more than ten years of experience. This site offers seasonal top ten fashion lists and tips of the week, plus monthly advice columns and articles answering the proverbial question. The New Professionalism: Dressing for Success or Dressing for Stressr THE IMAGE CONSULTANT www.theimageconsultant.com Can't get to a store? Have the store come to you. This savvy site offers virtual fashion makeovers. Send this Norfolk-based firm a questionnaire, a photo of yourself and just $39.95, and within a week they'll send you pictures and descriptions of various outfits (professional and casual) that match your needs. MONROE'S VOICE OF FULL FASHION www.monroesvoice.com This Philadelphia-based site knows that fashion comes in all sizes, and provides online fashion rnnsiiltinp for nlm-sir.*^ wnmn Fill

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If the coming of lune means that vvi-ddin^ season is upon us, it must also be time for anniversaries. Hre are .1 tew websites speridliziny in .^ifts for v-jry spt-cial anniversaries Papyrus | www.papynisQnline.com iVip'M" is the t'U^tiiiiuirv gift for f h o first <inniv<M"sary. and il yu'i and \<.nir rt-r.vl, '.Vfi.l spouse .-.till haven't gotten around to i;unpletmg thus*; wedding th:ink you notes, choose from an array of i/ustom paper products at this site. Gifts range from stationary and invitations to albums and journals. Philly Leather j www.store.yahoo.com/phiUyleather flif t r a d i t i o n a l vv^ddintj yjft for th: t h i r d annivc-rsary is leather, so those who closed out the 20th century by walk ing down the aisle should cherk out this site. Some ot their gift ideas include leathers from K e n n e t h Cole and American Ba-,e, One recent deal offered Trek tour button blazers for women at a cuol .iU percent oif. Jeffrey Dean, Ltd. I www.jeffreydeanltd.com If you tied the knot in W7. then your wood anniversary is coining up in '02. Of course, you don't need a reason to buy some elegant furniture, and here's n Chestnut Hill standby with an impressive selection of wooden furniture, including a Louis Philhppe walnut table from the mid 1900s and a Portuguese table from the late 1700s.

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Handler Studio | www.handlerstudio.com One of the customary I'Hh anniversary gifts is aiu r n i n u m , and hero's a local artisan who designs aluminum based furniture on commission, if you're looking for j ghd <?r rocking chair or just a simple fireplace screen. Peter Handler's work is among the finest in the region. Robert H. Mills, Inc. I www.collectcrystal.com

Planet Silk | www.PlanetSilk.com

Crystal is the traditional l'>th anniversary gift, so those who got married during the heyday ot Crocodile Dundee md The Bangles back in 'ti7 can purchase appropriate gifts at this Chestnut Street dealer. Robert H Mills specializes in Swarovski crystal, and among the Swarovski pieces for purchase are the ornate Masquerade Pierrot' and "Babv Lovebirds."
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Nothing/but.Net
Before you roast chestnuts on an open fire, hang your stockings by the chimney with care, or light the menorah, you'll want to check out these sites for both early and last minute holiday ideas: Pennsylvania Gifts and Awards www.giftspa.com/seasgreetsho.html This Devon-based site sells more than two dozen types of gift tins and baskets. Try the Holiday Night at the Movies gift tin with popcorn, pretzels and chocolates, perfect to dig into while watching Miracle on 34th Street. And in the spirit of the season, enjoy free ground shipping on most items. Mailman's Christmas Shoppe Online www.hallmansxmasshop.com This site offers such treats as angels and miniature houses from Little Women, The Sound of Music, and even Elvis Presley's Craceland. And fans of ).K. Rowling's bestsellers can find Harry Potter collectibles cute enough to charm anyone in your household. Northstar Fruit and Gift www.northstargift.com Choose from a dozen assortments of fruit and gift baskets on this site, ranging from a gourmet dried fruit tray to "The Turkey Basket," with navel oranges, winter pears, grapes, bananas and crisp apples. This basket is sure to leave you, well, stuffed. Visit Bethlehem Pennsylvania www.bethtour.org/attractions/christmas.jsp On Christmas Eve 260 years ago, Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf of Germany visited a Moravian settlement on the banks of the Lehigh. He called the community "Bethlehem." This site offers information on Christmas events in this town, from plays and concerts to bus and walking tours. Thomas Nast's Christmas Illustrations philaprintshop.com/nastxmas.html Most of today's images of Santa came from the pen of 19th century ; cartoonist Thomas Nast who helped popularize the idea of jolly old j St. Nicholas having a red suit and large belly. Now you can checkj out these images easily by going to this site. Stockbridge '.lain Street At Christmas www.stockbridgechamber.org/frxmas.html Norman Rockwell's cover artwork for Philadelphia's own Saturday Evening Post made the New England town of Stockbridge, Mass., famous for its Christmas scenes. Here's how you can visit the real Stockbridge and take part in celebrations from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2. Broken Claw's Christmas Carols brokenclaw.com/carols/carols.html So you want to sing your favorite Christmas carols, but you're j stumped on a few words? This site has lyrics to 99 of your favorites, from "O Holy Night" to "The Chipmunk Song." Now there's no excuse for not joining in on songs of peace and brotherhood. This year, we need them more than ever.Andrew Milner

Nothing But Net

February may be the shortest month, but it has enough holidays with Valentine's Day and President's Day Weekendto justify a quick overnight or long weekend getaway. The Philadelphia area has a wealth of bed and breakfasts ideal for a quick trip. Try some of the links below to check out places you can check into. Haddonfield Inn www.haddonfieldinn.com Here's a perfect spot if you're looking to get away from it all and still be in the greater Philadelphia area. Each room has its own fireplace and cable TV, and you're within walking distance of parks and health clubs, plus the PATCO high speed line. Hedgerow Bed and Breakfast www.brandywine-valley.com If you're planning a getaway to Longwood Gardens or the Brandywine River Museum, here's the perfect B&B. Unwind in one of the Jacuzzis or stretch out in front of one of the fireplaces. Their suites include wet-bar-equipped kitchens and pantries. Bridgetown Mill House www.bridgetownmillhouse.com If you're looking for a B&B with rustic charm, how does a house built in 1791 strike you? This Bucks County site features wood-burning fireplaces, a solarium and a jogging track. Mountaintop Lodge www.mountaintoplodge.com With a 12,000 square-foot inn and access to two neighboring clubs, this Poconos B&B has something for everybody. The wellappointed lobby has board games for the homebody, while the more adventurous guests can try their hand at snowmobiling or the adjoining fitness center. Angel of the Sea www.angelofthesea.com Looking for a shore getaway this off-season? Angel of the Sea has been a Cape May tourist attraction for 120 years. From its gingerbread detail to its brick patio, stop and see why it has regularly been named one of America's top ten B&Bs. Swiss Woods www.swisswoods.com Just a short ride from Hershey Park or the farmers' markets in Lancaster County, you can choose from one of seven Swissthemed rooms at this B&B, from the lofty Matterhorn Suite to the WilhelmTell Room. Victorian Jewel Bed and Breakfast www.miltonde.com/index.html Enter this Delaware B&B and take a trip back to the late 19th century. The rooms include the Governor's Room and Smallest Wonder Suite, complete with Victorian-style furniture. Bischwind Bed and Breakfast www.virtualcities.com/pa/bischwind.htm Appropriate for President's Day, this B&B in Bear Creek has hosted both Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft. And if American history isn't your strong suit, put on your skis and check out the three neighboring slopes. Andrew Milner