If there’s a common denominator among women -- other than chocolate -- it would be a shared love of footwear. From streamlined classics and sharp stilettos to modern androgynous picks and architectural heels, shoe shopping remains a happy pastime. Read on for the inside scoop on what’s new, advice on getting the most mileage out of your next shoe splurge, and shopping tips from the experts.

Top Trends
“Floral prints, bright colors and feminine designs make up spring 2011’s top three styles,” says Ruby Tagle Gan, president and COO of Shop Manila Inc., the company that franchises Schu and Chocolate Schubar shoe stores. “Think: Louis Vuitton ads, ‘Mad Men’ and the ’60s.”

In terms of heel shape and size, platforms, wedges and high heels go back to the basics, says Gan, but in a more fun way this season.

Lace
Ralph Lauren, Dolce and Gabbana and Zac Posen were a few designers who showcased lace on the runways -- and it’s only natural for shoe styles to follow suit. “Lace appliques on prints and bright colors will undoubtedly update any basic wardrobe for spring 2011,” says Gan. A less frilly take on lace would be laser-cut, lace-inspired detailing on non-fabric materials such as leather and plastic.

The Classics Revisited
Gan recommends keeping a pair of well-made black heels, whether you prefer a kitten heel or a 5-inch stiletto in leather or satin. Make your investment last by cleaning shoes after wearing them, as dirt could corrode and destroy the surface if left on. Also, air out footwear before storing in boxes; doing so will help prevent the material from cracking. “With our humid weather, even good leather will not last if not taken out of the box from time to time,” warns Gan. Silk and satin shoes, on the other hand, can easily attract stains. If you end up spilling something on them, immediately pat the area dry with a very absorbent paper napkin. “If you are planning to go out for drinks, I don't suggest wearing satin shoes,” says Gan.

Shopping Smarts
When eyeing prospects, check out the total effect on your legs and opt for styles that elongate and flatter. (Some pairs can actually make ankles look thick.) Also, refrain from buying shoes when you’ve been walking around in flip flops, advises Gan. “Feet can swell, and it’s possible to end up with the wrong size.” Instead, simply wear ordinary sandals, lined ballet flats or -- even better -- super-comfy footwear such as trainers to prep feet for some serious shoe shopping.

Remember, the mark of a great shoe doesn’t always come down to price. While it’s wise to invest in an expensive ballet flat, black pump or summer sandal -- and exhilarating to shell out a decent amount of cash for the perfect pair -- you can have just as much fun with lower-cost alternatives. (Plus, you’ll be able to afford more colors!) For super-trendy styles, you’re often better off not forking over one month’s rent for something you won’t get as much mileage out of.

Photo Credit: iStockphoto.com/Petoo

The Christmas ham is gone from the fridge, but has left behind a thickening middle and expanding thighs. We all overindulge during the festive season -- what’s Christmas without rum balls and pudding, and New Year’s without martinis and champagne? But before you start punishing yourself for the extra kilos with a strict diet devoid of fun and flavor, there is another way to get your fitness back and embrace the new year ahead.

Two words: destination spas. Gone are the days of boot-camp-style health retreats with carrot juice and crackers. In their place, you’ll find multiday spa retreats in tropical locations that allow guests to focus on the art of relaxing and rejuvenating.

Reasons to Travel to a Destination Spa
Today’s world citizen is exposed to constant low-grade stress. Mortgages, relationships and career demands can take their toll. Put simply, our adrenal glands are overused and exhausted, which can result in a lingering lethargy, inability to make decisions and a general malaise. It is estimated that 80 percent of adults will experience this at least once in their lives.

Destination spas provide a blend of traditional, holistic and medical solutions to have you feeling healthy and vibrant again from the inside out. A typical day in a destination spa may start with yoga, meditation or a walk on the beach followed by an a la carte breakfast of organic fruit, buckwheat pancakes and freshly baked eggs. Days are spent indulging in spa treatments, partaking in activities or simply lounging by a pool.

Most destination spas offer naturopath consultations at the time of check-in so they can create a program specifically for you, from weight loss to detox to stress relief and fitness. Spend a week at any of these top destination spas and you’ll be guaranteed to feel like a million bucks.

Chiva-Som, Hua Hin Thailand
The doyenne of destination spas, Chiva-Som counts Kate Moss, Liz Hurley and David Beckham as regular guests -- and for good reason. Add an a la carte restaurant with sea breezes, impeccable service and a beachfront location, and you won’t know yourself come check-out time.

Six Senses Sanctuary, Naka Yai, Thailand
Seventy villas dot the hillside, each with a private infinity pool, steam room and personal spa butler. This is seriously stylish eco-chic. Guests cycle around the resort and dine barefoot on white sand in the beachfront restaurant. There’s a yoga pavilion, meditation garden and jungle gym. Plus, the food is so delicious you won’t believe it’s good for you.

Absolute Sanctuary, Koh Samui, Thailand
Absolute Sanctuary specialises in detox and yoga retreats. You can be as hard-core as you like from a naturopath-designed juice detox with four juices a day, supplements, colonic hydrotherapy and daily massage and yoga, to a raw-food detox of smoothies, soups and salads. Five-star accommodation is set off the road in a palm tree paradise.

Ananda Spa, Himalaya, India
The magic of the Himalaya foothills provides the perfect setting for some serious downtime. Set in a Maharajah’s palace, Ananda spells relaxation. The retreat focuses on Ayurvedic treatments in the 20,000-square-foot spa. Dine in the hillside restaurant on sumptuous Indian cuisine, meditate at dusk in the ballroom or do yoga at dawn in the amphitheatre. More active individuals can trek the nearby hills.

Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, Queensland, Australia
Expect to wake to the sound of birds in the native Australian bushland at Gwinganna as the sun rises over the Pacific Ocean horizon. Part owned by Hugh Jackman, Gwinganna features a spa with 30 treatment rooms, two infinity pools, organic garden and a selection of accommodation including four bush pool villas. The retreat offers group-style activities and an education program so you can integrate your newfound wellness into your life back home.

Beauty and grooming products, tools and accessories make for holiday gifts that hit two sweet spots of giving: They’re indulgent and practical. Plus, you can pull these terrific presents together on any budget just by shopping at your local drugstore -- easing your holiday stress. 

For stocking stuffers or Secret Santa gifts under $10, consider lip gloss or nail polish in a bright, festive color for her. For him, you can grab a minty bar of soap or hair pomade. A hot styling tool with the latest technology -- like a ceramic infrared blow-dryer or a tourmaline ionic flat iron -- makes a terrific gift for anyone who hasn’t updated his or her hair toolkit in a few years. Toss in a heat-protecting styling product so the lucky recipient will get the best results. 

Here are some other great beauty and grooming gift ideas for everyone on your list, including the guys.

Overnight Kit
Simplify the life of that on-the-go friend or colleague with a grooming case filled with airline-friendly sizes of all the toiletries he or she needs on the road: shampoo, cleanser, toothpaste, a toothbrush, moisturizer, sunscreen, shaving cream, a razor, a comb or brush and a travel-size mirror.

 

Makeup Palettes
This is the time of year when cosmetic companies put together beautifully packaged, value-packed collections of their products. For the makeup maven or novice alike, these collections of glam essentials are a great way to experiment with different shades. Pick up a set of mini lip glosses or eye shadows for beauty on the go, or upgrade to a professional-grade palette or a kit that includes everything for lips, cheeks and eyes.

Fragrances
Buying perfume or cologne for someone -- even a person you know well -- can be risky. Opt for less-concentrated versions of scents and package them with soaps, bath salts or bubbles, body lotion and a candle -- all in the same yummy fragrance. Choose woodsy or spicy scents for him; light floral, citrus or gourmand (like vanilla or buttercup) for her.

 

Foot Spa Package
Feet are the hardest-working and most-neglected body part. Give someone you care about everything they need to soothe their cramped toes, callused heels and suffering soles. Start with the essentials: a foot scrub, a pumice stone and a foot file. Then, make the gift as extravagant as you’d like by adding extras like pedicure tools, foot cream and spa socks. For your special man, include a redeem-any-time coupon for a foot rub given by you. 

Grooming Set for Him
If you’ve ever wanted your man to step up his grooming habits -- or stop borrowing your products -- now’s the perfect time to drop a hint without offending him. With lots of lines designed especially for men -- including masculine packaging, results-focused formulas and non-fruity fragrances -- you can create an all-purpose kit with face wash, hydrator, shave cream, body scrub, lip balm and hand cream that will appeal to even the most macho of guys. For an extra touch of masculinity, skip the ribbons and bows and pack the grooming goodies in a gym bag.

Bath Products
Give the gift of a luxurious bath or shower by filling a basket with a rubber ducky, a loofah, a bar of luxe soap, shower gel, bath salts and body scrub. All the recipient of these goodies has to do is add water. Throw in a sumptuous bathrobe or bath sheet for another dose of comfort.

For more on holiday gifts check out:
The Ultimate Gift Guide for Him

Grooming Tips He Can Learn From You 

Men's Life Today

Amanda Ware became an international sensation when she was crowned “Australia’s Next Top Model.” Runner-up Kelsey Martinovich was initially announced the winner by host Sarah Murdoch. However, while Martinovich was thanking her supporters, Murdoch received word that the real winner -- by a slim margin -- was in fact 18-year-old Ware. The contestants, who handled the production bungle with astonishing grace, were both awarded a Harper’s Bazaar cover and other prizes. Before she flew out to New York City for her modeling gigs, The Style Glossy caught up with Ware in a Melbourne hotel room.

You’re about to get on a long-haul flight -- what’s your beauty secret?
Sleep, and lots of it! It’s the only cure for jet lag as well.

Tell us what’s in your beauty bag.
Mascara, moisturiser, lip balm and lightweight foundation for everyday use.

How do you look after your hair?
I always keep it clean, using good conditioners and shampoos to help replenish it after all the strain it’s put under.

You grew up on the Gold Coast. How did you avoid the sun?
I didn’t, to be honest. I definitely avoid it now, and when I go in the sun these days I’m always protected.

At what point did you think you could be a model?
In week six of “Australia’s Next Top Model” I realised that this could be a serious career choice for me. I enjoyed what I did and I was getting better at it every week.

So who are your model icons?
Elle Macpherson is one of my biggest idols. She’s such a great Aussie icon. Also, local girls like Bambi Northwood-Blyth and Samantha Harris -- who are out in the world making a name for themselves -- have become people I admire.

Has your style changed since you’ve become a model?
I think my style has changed. It’s more thought-through, definitely! It’s become more refined, I suppose -- though I’ve just bought a pair of combat boots that are brown, scuffed and so comfy. I love them to death! But, really, I think I dress a whole lot simpler in my downtime. I’m not afraid to wear a pair of trackies, and I love wearing jeans all the time.

Tell us about your most stylish moment.
When I was last in New York, I had my new Miu Miu bag and was wearing Helmut Lang leather pants. God, I love those pants.

What talent do you wish you had?
I wish I could dance, but unfortunately it’s not to be.

What are you reading at the moment?
I’ve just started Lights Out in Wonderland by DBC Pierre.

What music are you listening to?
My favourite songs at the moment would have to be, “My House” by New Zealand band Kids of 88 and “Vitriol” by Sydney band Bluejuice.

Your guilty pleasure?
Chocolate.

What’s next for you?
Hopefully working overseas after building a strong base here in Australia.

The New Year brings in new promises: eating better, spending less, being more fashionable. Going for great hair is a natural progression towards looking -- and feeling -- more fabulous.

“For 2011, it’s about choices -- and clients want to have it all,” says Louis Phillip Kee, international hair consultant and owner of the Louis Phillip Kee Salons in Manila. “Hair flows and moves free, and should be straight and edgy with tremendous shine and smoothness.” Here are the hairdos to crown your mane in style for the year ahead.

Fashionable Fringes
“Bangs will be pushed as far as they will go -- they can make or break a look,” says Kee, who recommends fashioning severe angles, side-swept wisps and asymmetric, jagged edges, to get the most out of this trend. Bangs are also a great way to update your ’do when you’re on a budget.

Boho Chic
The runways have shown flowy frocks, bell sleeves and maxi dresses reminiscent of the ’70s -- it’s all but natural for tress trends to follow suit. “We have seen hair evolving from retro spirals to smooth, versatile, sexy and bouncy waves. Hair can be worn natural, wild and curly with a lot of texture for seductiveness and romance,” says Kee. (Think center parts, loose locks, thin hair elastics, ’fro-inspired volume and bright scarves.)

Pixie Preview
Actress Emma Watson of the Harry Potter movies may be 2011’s poster girl for the pixie haircut done right. The style, popularized by Twiggy in the ’60s, has also been sported by actresses like Carey Mulligan, Michelle Williams and Natalie Portman. According to Kee, the latest short cuts also feature plenty of texture and geometric outlines.

Un-serious Hair
Take a cue from Hollywood and wear a messy bun or a choppy, wavy bob. Pair this undone look with clean makeup: Try a sleek red, wine or berry lip shade.

Classic and Classy
U.S. Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour, a renowned fashion dominatrix, has had the same Louise Brooks bob for decades. This simply illustrates the old adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Timeless styles are here for the taking -- and while it’s fun and exciting to see what the fashion mill has in store this season, we always have the option of sticking with the classics.

Color Coding
When it comes to up-to-the-minute shades for 2011, the bar tilts from ultra-edgy to super-feminine. Kee points to “street influences and urban colors that feature textured shades of gold, silver and subtle hints of rose -- all defiant and fearless -- along with browns, coppers, and bronzes that create beautiful, sculptured silhouettes.”