"Call the boys downtown at Neiman Marcus. Tell 'em lock up them high-heeled shoes." --Martina McBride, When God Fearin' Women Get The Blues

There’s an obvious upside to buying a new outfit (or a new anything for that matter), but did you know shopping can promote general health and well-being?

Studies suggest buying brings a feeling of comfort that rivals Mac and Cheese at Somerset (no easy feat considering their recipe calls for crimini mushrooms and a crispy top). It’s often considered more fun than owning since shoes always appear to be more lustrous in the window of a shop than in your own closet.

Leading experts on brain research suggest this could be why women live longer than men, noting that it keeps you physically active (heavy bags = toned biceps), challenges the brain (“which dress is the better deal?”) and helps you maintain a positive self-image (hello new lipstick).

Suffice it to say, the effects of shopping are likely multiplied on a sunny day outdoors at Broadway Plaza or Stanford Shopping Center. Bonus points for a relaxing fountain and a nearby cupcake boutique like Kara’s.

It never hurts to have another excuse to indulge in a retail “therapy session.” Which begs the question…are you getting enough Vitamin MC? MasterCard, of course.

Lose the pouf, look younger.

Try a little “tress rehearsal” in the mirror before stepping out his weekend. These hairstyling tips are sure to lend your face a more youthful appearance, no matter what your age.

When it comes to styling, less is more. Too taught or done up and you add years to your face. Try a fresher look that’s slightly undone. This can be achieved by using curlers of varying sizes or pulling a few loose strands from an updo.

Round volume on top (a.k.a. “helmet hair” or “news anchor hair”)  is old-fashioned and seriously aging. A look with soft, wavy movement is more relaxed and goes with jeans or a red carpet gown.

On the other hand, avoid hair that’s too flat or parted down the middle. A side-swept style is flattering on everyone.

Spritz hairspray on the palms of your hands, then run them through your hair rather than spraying directly onto strands.

Blame it on Rio.

Meet the beauty must-have of the season.

Brazilian Leg Gloss quenches the skin with Brazilian nut oil while giving your legs a dewy sheen that appears to accentuate curves (not to mention a tan). At a recent fashion show, the buzz wasn’t about the fashion but the fact that the models were slathering this on backstage. The lightweight bespoke blend (handmade!) absorbs quickly and dries to a demi-matte finish. Use it head to toe to enhance the skin allover.

Sand, sea and sun. Quintessential summer.

Hello summer.

Last night was our first warm East Bay night. Oh how we’ve missed you!

Hello picnics at dusk. Poolside BBQs. Outdoor daiquiris on the sun-dappled patio at El Charro.

Hello ice cream and cherries and awesomely indifferent hair.

The undone look is the very essence of summer, but you can be deliberate about it…don’t just leave yourself at the mercy of “the air dry.” You can create a laid-back look by creating a contrast of both wet and dry hair (a spray bottle full of water) perfects this “caught in the surf” look. Set with hairspray. Or simply sleep in loose, messy braids. Also unexpected: crimping your hair creates uniform waves and won’t evoke memories of the 80s if you run over your handiwork with a paddle brush.

The 25th annual Denim to Diamonds gala took place last month at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View. A benefit for the Ronald McDonald House at Stanford, a home-away-from-home for critically ill children and their families, the event raised close to $500,000. The theme: “Tribute to the Silver Screen” — fitting for a silver anniversary. This year’s honoree was Susan Packard Orr.

Photos by Nikki Ritcher.

Oh, what a night! Enthusiastic and passionate members of 100 Women Charitable Foundation, now numbering 480 members, voted on which of six local charities should receive the largest grants from a pool of $142,500. Since its founding in 2006 by four Los Altos women, including Teri Zingale, the foundation has given away $475,000. For the video, please click here.

Mimi Ogden, Raccoon branch president; Catherine Helm and Cindy Goodman, silent auction co-chairs; Liz Canady and Julie Flaherty, Gatsby Soiree co-chairs

Elizabeth Merrill

Patti and Dave Stadlin

Sydney Joyner, Randi Curhan

Kerry Davidson, Cindy Goodman

Bob Heller, Pat Montag, Emily Heller (special honoree), MGH Foundation Board Chair Andrea Schultz

Jane Marra, Bobbi Buich

Melissa Elbaz, Truth Doyle, Elizabeth Whipple

The Raccoons, a fundraising branch of the Marin General Hospital volunteers department, held a “Gatsby Soiree” last month at the Corinthian Yacht Club in Tiburon. Glamorous 1920s flappers were well represented; Zelda would have been proud. According to organizers, the event was the Raccoons’ most financially successful to date.

Photos by Jocelyn Knight.

Mark Loupé, Annette Harris, Scott Wilson, Trish and Charles Loucks

Craig and Lynn Lubbock

Leon and Sallie Huntting

Roberta Wain Becker, GGO general director

The Golden Gate Opera staged a grand opening night for “Lincoln & Booth” in March at Dominican University in San Rafael. The new opera was created by John Cepelak and Christina Rose of Mill Valley, and examines the lives and times of Abraham Lincoln, his assassin and their contemporaries during the Civil War era.

Photos by William Bucquoy.

Tiburon’s meandering “retail row” on Main Street has an intimate feel, beckoning passers-by to duck inside the shops with the promise of myriad treasures. A sampling:

~ By Jennifer Shaw; photos by Nikki Ritcher.

Christopher Home

Perfect for: Those in search of laid-back, Hamptons-inspired home décor and furnishings

Vibe: Christopher Downs, Marin’s self-described “celebrity stylist,” recently opened this shop adjacent to his hair salon. You can almost feel sand between your toes as you admire imported casual linens from Aid to Artisans, Italian cashmere pillows and throws, and classic blue-and-white porcelain dishware and posh candles. Also showcased are woven covered stainless pitchers, vintage silver trays and late-19th century vases-turned-candleholders that look as if they just washed up on the beach.

Labels: Lafco and Votivo candles, Rani Arabella throws, Neely Mack handbags.

90 Main Street, 415.435.0111

Citrus

Perfect for: Seekers of “handpicked little luxuries,” according to the online store

Vibe: A small boutique with copious eye candy, including 60 styles of sandals and vibrantly colored handbags. Citrus carries unique items with a great brand and a good story, be it the sumptuous Pine Cone Hill robes or local handmade bags and jewelry. Whimsy abounds, starting with a posted sign that reads, “Unattended Children Will Be Given an Espresso and a Free Puppy.”

Labels: Sarah Oliver handbags, BedHead 100 percent fine cotton pajamas, DayNa Decker organic bath and body products, Jonathan Adler’s “happy chic” designs, Kathy Kamei jewelry.

13 Main Street, 415.435.1321, shopcitrus.com

Julie Tuton Arcadian Design Studio

Perfect for: The person looking for a spectacular gift — for themselves or others

Vibe: A hidden gem near the end of Ark Row (the second block of Main Street), this Italian Renaissance-style chandelier-appointed cottage simultaneously nurtures and empowers visitors. The former San Francisco-based jewelry designer’s work will make any woman feel special.

Labels: Tuton’s handcrafted jewelry made on site, and her trademark MagicStones, with handwritten, etched affirmations on sandblasted glass.

116 Main Street, 415.789.9800, julietuton.com

Koze

Perfect for: Women who want to feel as good as they look

Vibe: Koze’s owner, Darla Fisher, found inspiration in a Shaker proverb: “Don’t make something unless it is both necessary and useful; but if it is both necessary and useful, don’t hesitate to make it beautiful.” The lifestyle clothing boutique offers luxurious and affordable items for all ages, such as its selection of Minnie Rose cashmere. “We want women to feel beautiful in their clothes and then get on with their lives,” Fisher says.

Labels: Echo and Matta scarves, Isda & Co and Eileen Fisher clothing, Paige premium denim.

16 Main Street, 415.435.1916, getkoze.com

Paparazzi

Perfect for: Fashion-forward women of all ages, shapes and sizes who want classics with an edge

Vibe: Attire and accoutrements alike offer a mix of classic and contemporary styles from around the globe, with affordable-to-upscale price points. Lightweight, hand-loomed and hand-dyed cashmere sweaters; cashmere-and-silk scarves; handwoven wool pillows inspired by various famous artists; brightly colored handmade dishware – all accent clothing collections of casual day to evening wear.

31 Main Street, 415.435.2622, paparazzisf.com

Ruth Livingston Studio

Perfect for: Devotees of concept luxury interiors and eclectic, one-of-a-kind decorative pieces

Vibe: The longtime interior designer and furniture maker features both nature-based and whimsical items, from Brazilian ceramic cherry clusters with stainless steel stems, Gadi Efrat steel sculptural work with jade-colored patina, Burmese silk scarves and lacquer boxes to dramatic wood veneer vases from Schleeh Design in Montreal.

Labels: Alex Marshall’s handmade dinnerware, Nikolas Weinstein’s handblown glass vessels, local ceramicist Alice Corning, Roost accessories.

74 Main Street, 415.435.5264, ruthlivingston.com

Still Life

Perfect for: “A woman who can afford anything, and someone on a budget,” says Natalie Didio, store manager

Vibe: Awe-inspiring accessories, such as fair-trade Brazilian leather handbags and weightless, liquid metal earrings. Global influences include rich fabrics and designs from Canada, Italy, France and Russia. There is an impressive inventory of U.S. designers, too, for all shapes and sizes.

Labels: Chalet; Cut Loose; Is Art, a jeweler fromJerusalem who crafts multimedia designs with Swarovski crystals, sterling silver, fabric and glass beads.

82 Main Street, 415.789.9460

Fulfilling dreams

~ By Crystal Chow; photos by Thu Ly.

First-time shop owner Alicia Takahara has a secret weapon for luring customers into her side-street business in Mountain View: scented candles. Passers-by are led in literally by the nose, attracted by the heady fragrance of Aloha Orchid that wafts out whenever the door opens. More often than not, they’re delighted at what they find inside Villa Rouge — home décor, furniture, gifts, jewelry and accessories. It’s a rare kind of business for this downtown, which is far better known for a vibrant restaurant scene.

Takahara spent 17 years at a flooring contracting company, learning the ins and outs of interior design by working with clients such as Shapell Homes and Shea Homes. By the time she left, she had risen to the post of vice president of purchasing. Various subsequent jobs, including her own design company, paid the bills but never obscured her dream:

“I always, always wanted my own store,’’ she says. Last year, all the pieces suddenly fell into place, and Villa Rouge — so named because “it’s located on Villa Street, villa means home and I love the color red’’ — was born.

Full interior design service is available; clients can take inspiration from the stylish “vignettes’’ Takahara arranges around the 750-square-foot space. She can do any style, from Tuscany to eclectic.

“A conceptual designer is what I am,’’ she declares. “I embrace that.” She also knows how to work well with contractors, and boasts a “huge resource group’’ to tap into for, say, cabinet-making and flooring.

Scarcely six months after the store’s debut, its novice proprietor already has gained a small but growing group of loyal customers. “I wasn’t sure what people would want to buy at first,’’ she says, “but jewelry, candles and even the furniture pieces have been moving well. I try to find a price point for people to afford. I know as a shopper I like a great value, and I know how to shop [for merchandise], so I just pass on the savings to customers so they keep coming back.”