PITTSBURGH — Need some help relaxing? Allison Bentley hopes Lily + Rein — a new CBD-infused line of bath, body and wellness products — can help.

Bentley launched the brand less than two months ago with Hemp Synergistics. The biotechnology company, headquartered in Leetsdale, Pa., specializes in creating hemp-based ingredients and consumer...Read more

I won't be going to New York anytime soon, alas — but that doesn't mean I can't vicariously enjoy "About Time: Fashion and Duration," the current Costume Institute exhibit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The exhibit, celebrating the Met's 150th anniversary, showcases a century and a half of fashion and examines how clothing ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — How do you plan for holiday shopping in a pandemic?

That's the question that has owners of local women's boutiques and men's retailers scratching their heads in the weeks before Black Friday and Small Business Saturday. Many are hoping private shopping options, curated gift boxes, gift card incentives and online ordering will ...Read more

SEATTLE — These days when we tell our friends we miss their faces, we really mean it.

It was interesting to see masks highlighting causes, cute fabrics and novel constructions, but we're over that, aren't we? Don't we just wish for an old-fashioned smile?

That, along with the desire to make people want to wear masks, is what motivated the ...Read more

Traveling with children has its rewards — fun family bonding, seeing the world through your kid's eyes, and losing yourself in a childlike sense of adventure, to name a few. It also comes with a tiny challenge: packing and schlepping a lot of extra stuff. Make that part of the journey a little easier on yourself by equipping your young globe...Read more

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: Is it the pandemic? Politics? The weather? The fact that it gets dark at 4:30 p.m.? All of the above? Whatever the reason(s), I feel like I've never looked worse. I go back and forth with my sister on what we can do to at least improve our looks, if not our psyche! I know you can't fix all of our problems, but how ...Read more

If you're going to travel during the pandemic, there are things you can do to help reduce your risk. Follow these simple steps to make your hotel stay during COVID-19 as safe as possible.

___

Chose a hotel that's following enhanced safety protocols

Your safety strategy starts before you book. Do some research before making a reservation to ...Read more

DALLAS — There are two sides to J.C. Penney right now: the one working its way through a bankruptcy reorganization and the one that's getting ready for holiday shoppers.

The latter is rolling out a new women's apparel brand called Stylus in a category Penney calls "styleisure," a name it's trying to trademark.

The Plano, Texas-...Read more

'Tis the season to start thinking about how you can help the travelers on your gift list. As frequent travelers ourselves, we've put together some of the best Amazon presents for $50 and under. These products prove that you don't have to spend a fortune to give the gift of a better vacation. From in-flight footrests to portable solar-powered ...Read more

Now those are some sweet kicks.

Jolly Rancher-inspired sneakers and slides have arrived, marking the first time the hard candy company has a shoe line.

The colorful kicks are the latest from a collaboration between sports footwear giant New Balance and Los Angeles Clippers player Kawhi Leonard, who says the fruity snack was his favorite ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — There's been a lot of controversies and questions swirling around this year's presidential election. The fashion choices of the candidates haven't been among them.

Historically, pundits pontificate about who's wearing what, when and where. If the candidate happens to be a woman, that scrutiny is usually tenfold.

But that hasn'...Read more

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: During the pandemic I've been coloring my own hair and I've surprised myself: I've gotten really good at it! I used to pay $200 every six weeks and now I pay $5. When the salon I've been going to for many years reopened, I went in for a haircut, skipped the coloring and my long-time stylist commented on the color in a ...Read more

CHICAGO — Yes, people are still paying $1,000 for those rugged yet oh-so-fashionable Canada Goose parkas.

And no, you don't have to.

A few years ago, I invested in a very warm down coat from Eddie Bauer, and three years ago, my husband snagged a heavy-duty parka from The North Face. Neither cost more than $350, and both ticked off many of ...Read more

When it comes to big surprises, it's hard to top gifting someone with a surprise vacation. Whether it's a long weekend in Paris to celebrate a milestone birthday or a bucket-list adventure like seeing Machu Picchu, there's a lot of planning and thought that goes into giving travel as a gift.

Luckily, Oyster's editors have been on the giving ...Read more

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: Could you please comment on men who wear wrinkled, faded, holey blue jeans, well, everywhere in public, including nice cafes and restaurants? I often see men with a paunch overhang that hides their belt buckle, shuffling toward their new-model imported SUV or sports car in faded denims that bag from ankle to knee and ...Read more

DALLAS — Did you think a pandemic and a bankruptcy reorganization would put Neiman Marcus out of the fantasy gift business? Not a chance.

The Dallas-based luxury retailer is back at it this year fulfilling its 94-year tradition of creating over-the-top gifts for the holiday. The book has plenty of bling, but this year it's adapting to the ...Read more

There's a lot to love about clothing-optional resorts: the sexy atmosphere, the ability to sunbathe sans restricting bathing suits, and the (often) fun entertainment. And after visiting many across the globe, we've found that the more luxurious resorts offer more impressive facilities and sleeker rooms than the mid-range or value options. So ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — There was a time when Ontario Armstrong's dreams were as clear as the windowpane print on the pocket squares that defined his Philly-based haberdashery brand, Armstrong & Wilson.

"I had aspirations of major success," said Armstrong who cofounded Armstrong & Wilson 10 years ago. "My dream to the finish ...Read more

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Morning light streams into AnaKacia Shifflet's clean, spare shop off Main Street in Rye.

Your eyes land on the racks of lacy and shiny wedding dresses in shades of white, mauve, taupe and even light cornflower blue. This is a space where dreams come true, where blushing brides come together with Shifflet, a lifelong ...Read more

When it comes down to packing a coat, even travel pros can feel stumped. Coats take up a lot of space, so you have to think about them carefully. You don't want to pack something too warm, too light, or too ... ugly. Finding the right coat can be extra challenging in the fall when the weather is chilly enough to call for an extra layer, but it's...Read more