Etsy clothes by local designer Blue Jean Pink. Courtesy photo.

Dana Paulson, 50, of Broomfield, loves kitschy vintage fashion. She also loves tattered jeans, cowboy boots and wearing her heart on her pasties.

That’s why she created Blue Jean Pink designs, our latest favorite local Etsy shop, in honor of our love issue.

Blue Jean Pink styles are made out of recycled jeans, velvet, ballerina tulle, ribbons and retro/burlesque influences — oh, and hearts. Lots of pink and red hearts. We especially love the denim corsets. So sexy and unique.

Paulson’s styles have stolen our hearts — and for only $20 to $44 each. Check them out at www.bluejeanpink.com and www.bluejeanpink.etsy.com.

— By Aimee Heckel

Dot’s Diner Aprons — www.dotsdineraprons.com

Broomfield resident Dana Paulson makes these retro aprons cute enough to wear beyond the kitchen. Her prints span peacocks, cupcakes, cherries and hearts. And her prices won’t have you eating Ramon for a month. These handmade gems start at $24.

Paulson is inspired by ‘50s diners, pinup gals and bold graphic designs. She inspires us to want to spend more time in the kitchen cooking. Or at least eating.

– By Aimee Heckel

Oh, shame on you, it’s not like that.

Like 79 percent of American women (according to the National Sleep Foundation), I’ve been feeling stressed out.

So I decided to do something that only 0.1 percent of American women (according to my generous estimates but no real stats whatsoever) actually does: take care of myself.

I used to gauge my mental stability by my fingernails. Back when “Desperate Housewives” wasn’t quite as bad as a Telemundo daytime soap, I religiously set aside one hour every Sunday to manicure and gasp at Gabrielle Solis. If my nails were chipped, that meant I hadn’t taken Me Time that week. My polish served as a sort of cooking timer on my self-care.

Today, my nails aren’t chipped; I haven’t painted them in about six months. My self-care timer went off so long ago that I’ve burned myself to the core.

Hence: a pamper day.

Submitted photo

I was inspired by a chat with Bobbie Thomas. Yes, The Bobbie Thomas, of E!’s “Fashion Police” and the style editor of the “Today” show. Yes, I am name-dropping to give my naked-fingernailed self fashion cred.

Shaving has always been a sore spot for me, literally. So I asked Bobbie to teach me the tricks my mommy should have. Bobbie recommends a razor for women, with grips so it doesn’t slip, a multi-blade head that pivots to the contours of your legs, and a built-in shave gel bar. Wouldn’t you know it? Venus makes such a razor.

Having a decent razor is one simple way to treat yourself, especially when a mud wrap at the spa isn’t in your Neo-Depression Era budget.

Here are some other ways to make your own spa at home — with or without Wisteria Lane.

Schedule it in. Literally block out a regular time on your schedule.

Indulge all of your senses. Put drops of lavendar oil on your robe, shower wrap, sheets and pillow. Dim the lights.

Cool down. Make your own “spa water.” Add a chopped cucumber, one sliced orange, lime or lemon and ice cubes to a pitcher of water. Let it sit in the fridge for an hour before drinking.

Wrap it up. Throw your towel in the dryer with a dryer sheet so it’s toasty when you get out of the shower.

Eliminate distractions. Turn off your phone and computer. Play relaxing music. Dance to said music.
Stock up, especially if your beauty products consist of one bar of Ivory soap and a moldy loofah.

My latest obsession is the Dermaquest Skin Therapy Hydrating Gel Mask, $59.50 at www.skincarerx.com, with ingredients like honey, willow bark, tiger grass, kombucha and green tea and lavendar flower water.

This mask leaves your face feeling fresh, without the crusty stiffness of other heavy masks.

My BFF Bobbie loves the Matte Nail Polish by Knock Out, $22, www.koknockout.com. No-shine nails look edgy and totally unique. Plus, you only need one coat. Who needs hour-long awful comedy-dramas?

— By Aimee Heckel
Check out Heckel’s fashion blog at www.boulderandthebeautiful.com.

Hannah Marshall at the Tres Bon Fashion Show. Photo by Bart Caddell.

Go green, save money, look great.

There are so many reasons to shop consignment and thrift stores. The quality of the clothing, the name brands and prices are too good to pass up. Why spend money on retail when you can get stylish, gently worn clothing, or items that still have the original price tags on them?

Being a wardrobe stylist, I wanted to give women a practical understanding of how to look great while not spending a fortune, so I hosted a consignment fashion show. Emily Wilson of Joyful Furniture (a Boulder consignment furniture store) co-hosted the event, as we share a passion for recycling consciousness.

The Tres Bon Fashion Show in May, showcased 10 models size zero to 14 and ages 17 to 77. More than 100 community members saw how to refresh their looks by using consignment fashions and accessories in combination with their current clothing inventory.

One of the models already had a gorgeous two-piece turquoise and emerald green dress and matching coat in her wardrobe that she purchased from the Salvation Army for less than $50. These pieces were timelessly tailored and flattered her small waist and hips. We added Henry Water’s vintage shoes from the ‘50′s, a Dior bracelet (both from Candy’s Vintage Clothing in Boulder), and a vintage broach. The overall presentation: breathtaking.

It’s not the brand name or the price tag that makes a woman look good. It is how the clothing fits and flatters, the color, and the accessories that help achieve sparkle and radiance.  :  ]

Keep in mind these tips when you’re shopping:

1. What’s underneath is as important as what’s on top. Spanx and Flexee body smoothers can shave inches off.

2. My Tres Bon “trademark” is what I call the “rule of thirds,” borrowed from a principal in photography. Dress with three pieces: pants or skirt, tank, button down top or sweater. Add a belt, chunky necklace or scarf to create symmetry with an odd number of pieces.

3.  Don’t forget garage sales. I just bought a great pair of Joe’s designer jeans for $10 in great condition.

Follow your recycle bliss. Don’t “shop till you drop,” but rather “shop till you hop” — with a smile on your face and a few extra dollars in the bank.

— By Bonnie Eckert
Eckert is a fashion coach in Boulder who offers help with wardrobe editing, shopping, creating outfits and accessorizing your existing wardrobe. Contact her at bonnie@bontresbon.com and www.bontresbon.com.