Thank goodness for DVR, without which it would be impossible to watch Oprah’s farewell season. One of the most beloved episodes of each season is the Talk Queen’s “Favorite Things” show.
This year, since it’s the 25th and final season, Oprah spread out her famous episode over two days. While all of the gifts were nothing short of spectacular (the top secret 2012 Volkswagon Beetle, a 7-day cruise, Dana Rebecca diamond earrings, the iPad — I mean we could gladly go on and on), we were heartened by the charities Oprah choose to promote.
The first one comes courtesy of Groupon. For $15 donors are given a $25 gift card to Kiva, an organization that supplies microloans to global entrepreneurs in developing countries. What we love about this organization is that it empowers people, who otherwise would be living in poverty, to start their own businesses and transform their communities. The funds given are repaid over time to the lenders who are then free to make another loan, donate the funds to Kiva to help with operational costs, or can be withdrawn from PayPal.
As her second charity of choice, Oprah picked Bing’s contribution to Donors Choose, an organization that allows public school teachers all over the country to post classroom project requests such as funds for pencils, to musical instruments for school recitals, to microscope slides for biology classes. Teachers normally spend $40 per month on classroom supplies, so contributions can help alleviate the burden. Donors can browse project requests and give any amount they desire. In return, they will receive photos of the project taking place, a thank-you letter from the teacher and a cost report showing how each dollar was spent. If donors choose to give more than $100, hand-written thank-you letters from the students will also be sent. How sweet would that be to tack to your fridge?
Through Bing, users can help donate up to $1 million dollars to Donors Choose. By making the search engine their homepage, users will be given an access code which in turn allows them to donate five dollars to Donors Choose. You can also choose to have Bing donate one dollar in your name.
To find out more and to donate go to these sites:
Kiva Gift Card courtesy of Groupon.
Donors Choose courtesy of Bing.
Charlotte Rampling: So cool it effing hurts.
Club Monaco
Anyone who knows me knows that I live for vintage clothes. I’ve been wearing second-hand gems since the early 90s, When Cobain rendered vintage Levis, graphic T shirts, corduroys and flannels the height of fashion.
We knew this no-pants trend — which, in my opinion, started with Katy Perry last year — would eventually work its way onto the most fashion-forward quinquagenarian (that’s 50-something) in the world: French Vogue editrix Carine Roitfeld.
You may have seen silver-haired James “Jim” Goldstein around town — perhaps at a fashion show or clad in one of his signature python cowboy hats sitting courtside at a Lakers game.
I just had a déjà vu. Wasn’t it just a few seasons ago that the whole military trend swept into fashion — when Chris Martin dotted his navy jacket on every red carpet event in the universe?
Taylor Jacobson, stylist Rachel Zoe‘s longtime right-hand-woman, announced on Friday that she’s leaving RZ to strike out on her own.