community center

While cooking dinner the other night, I received a text from a health nut friend, sharing her personal stay-strong measures. One of her easy-to-follow strategies: get dressed in the morning! Mind over matter, she explained, saying that doing something you'd normally do helps you feel normal (i.e., less stressed, better for your immune system!)--and ready to face the day. I could not agree more. After all, I feel empowered when I wear something I like and even better when the clothes and accessories are designed by friends and locally-based brands, knowing each style is imbued with imagination, inspiration and hard work. My girls over at Doen, above, just launched their gorgeous spring collection, and in light of the times, are offering 15% off and donating a portion of the sale proceeds to Planned Parenthood, an organization that provides health care to all. I snapped up the striped blouse, above! Another designer friend Jenna Blake (coveting this and this) is donating to No Kid Hungry, which works to end childhood hunger. Then there are my much-loved locals extending deep discounts (read: shopping incentives) on their prized goods like Haney, offering 35% off site-wide (this and this) and Beautycounter, below, (stocking up on this and this). Even the big-wigs are jumping into action, like Net-A-Porter offering 15% off brand new spring silhouettes as well as Nordstrom featuring 25% off desirables like this, this, this and this. There are so many businesses, small and big, currently struggling and I know not everyone can shop right now or even wants to, but I hope my spreading the word can help foster communal support.