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WHAT’S STRIKING OUR FANCY THIS MONTH

Tote Couture

It’s official: Reusable shopping bags (of just about every aesthetic stripe) have become the new Botkier — and far be it from us to cavil about eco-consciousness. But the truth is, too few are easy enough on the eyes, and too many are just another gimmick to bring in extra dollars to greenwashing corporations. So hats off to the new design being sold out of The Studio in Brookline. Originally created for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, the tote sold like wildfire (800, in fact) and raised $4,000 for Dana Farber. That kind of popularity moved The Studio to keep the bag in stock—and to embark on a national campaign. All of the bag’s cost ($5) goes toward the cause, and all of its black-and-white, graphic-print chic goes toward jazzing up your daily haul. I AVAILABLE AT THE STUDIO, 233 HARVARD ST., BROOKLINE, 617-738-5091, STUDIO233.COM.

Message in a Bottle

We all know David Yurman is no stranger to gems, so it comes as no surprise that the company’s debut fragrance smells of success. But it also melds an unusually alluring olfactory combination — namely patchouli, exotic woods, soft musk, peony, water lily, with a hint of mandarin. The bottle, reminiscent of the baubles the jeweler is famous for, is made of golden, multidimensional pressed Italian crystal, while its cap mirrors the cable design featured in Yurman’s bands. Created by David himself (with help from his wife, Sybil), perfume aims at capturing the strength of character of the American woman, with a special shout-out to confidence, sensuality, and an ability to live life unrehearsed. In other words, a fragrance made for multitaskers, by a multitasker. I AVAILABLE AT DAVID YURMAN, COPLEY PLACE, 100 HUNTINGTON AVE., BOSTON, 617-236-8777.

Agent of Change

Bostonians have long been saddled with a conservative image in the fashion world. Yet the very nation that our city’s founding fathers fled from has brought us the Beatles, gave birth to punk, and glamorized grunge. (Thank you, Vivienne Westwood.) So leave it to Brit “it” boy (and Dame Vivienne’s equally visionary son) Joseph Corre to bring sexy back to Boston with his sixth U.S. Agent Provocateur store, set to open this month. Not for those the timid among us, Agent Provocateur is internationally known for delivering trashy-meets-sexy lingerie and borderline scandalous advertising campaigns (featuring the likes of Maggie Gyllenhaal and Kate Moss). Corre, meanwhile, says he’s considered bringing his world-famous knickers to Boston for quite some time now: “We’ve been looking for the right location for Agent Provocateur on Newbury Street for a while. We have very good customers from Boston, it will be exciting to develop and attract a lot more.” AP’s Boston outpost will carry the brand’s entire range of products, including lingerie, bridal goods, accessories, swimwear, footwear, maternity lingerie, and beauty products. As for Bostonians being too conservative to sport his line, Corre begs to differ. “We tend to do really well in conservative cities. I guess what’s written on the outside doesn’t tell what’s going on underneath.” I AGENT PROVOCATEUR, 123 NEWBURY ST., BOSTON.

Take the T

Step aside, plain white tee: Brighton-based designer Hadley Pollet’s colorful new Castalia T-shirts feature embroidered flowers on superbly soft pima cotton. And not only are the tops oh-so wearable, they’re charitable as well: Each is from her new Gaia collection, in which every design supports a cause of Pollet’s choosing. The collection marks a new direction for Pollet, one where all of her creations will do double duty as charitable donations. Named after the fountain at the Oracle of Delphi shrine in Greece, the Castalia shirts will see a percentage of their proceeds go to the Martha’s Vineyard Community Services CONNECT program, which helps victims of domestic violence. There’s a short-sleeve style ($115) and a long-sleeve version with a deep V-neck ($125). The fronts of both shirts crawl with flowers and leaves embroidered over a scattering of miniature blossoms lightly printed in white, while a tiny dragonfly surprises on the back, resting above the shoulder. It all adds up to another cute, of-the-moment look from Pollet—this time, with a conscience. I AVAILABLE AT STIL, 617-859-7845, STILINC.COM OR ONLINE AT HADLEYPOLLET.COM.

The Upside of Downsizing

Opting for a more budget-conscious treatment instead of a high-dollar pampering can mean your skin gets the shaft. So meet our new best friend: MiniLuxe’s basic pedicure. The relaxing 45-minute treatment is a cosseting mix of shaping, trimming, exfoliating, and massaging for only $35. The kicker? You’ll be convinced it’s worth worlds more after everyone comments on your perfectly polished toes — two weeks later, at that. (If you feel inclined to splurge, spend an extra $8 for an extended foot massage with a decadent warm wrap. Or hand over a mere $7 more for a specialty pedicure like the sweet LoLicious Sugar Therapy, refreshing Citrus Burst, or soothing Preggi Pedi.) With any pedi they do, there’s also a cleanliness bonus: MiniLuxe’s pedicure tools have all gone through dentist-style sterilization in an autoclave, so they’re 100-percent bacteria free. And the custom-made fresh-running-water sinks are cleaned with hospital-grade disinfectant after each use. Further proof that, in beauty as with most things, little luxuries can indeed mean a lot. I MINILUXE, 296 NEWBURY ST., BOSTON, 857-362-7444.