Leave it to a brilliant business entrepreneur mother of six daughters to come up with an ingenious “manicure system” for busy nail polish-loving women everywhere!

The duality Nail Paks come with long-lasting, chip-resistant, salon-strength polish in a bottle that looks like most others but on the twist-off bottom of the packaging is a built-in compartment featuring a nail file and pre-soaked non-acetone nail polish remover pads.

All the colors are on trend and vibrant, and the shimmery holiday collection is a perfect last-minute stocking stuffer--yu will definitely want more than a few of these brilliantly designed beauty treats, so go now to the website.

If you can’t go a single morning without a cup of Starbucks brew, you are in for a treat.

According to USA Today, Starbucks will offer customers the opportunity to purchase new, limited edition, metal gift card loaded with $400.

The specially-etched Starbucks Metal Cards are made out of steel, not plastic, and cost $50 each to make, which explains the $450 price tag.

USA Today reports the card also comes with gold-level benefits such as gifts and free refills on brewed coffee and tea.

Starbucks will only make 5,000 of the metal cards.

These cards will not be available in stores, only on Gilt.com, starting Thursday, Dec. 8.

Rockwall County is the fastest growing retail market in the state, according to a recent survey.

The county's retail market the most out of the state's 50 largest counties, according to the Texas Retail Survey.

The rankings are based on sales data information between 2006 and 2011.

"We were able to experience a 17.9 percent growth over the last five years, which is really remarkable, especially in these economic times," said Sheri Franza, Rockwall Economic Development Corp. president and CEO. "One of the things that this survey tells is that Rockwall is quickly becoming a place where people want to live and shop and set up business."

"I love Rockwall, I'm from Rockwall and I love putting my money where I live," said Cathy Trepte, who was buying jeans at a local boutique Tuesday..

Shop owners said they've seen more people coming to spend money in the city in the last few years.

"The growth that I have seen just in the last 10 years has just been unbelievable," said Amy Butler, of Groovy's Rockwall.

The city's economic development corporation said it's not just shopping. As the fastest growing county in the state, Rockwall is trying to push its lifestyle as "the total package" to attract transplants and visitors.

"There's just a draw to Rockwell," Butler said. "People from all over the nation and surrounding area come to Rockwall for the diversity that it has, but it also has a small-town feel."

Collin and Denton counties placed ninth and 21st on the list, respectively.

Local businesses are also getting a piece of the pie on one of the biggest online shopping days of the year.

The owner of Loco Cowpoke Salsa Shop in downtown McKinney, which sells salsas and other products made in Texas, said his online sales doubled this year on Cyber Monday.

Randy Abshier said he woke up Monday morning to more than a dozen Internet orders. On Cyber Monday, about 50 percent of his sales came from the Internet, with the other half coming from foot traffic.

"I’m by far using the computer today way more than I do on a typical day," he said.

Shipments are going around the country, to Massachusetts, Missouri, even around the world.

"It's pretty much out of control through the first of the year," Abshier said.

Abshier and his wife opened their shop four years ago. After about a year, their shop went partially digital.

"I never really thought about the online piece of the business," he said.

Now, about 20 to 25 percent of his business is online sales, he said.

In 2005, a trade organization dubbed the Monday after Thanksgiving as "Cyber Monday" to promote online holiday shopping. Research firm comScore has predicted shoppers will spend $1.5 million on Cyber Monday this year, up 20 percent from the year before.

Small business owners are hoping you don’t forget the little guy this weekend.

After shoppers flock to the mall and large retail chains on Black Friday, many are hoping customers participate in "Small Business Saturday."

“In order to compete with the big boys,” said Suzanne Roberts, who owns her own store, Suzanne Roberts Inc., in Snider Plaza in University Park.

Roberts said she can’t offer the big discounts like major stores, but to lure customers into the store, she is offering something.

“Our special is nothing like theirs. At 20% off, that’s a big special for us,” Roberts said.

Vickie Brown, who owns Love Tennis, also in Snider Plaza, is doing the same thing.

“Right now, we are having a sale. We moved it up just about three weeks. We usually do it just before Christmas, but we thought for Small Business Saturday we were going to offer 75-percent off of past seasons of Stella McCartney and Adidas is 30-percent off,” Brown said.

Both women said it’s important for shoppers to remember small businesses in order to support the local economy.

They also point out customers won’t have to deal with the hassle of long lines and crowded aisles.

“It’s so intimate with the customer and we have our clientele base where we get to know the customers one-on-one. So it’s not just a come in and shop. We really get to know you,” Brown said.

Like so many shoppers this holiday season, Amanda Nutter is always looking for a deal -- even if it’s dealing with the long lines and Black Friday chaos at the big-box stores.

After the morning madness Nutter visited GW Boutique, one of the high-end Goodwill stores.

"There were people killing each other the last cabbage patch kid or the Barbie doll and this is so much more calm," Nutter said.

Nineteen Goodwill stores across the Metroplex held their own Black Friday sale with all items at the stores available for 50-percent off.

“We're a retailer just like everybody else, we offer already great prices, but we thought that this could be another way to offer for better prices,” Kristen Bostick, a Goodwill spokesperson said.

Stephanie Sisk, a cashier who's been busy behind the register, says customers appreciate the bargain.

"Half of them didn’t even know about it,” Sisk said.

The revenue generated will provide funding for job training and placement programs for people with disabilities or who are unemployed. 

"It's just something that were just joining in on the Black Friday craze, it something else we can give back to the community," Bostick said.

This is Goodwill's second year to host the sale and the company has plans to do the same next year.

For retailers in McKinney’s Historic Square, the 32^nd annual “Dickens of a Christmas” festival is an early start to Small Business Saturday.

"It’s automatic traffic for us - it’s automatic sales,” said Kendi Skeen, owner of boutique Bloom. “It wouldn’t be this busy on a Friday afternoon if it weren’t for Dickens.”

Around the corner, Stephanie Farrar, who’s been in business in the square for two years as “The Canine Cookie Company”, agreed.

“It is probably the biggest festival for the year for us, so we really do depend on it,” she said.

Both businesses will be participating in Small Business Saturday, a relatively new promotion nationwide to remind shoppers to spend money locally after Black Friday, when much of the holiday budget goes to “big box” chain stores.

“It gets people out shopping locally, which is great for the economy, because we all hire local people to help us,” said Ferrar, who noted on Friday, the foot traffic in and out of her store was “probably at ten times our usual volume”.

“For us, it’s huge,” said Skeen. “The traffic counts so much more.”

The Small Business Saturday effort started in 2010 and quickly spread.

According to survey cited by American Express, which promotes the motto “Shop Small”, more than 100 million people spent money locally on Small Business Saturday last year.

Who needs sleep when you can practically hear the sales calling from your nearby shopping mall?

That's the question tens of thousands of North Texas Black Friday shoppers are asking themselves, with the resounding answer of "Not me!"

"I mean, I ain't got nothing else to do.  I got four children and they said, 'Mom, it's the Black Friday.'  Mom is here!" said Tish Alexander of Fort Worth, who spent all night at the North East Mall in Hurst.

The North East Mall, like many other stores and shopping centers in the Metroplex, opened its doors at midnight.  And like a retail "Field of Dreams" --  if you open it, shoppers will come.

"The mall's not the first stop," said Gerald Jordan of Colleyville, his two kids in tow.  "[We] started with breakfast and it's progressively... we went from the mall to Kohl's to a lot of places."

Bargain hunting is the primary reason people told NBC 5 they came out in the middle of the night.

"Scarf, pants, sweater - everything, the entire outfit, for under $35!" one shopper exclaimed.  She, like so many others, has turned the overnight ritual into a holiday tradition -- zipping from store to store with friends and shopping bags in tow.

Over at the Galleria in Dallas, crowds were picking up Friday evening, looking even busier than Friday afternoon. Three of the parking garages were at capacity with the rest of the spaces at 95-percent capacity around 5 p.m.

The constant flow of people coming in and out are helping customers find places to park.

People took advantage of items discounted 60 to 70-percent off in some stores.  Many retailers are also offering gift cards for customers who spend a certain amount in their stores.

Customers that spoke with NBC 5 said they’re pretty happy with the bargains.

“A lot of great deals,” says shopper Sean Jones of Dallas.  “I’m probably spending a little less per item (than last year) but maybe spending near the same amount because I’m buying more.”

There is perhaps no more glaring exhibition of American consumerism than Black Friday: shoppers spending their long Thanksgiving weekends camped outside big-box stores for the chance to fight through crowds for the latest gadgets and toys.

Retailers invest a lot of hope in that day, because it can be used to build momentum for the six-week holiday shopping season, their most profitable time of year.

But Black Friday isn’t the economic bellwether that it used to be. The thrifty financial landscape, and the growth of online shopping, have arguably diminished the event’s impact, even as it grows in popularity, with more stores opening on Thanksgiving or offering sales weeks earlier.

“Everyone’s going to hype it, and there are a lot of deals out there, and some people make it an experience in itself, but I don’t think it’s as much of a leading indicator of the holiday season,” said Dennis Jacobe, chief economist for Gallup, the research and polling firm.

The biggest reason, Jacobe said, is that while the recession has abated, consumer caution has not. His studies show that that more Americans say they’re confident in the economy, but they aren’t as willing to exercise that faith by opening their wallets. That includes upper-income shoppers, who may be growing anxious about the looming fiscal cliff’s impact on their taxes. The lingering effects of Hurricane Sandy could be a factor as well.

Many researchers have reported modest spending in the weeks leading up to Black Friday.

In other words, the crowds that turn out for door-buster deals this weekend can’t necessarily be expected to remain enthusiastic.

From an economic researcher’s perspective, Black Friday is more sport than science. Analysts say that sales figures during this brief period are less a function of the broader fiscal climate than of the effort retailers go to in drawing people to their stores.

Because that effort grows every year, Black Friday—and the rest of the weekend—typically performs well, said Allen Sinai, chief economist and strategist at Decision Economics Inc. The zeal usually fades a bit, then picks up again in the days right before Christmas.

Sinai also recalled a couple occasions when a Black Friday turned out to be “a dud,” but sales rallied later in the holiday season.

That record, he said, was why he didn’t “place a lot of stock” in Black Friday as an accurate gauge of holiday-season shopping.

Tell an economist you're trying to get accurate data on Black Friday sales, and the response will often be “good luck.” Many organizations—retail trade groups, market researchers, polling firms—try it, but methods, and margins of error, vary. U.S. Commerce Department statisticians don’t break down economic data that narrowly.

Barry Ritholtz, director of equity research at Fusion IQ, takes to his popular blog every year to bemoan the “wildly optimistic” surveys that the media quotes at the end of Black Friday weekend.

Without fail, he says, the reports exaggerate consumer enthusiasm. He pointed to last year’s National Retail Foundation’s claim that sales had spiked by 16 percent – which, if true, would have been a record-breaking sum. There was no apparent attempt to check the data later on, but economists generally agree that consumer spending increased by less than 6 percent over the entire 2011 holiday season.

The NRF has predicted a slight decrease in the number of Black Friday shoppers this year.

“You should be reluctant to draw too big a conclusion from one day,” Ritholtz said. “As we’ve seen, it never lives up to the hype. In fact, part of the reason there’s so much hype and false signals is there are so many people trying to get a read into that one day, far more than what you should typically be willing to see in one day. This is an economy, not an event.”

His prediction, shared by many other researchers, is that no matter how frenetic Black Friday turns out to be, holiday season spending will enjoy a modest uptick this year. Bain & Co., for example, predicted a 3.5 percent increase in spending, compared to a 3.7 percent increase in 2011 and 3.8 percent the year before. Gallup has predicted a "good, though not great" performance.

The biggest variable, many say, is the fiscal cliff, the expiration of Bush-era tax cuts and automatic spending reductions that will go into effect Dec. 31 unless President Barack Obama can reach some kind of deal with Congress. If there is no solution before Christmas, consumers may get nervous, and hold back on holiday spending, some economists say.

Lawmakers are expected to get back to work on the issue after Thanksgiving weekend.

“Uncertainty is even greater than usual at this point,” said Scott Hoyt, senior director of consumer economics for Moody’s Analytics. “Whatever sales are like this weekend, it doesn’t really help to address that uncertainty."

Black Friday — it's the mother of all shopping days. A day when millions of people wielding billions of dollars scratch and claw for the biggest bargains. So what's the best plan of attack?

"My advice is to skip it entirely," says Jody Rohlena, senior editor at Shop Smart magazine.

Black Friday has been such a staggering marketing success that it's spawned Black Thursday, Cyber Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday… the list goes on. The upside, as Rohlena sees it, is there's no need to focus all your energy, time and money on one day.

"We're gonna see really good markdowns all the way up to the Holidays, and guess what — when retailers have inventory that they're trying to unload, they're going to keep setting up new sales, so there can be advantages waiting," says Rohlena.

But whether you brave the crowds of Black Friday or not, you still need to be prepared. Even if you're a dedicated brick-and-mortar shopper, the Internet is your best starting point. There's a host of websites — BFAds.net, BlackFriday.com and SlickDeals.net — dedicated to tracking the best deals out there, as well as store hours.

"Take a look at those ads beforehand and really find out if they're great deals or not," advises Rohlena. "You can do quick searches at PriceGrabber.com, for example. Don’t assume because it's in a Black Friday circular that it's a great deal."

To help assuage your fears of overpaying, Rohlena says the big news this holiday season is in the realm of price matching. At a lot of stores, if you buy something and then find it cheaper someplace else, they'll refund you the difference.

If big box stores and national chains aren't your thing, Rohlena is a big fan of Small Business Saturday.

"People may think that prices are higher in those smaller independent retail stores — they may not necessarily be," he said. "And there's an advantage: If you ask for a better deal, you might be dealing directly with the owner, they have a lot more leeway to give you a better price. If you ask nicely, of course.

"If you go on AmericanExpress.com, you can register you card, if you use your AmEx to shop on Small Business Saturday at a participating retailer, they will give you a $25 credit. Spend $25, get the credit back on your bill — there's another really good reason to participate: free money."

If there's something you just have to have in-hand, Rohlena suggests a reconnaissance mission: going to the store a few days early to find out where your prey will be on display, the nearest entrance and the exact hour it will be available.

Among the other Internet tools available to the modern bargain hunter is the Black Friday Survival Guide app, which has a newsfeed, lets you search each store by category or each category by item, tells you exactly when each sale begins, provides competitor prices and lets you build a shopping list you can email to a loved one.

If the thought of the traffic and the crowds makes your chest tighten, the Internet is here to help but still requires a good plan. Rohlena recommends CyberMonday.com, CyberMonday2012.com, FreeShipping.org to see who's got free shipping and @cybermonday at Twitter.

With all of the new shopping tools at our disposal, why wade into the insanity of Black Friday at all?

"For those of us who really want to make sure we're giving a nice gift to someone we care about, I think it's important to be able to compare things physically, if you know what I mean, as opposed to virtually, online," says Dr. Tina Lowrey, professor of marketing at the University of Texas, San Antonio, and editor of "Brick & Mortar Shopping in the 21st Century."

"And for a lot of people, I think they enjoy being around other people that are in the holiday spirit, it's sort of an infectious kind of social gathering to be around… the communal nature of going out and being with other people who are out for the same reason."

Rohlena is unmoved.

"I know too much," he said. "I'm not going anywhere on Black Friday."

Forget Black Friday -- the best deals for early-bird shoppers may come on "Gray Thursday."

This year, an unprecedented number of stores such as Target, Wal-Mart and Sears are opening their doors as early as 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. And select retailers at the Allen Premium Outlets are welcoming shoppers earlier than the mall's traditional midnight opening.

"Some stores are opening as early as nine," outlets spokeswoman Robyne Kintz said. "Driven by consumer demand and some of our shoppers, some of our stores are opening earlier and earlier."

She said the outlets would not maintain extended hours if it wasn't supported by customer demand.

"The shoppers, again, have made this a tradition," she said.

In 2011, Janet David, of Plano was lured to the midnight specials by her daughter. But she's not sure if the Thanksgiving deals this year will draw her away from celebrating the day with her family.

"I have mixed feelings about it, because I think you ought to be able to enjoy your holiday and not worry about shopping," she said.

Other shoppers said they were concerned about the burden that holiday hours place on employees, saying they hoped employers asked for volunteers to work the extended hours.

"Let the employees who want to work that day do it and make a little extra cash," said Warren Connelly, adding he hopes others will be able to stay home with their families.

Beleaguered Plano-based jcpenney is pinning hopes of a holiday sales turnaround on Black Friday and a new promotion that's pushing buttons.

Literally, buttons. Like the ones you pin on your shirt.

The store plans to give out more than 80 million buttons to customers at jcpenney locations with no purchase required through Christmas Eve. Those buttons will have unique codes customers can enter online that give a one in four chance to win a gift from the retailer.

For Black Friday, the retailer is offering 100 vacations to American tourist spots like Yellowstone and New York City. Gift cards, coupons, and even merchandise rounds out the possible gift list.

More than 1,100 stores will open at 6 a.m. on Black Friday to offer what jcpenney is calling "its only sale of the year."

"Black Friday is America's greatest shopping tradition and we're celebrating the occasion with our only sale of the year," said Ron Johnson, chief executive officer of jcpenney, in a press release to investors. "All day long, customers will find some of our lowest prices ever and the chance to win amazing gifts, including once in a lifetime trips to great American destinations. It's our way of kicking off the holiday season and saying, 'Merry Christmas, America!'"

Shifting for Sales

Think back, if you will, to February, when jcpenney planned to drop the hundreds of yearly sales for a "fair and square" pricing plan -- only to modify it in August after sales plunged.

The sales continue to drop for the Plano company, which lost 26.1 percent of sales in just the last quarter. Now analysts have the company's turnaround plans taking "years" while investors are dropping out and stock rating organizations are pushing the stock into junk territory.

So will shoppers come out for the "only sale" on Black Friday and give the retailer the boost they need to keep a turnaround going? Stores open at 6 a.m. Nov. 23 for those who want to find out.

Posh Spice herself, Victoria Beckham, is making her first trip to Dallas.

Beckham will attend a private event at Neiman Marcus' flagship downtown Dallas store to promote her Victoria Beckham fashion collection.

"The Victoria Beckham fashion label represents modern luxury, comprised of the Ready-to-Wear, Denim, Eyewear, Accessories and new ‘Victoria’ collections. All are conceived by Victoria and developed at her studio in London with the same aspirational, chic and refined aesthetic that is at the heart of Victoria’s creative vision," says the press release.

Even though she'll be closer to you than ever before, don't think you're going to get a chance to hobnob with her -- no photo ops, signings, or public appearances are planned.

With the Holiday season rushing toward us, it's about time to be thinking about what to wear for the parties leading up to Christmas and New Years Eve.

But if your pocketbook is screaming about adding another fine frock to your collection, here's a money-saving secret: Rent the clothes instead.

Classy dresses, beautiful bags, and even couture for kids are all available for rent and just a click away.

Rent The Runway
This popular site makes it easy for anyone to feel like their walking a red carpet. Rent the Runway offers dresses, accessories, and even makeup from their online site, then can send it right to your door. They'll even let you pick a second size for your dress to make sure the fit is just right.

Bag Borrow or Steal
The clutch performer for accessories, Bag Borrow or Steal is the place to click if your wardrobe is fierce, but your bag needs some sprucing up. They've got jewelry and other accessories, too, and can offer inspiration from designer collections and groupings focused on specific occasions like weddings (12/12/12 is coming up, after all).

Borrow Baby Couture
We can speak from experience: Kids clothes have a super limited time frame. That cute Christmas dress from last year isn't going to fit. Luckily, Borrow Baby Couture is online and ready to make your little ones look like designer daughters and fashion-savvy sons. They rent kids clothes, including designer looks from Fendi and Roberto Cavalli, and ship them right to your busy front door.

Each of these sites vary in pricing depending on the length you rent and, of course, what items you want. All offer quick shipping (including same day in some limited areas) and free return shipping.

Like last year, if you are a serious Black Friday shopper you will be skipping that last slice of pumpkin pie and heading out on Thanksgiving Day again! This year stores are taking opening early to a whole new level. Instead of the "Black Midnight" of last year, stores opening times are more spread out and earlier then ever.

Check below for opening hours and locations for many North Texas retailers. List will continue to be updated through Thanksgiving Day.

Thursday, Nov. 22
Walgreens
Various Locations
Opens at 9 a.m.

Walmart
Various Locations
Deals released at 8 p.m.

Toys R Us
Various locations
Opens at 8 p.m.

Sears
Various Locations
Opens at 8 p.m.

Target
Various Locations
Opens at 9 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 23
Best Buy
Various Locations
Opens at 12 a.m.

Kohl's
Various Locations
Opens at 12 a.m.

Macy's
Various Locations
Opens at 12 a.m.

Sports Authority
Various Locations
Opens at 12 a.m.

Town East Mall
I-635 E and Town East Blvd.
Opens at 12 a.m.

Collin Creek Mall
US 75 and 190 Bush Turnpike
Opens at 12 a.m.

Vista Ridge Mall
I-35E and Sam Rayburn Tollway
Opens at 12 a.m.

Sears
Various Locations
Opens at 4 a.m.

Staples
Various Locations
Opens at 5 a.m.

Ace Hardware
Various Locations
Opens at 5 a.m.

Office Max
Various Locations
Opens at 6 a.m.

Bed Bath & Beyond
Various Locations
Opens at 6 a.m.

Radio Shack
Various Locations
Opens at 6 a.m.

JCPenney
Various Locations
Opens at 6 a.m.

Half Price Books
Various Locations
Opens at 7 a.m.

Sam's Club
Various Locations
Opens at 7 a.m.

Stein Mart
Various Locations
Opens at 7 a.m.

Costco
Various Locations
Opens at 9 a.m.

Home Depot
Various Locations
Opens at 9 a.m.

Missing your favorite retailer's opening times? E-mail us with additional information.

If you want to get a jump start on your Holiday shopping and skip the Black Friday lines, here are a few stores that are offering early access to some deals.

Amazon:
The online retail giant is offering their yearly Pre-Black Friday deals. Every half hour new deals are posted for up to 65-percent off -- or more. For upcoming items, the site may let you know a few hours ahead of time -- or only give you a brief hint. Either way the savings are worth checking every now and then, as you never know what you might find. Laptops and Video Games and Movies are a few of the usual suspects.

Walmart: Wal-Mart currently has special Holiday pricing on items ranging from TV’s to computers to gaming systems. Although the price cuts are not as steep as Black Friday will likely be, saving $200 on a new TV is nothing to sneeze at. (Especially with not having to deal with standing in line with a huge crowd.) Head to their website to start seeing the deals.

Target: If you are looking for toy ideas for kids or want to create an easy toy wish list, Target has posted their 2012 Holiday Toy catalog with toys for kids of all ages. Most of the items have a discount attached, so it's definitely worth a look, and then you won't deal with a sold out toy later on.

Toys "R" Us: Toys "R" Us has also posted their Great Big Toys "R" Us Book online. The place where toys live has a number of things going for it this year: You can buy online and then pick it up in store, they have free layaway, Price Match Guarantee, and with their free rewards program you can earn 10% on your Holiday purchases. Flip through their toy catalog and find some great gifts.

Have some other pre-Black Friday deals to share? Comment in the fields below.

Get a head start on your holiday shopping at the Dallas Sample Sale running Friday, November 9 through Sunday, November 11 at Dallas Market Hall.

Early birds can get ahead of the crowds on Thursday, Nov. 8, from 6-9 p.m. at the Sample Sale Preview Night. Purchase your Preview Night tickets for just $20 at the door and get the first look at all the merchandise while you enjoy complimentary holiday refreshments.

Admission is free on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and all nights are open to the public.

The Sample Sale offers something for everyone including: gifts, jewelry, toys, children’s clothing, home accessories, furniture and manufacturer samples at unbelievably low prices -- and it only happens once a year.

The Salvation Army Angel Tree program will kick-off during the preview event on Thursday, Nov.8. You can make selections for your angel and drop them off that night. Don’t miss it! Click here for additional information on the Angel Tree program.

Dallas Sample Sale
Dallas Market Hall
2200 Stemmons Freeway
Dallas, 75207
www.dallasmarketcenter.com

PREVIEW NIGHT
Thursday, Nov. 8
6-9 p.m.
$20 at the door

FREE ADMISSION:
Friday, Nov. 9
10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 10
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 11
11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

This February, quirky Italian retailer, Marni—which collaboated with H&M last spring–will debut its first-ever women's fragrance produced in collaboration with Estee Lauder. 

Like the Marni woman, the scent is designed to be fresh and individual. "The perfume reflects Marni's fashion, certainly," creative director Consuelo Castiglioni told WWD. "Becuase it's a perfume that's quite individual, that doesn't evoke anything in particular. It's for a woman who dresses for herself, who doesn't follow trends but is sophisticated and also maybe a little eccentric."

That may seem like a lot of sartorial inspiration for a scent, but the the concept registers in a spicy blend of wood notes, tempered with a touch of rose oil for a feminine feel.

The bottle itself is also meant to evoke the Marni brand, inspired by an old bottle Castiglioni salvaged from a flea market.

“I wanted a bottle that was kind of traditional, that is, one that lasts over time, like the clothes we make, which last and you can still wear two or three years from now," Castiglioni says. "It isn’t seasonal. I think this bottle reflects our concept—you want to keep it. It also has the dots, which are part of our world, and a play on proportions with the cap. These elements are also important in our fashion.”

As shoppers and retailers gear up for the holiday season, Plano's The Shops at Legacy is filling up with more shops and businesses.

There are still signs advertising "Space Available" in The Shops at Legacy, but many now read "Coming Soon."

"Everyone has sort of migrated over here," said Kara Peters, manager of The Boardroom, a new men's salonon Legacy Drive. "That's why we targeted this location, because we know there are a lot of high-end businesses around."

According to Retail Properties of America Inc. management, the mixed-use development has recently signed close to 27,000 square feet of new leases.

"We are seeing new people come in and new merchants take a stab at it," said Pam Vincent, owner of Culinary Connection.

Vincent said the new tenants are breathing new life into the ever-popular area. Tough economic times have pushed others out of the area since 2008.

"We saw a lot of good merchants close their doors," she said.

The new leases at The Shops include restaurants, a fitness training center, retail stores and more.

The fashion world’s been buzzing about the unusual partnership between Dallas-based luxury retailer Neiman Marcus and big-box retailer Target.

Neiman’s posted a preview of the gift collection on Tuesday. The 50 or so items were designed by Tory Burch, Dianne Von Furstenberg and Marc Jacobs.

The prices vary greatly from $7.99 gift wrap by Rodarte to a $499 bicycle by Alice+Olivia.

Neiman Marcus CEO Karen Katz told NBC 5 in an interview last month that the collection is a "once in a lifetime" collaboration.

"It's great holiday gifts and gifts that any of us would be proud to give the people in our lives," she said.

More: Neiman Marcus & Target Present Holiday24