This is the biggest week for holiday parties, both at work and with friends, and ladies across the city are all wondering "What the heck am I going to wear?" With New York's diverse retail shops, you would think that dress shopping would be easy, but I'm sure wading through racks of ugly sequinned numbers or animal prints can be a bit overwhelming. My suggestion: Stay simple, pick something you can wear again, and accessorize your outfit with shimmery tights, belts and vintage jewelry.

This American Apparel Pencil Dress can be styled to your liking, and for a mere $34 it leaves you with enough money for some sexy shoes. Urban Outfitters has some great party dresses this season, but this $54 Lux Baby Doll Dress can be worn casual without the belt or with jeans, or more formal with a belt and tights.

I can't say more about how essential the little black dress is. This sequined number from Bebe will cost you $98 but you won't need much else besides some simple jewelry. Happy shopping and good luck out there!

If you have any presents you still need to return at Bloomingdale's (or Urban Outfitters ... for political reasons), a perfect lunch stop-off is Jean-George Vongerichten's JoJo. The $24 three-course lunch special, available every day, is an affordable way to sample the restaurant's elegant cooking. Oddly, "elegant casual" defines the dress code, but barring shorts and sneakers, your new purchases should have you covered. (Photo by Sara Hadley)  

The holidays are here for some, and right around the corner for others--but we know that doesn't mean you've finished all your shopping. Today, a great way to spend $200.

While the MoMA store is filling back orders and restocking its sold-out shelves, the lesser-known shop at Cooper-Hewitt is chugging through the season quite smoothly.

There, among Bruno Munari's 1945 series of unusual and fascinating children's books and Tobias Wong's gothic bullet-proof rose brooch, we found this scoop-it-up-in-our-arms, adorably sad ghost lamp ($155), designed by Marcel Dzama. We don't know why it cries, but our best guess is that it was separated from its little ones, the just-as-sad ghostly salt and pepper shakers ($52). The spectrals are cute enough you'll want to give them as a set--and only 2,500 of the lamps were manufactured by Cerealart, so it's a super-unique set at that.

While you're at the museum, be sure to visit its amazing three-story exhibit, "Design Life Now." From a foldable see-through kayak that will fit in a backpack to Boeing's futuristic plans for the next commercial airliner, you'll get a wealth of contemporary design--and the gift store will mean a lot more.

Day 10 of the gift guide, we celebrate the Jewish Festival of Lights, or Hanukkah, which begins tonight.

Though it's not something I often search for, a good menorah can be hard to find. The Olive Branch Menorah by artist Michael Arum, available at the Jewish Museum ($190 non members, $171 for members), qualifies as a great one, at least in my gentile eyes. The symbolism is obvious but quite beautiful, as the olive branch represents both peace and is the source of oil so meaningful in Jewish tradition. You can buy this menorah, along with about 75 others in a variety of price ranges, at the Jewish Museum's gift shop.

Just like Dick Cheney, this hot sale is located in an undisclosed location. Find discounts on Moschino, Escada, Luca Luca, YSL, Dior and more with prices starting at, get this, $10. The sale is cash only and you must call to book an appointment.

Find more New York sales here.