My job can be very dangerous sometimes. Not, like, physically or anything (well, usually). But when you’re already predisposed to shop and to covet and to, well, give in to all that, being responsible for conveying to people out there what they should also want to shop for and covet and give into buying, it can get a bit hazardous.

For instance, I’m at a photo shoot right now for nature-inspired jewelry. And it’s not just enamel or plastic stuff I can just go grab after the shoot if I really feel I must have it. It’s diamonds and pearls and platinum and it’s so frosty and the designs are so pretty (sprawling leaves and flowers, various insects — yes, insects; you’ll see) that I’m afraid these are going to stay on my mind for a while.

My fave: this little dragonfly necklace from Tiffany. He would work year round, with any outfit, just hanging out on my collarbone. I swear I’d take good care of him. If only someone would just give me the chance.

Nature Dragonfly pendant, $5,500

Lucky for us, free-spirited artist Susan Banchek has settled down (for now, at least) in Philly, after stints in Ohio, New Orleans and NYC. Even luckier for us, she’s filling the most fashionable city shops (Vintage Connection and Arcadia) with her slightly offbeat, totally statement-making necklaces, which she crafts in a teeny studio in her Center City apartment.

If her brass baubles have a vintage flair, it’s because Banchek gets most of her inspiration from the glamourpusses of yesteryear (think Cleopatra and the queens of the silver screen). And, though her jewelry line, Esther K. — named for her great-grandmother — is now limited to necklaces, she’s considering branching out to bracelets (fingers crossed!).

Next up? Look for semi-precious stones on Banchek’s next batch of earthy-pretty necklaces.

“They have a presence to them, I think,” Banchek modestly says of her covetable, limited-edition pieces. We couldn’t agree more.

Not that I needed extra reasons to hop over to Rescue Rittenhouse Spa these days (or any day, for that matter), but as I found out at a recent visit, there’s even more goodies now to lure us in.

Besides the usual skin-saving facials from Danuta, the owner, and well, face-saving eyebrow shaping sessions with Nives Riddle, makeup artist extraordinaire — and oodles of Biologique Recherche, Valmont, Chantecaille makeup and KeikoMecheri perfume — the spa has now got their own little reusable chocolate-brown canvas bags, and yummy-smelling SedaFrance candles, all marked with the Rescue logo that we Center City-ites have come to associate with the ultimate care and relaxation.

And one of my favorites, of their newest treats? These OKA b. flip-flops — with massaging beads on the cushioned footbed, they’re also antimicrobial (the material stays super clean — and you can toss them in the dishwasher if they need a rinse!), completely non slip, and made right here in the US.

That’ll be me, soon, down the Shore with the black Malibus (pictured).

In celebration of Converse’s 100th birthday, we at Good Life would like to highlight some of our celebrated Philadelphicons who rock out these most iconic, trend-enduring kicks. — Luke Sirinides

Julius Erving
He spent the last ten of his fifteen-year basketball career playing for the 76ers. And always in his Chucks.

M.I.A.
Although this hottie funk/rap artist is Sri Lankan-born and London-raised, she did actually live here for a while. Local DJ Diplo mixed tracks on both of her albums.

Will Smith
Admittedly an often-referenced icon. “West Philadelphia born and raised”…and all that. Nevertheless, Will keeps it real in his chucks.

Benjamin Franklin
Were he’d born 200 years later, you know he would …

Tina Fey
Obviously this Philly goddess of comedy rocks Converse.

You
If you’d like to join the hip parade, Converse is unveiling their Century footwear collection, featuring throwback designs and re-vamped classics. Also, the company is teaming up with (PRODUCT) RED and The Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Help your fellow man and look good doing it. Now that’s cool, man.

Scanning the city sidewalks, you’d think the guys of Philadelphia have forgotten every shoe shade but safe black and boring brown. The anxiety over choosing colored kicks is understandable, but we’re here to say that color is OK. In preparation for St. Patty’s Day (and spring in general) we’ve picked a few of our favorite green sneaks, to get you in the mood. — Luke Sirinides

Vans Sk8 Mid (shown)
Appropriately dubbed “Leprechaun Green,” these skater shoes sit comfortably between the “hi-top” and “lo-top” categories, so anyone can get away with them. $50

Nike Dunk Low CL
With these basketball trainers, less is more. $74.00

Lacoste Kade
Velcro is back. (And not just for toddlers and retirees.) $120 A
Also available at Lacoste Philadelphia (1424 Walnut St., 215-985-6812)

C1RCA Men’s PRM Sneaker
This go-to skate shoe is actually suede with a printed canvas top. Even without the newsprint design, this model is described as having “genuine vulcanized construction,” which sounds bad-ass enough for us. $70

Ask anyone at my office, and they’ll tell you I have an aversion to wearing my hair down. Ask my mother, and she’ll tell you I throw it up in a messy bun just to vex her. (She’ll also beg you to please convince me to cut it into a chin-grazing bob and to stop dyeing it so light because my natural brown shade is honestly much more flattering, and don’t I realize that she just wants me to look my best?) But, really, I twist my locks into a knot simply because I can’t bear to have unruly strands falling in my face all day. And with a very, shall we say, involved makeup routine and a usually complicated, accessory-laden outfit, not having to worry about doing my hair is fantastic.

And then I saw, glittering from Scarlett Alley’s front counter, Colette Malouf’s metal mesh weave headbands (shown). Briefly, I cringed at the memory of the headache-inducing, plastic-toothed Goody headbands of my childhood (you know what I’m talking about), but then I slipped one on. It was comfy, it was chic, and — the best part — it kept my hair, well, out of my hair. With one of these lovelies stashed in my rubber-band/bobby pin/hairspray arsenal, I just might say farewell to the ponytail and bun for good. (Well, for the most part. After all, I can’t let mom off that easy.)

$84 each at Scarlett Alley, 241 Race Street, 215-592-7898, scarlettalley.com.

Image, scarlettalley.com

Lanvin, the cult-followed French line has landed at Wayne Edwards, where Philly guys can snatch up their voluminous, lightweight and neutral-hued summer looks. But ladies, Wayne’s got something for you too: According to shopibel.com, NYC gals are buying up his Chuck-esque men’s sneaks in smaller sizes. You’ll find this shiny-toed low-top pair retailing for $565 here, right now. Run! They’ll go fast.

Wayne Edwards, 1525 Locust Street, 215-731-0120, wayne-edwards.com

When I hear the word ‘basement,’ I think of a dark, dank space with cinderblock walls and chilly cement floors. When I hear the word ‘basement’ used in conjunction with the word ‘sale,’ however, I think of racks of crave-worthy clothes, shelves of impossibly gorgeous heels, my Visa card swiping through the credit card machine at lightning-fast speed.

And when I hear the words ‘basement sale’ paired with ‘Joan Shepp,’ I think of … well, heaven. Only instead of clouds, there are hangers — lots and lots of hangers filled with delicious duds by the likes of Marni, Rick Owens, Charles Chang Lima, Dries van Noten, Junya Watanabe, Balenciaga. And instead of angels there are Chloe platforms, Sissi Rossi bags, Chan Luu baubles.

Stop in the Walnut Street boutique for a ticket now to score up to 50 percent off of top designers’ creations next week (from January 30th through February 3rd). The impeccably edited selection mean you’ll be stylishly fashion-forward, the sale means you can justify your purchases, and the store hours (open until 8 on Wednesdays!) mean you don’t have to cram your shopping into your lunch hour.

Joan Shepp, 1616 Walnut Street, 215-735-2666, joanshepp.com.

Image, joanshepp.com

I have a not-so-little obsession with shoes. And ever since it became an addiction, I’ve seen my bank account dwindle down to pennies. Thankfully, our area has tons of budget-friendly stores turning out trendy goods for students like me. My latest “I have to have it, but still need to eat” obsession? Payless ShoeSource.

The footwear chain has strengthened its marketing campaign and brought in exciting guest designers, including Patricia Field (who made Sex and the City just as fabulous as SJP) and Laura Poretzky from New York runway favorite Abaeté.

During a recent after-work Payless visit (and by work, I mean this no-pay internship), I spotted these yellow Kailey Patent Pumps and they made me swoon. While I did wonder if I would hate that color in say, three minutes, the under-$20 price tag was enough to make the purchase guilt-free. Plus, when these shoes are worn thin from Philly’s concrete jungle, I can head back to Payless to buy my next new pair (I’ve been eyeing-up the blue Lindy Patent Peep-toe Pumps anyway). Best of all, the more-than-reasonable price allows me to deposit a few more pennies into my piggy bank for those ever-classic Louboutins, which will never go out of style. How many hours until lunch break? — Elena Chin

Kailey Patent Pumps, $19.99, Payless ShoeSource, Various locations throughout the tri-state area, payless.com.

Image, payless.com

Hoorah, the sales are beginning! (Not that I didn’t get lovely Christmas presents and all, but still — shopping is different than upwrapping.)

I think I’ll start (since it’s so very close to both my home and work life) at South Moon Under’s semiannual sale — all the stuff we’ve wanted for so long (Ella Moss, Laundry, Michael Stars, La Rok) is now up to 50 percent off! I’m sure you’re all dying to know whether or not I ever scooped up that Robert Rodriguez shift dress I went on about on October 24th — maybe next week you’ll get your answer.