A major distinguishing point between mass retail and small boutiques is the presence of a strong point of view. My favorite boutiques function as thoughtfully curated apparel collections as well as self-portraits of their owners. Case in point: Bella & Harlow. The shop's signature dresses feature timeless elements (sheath silhouettes, full skirts, Peter Pan collars) updated with distinctly modern touches (contrasting piping, swallow tattoo-inspired prints). It's easy to imagine owner Sarah Celino, who describes her style as "flirty and feminine, but a little hard around the edges," wearing one — and many days, you can find her in her shop doing just that.

• Sarah Celino opened Bella & Harlow in November 2012

How does Bella & Harlow reflect your style?
It's important for me to love every piece that goes into this shop. Customers can tell when you're passionate about what you sell. I love all of these brands and wear them myself. The store has also surprised me. I ordered a jumpsuit by Miss Patina, never once thinking someone with my proportions could wear it. I tried it on and instantly fell in love. That's a shopping miracle right there: being able to finally wear a style you thought you'd never look good in.

How would you describe your style?
I live for dresses and skirts, but I'll happily pair the sweetest outfit with bullet shell earrings or a bag with handcuffs for straps. I even like mixing spikes and grommets with lace or silk pieces (be careful when doing this with fishnets).

Gambit publishes seven gift guides during the holiday season. Each features 12 items, for a total of 84 gifts. That's a lot of gift-wrangling. But even with this extensive shopping coverage, a few special items inevitably slip through the cracks. So here's our Lagniappe Gift Guide.

Last night, I went to what can only be described as a hipster cookie decorating party (sorry, Alex Woodward) where an attendee bemoaned the fact that she could find NOT A SINGLE TACKY CHRISTMAS SWEATER at the thrift store. Ironic holiday revelers had done a number on that place. But even if you COULD find a tacky Christmas sweater, do you know what would make it even tackier? If it was actually silkscreened on a T-shirt. And what would make it even tackier than that? If it featured humping mooses.

Which brings us to the first, gloriously tacky item:

• It's $24, but I could see this working for Valentine's Day, too.

There also are (relatively) tasteful versions featuring leaping cats and grazing dinosaurs, but when it's tacky T-shirt time, go hard or go home.

Next item...

Guy Guidry's new Uptown nursery isn't very big — it's about 1,000 square feet — but then, neither are the trees that are its specialty.

"NOLA Bonsai will promote bonsai to a new level," says Guidry, who studied the art under bonsai masters John Yoshio Naka and Vaughn Banting. "It used to be a mystery and a burden: People would receive one as a gift and kill it and feel guilty. We want to make people successful at growing it, and make it an alternative to cut flowers and roses."

• Owner Guy Guidry with a diminutive tree

The store will offer classes where participants can make their own bonsai, a process that consists of choosing a plant, potting, wiring and pruning it, and learn the scientific and horticultural techniques behind maintaining the tiny trees. Classes are 1.5-3 hours in length and start at $45. There also are azalea, juniper, pine, bald cypress and ficus bonsai for sale that range in age from 5 to more than 300 years and are priced at $25-$1,000, as well as all the tools and supplies a bonsai enthusiast could require.

"I was taken under the wing of a bonsai master as a kid and learned the way of life. It was the Karate Kid story without the karate," Guidry says. "For the last 30 years, I've been growing bonsai and enjoying their power. I feel passionate that anybody can do it. I love trees and nature, and it's contagious —if you come to my shop, bonsai will more than likely become an addiction and a compulsion."

NOLA Bonsai (1529 Jackson Ave., 985-705-3357) celebrates its grand opening from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17. There will be music by Luke Winslow-King and Esther Rose.