Entries Tagged as 'Holiday 2011'
Jacket: Catching Snowflakes Jacket ($58)
On the Left, Jeans: Citizens of Humanity Amber Mid-Rise ($158) Shoes: Bronze Sequin Heel ($120) Earrings: Rose Gold Studs ($35) Tank: Joseph Lurex Tank ($142) Purse: Michael Kors Metallic Leather Clutch ($220)
On the Right, Dress: Myla Flippy Dress ($180) Earrings: Arena Pink Opal Drops ($135) Bracelet: Plumeria Bracelet ($155) Clutch: Evie Envelope (Sold Out) Shoes: Kelly + Katie Betsy Sandal ($45)
Casual Chic. I’m not much of a party girl, never have been. I’d much rather have a nice gathering at my home or go out to dinner and then wake up in the New Year. Thus, I thought it might be nice to do a more casual look for those of you who feel the same way.
This outfit pairs basic, dark denim with a metallic tank, a textured lace jacket and sparkly accessories to lift the look to holiday status. I love these earrings because they’re shiny, but with their unconventional shape and rose gold, they’re not too girly. And don’t even get me started on the shoes…I die.
As for hair and makeup, I think a sleek ponytail like this one would be lovely. I’d also wear a shimmery taupe eye with black liner, I like to mix Stila Grace and Oasis eyeshadows.
Flirty Fun. If the casual look was meant to a bit less frilly, this look is over-the-top girly. The epitome of a dancing dress, this frock is perfect for layering in the winter or as a stand-alone in the summer. Pair it with the lace jacket and some feminine accessories, and you’re ready to dance til dawn.
This look is a bit more “springy” than the other, so it might be more appropriate for those in warmer climates. But you could add nude fishnets, nude pumps and a skinny belt to make it a bit more appropriate for this time of year.
I also love the jewelry that goes with it. The opal drops are the sweetest earrings that I think I’ve ever seen, and I chose the leaf bracelet to keep with the leaf detail on the earring.
The hair for this look should be either bouncy curls or a braided updo to keep up the pretty. I’d do a berry lip, a pink cheek with a hint of shimmer and gold eye wash with defined brows.
Please note that this is not the skirt from this morning. There was no Polyvore-ready photo of that skirt to be had, so I chose something close for the set. The biggest difference to note is the lack of an elastic waist band.
Skirt: From this morning, Karen Kane Sequin Skirt ($59) From this set, All Saints Sequin Skirt ($185)
Left Side, Necklace: Cara Couture Crystal Bib ($98) Ring: Smoky Quartz Cocktail Ring ($125) Bag: Asos Portfolio Clutch ($36) Blouse: 3.1 Philip Lim Shell ($250) Shoes: Studded Suede Pumps ($225)
Right Side, Sweater: Miu Miu Cashmere Tie Pullover ($776) Shoes: Rosetta Pumps ($130) Earrings: Enamel Disc Earrings ($31) Bag: Deco Cigarette Clutch ($54) Tights: Hue Super Opaque ($14)
Edgy & Chic. Remembering that we live in D.C., where the style is significantly more conservative, my first instinct is always to play down sequins. This outfit does not do that. Instead, the huge (there’s really no other word for it) statement necklace adds a geometric flare and modern edge to the sparkly, sequined pencil. And the spiked heels say, “Yes, I’m wearing sequins, but that doesn’t mean I’m frilly.”
I love the neutral blouse for balance. It might be a bit chilly, but most parties are indoors, so a chic wool overcoat can always be added for outside travel. I also like the bold, orange portfolio clutch for a BIG pop of color. And I added the smoky ring to pull the necklace in a bit more and blend the competing blacks and browns in the outfit.
Prim & Proper. How much do you love this sweater? I love it so much that I spent 35 minutes on the phone with a friend who sews asking her if a hot pink pullover could be turned into a keyhole-backed sweater with a bow tie. She’s looking into it, and will hopefully have good news for me soon, as spending $800 on a sweater is just ludicrous. (Also, if anyone finds a cheaper one, leave the link in the comments.)
For this look, I wanted something that a proper lady would wear to a New Year’s Eve party thrown in her home. From the studs to the crewneck sweater, the whole look is very Georgetown dinner party. So I added some sky high heels for a little levity and youthfulness and tights because it just felt like the outfit needed them.
Dress: Gold Jacquard Dress ($60)
Left Side, Earrings: Lolly Earring ($31) Belt: Suniva Belt ($58) Bag: Pour La Victoire Paneled Clutch ($225) Shoe: DvF Davis Shoe ($132)
Right Side, Earrings: Gala Emerald Drops ($70) Ring: Emerald Coloured Cocktail Ring ($40) Clutch: Pleat Front Bag ($12) Shoes: Ivanka Trump Nami Pumps ($110)
This week, instead of doing Three Ways to wear each item, I thought I would do two. It saves me a bit of time, but it also gives you some insight into how you can style a single piece different ways. For this dress, I chose to style it for a classic, vintage look and also for a more modern look that mixes color and texture.
Rockin’ New Year’s Eve. I love mixing metals. For this look, I mixed the dress’s gold hues with pewter for a sophisticated look that is very of-the-moment. I used a beaded belt from Anthropologie to emphasize the waistline of the dress and start off our mixed-metals look. Then, I added a pewter sandal from DvF with a gold heel to keep up with the blending (Yes, you’ve seen these shoes on CHS before. However, they were $330 then, and they’re $132 now. So I thought that I’d spread the good news of savings across the land.)
In addition to the shoes and the belt, I added a slightly-art deco clutch in pewter and gold and a pair of drop earrings in the same palette. With the exception of the clutch, everything in the look is under-$150, because single occasion outfits should be kind to the wallet. Otherwise, you end up with a closet full of nothing to wear. I also considered adding a leather jacket to the mix, but that’s a matter of personal preference.
As for hair and makeup, I’d wear my hair pinned up into a high bun or a messy side hairdo. You could also add a few twists or braids for texture. I’d also wear a deep, berry-colored lip, a gentle pink cheek and a smokey eye.
A Glamorous Celebration. For a look that would be perfect for an old Hollywood starlet, I’ve mixed vintage-inspired accessories in emerald hues. Obviously, I’m still in love with the drop earrings from a few weeks ago. I also added a cocktail ring to compliment them. If you wanted to do bracelets, I would recommend thin silver or crystal bangles. You could also do a necklace, but sometimes, I think perfectly exfoliated collar bones look better than jewels.
The pleated green bag in satin is another vintage throwback. Add a sparkly D’Orsay-style pump (in an ankle-friendly 2.75 inches), and you’re prepared to dance the night away.
For this look, I would suggest a bright red lip. My favorite shades of classic red are MAC Ruby Woo and Chanel Gabrielle. I would also try the makeup look from last week to add a bit of sparkle and dramatic eyeliner.
As for hairstyle, I would do loose finger waves ala Veronica Lake. You could also add a small, rhinestone barrette if you wanted added sparkle. If you’re set on wearing your hair up, I suggest a classic low chignon.
White Elephant gifts are difficult because you never know who might choose your present. Thus, the gifts have to be gifts that anyone might like. Here are few that I thought would be good.
White Elephant Teapot ($12). (Sold out online, but can be found in stores.) This gift is as literal as a white elephant gift can be. It’s also functional for the tea drinker and decorative for the non-tea drinker. No word on how a Democrat might feel about receiving it.
Succulent Plant ($11). I don’t keep plants because I kill them, but a succulent is basically unkillable. It looks great on a desk or a kitchen windowsill.
Gourmet Marshmallows ($17). Handcrafted, these are the perfect addition to hot cocoa. They also taste pretty great on their own. Plus, it’s almost impossible to be allergic to marshmallows, so they might be the only acceptable food gift out there.
Shake Weight ($23). Yes, this thing actually works. Yes, you look like you’re having an epileptic seizure while you’re using it. But even if all the recipient gets is a good laugh, it’s worth the price tag.
Last week, we talked about buying American-made gifts for the holidays, and how just $64 gifts spent on U.S. goods could result in 200,000 jobs at home. In the comments of that post, many people mentioned that Etsy is a great source for goods made in the U.S.A. So here are some great gifts found on Etsy:
Textured Ceramic Vase ($55). Pottery and other decorative housewares make great gifts. But why spend hundreds of dollars at a shop in the mall when you can buy a beautiful ceramics on Etsy? I think this vase is neutral enough to match any decor, but still sophisticated and interesting.
Handwoven Scarf Necklace ($60). This infinity scarf is really cool. I love the wider gauge on the knit, the small details that make it a bit more special and how it looks like a necklace chain. I also love that unlike many infinity scarves, you can wear this one multiple ways without ruining the look of the scarf.
Vintage Starglow Bread and Butter Plates ($8 for 4). These plates are pretty and classic with just the right amount of vintage kitsch. You can use the plates for entertaining or as decor. They’d look great hung on a wall or in a display on some shelves.
Leaf Necklace ($32). I love the dainty touches on this necklace. It’s gold-fill, but the seller also offers solid gold items, so it might be a bit better quality than some of the other Etsy jewelry that I have seen. The seller also takes requests for custom pieces.
Chalkboard Wall Map ($83). I LOVE this gift! You can use the map to plot out your travels–map places you’ve traveled to in once color, places you want to travel to in another. It would be a great gift for newlyweds, an office mate or a college student. I’m thinking about buying one for myself. Ah, the spirit of giving…also known as finding too many thing you want to buy for yourself, so you give them to others *wink*.
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