I love stocking stuffers.  They are the best part of Christmas.  There’s just nothing quite like an affordable gift that’s funny or useful or chic (or maybe all three).  So here is Part One of my stocking stuffer gift guides, where nothing costs more than $30.

In the name of fiscal responsibility, I’m taking a shopping respite through the end of the year.  When you write a fashion blog, not shopping is like being a person on a diet who moves into a McDonald’s.  But I’m determined to flex some self-discipline now that my holiday shopping is done.

Since my daughter was born, Amazon has claimed so much of my money that I had to buy stock just to get some of it back.  Between the formula, onesies, fruit pouches, diapers, wipes, and ever evolving list of baby development gear, I could not survive without Prime.   My husband no longer notices the […]

I started this blog in 2008 to provide guidance to the thousands of Capitol Hill staffers who needed to dress for professional jobs on government salaries.  Over 15 years of blogging, some questions have proved eternal — the best tights, what to wear to a formal event, makeup tips for women who don’t want to […]

This week was a bit of a mess.  Kyle is sick.  I am sick.  We have no reliable childcare, so we’re cobbling together work time where we can.  We missed our Thanksgiving dinner pickup, and had less than two hours to shop for and cook a meal for six people.  But we’re making it work, […]

As we age, our holiday gifting list explodes with people.  You have in-laws, friends, friends’ kids, and work colleagues.  That’s why we’re all looking for affordable, thoughtful gifts.  So here is a list of under-$75 home gifts that includes no scented candles.  You could give these gifts to almost anyone and they’re nice enough to […]

I was trying so hard to do a thoughtful, curated list of sale picks that I left one store off.  I considered rolling without it, but I can’t because there are a lot of amazing pieces for holiday parties and the office.  Plus, you’ve gotta see this dress.  It shouldn’t be missed.

So many sales.  When I open my Instagram, it’s just post after post about sales.  Every sale.  And so many items from each sale. Do I need to see 13 sweaters from J.Crew?  How many times in a two-month period can I be bombarded with people’s Shopbop Sale Favorites, which are somehow different than their […]

The definition of a bad gift is when you get a gift that men are supposed to like, but you don’t.  Every year, Abra sends me a list of men’s gift guides from popular influencers, and I stand aghast at all of the shaving kits, bottles of mediocre Bourbon, and drones. This year, she sent […]