Channeling yourself!

Where better to take inspiration from this holiday season than yourself....as a child!  Remember when colors ruled your world, sparkles rocked your world and all things kooky were the cat's pajamas?  Most of us have toned things down a bit since those days of rainbow colored knee socks paired with the corduroy skirt with the skateboarding squirrels print...man how I loved that ensemble.  We have opted for sophistication, maturity, class and in the process perhaps lost some of the magic.  So this holiday season let's channel our inner child.  I don't think any of us is ready to completely abandon our current selves in favor of donning a tutu and wings to the grocery store a la our old-selves but I think we can take inspiration from our carefree and creative days.  Wear the LBD (little black dress) that fits your womanly curves like a glove but layer on the sparkles with crystal necklaces.  Abandon the bib that used to accompany your onesies and instead opt for the bib necklace!  We particularly love this one which is like a princess party on steroids.  If the subtle homage to yourself feels too...subtle, consider trying this Gucci inspired studded dress.  A funky little clutch like our blueQ zipper pouches can inject some whimsy into your outfit.  One of my favorite pieces I got this season is a snake ring layered with crystals (see pic above).  It's big and obnoxious and so much fun!  The holidays can be stressful so remember to not take yourself too seriously and don't be afraid to try something a little more creative, colorful, sparkly, or outrageous because the holidays are supposed to be festive.  It's time to be a little extra nice, or naughty or fashionable!  Whatever you choose to wear this holiday season we wish you health, happiness and lots of joy all while looking and feeling fabulous!

Dressing for Thanksgiving

So Thanksgiving is right around the corner and the turkey is not the only thing that will need to be dressed. Now it may come as no surprise that you can not show up to Thanksgiving dinner naked and you will have to put on some clothes but what you choose to dress yourself in is the question here.  Thanksgiving for my family has always been our biggest holiday.  Lots of family comes in from out of town and we do a kind of classy buffet style potluck dinner.  We have our typical  Thanksgiving dishes and the ones that are probably a little different like the little tiny hotdogs in jam sauce or the marinated shrimp and onions.  We evaluate which dish came out a little dry or which dishes we love or hate (I am not a fan of the jello fruit compote thing that almost everyone else seems to love). Half way through our first serving we start giving each other tips of which thing to get seconds of and what was so delicious it doesn't matter the calories, just enjoy it because we won't eat that until next year again.  So everyone knows that food is the star of Thanksgiving but in my family we also always dress up for the occasion.  Nothing fancy or over the top but everyone puts thought into what they wear (even the guys) and all try and look nice and festive.   I think it's our way of saying we love each other in a way.  Plus, in the wise words of my mother, "Look good, feel good." We take time to look good for work or parties or presentations so why shouldn't we look good for our dearest friends and family?   I always try and find the balance between comfort and style because Lord knows this is not the holiday to be wearing all sorts of restricting items.  Leggings or stretchy jeans, boots and a loose-ish sweater in a beautiful jewel tone I think is going to be my outfit of choice this season.  To accessorize and draw the eye up towards my face (and away from the belly full of sweet potatoes with melted marshmallows, yumm!) a dramatic pair of earrings and  layering necklaces will stylize and brighten this casual yet chic outfit.  What do you ladies like to wear to Thanksgiving?  How does your family typically do it?  From casual to dressy to somewhere in the middle come in and we would love to help you feel like the best you for your loved ones and to celebrate in style all the things we have to be thankful for!

Winter White Done Right!

White after labor day has been generally accepted in the fashion world for years now and I think most women feel fine about wearing it once the weather begins to turn frosty.  In fact, it even reflects the kind of cozy luxury so many of us associate with a winter wonderland.  Recently Gwyneth Paltrow wore an all white outfit to her 40th birthday to much applause from around the web.  A while back I wrote about taking your white summer pieces into fall by putting them with fall-ish items.  Well now that the cold is setting in, its time for Winter white which is different.  Winter white seems to work best when worn in fabrics that fit the weather.  Think chunky knits, wool, and heavier materials.  A cream or off white also known as winter white also ends up being less stark and breezy feeling.  I know this color can be a little more work and you will  have to dry clean it more often than your other things but it is worth it.  I personally prefer a winter white top as opposed to pants or skirts simply because I find those get dirtier.  For those with a lighter complexion, sometimes in winter we lose a bit of the natural glow from the sun so remember to dab on a bit of lipstick or tinted chapstick and add a drop of dewy blush to ensure you don't look washed out (even though we don't specialize in make-up stop by Next Door if you want to compare notes, I have tried quite a few things in my day and have found my tried and true make-up staples).  The winter white look with a bright bracelet or necklace is a great look for a party where you want to be comfortable, cozy yet classy.  To channel your real inner snow queen, crystal jewelry such as our beautiful new crystal and silver earrings will really get you icy :)  Stop in soon to do your version of winter white juuuust right!