christmas wrapping inspiration

it’s that time of year again! i do hope that you’ve already finished you’re shopping and you’re on to wrapping all the gifts for the lovelies in your life. here’s a little dose of wrapping inspiration to get your creative juices flowing!

remember, you don’t have to go with cliche wrapping paper. you can go fun colors, funky, classic, simple, rustic – whatever your heart desires! i personally opted for lots of gold and silver this year. what about you?

i | ii | iii | iv | v | vi

 

 

 

kate middleton: purple holiday inspiration

i love kate middleton’s style – the princess/duchess is most definitely in my top 3 on my style icons list. eh, she might even be number one. i think she’s fantastic. she’s timeless. she’s trendy. she’s classy and graceful – all the things i want to be – ha 🙂

the duchess’ signature color has been navy blue because of her engagement ring, so when she wears color i just swoon. also when she wears anything that isn’t a dress or a skirt, but i digress.

here we have some inspiration for a holiday look – a little pop of color a la kate middelton – plus the dresses to get close to the look!

i love this rich purple on kate – pair this dress (very reasonably priced at $63 from KOHLS! (i know!)) with a sparkly brooch and pull your hair back. elegant for the in-laws, definitely. (ps i saw this dress in the store and it is much closer to the color of the dress kate is wearing than the picture would have you think)

i also loved this soft purple alexander mcqueen dress kate wore last year. so soft and feminine.

most of us don’t get to wear a ballgown very often, so here is a shorter and much more affordable (on sale for $80!) kate-inspired frock. pair with tights, pumps and a black velvet jacked for a holiday-ready look.

 

on trend: faux fur

every year, we see lot’s of fur coming out for late fall and winter – i mean, it does keep you warm! i love this trend every winter, it just never gets old for me. i think it’s a little hollywood glamour without all the cruelty.

just look at marilyn monroe, stepping off a plane in a fur coat. there is something so glamorous about being wrapped up in fur!

here are some of my favorite picks for this year. what about you? is this a do or don’t? (we’re talking fake fur, people!)

on trend: faux fur

living in: christmas vacation

in my family, we have a tradition of watching national lampoon’s christmas vacation every weekend from thanksgiving until christmas. then it goes away for the next year, only to resurface at the following thanksgiving. most of us can quote the majority of the movie. it might be a sickness.http://coedmagazine.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/national-lampoons-christmas-vacation1.jpg?w=600&h=350

anyway, want to live in christmas vacation like the rest of my family? here’s how:

1. a christmas tree. a full one that is far too big for the room. (full of sap, of course!)
2. a hat with ear warmers when you have to leave your trailer to go to the bathroom ’cause the shitter’s full.
3. jelly of the month club (no pool for you!)
4. a santa hat. essential when the squirrel jumps out of the tree at your face, runs through the house, prompting your brother’s (or your brother-in-law’s) dog to run through the house and destroy everything.
5. lights. to cover your whole house. oh, and be sure to knock out the neighborhood electricity while you’re at it AND steal the electricity from your next door neighbor.
6. a moose mug. for egg nog. duh.

7. a tree scented candle. just in case the sap from your over full tree (see #1) isn’t filling your home with christmasy goodness.

living in: christmas vacation

 

8. oh and some rope for when your brother kidnaps your boss (because he gave you the jelly of the month club and not cash for a pool)

nailed it: perfect holiday party nails

it always seems to me this time of year comes with a lot of red and sparkles – glitter, sequins, rhinestones. so what could be better than a mani with both of those seasonally appropriate trends? um – nothing!

try this combo for the perfect holiday manicure that can take you from office to office party and beyond:

here’s what you’ll need: butter londoncome to bed red, west end wonderland and your favorite top coat. (i like deborah lippmann‘s.)

party perfect manicure

holiday dresses under $100

yes, ladies, it is possible to find a fantastic party dress for less than $100 (a few of these picks are even under $50!). i love this time of year – holidays and new years eve are great excuses for a little sparkle (though i always say there is never an occasion that isn’t right for sequins).

here are some fantastic picks for this holiday party season, a few are even family function appropriate.

do you get dressed up for the holidays or are your parties more casual?

holiday dresses under $100
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 

on trend: tights & skirts (or dresses!)

i’ve never been big on tights. or dresses and skirts during the winter. but with my style evolving a bit, i think this is the year these two things will collide.

i absolutely LOVE (yes, capital L-O-V-E) the look and, bonus!, it helps take your other season wardrobe pieces and winterfy (or fallify) them.

here are my favorite looks:

(i, ii, iii, iv)

(v, vi, vii, viii)

you probably have most of the basics to pull this kind of look together – but here it is in a nutshell. remember, you can always shake things up with some accessories, booties vs boots, colored tights, etc.

fashion how to: winter tights