I know, I know – I shouldn’t tease. But it’s 30 degrees outside, and as I look out my window, there’s a veil of frost over everything. I need a little light at the end of this wintry tunnel. So forgive me for seeing glimmers of springtime everywhere I look this week.
Today’s guest is Connie, the wonder woman behind The Daily Obsession. TDO is one of the first blogs I ever read religiously – I loved it so much, I was an editor there for years. Connie is always impeccably dressed, knows the perfect gift for any occasion, and can instantly make anyone feel at ease. It’s no wonder she’s our expert on how to entertain with style.
Thanks for being patient, friends…I’ll be back Monday morning, with bells on!
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With the upcoming holidays, many of us will be turning into hostesses and entertaining up a storm! To save myself a lot of last-minute stress, I have a checklist of items to track down now, so I’m fully prepared when the festivities begin.
Let’s start with fashion! Dressing when you’re a hostess can be a bit of a challenge. Between moving through the kitchen and re-filling everyone’s wine glasses – not to mention probably not having enough time to get truly decked out before guests arrive – the key is to keep it basic, easy and flattering.
Made of soft, comfortable jersey, this Diane von Furstenberg dress fits the bill. It’s got a sexy scoop in the back, and ruching around the waist – perfect if you accidentally overindulge. Most importantly, it’s going to be easy to thrown on last minute and make you feel great all night. Simply throw on some fun accessories – like a statement necklace from Elva Fields and a pair of festive heels (love this glittery version from Zara!). Plus, you can easily wear this dress beyond the holiday season, and who doesn’t love that?
For the home, it’s nice to pick some special items to make entertaining a bit more fun and again, easier! Start with a classic serving tray. Whether it’s sleek or rustic, it will make your life a lot easier when you need to cart dishes – from appetitizers to the post-dinner clean up.
If you’re planning on having a cocktail/drink station where guests can refill drinks at their leisure, make sure to set out an ice bucket and a cocktail shaker, along with simple glasses. Plus, your guests won’t be able to resist shaking up their favorite cocktail in these gorgeous shiny Nick Munro designs.
Along with dessert, coffee or tea service is a must for any party, so pick out beautiful new versions to ensure every guest will be impressed. Our favorites? This festive red Stelton Coffee Press is just the thing for the holiday season. For tea lovers, it doesn’t get prettier than the New Norm Kettle Teapot, and its clever built-in tea egg ensures your tea will never over-steep.
However you entertain this season, be sure you keep it casual and cozy – if you’re relaxed and stylish, your guests will be as well. Happy holidays! — Connie
I have these weeks when I think I’ve seen all the fashion there is to see, and nothing will ever excite me again. This is, of course, great news for my bank account, but it’s terrible news for the writer in me. And so, whenever despair hits, I give myself a couple of days off, pray for a new copy of Bazaar or Vogue to land in my mailbox, and – when all else fails – turn to European fashion sites. That nearly always works…especially since most either don’t ship to the US or they charge so much I can’t bear to even think of buying.
Today, I’ve been browsing Matches, a much-lauded, painfully chic department store in London. I think of it as the British version of Barneys. They’ve recently started shipping to the US – but fortunately, shipping is $45. Just enough to restrain me from impulse buys, but reassuringly available if I found something I really and truly couldn’t live without.
But the best news? Every single one of those pieces is at least 50% off, and the vast majority are under $300. Plus, you get an extra 20% off with code MFR2985 – talk about temptation!
A L C blue dress, $269
3 1 Phillip Lim dress, $543
Marc by Marc Jacobs geometric dress, $133
DAY Birger et Mikkelsen sleeveless dress, $230
Beyond Vintage top, $237
DVF Bryssa top, $162
DVF Brutus leather jacket, $578
Cacharel floral print skirt, $230
3.1 Phillip Lim gold pants, $232
Anya Hindmarch peacock feather shoes, $144
Lanvin handbag, $995
Sophia Kokosalaki gold bracelet, $285
One little tip: when browsing these sites that are bound to tempt you, start in the sale section. Since European styles tend to hit the US a bit later, their end-of-season castoffs are your brand new ideas. Plus, you’ll see a more edited (less overwhelming) selection…and, hello, sales are always a good thing! Just do make sure you’re shopping in your native currency…it’s easy to think something’s a steal in GBP, only to be bitterly disappointed when you see the USD on your credit card statement.
Happy hunting!
because i so hate the dreaded “-ista” word, let’s just say this guide is for the girl who thrills when the latest issue of vogue hits her mailbox, never says no to a trip to barneys, and is always the first in your crowd to buy into the latest trend. i’ll admit she’s not the easiest (or the cheapest) giftee on your list, but rest assured she gives as good as she gets. so gift your fashion-obsessed friends well…they’re sure to return the favor!
left to right, from top: prada vespa keychain, $165; frye reagan campus moccasins (especially this shearling-lined version), $138/148; emporio armani white ceramic watch, $545; däv fleece-lined equestrian rainboot, $98; the ELLEments of personal style: 25 modern fashion icons on how to dress, shop, and live, $17; joya solid perfume lockets, $38-68; diane von furstenberg lytton minaudiere, $325; echo touch ruffled gloves, $35; lafayette 148 faux leopard scarf, $98; chance striped boatneck tee, $60; all saints kadian jacket, $500 (and a very close second).
{FTC disclaimer: some product samples were provided to help me compile this guide, but as usual, there’s no pay-for-play here.}
today is a little crazy (i’m moving next week…agh!), but i couldn’t resist taking a second to share a few of the steals that came my way via my ‘shop it to me’ newsletter this morning. if you don’t already know about ‘shop it to me’, it’s an e-newsletter that comes out daily, letting you know when something by a brand or store you love goes on sale in your size. dangerous!
anyway, today was an especially good day for markdowns, apparently. a few of my faves:
i’ve been looking for new trouser jeans everywhere, and haven’t been able to find a single pair. but i really like this version from tory burch, and they’re down to $136.
this is such a great skirt from DVF, and it’s marked down to $171. i love that it’s a slightly girly alternative to all of the military khaki out this season. it would be perfect paired with a print top for some contrast, or even just a simple tee to keep it classic.
as you’ve heard me whine, i’ve been hunting for a summer dress with a respectable hemline, and this super-flattering DKNY version is now just $70 at bloomingdales, so i’m thinking it’s a must-buy.
this little kate spade shoulder bag just feels like the perfect effortless summer tote. i love the nautical stripe, and i love even more that it’s nylon (not stain-happy cotton), which also keeps it lightweight. and it has the look of those tiny bags everyone’s sporting now, but you’ll actually be able to pack more than you think. it’s by kate spade, and down to $197 at amazon.
i’ve been wanting a little something in druzy agate for months now, and $24.99 for these sweet stud earrings is just too good to pass up.
have a great weekend, everyone! i’ll be spending mine packing and cleaning out my closets…pray for me.
(incidentally, for those of you keeping score, i switched around the order of pictures & text. what do you think? better, worse or indifferent?)
now that fashion week is behind us (let us all heave a collective sigh!), i thought i’d share a few looks that caught my eye. not an exhaustive study by any means…but there were some pieces worth pointing out.
to sum up: flirty little dresses, florals, ruffles and pastels galore (especially lilac and all shades of yellow), nothing new there. more black, white and tan than i’d expect for spring – am i the only one who wants color when the sun comes back in april? in other news, the jumpsuit seems to have exited stage left (thank god), and hemlines are finally inching slowly back toward the knee. those bold shoulders are more subdued this season, which means they’re on their way out (another fashion blessing). and blazers still abound, though not nearly as much as they did for fall.
the bad news? i spotted biker shorts throughout, and bare midriffs at thakoon (his dresses, however, were stunning). here’s hoping they aren’t here to stay.
all photos courtesy of style.com
the moment i win the lottery, stop one will be at the oscar de la renta boutique for a beautiful dress. there is simply no one who does what oscar does. the shades of bold lapis, orange and chartreuse running through his show were a welcome change from the pastels, and i love that my favorite shade of blue will be the star of the season!
we’ll still be raiding the closets of the men in our lives, but i like the look much better for spring. consider grabbing an old pair of your dad’s pleated trousers (the baggier, the better), chopping them off at the knee (your drycleaner can easily hem) and folding over the waist – you’ll have the chicest shorts in town, not to mention the cheapest! from left: look 8, isaac mizrahi; look 5, 3.1 phillip lim.
keep mixing those patterns – the anna sui show was one of my favorites of the week (i highly suggest a full view here), and the bold, crazy pattern-mixing was definitely the highlight of her show.
neither here nor there, and i normally detest the shorts-suit, but anna sui’s version is utterly perfect. it would even be perfect as separates (note the shorts on the model in the pic set above). definitely splurge-worthy!
last spring, it was all about pairing your floral sundress with gladiator heels to create the girly biker look. next spring, designers have done the dirty work for you, and the results are undeniably feminine silhouettes done in big, bold prints that will make even the girliest ruffle feel bad ass. from left: look 16, diane von furstenberg; look 12, proenza schouler.
so, that’s my take. if you’re after a more serious synopsis, i loved refinery 29’s take on the hot trends from the runway. and if it’s eye candy you’re after, i think love made visible did an amazing job picking the best looks from the best shows.
happy weekend, everyone! and don’t forget our fab contest this week – entries close sunday, so get those comments in!
when diane von furstenberg debuted her shoe collection last fall, i had a feeling she was onto something. and sure enough, her spring collection has me all aflutter. in fact, i have more DVF shoes on my “must have” list for spring than any other brand…sort of a blessing, since most of her shoes top out around $200, rather than my beloved loeffler randalls, which are usually $400-500. sadly, most of my shopping is virtual these days, but there’s definitely fun to be had in wishful thinking, right?
that turquoise beaded flat sandal is a great nod to the ethnic print trend that’s so hot right now, but it’s not so obvious that you won’t be able to wear them next year. ditto for the bright woven leather pattern on the leeds mini wedge (another huge trend for summer). but the pair i’m really, really coveting is this fab flat “rialto” espadrille – the chunky gold nuggets and orange leather are endlessly versatile, and so classic you’ll turn to them for years of warm weather to come. i am having such lovely visions of these sandals accompanying me on some exotic beach getaway…hey, just because i can’t even afford the shoes doesn’t mean i can’t dream!
check out all the styles at shopbop, saks or nordstrom – just one more of the many fine qualities of this collection: accessibility!
my prayers have been answered – even the mighty shopbop has finally ponied up a 20% code. use code TREATS2008 to save 20% on all full-priced merchandise, today only!
how to treat yourself? sky’s the limit. those fingerless glove/mitten thingies i showed you a while ago are a no-brainer. i’ve been dying to pick up a new coat this season, and this might be just the excuse i’ve been looking for to splurge on something truly fabulous from diane von furstenberg. or these crazy cool blue suede boots from marc jacobs. or i might take this opportunity to pick up this gorgeous silk top from t-bags that i would otherwise have been far too cheap to buy – the print and ruffle details will be amazing under any number of blazers and cardigans, and i can pair it with anything from trousers to a pencil skirt to jeans.
so, what will you be splurging on?