I've had quite a few emails asking my thoughts on what sort of NYE cocktail dresses I would suggest, so I thought I would round-up a varied selection in today's post. There is a bit of something for everyone and many of these dresses can be worn after New Year's for various events throughout the rest of the year. Which one is your favorite?!
1. Sequin Body Con Dress - This is definitely a sassy number but I love that it comes down past the knees which helps to balance out the strappy top.
2. Blazer Dress - I love the look of a blazer as a dress! It's sexy and chic all at the same time. And pair it with skinny black faux leather leggings and pumps after the NYE festivities are over.
3. Wrap Dress - I had to put something in this round-up for my leopard print lovers.
4. One Shoulder Jumpsuit - Bows are hit or miss with me but the large bow at the shoulder on this jumpsuit is FAB-U-LOUS!
5. Burgundy Wrap Dress - While this dress would be gorgeous on NYE, it can also be used throughout the year for weddings, dinners and various events.
6. Jeweled Neck Sheath Dress - For those that want to be covered up a bit more, this turtleneck dress is so elegant.
7. Cutout Dress - Wowza. This dress is probably my favorite out of all my picks. The neckline and slim shape makes this one a stunner.
8. Velvet Wrap Dress - The shape of this dress is what immediately pulled me in! The wrap style and fitted waist makes this such a great flattering fit for a variety of body types. Throw a leather jacket on with it if you want to add a bit of edge to it.
Clearly I like to wear black in the winter. Ha! But honestly, it's so easy to put together and adding a red lip instantly makes it more festive. I did branch out with a neutral gold/beige outfit which I love and think would be great for after the holidays as well. The best thing about many of these party looks are they can be combined with other pieces in your closet.
In other news, today is free shipping day in the retail world and I rounded up a bunch of retailers that I shop at that are participating. It's a great time to finish up your holiday shopping!
I love burning candles all year round, but especially during the holiday season. I like a wide variety of scents from woodsy and earthy to sweet and warm. Here are 8 of my favorite candles that I love to burn now:
1. Diptyque Sapin de Lumiere Candle - I am a sucker for the packaging on the holiday candles that Diptyque puts out every year. Sometimes I like all 3 scents, other times just one or two of them. This year, I preferred the Sapin de Lumiere out of all 3. It's a much fresher version of a traditional fir tree scent which I prefer. And of course the jar and box are one of a kind and beautiful.
2. Thymes Frasier Fir Candle - I first discovered this candle at a local shop near my home and was panicked that I wouldn't be able to find it again. Then I went online and realized that it's a very popular candle for the holidays. Whew! Crisis averted. It smells like a fresh cut Christmas tree but in the most pleasant way possible.
3. Capri Blue Fir & Firewood Candle - I have to be honest and say that this smells very similar to the Thymes Frasier Fir candle so if you like that one, you will definitely love this one by Capri Blue. I find that both have a long burn time but the throw on this candle is slightly less than the Thymes, in my opinion. (throw refers to how far in a room the scent will reach)
4. Nest Fragrances Holiday Candle - This is a staple for me every year and would also make an amazing gift. While many of the selections in this list are woodsy, this is a nice mix of pine and cloves with pomegranate and mandarin orange.
5. Nest Fragrances Sparkling Cassis Candle - Out of all my picks, this candle is my favorite and one that I would burn all year long. I love it for the holidays but plan to buy multiple backups because the fruity scent is divine! It's a mix of pink champagne, creme de cassis, frosted cranberry and wild fig. I don't even have to light it to smell its scent throughout my entire home. It's that fragrant and lovely.
6. Nest Fragrances Hearth Candle - This was a new candle for me this year and one that I wouldn't normally gravitate towards because of how woodsy and earthy it smells. However, after burning it for the past few weeks, I love how cozy it makes my room smell and the scent is more subtle than others I have. It's a mix of rich wood, frankincense and smoky embers.
7. Byredo Tree House Candle - I already finished this one but I absolutely loved it and thought it would make an amazing holiday and/or winter scent. It's a bit more unique than the other woodsy scents I have mentioned with notes of sandalwood, bamboo and cedar mixed with leather, spice and myrrh. And the bottle is absolutely chic and gorgeous.
8. Diptyque Ambre Candle - If you want another Diptyque recommendation for the holidays, I love the Ambre scent and the Vanille scent too. Both are warm and rich yet not overpowering or too sweet.
I love this time of year because there are so many great deals from now until early January! Here are some retailers that I love to shop at that are currently having sales:
4. Club Monaco - They are having their friends and family event this weekend so you can get 25% off your purchase. My recommendation is to go straight for their coats - they are the best.
5. Sephora - There is promotion going on for all Beauty Insider members to get a certain amount of any order over $75! Great time to pick up some last minute gift sets (here is a post on 8 of my favorite sets).
9. West Elm - Currently they have 20% off furniture + 25% off everything else.
10. Ann Taylor and Loft - Both have amazing sales going on this weekend. Tons of new arrivals are on sale at Ann Taylor (and so much leopard print!) and I want all the cozy Lou & Grey stuff for winter.
I cannot with Miles' tongue in that photo - he is such a ham! This will be my final gift guide and it's tons of ideas for the home and or kitchen. I asked Stan to give his input on many of these because he is the chef in our home and knows all the good items to splurge on. Here are all my picks:
1. If I could, I would put a fuzzy rug in every single room of my home. These come in so many different colors and sizes and look so soft!
2. My girlfriend has this mirror in her house and it looks amazing (and is under $50)! It comes back in stock frequently so check back because it is definitely worth it.
3. I've seen so many people talking about this Instant Pot and now I really want to try it.
4. A bar cart is such a fun addition to the dining room or living room and can be decorated so many times throughout the year. This one is a splurge but so chic.
5. A pizza oven is not your ordinary gift but one that the entire family can enjoy!
6. Stan is the chef in our house and he loves all the fancy kitchen gadgets. This is on his wish list at the moment (frankly anything from the entire brand would be ok with him).
7. For the men in your life or anyone that is looking for a great knife set, Stan said this brand is fantastic and worth the splurge.
8. I'm not too fussy about my coffee but Stan is and he dreams of owning this espresso machine someday. (or this one if we win the lottery LOL - at that price it better hug me and make me breakfast)
9. For the baker in your life (or anyone that has a kitchen LOL), these canisters are adorable (and so functional).
10. Possibly a gift for yourself if you are looking for a chandelier option for various rooms in the house, this draped one is absolutely beautiful!
11. I love everything Gray Malin and think his pieces make the best gifts. I love his Beaches book and have given it to many of my friends (I have it too), his candle is so chic, I would lose my mind if I received one of his coffee table trays (this one and this one are everything) and of course his photography is what made him famous and would make the ultimate gift.
12. For a last minute stocking stuffer, these holiday mugs are adorable.
I updated The Holiday Shop with some new finds so be sure to check it out!
It's hard to see the exact detail from these photos but this skirt is sparkly with gold thread running throughout. It's so festive! However, it's not over the top and subtle enough to be worn past the holiday season. I'm all for special occasion outfits but I get especially excited when I can put together a look that can also be worn after the occasion is over. A fair isle sweater is a winter basic in my mind and the gold skirt can be worn with a simple black turtleneck or silk blouse for a non-holiday dinner or event. Together I think they strike the perfect balance of cozy and glam. There is also a matching turtleneck to the skirt but sadly it didn't work for me but I definitely think a monochromatic gold look could be stunning!
NARS just released their newest eyeshadow palette called the Ignited palette. It's a mix of shimmer and matte shades in warm pink and orange tones. The glitter is a bit chunkier than what I normally gravitate towards but the colors are stunning. This would make the most perfect NewYear's Eve palette with all of it's glittering options. I also think the warm undertones of the palette make it suitable for a ton of different skin tones.
When using the glitter shades, I like to apply them with my finger or directly onto a cream shadow or strong eyeshadow base. There is a slight bit of fallout so I would recommend doing any foundation or concealer last so it's easy to clean up any residual glitter bits. While the glitter shades are more suited for evening, the matte shades are great for everyday wear.
*pr samples included
Are you planning on picking this palette up?! And if you have it, what are your thoughts?
First things first, I had Miles' hat on backwards the entire time we were at the Christmas Tree Farm. LOL I was wondering why the seam was showing but didn't realize until we were about to leave. #momfail But the hat debacle aside, how hysterical is Miles in these photos? We visited a local Christmas Tree Farm last week and he had the best time. The straw was a bit hard to walk on so he fell down a few times (not hard but typical toddler wobbles) and he would just sit there and look around after falling down. It was hysterical. He never cried but would stare at all the trees and his face was priceless. The last pic was him staring at the fire they had going and he was fascinated by it.
I contemplated making the picture of me holding Miles in front of the Christmas shed one of our Christmas cards because his face is the best thing ever. He was running around having a blast and I wanted to get a picture of us in front of this cute shed. Every time I put him down he would run off (like always). This was the 3rd or 4th attempt at trying to have him stand with me and Stan snapped a picture because he said his face was cracking my mother and him up. Stan actually made that photo his phone's home screen because he says it makes him laugh out loud every time he sees it!
Today's gift guide is a mash-up of a variety of different gift ideas but all of them are under $100! There is something for a close friend, coworker, hostess, stocking stuffer and tons more. Read on for all my picks:
2. A silk pillowcase is such a luxury and one that you may not buy for yourself so it makes a great gift!
3. I have coffee table books all over my house and love them to spruce up a table or bookshelf. This set of three is perfect for a fashion lover and this one makes quite the statement.
4. I discovered this designer when I was looking for clip-on statement earrings and immediately fell in love with her styles! Each pair can be made for pierced ears or with a clip-on back and most are under $100. I have these and wear them with so much, these tassel earrings come in every color imaginable and these are a great warm weather vacation piece.
5. It may take a few weeks to be delivered and may arrive after Christmas, but these personalized phone cases are still a great gift idea!
6. Gummy candies as a gift?! YES! These are not your average gummies and are absolutely delicious. There are a ton of fabulous flavors and the packaging is super chic.
7. I bought these tech gloves for myself a few years ago and cannot survive winter without them. Now I gift them to so many friends and family and everyone always loves them.
8. This wrap cardigan is perfect for around the house or with jeans/boots for a casual day out. I ended up buying my mom one and she wears it at least twice a week now!
9. For another cozy sweater option (one can never have too many), this funnel neck style looks so comfortable. And I love the quilted pattern.
10. I'm crazy for fancy coasters and think they make a great hostess gift.
11. Give the gift of delicious treats! (no seriously, send some my way LOL) I love sampler tins like this one from Neiman Marcus and of course, you can never go wrong with something from this classic gift basket company. My parents used to order a basket from them every year and everything was always delicious!
12. You can gift someone this entire set or wrap up each candle individually for stocking stuffers.
13. For the frequent traveler, this backpack that can hold a laptop is an amazing gift! And the color options are beautiful.
14. There is nothing more relaxing that a good facial massage and this roller is great to use at night after applying skincare. I also love this tip - use it with a sheet mask to massage in the product!
I hope you were able to check off some people on your holiday gift list with my picks. Happy shopping!
To see more of my holiday content and gift guides, click here.
Cyber Monday sales are in full swing today and Sephora has one of the best deals going on both online and in-store. They have had a Daily Wow promotion going on every single day for the past week where one beauty buy is 50% off! The discounted items are available to everyone - both Sephora Beauty Insider Members and non-members. I'm a bit biased because I'm a neutral lover, but today's Daily Wow is the best one yet. All three of Tarte's Tartelette palettes are 50% off today only! Full price they are $39 so today's discount brings the total (before tax) down to $20. *throws confetti* That means you can buy one as a gift and then one for yourself (or buy both for yourself #nojudgement) And with the purchase of $45 or more, you can get a bag of samples or a bag of trial size products if you spend $90 or more. Here's a quick rundown of all the palettes and my thoughts on each:
1. Tarte Amazonian Clay Matte Eyeshadow Palette - This is an all matte palette in neutral shades. In other words - the palette we have all been dreaming of! If you haven't tried any Tarte palettes before, the texture is exceptional. The pigmentation is rich but can easily be sheered out to create a more subtle look. This is the kind of palette you need as a basic in your makeup collection. It has pale shades perfect for the lid, amazing neutral browns and taupes for the crease and a few dark shades to use as a liner or to intensify a smokey eye. If you need a no muss, no fuss palette for everyday that can create a variety of looks, this is the palette to get.
2. Tarte In Bloom Clay Eyeshadow Palette - If you primarily use matte shades but want the option to throw on a shimmer shade from time to time, this may be the palette for you! It contains 9 matte shades in varying neutral colors and 3 microshimmer shades. The microshimmer formula is beautiful and gives a gorgeous glow to the lid rather than a glittery finish. The shades are once again very wearable for daytime, but can also create a glam evening look as well.
3. Tarte Toasted Eyeshadow Palette - For someone that wants more of a mix of matte and shimmer shades, the Tarte Toasted Palette is the best option. While the other two palettes have a mix of cool and warm shades, this palette is for the warm lovers. All the colors have a golden undertone with shades of warm browns, rose golds, rich burgundies and a few gorgeous pale beiges that would be great on the lid. As with the two previous palettes, there are shades for the lid, crease and liner and they can be used to create a ton of different looks.
I know many of you will ask which one is my favorite and I honestly had to look at them over and over again to really decide. I love each palette and think the formula and pigmentation are exceptional and the colors so easy to blend. But, I do love wearing both matte and shimmer shades in my daily looks so the Tarte In Bloom Clay Eyeshadow Palette edges out over the other two by just a fraction of a point. Ha!
If you are looking to add a few extra items to your cart to get your sample bag, I would suggest the following to wear with this palette:
It Cosmetics Superhero Mascara - This has been my go-to mascara for the entire year. I will use others from time to time, but I always go back to this.
Urban Decay Primer Potion - I've been using this eyeshadow primer for at least 5 years if not longer. It makes my shadow last all day and prevents it from creasing.
Hourglass Brow Tool - The only brow tool I will use. The colors are perfection and the formula is unmatched. (and the spoolie on the end is the best - I wish they would sell it separately!)
Crease brush - This is one of my favorite crease brushes (I'm using it in the above images) and it creates a nice precise crease.
Becca Sunlit Bronzer - I am about to hit pan on this bronzer which almost never happens because I use this bronzer every single day. The formula is delicate, blends effortlessly and gives the perfect glow.
Pat McGrath Lust Lip Gloss - You can never have too many lip glosses, amiright?! Pat McGrath is the queen of amazing lip products, and this gloss is a must have. I have the shade Flesh Astral and it's the perfect peachy nude.
Shop the products from my post:
Thanks to Sephora for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.
There is nothing better than being cozy during the holidays (frankly I love it any time of the year). I am someone that is always cold so anything that keeps me warm is a great gift idea. Here are some options for the homebody/loungewear loving/give me all the cozy people in your life:
1. First things first is a cozy robe. My mom bought me this one last year and I still wear it every single day. And in the winter, you can find me wearing it over my clothes when I'm around the house. Here is a post of me wearing it.
3. If you have followed me for awhile you will know I love pajama sets (this post shares my favorite brand of all)! Here are a few that caught my eye - these come in so many different prints, this print is so elegant, I love the rainbow stripes on this set and this is the set I wear all the time.
4. Next up is loungewear. There is a definite difference between pajamas and loungewear (true loungewear lovers know this LOL). This loungewear set is on my wishlist, this one has the most gorgeous lace detail and this is a great set for the price (currently on sale)!
6. If my robe is not nearby, I have been known to drape myself in a throw or blanket and walk around the house. This blanket has been on my wishlist for ages, and I love the look of this one with the pom poms and if I was really going to splurge I would get this cable knit one.
7. One of my favorite things to do when I am lounging around is listen to my audiobooks. Stan bought me these wireless headphones a few months ago and they were the best gift ever!
8. For those that may not love slippers and would rather wear socks, these look so comfy and warm.
10. Fuzzy pullovers are everywhere this year and I love them both around the house and when I'm out and about running errands. This is the one I just wore the other day (see it here), I also love the heart detail on this one and this one has a ton of great reviews.
Blazer - J.Crew (runs big, on sale!) | Tank - Express (runs TTS, on sale!) | Leggings - Express (runs TTS, on sale!) | Shoes - Manolo Blahnik (amazing less expensive option on sale here) | Bag - Saint Laurent (similar here) | Earrings - Lisi Lerch | Lips - Tom Ford "Dylan"
I'm still in a food coma from my Thanksgiving meal, but I'm thankful so much of my shopping can be done online. LOL #sweatpantslife And if you are like me and doing most of your shopping online, hopefully this list and suggestions are helpful. Most of my favorite retailers are having great sales, and I pulled out some pieces not to miss from each one. But be sure to check out this post too which has ALL my recent outfits that are on sale! These joggers and this coat are two of the most popular selling items from that post already. Followed closely by these faux leather leggings.
But before you begin scrolling through all the below deals, be sure to check out today's outfit post because how cute are these sequin leggings? And the velvet blazer is great for a ton of different holiday outfits. Both are on sale along with my camisole which I have in multiple colors because it's a great basic. Let me know what great stuff you end up getting from all the Black Friday deals!! Be sure to check the Holiday Shop to see all of the new additions!
CLOTHING GAP - 50% off with code: BLKFRIDAY, extra 10% off with code: TREAT
