New Year's Eve Hair & Beauty Ideas

With New Year's Eve just a day away, the party dresses and sparkly pumps are probably already bought,but the hair and makeup still needs to be sorted out. I love the beauty aspect of getting ready to go out on New Year's because it's a fun reason to get all dolled up and rock the big hair, big lashes and hopefully some sparkle.

When I'm working my "party hair," I usually break out the hot rollers and go for big volume with some lose curls, but a fun updo is also a great option because (with the right hairspray and bobby pins) those styles can last you way past midnight, which isn't always the case with my curls. 

These are some fun hair ideas that I have been loving:

Hair Inspiration

Shop This Sale: Cynthia Rowley Boston for NYE Dresses

I featured a big post last week on festive outfits for New Years Eve, but I saw this in my inbox and just had to share.

Cynthia Rowley's Boston boutique (on Newbury Street) is having an amazing sale right now with tons of great dresses for NYE that are priced up to 80% off! If you're in Boston and still looking for a festive outfit for Wednesday, head over to Cynthia Rowley and take a look.

Monday Morning Pick Me Up: Try a Little Harder

The Week in Fashion

Lacoste to Push Fashion Over Athletic Wear - Fashionista

Enter 2015: Flares Are the New Boyfriend Jeans - Style.com

Victoria Beckham’s fashion sales double to £30 million - The Telegraph

Vivienne Westwood Presenting Red Carpet Collection - Women's Wear Daily

5 Highs (and Lows) From the Year in Fashion - New York Times

The Best-Dressed Street-Style Stars of 2014 - The Cut 

9 Rising Model Stars to Watch in 2015 - Vogue

Happy Saturday!!

The Best of the After Christmas Sales

Brooks Brothers - Save up to 50% off, plus an extra 15% on December 26-27

Ralph Lauren - Get an extra 40% off sales styles 

J. Crew - Take 30% off regular priced items and 40% off sale items

J. Crew Factory - Take an extra 30% off clearance items with the code HAPPYSALE

Madewell - Take an extra 30% off sales styles with the code FORYOU

Club Monaco - Take 30% off sale and 50% off clearance with the code HOLIDAYS

French Connection - 40% off all sale with the code FC40XS

Piperlime - Take an extra 60% off final sale items with the code CHIC60

Bloomingdales - Save up to 70% on sale items 

CUSP - Save up to 60% on sale items 

Nordstrom - Save up to 50% on select items

Neiman Marcus - Save up to 60% on sale items

Saks Fifth Avenue - Take up to 70% off sale items

Lord & Taylor - Take up to 80% off sale and clearance items

Splendid - Enjoy 50% off select sale items

Calypso St. Barth - Take an extra 50% off all sale items

Kate Spade - Take an extra 25% off sale items with the code JINGLE25

Anthropologie - Take an extra 25% off sale items with the code INAFLURRY

New Year's Eve Worthy Outfits

We're not even through celebrating Christmas yet, but New Year's Eve is just six days away, so it's time to get our festive outfits together! Those close to me know that nothing makes me happier than glitz and glitter, so picking out something to wear on NYE is always a treat.

Ringing in the new year is the perfect excuse to get a new party dress, so I  rounded up my top picks along with a few mix and match separates options. And we can't forget the accessories! Keep scrolling for a festive mix of bags and shoes that are perfect for a fun night out.

Dresses

Gold Brocade Dress // Blue Metallic Dress // Silver Sequin Dress // Embellished Silk Dress

Embellished Crepe and Tweed Dress // Pink Lace Dress // Green Shift Dress // Gold Embroidered Dress Bead Embellished Gold Dress // Gold Rosette Dress // Dip-Dye Fringe Dress // Draped One-Shouldered Dress

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday!

Festive Christmas Eve Cocktails

The Christmas holiday is finally here! It's time to kick off the celebrations with a fun festive cocktail to enjoy with family and friends.

These are some great cocktail recipes to get the Christmas festivities started.

Sparkling Spiced Mulled Cider Cocktail // Fizzy Cranberry Ginger Pear Cocktails 

Chocolate Peppermint Bark Martini // Cranberry Punch Pizzazz // Cider Jack Cocktails

Classic Eggnog //  Peppermint Patty // Winter Dreams Cocktail

Baileys & Amaretto Hot-Tails // Mulled Wine

Cheers!

Last Minute Holiday Gifts You Can Find Anywhere

With just two days to go until Christmas, the crunch to finish shopping for gifts is on. If you're planning on heading out to the stores today and tomorrow, these are some great gift options that any adult on your list would enjoy receiving.

Perfume or Cologne Set: If you know someone wears a specific perfume or cologne, head over to your local department store and pick up a gift set or fresh bottle for them. They'll run out eventually!

Cashmere Sweater: I don't know anyone that wouldn't wear a cashmere sweater in a great color. Your local department store will have tons of options for men and women. If you're hoping to get a deal, stop by TJ Maxx, Nordstrom Rack or Last Call and check our their selection. They usually have lots of options at great prices this time of year.

Moscow Mule Mug Set: Who doesn't love a Moscow Mule cocktail? A set of two or four is a festive gift for the holiday season and you can always find them at your local Crate & Barrel, Williams-Sonoma or Sur La Table.

DVD Box Set: Give the gift of binge-watching their favorite TV show or mini series over the holiday break! You can find deals on these at your local Best Buy and Target.

Bar Set: If know someone that loves entertaining, a classic bar set or kit is a great gift that they can use in their home all year long.

Throw or Blanket: When they're binge watching TV shows or Christmas movies over the holiday break, they'll love a warm blanket or throw to curl up on the couch with. Your local department store or Pottery Barn would have some great options. If you're on a budget, check out HomeGoods for high end blankets at a discount.

Wine or Beer of the Month Memberships: Give your wine and beer loving friends and family some new options to try in the new year. You can order the membership online and place a picture print out in a small box for them to open.

Scarf and Hat Set: Just like a cashmere sweater, everyone needs hats and gloves this time of year. Buy the highest quality you can afford in a color that would compliment the receivers winter coat. Head over to the accessories department at a large department store for the best selection.

A Gift Card to Their Favorite Restaurant: Some people think gift cards are a cop out, but I disagree when it comes to restaurants. If you know they frequent a particular place, you'll give them a good excuse to treat themselves to a night out in the new year.

Happy Holidays and good luck at the mall!!

Easy Christmas Morning Breakfast Recipes

Every Christmas morning, my family gathers at my parents house to exchange presents and enjoy a leisurely breakfast. Preparing breakfast for 11 people is no small feat, especially when there are kids running around and everyone is gathering by the tree to open presents, but my Mom has her system down pat, and it's all about the prep.

The key to a great Christmas breakfast without spending your morning in the kitchen is choosing recipes that allow you to get most, if not all, of the prep done the day before. These are some great recipe options that you can start the afternoon before, keep in the fridge overnight and pop in the oven on Christmas morning just in time for breakfast.

The gingerbread muffins can actually be baked and glazed the day before. Just cover them with plastic wrap to keep them fresh for the next morning. I highly recommend the French Toast Bread Pudding from Ina Garten. This easy recipe has been a  breakfast and brunch staple of my Mom's for years and it's always a crowd-pleaser.

Fresh Fruit Baked Oatmeal // French Toast Bread Pudding // Cowboy Quiche
Gingerbread Muffins with Lemon Glaze // Parmesan Hash Brown Cups // Very Berry Fruit Salad
 

Monday Morning Pick Me Up: Wake Up With a Purpose

The Week in Fashion

My-Wardrobe.com ceases trading - The Telegraph

New York Fashion Week to Leave Lincoln Center - The Business of Fashion

Beware, Designers: What Frida Giannini’s Departure at Gucci Tells Us - New York Times

Rent the Runway Raises Another $60 Million to Open More Stores - Fashionista

The 10 Trends We’re Most Looking Forward to in 2015 - Vogue

The 15 Best Ad Campaigns of 2014 - Fashionista

Happy Saturday!!

Stocking Stuffers for Him

We tackled stocking stuffers for the ladies yesterday, and now it's on the gents. My picks are a mix of little thing's that he'll enjoy, like the flask and the beer playing cards, and things he needs but maybe wouldn't buy for himself, like the cashmere hat and quality face moisturizer.

It's getting down to the wire with online ordering but many of these items are also available in stores. Just call ahead and make sure it's in stock before braving the crowds at the mall.

Cashmere Hat // Kiehl's Moisturizer // Merino Wool Socks

Leather Flask // Sterling Silver Cuff Links // Beats Earbuds

Beer Playing Card // Lindt Chocolates // After Shave Balm

Best Stocking Stuffers for Her

Christmas is one week away and it's time to finalize those stocking stuffers! Stockings are often an afterthought because most people are focused on buying the big gifts for under the tree. I have certainly found myself at the drugstore on Christmas Eve looking for little beauty items to add to my Mom and sisters' stockings.

 With seven days to go, it's not too late to order your stocking stuffers online. These are my top picks for women:

Eos Lip Balm // J. Crew Hair Ties // Butter London Nail Set // Lush Bath Bomb

Beats Ear Buds // BaubleBar Stud Earrings // Ghirardelli Chocolates // XO Note Cards

Snowflake Socks // Hanky Panky Set // Jo Malone Candle // L'Occitane Hand & Foot Cream

Stay tuned tomorrow for the best stocking stuffers for men!

Get the Look: Karlie Kloss Street Style

Sweater // Shirt // Boots // Pants // Trench // Bag

Holiday Cookie Guide Part Three

With Hanukkah starting tonight and Christmas less than a week away, the holiday season is ramping and more cookies are needed! The second half of December is like a mad dash to the finish line and everyone deserves a cookie break.

For Part Three of my Holiday Cookie Guide (See One and Two), I wanted to have a mix of my all time favorites, like Peanut Butter Blossoms, with some new recipes that I'm trying this year, like the Chocolate Powder Puff Cookies (how can I have not thought of that combo!).

I hope you have enjoyed the Holiday Cookie Guide posts. If you read FC regularly, you know that I don't do a ton of posts on cooking and baking, but I have really enjoyed making them, so if you would like to see more recipe round-ups, leave me a note in the comments.

Chocolate Cherry Dips // Chocolate Powder Puff Cookies // Bake & Slice Chocolate Swirls 

Salted Chocolate-Caramel Rounds // Peanut Butter Blossoms // New England Hermits

Peppermint Shortbread // Almond Joy Macaroons // Hazelnut-Chocolate Sandwiches

Top Looks from the Christian Dior Pre-Fall Show in Tokyo

While Valentino was in NYC doing Couture, House of Dior set up shop in Tokyo where it held its first ever show for a Pre-Fall collection. Unlike most Dior collections, Pre-Fall 2015 is all about clothes that work for day-to-day living. In front of a crowd of more than 1000, Raf Simons sent models down the runway ready to take on the fall season with a versatile collection filled with coats, jackets, day dresses and flattering pants.

These are my top picks from the collection:

Monday Morning Pick Me Up: Do This

Holiday Cookie Guide Part Two

Time for part two of the Holiday Cookie Guide! You can view part one here.

My favorite holiday cookies in this guide are a mix of seasonally appropriate recipes, like the gingerbread and German spice cookies, and cookie recipes that are great all year round, like the peanut butter cookies dipped in chocolate and the citrus cookie, which I love anytime with a cup of tea.

What are your go-to holiday cookies? If you can, leave the recipe link in the comments below.

S’mores Cookie Sandwiches // Dried Cranberry and Chocolate Cookies // Cinnamon Spritz Sandwich Cookies 

Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies // Cinnamon Roll Cookies // Citrus Cookies

Ultimate Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies // German Spice Cookies // Soft and Chewy Gingerbread Cookies

Check back early next week for the final installment of the Holiday Cookie Guide. 

The Week in Fashion

Why J.Crew Hired A 4-Year-Old - Refinery 29 

Style.com is Shutting Down Its Print Magazine - Fashionista

John Galliano Will Make His Couture Debut for Margiela in January - Fashionista

Prince William and Kate Try to Seem Normal (when it comes to fashion) - New York Times

Happy Birthday Taylor Swift! Shop the Singer’s Look for Under $200 - Vogue

Frida Giannini and Patrizio di Marco to Exit Gucci - The Business of Fashion

Julia Roberts Is the Star of Givenchy’s Spring ’15 Campaign - Style.com

Happy Saturday!!

Top Picks from Valentino’s New York Couture Show

The Paris couture shows don't start until January but designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli delighted high fashion fans with a special show earlier this week in New York. Entitled Valentino Sala Bianca Haute Couture, the collection is a celebration of Valentino's 1960's couture collections at the Sala Bianca in Florence and the Sfilata Bianca in Rome, which were made up of all white and cream designs.

These are my top picks from the special collection:

Holiday Cookie Guide Part One

I have a confession to make: I have been a very bad blogger this holiday season and neglected to create any holiday gift guides. In order to make up for this I decided to create a holiday guide for something that I love even more than gifts, and that's cookies!

Growing up, my Mom always attended an annual cookie swap where, a week before Christmas,  everyone meets up and brings two dozen of their favorite holiday cookies to share with the rest of the group. This way, each family has a variety of cookies to enjoy over Christmas. Of course in my house the cookie supply never lasted to Christmas Eve.

Whether you're making them for a swap, giving them as gifts or just enjoying them at home,    
holiday cookies are a great way to celebrate the season.  

These are some classic recipes to get you started on your holiday cookie making:

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Oatmeal Cookies // Peppermint Meringues // Hungarian Shortbread

Vanilla Bean Confetti Cookies //  Italian Rainbow Cookies // Eggnog Florentines

Eggnog Cookies //  Pecan Snowball Cookies // Raspberry Almond Thumbprint Cookies

Check back later this week for part two of the holiday cookie guide!

The Perfect Holiday Party Skirt by SKOT Apparel

Holiday party season is in full swing and it's a lot easier to pull together a festive outfit when you have a go-to staple piece. For some it's a LBD, for others it's a great beaded top. For me, it's The Party Skirt by SKOT Apparel. I discovered this skirt line last year when Krystal Schlegel posted about it on her blog and I loved the idea of one great skirt that comes in several colors and lengths, making it the perfect addition to your party wardrobe.

My favorite skirt option is the short black one that I mix and match with different tops and accessories. I'm all about the glitter and gold this holiday season so I jazzed up the black skirt with a sparkly top and gold accessories.

Party Skirt // Top // Earrings // Bag // Pumps // Bracelet

The Party Skirt comes in a variety of colors and lengths, making it a great evening piece for women of every age and shape. These are my favorite colors and lengths. If any of these go on sale after Christmas, I'm going to try and scoop up another one to wear for New Years Eve.

Additional Options

Pink // Black // Grey // Red // Navy // Silver // Purple

Monday Morning Pick Me Up: Dita Von Teese

The Week in Fashion

The 2015 Pantone Color Of The Year Is... - Refinery 29

Madonna Stars in New Versace Ad Campaign - New York Times

100 Years of Beauty in Vogue—From the Gibson Girl to the Social Media Star - Vogue

Karl Lagerfeld on the Very Personal Story Behind Chanel’s Austrian Adventure - Style.com 

Alexander Wang Debuts Denim with an Incredibly NSFW Ad Campaign - Fashionista

Unraveling Anthropologie's Intoxicating Store Experience - Racked

Keeping Cozy this Winter with Peruvian Connection

On Thursday evening I had the pleasure of attending an event for local Boston bloggers at Peruvian Connection that was hosted by the lovely Kristen Uekermann and Kayte Demont. 

Peruvian Connection was started in the 70's by mother and daughter Biddy and Annie Hurlbut and currently puts out four collections per year. Originally catalog only, the company now has a thriving e-commerce business plus seven boutiques. 

I had not previously heard of Peruvian Connection but I fell in love upon entering their Newbury Street boutique. Knits, particularly sweater dresses and layering pieces, are my favorite fashion items for the cold weather season because they are beautiful, comfortable and, most importantly, warm. 

The Newbury Street boutique was chocked full of beautiful sweater dresses, wrap coats and layering pieces that can be worn for work and play all winter long. 

These are the items on my holiday wish list:

Ruana // Black Dress // Wrap Coat // Grey Dress

Cable Dress // Long Cardigan // Alpaca Coat // Striped Dress

Big thank you to Kristen and Kayte for introducing me to Peruvian Connection. I will most definitely be going back!

The NET-A-PORTER Sale is Back!

After some technical issues, the NET-A-PORTER sale is back up and running! There are some fantastic fall/winter fashion finds plus some great items to break out for the holiday party season.

Check out my top NET-A-PORTER sale picks that you can keep in the fashion rotation all winter long.

Velvet Jeans // Maroon Dress // Belted Coat // Gold Necklace // Booties
Tote Bag // Gold Pumps // Gold Earrings // Tunic Sweater // Hat // Shoulder Bag
Double Breasted Coat // Embellished Tank // Embellished Sweatshirt // Scarf
Lace Sweater // Grey Pencil Skirt // Red Dress // Wool Skinny Pants

Monday Morning Pick Me Up: Believe in Yourself

The Week in Fashion

Sephora is Being Sued for Racial Discrimination - Fashionista 

10 Stylish, Orthodox Women Talk Balancing Modesty & Fashion - Refinery 29

The Post-Thanksgiving Detox: How to Press Reset With Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner - Vogue

Net-a-Porter sale crashes site - sending shoppers into a Twitter frenzy - Daily Mail

How Bulgari's 130th Birthday is Celebrating Jewelry and Feminism - Elle

I tried the Victoria's Secret Angel diet - The Telegraph 

Chic Sales & Discount Codes for Black Friday

Happy Thanksgiving! Today is all about enjoying the day with good food, family and friends, but there is nothing wrong with spending the rest of the weekend crossing names off your holiday shopping list.

I love a mall as much as the next girl, but there aren't enough sales in the world to get me inside one on black friday. I prefer to take advantage of the free shipping and shop to my hearts content from the comfort of my couch. If you're looking to get a head start, lots of our favorite brands have already kicked off their sales online and many of them will continue straight through the weekend. 

Keep reading for a list of the best sales in fashion and beauty. 

Fashion

Kate Spade Surprise Sale - Enjoy up to 70% off

Tory Burch - Take up to 30% off with the code LUCKY

French Connection - 40% off everything with a code from Instagram @frenchconnection_us

Jack Wills - 30% off everything with the code THANKY

Brooks Brothers - Take an additional 15% off your purchase

Gap - 50% off with the code BLKFRIDAY through 11/28 and 40% off with code GIFT on 11/29

Shopbop - Take up to 25% off with the code GOBIG14

J. Crew - 30% off full-price styles & extra 40% off sale styles with the code HOLIDAY

Madewell - 25% off everything with the code GIFTON

L.K. Bennett - 30% off select items with the code AW14

Piperlime - 25% off with the code THANKFUL25 

BaubleBar - 15% off two items with the code FRIDAY15, 25% off three items with code the FRIDAY25 and 35% off four or more items with code FRIDAY35

Joie - 25% off everything with the code THANKS

Saks - Enjoy 60% off select items

Nordstrom - Enjoy up to 40% off select items

Neiman Marcus - Take an extra 20% off sale items

Bloomingdales - Take $25 off for every $200 spent

Lord & Taylor - Take an extra 20% with the code THANKS

Mango - Take 30% off all items with the code 5BLACK2

Neiman Marcus Last Call - Take an extra 40-60% off everything

Beauty

Laura Mercier - 25% off any $100 purchase

StriVectin  - Take 20% off all products purchased online with the code FFNOV14

Supergoop! - Take 30% off all products 

Shop Zoe Life - Take 30% off your entire purchase with the code SECRETCODE

Omorovicza - Take 30% off all products

Soko Glam - Enjoy free shipping, 30% off site-wide & a complimentary gift set 

Bliss - Enjoy 20% off all online purchases

Birchbox - For every $60 you spend on subscriptions (use the code BOXME), you'll a get free Birchbox

Rita Hazan - Enjoy 25% off all products 

Yes To - Take 40% off all products on Friday and 35% off on Saturday and Sunday

Drybar - Save 20% off products and tools in-store

Shu Uemura - Enjoy 15% off and free shipping when you spend $125 and use the code HAPPY 125

Space NK - Spend $100, and receive a $25 gift card for your next $100 purchase

Happy Shopping!!

Aritzia: Who Are They and Why You Should Be Shopping There

I learned about Arizia, a very popular Canadian boutique chain, in an article from the lovely team at Fashionista. I had never heard of them before, but they actually have 15 U.S. stores plus a stateside website. How have I never heard of them?

It turns out that most American shoppers are completely unfamiliar with the boutique despite it being incredibly popular in it's native Canada and having a U.S. retail presence. The company features merchandise from it's own internal brands along with items from popular mainstream brands like Citizens of Humanity, J Brand and Mackage.

Curious about a fashion company that I had never heard of, I poked around their U.S. website (they don't have a store in Boston) and I found what they offered, from both internal and external brands, to be pretty great. These are some of the items I liked the most.

Sweater // Hat // Cape // Scarf // Phone Case

Coat // Bag // Top // Skirt // Jeans / Dress

According to CEO Brian Hills, "Our proposition is pretty simple," says CEO Brian Hill. "We offer beautifully designed clothes that are on-trend, high quality, and of good value." I haven't ordered anything from them, so I cannot attest to quality level, but I do agree that they do an excellent job in providing fashionable, of-the-moment clothing and accessories at a very decent price point. They also have a great designer denim collection. 

If you're interested in checking out Aritzia, I recommend heading over to their website ASAP, as their Black Friday sale has just kicked off with up to 60% off everything they have. This sale is also happening at their retail stores. 

If you have ever shopped Aritzia, I would love to hear your thoughts about them, particularly the quality of their products. 

Monday Morning Pick Me Up: Eleanor Roosevelt

The Week in Fashion

73 Questions with Amy Adams - Vogue

C. Wonder to Close Most of  Its Stores - Fashionista

What Would Cinderella Wear? Costuming Lily James & Cate Blanchett  - Vogue

What Happens to Your Wardrobe When You Leave Life on the Front Rows - The Telegraph 

A Moment with CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Winner Paul Andrew - The Fashion Spot

Steven Meisel Shoots Pirelli Calendar - Women's Wear Daily

Alternatives to Pie This Thanksgiving

When it comes to Thanksgiving desserts, pie is the most obvious choice, but I grew up with an Italian grandmother that served more desserts than side dishes on Thanksgiving day, so pie was just the tip of the iceberg. 

Keeping with my grandmother's tradition, I wanted to round up some festive non-pie dessert options to serve this Thanksgiving. 

Pumpkin Cake Cheesecake via Sally's Baking Addiction

Pumpkin Pecan Ginger Snap Ice Cream via Saveur

Get the Look: Touch of Plaid

Blazer // Jeans // Pumps // Bag // Scarf

Monday Morning Pick Me Up: The Other Side

November Wish List

I looked at the calendar today and freaked out when I realized that Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away. The Thanksgiving holiday doesn't make me nervous but knowing that Christmas is right around the corner definitely does. Some people are nearly done with their holiday shopping and I haven't even started. I'm tempted to go online, spend a few hours and knock out my shopping list in one swoop. Is anyone else avoiding the mall this gift buying season?

Work has been great lately but crazy busy as well. Unfortunately, that meant Fashionably Chic had to take a back seat over the last few weeks, so I apologize for the lack of posts. I'm hoping tonight's November Wish List post will be the start of a full week of content. Fingers crossed!!

The Woman I Wanted to Be // Body Scrub // Earrings // Cape

Dress // At the Emperor's Table // Bag // Gloves

I logged onto Pinterest and I found so many great wish list items I had forgotten about. The starburst earrings from BaubleBar are such a good deal and are perfect for the holidays. I was searching around earlier this week for some gloves and I can't find any of my leather pairs for some reason. I saw these monogrammed ones featured on Summer Wind and I loved the green pair. They would also go nicely with this glam alpaca cape. What I love about this one is that I can wear it out as an alternative to a jacket or throw it on at the office when I get cold (I always do).

My sister Emma scored an amazing Tory Burch cross body bag in green from Nordstrom Rack and I am absolutely in love with it. I don't think it's still available, but this one is pretty damn close, which is good enough for me. 

What isn't good enough for me is my current skincare routine. My skin is not loving the heat inside my house and I have had to change out some products. I've just started using a new body moisturizer, which has been helping, and I'm looking to add in this sea salt scrub. It got amazing reviews and you can't beat the price. 

Valentino's At the Emperor's Table has been on my Amazon wish list forever and I now it's finally available for purchase. If I don't snatch it up this month, I may ask for it for Christmas. I discovered Diane von Furstenberg's book through her new reality show on E!. I'm not crazy about the show contestants, but I think Diane is an amazing role model for any woman trying to make it in fashion.

If anyone has read either of the new books by Diane and Valentino, I would love to get your thoughts!

The Week in Fashion

Kim Kardashian tries to break the internet; Internet responds hilariously - Elle

Unravelling the mystery behind L'Wren Scott's path to self-destruction - British GQ

How Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop has become a role model for other celebrities - New York Times

Power Moves | Ralph Rucci exits, Aerin names CEO, Chris May to Selfridges - Business of Fashion 

Baz Luhrmann unveils wonderfully insane Barneys holiday windows - Fashionista

Bunny Mellon: the woman Victoria Beckham wants to be - The Telegraph

Kendall Jenner: Social-Media Sensation Turned Beauty Star - Vogue

Happy Saturday!!

Get the Look: Separates for Evening

Shirt // Skirt // Pumps // Clutch // Earrings 

I have a gala to attend this Saturday evening in Boston where I will technically be on duty as I help a client navigate the scene and promote their business. I'm actually really looking forward to it but what I'm not looking forward to is getting dressed for it. The dress code is a cross between black tie and cocktail and, for some reason, I have zero desire to wear a dress. 

As I went back and forth about what to wear, I started thinking about what non-dress outfits I would be able to get away with. I contemplated a feminine tuxedo a la Gwyneth Paltrow at a recent amfAR benefit but decided against it because I don't have the time to buy the suit and tailor it to fit. But I did like the idea of separates. 

The thing about separates for evening is that they are easy to put together and mix and match, but they can age you if you're not careful. If you don't know what I mean, just Google mother of the bride outfits. 

One evening separates look that I have always liked is a crisp white shirt paired with a classic black ball gown-like skirt. The skirt stays within the black tie parameter and the white button down adds a youthful, modern feel to the overall look. I don't know about you, but I'm completely sold on this idea! I already have the white shirt, pumps, bag and shoes, so all I need is to find myself a skirt. 

I found tons of other great tops and skirts that you can mix and match for the holiday season. Keep reading to see my favorites.