Food for the Soul

Now that finals have ended, term papers are completed, and a semester of stressful senior work is over, it is time to unwind. I have unpacked and nestled back into my mom's home in Connecticut for a month of some serious rest and relaxation while prepping for the holiday's and a new year. Amongst the typical hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping, cookie decorating, and cocktail hours with my hometown favorites, I have made it a point to read at least four books over the next month. Yes, that means at least one book a week. If I don't do it, I will not fail myself like my English professor, I will not denounce myself with unsatisfactory effort, and I refuse to wallow in guilt. This is purely a vacation goal for my intellectual pleasure and these are the books I have chosen to read (or re-read; for love of the written word does not one easily overcome) :

1. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (one of my all-time favorites)

3. The Road by Cormac McCarthy

3. Carter Beats the Devil by Glen David Gold

4. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett (adored the movie, but never read the book!)

What will you be reading over the Holidays?

Texturize, Mesmerize, Fashionize

As the great Alvy Singer once said, "everything our parents said was good for us, is bad: sun, milk, red meat, college!" Let's face it, the rules of life have completely changed and things are now left  to our own spontaneity, by means of social appropriateness of course. With spontaneity, obviously comes creativity, and in fashion, that means the magic of mixing and matching textures of fabrics. This kind of blending has been evolving for quite some time now. As I was browsing a gorgeous Kate Moss editorial discovered by dapper kid from 1992, I realized how relevant her outfits were in the scheme of this current season's wardrobe. The mixture of feathers with tweeds and embroidered tights with lace-lined skirts; it is all such an elegant backdrop to a decade that was neither the 90s nor now. Despite the historical relevance, mixing textures creates a mesmerizing attraction and an irresistible high fashion look.

Lady Luck

1. Corset- TopShop $46
2. Embroidered Jacket- TopShop $139
3. Feather Skirt- Lia Kes $199
4. Beige Croc Pumps- Mario Bologna $362
5. Handbag- Miu Miu $940
6. Feather Veil Top Hat- arden b $28
7. Corset Waist Belt- Yves Saint Laurent $248
8. Vintage Pearl Earrings- 1928 $18
9. Les Folies Noirs Eyeshadow- Chanel $60
10. Damage Lipstick- NARS $24
11. Papa Don't Peach Blush- Too Faced $20
12. Perfume- Chloe $110

Personal Style Inspirations

The Charmed Life

I have been shamelessly obsessed with the Olsen twins since their toddler days on Full House. But it was not until I noticed their faces on the covers of Marie Claire, Elle, and Vogue that I became fashion inspired. The girls changed my ideas about the norms and constraints of personal style and allowed me to realize that inspiration is everywhere and there are no boundaries. 

For me, personal inspirations come from colors in nature and delicate antiques, like tea cups or chandeliers. I think the earth knows the best color palettes, particularly in Autumn when the trees introduce the ideas of wearing orange with mustard yellow and the ground proves that moss green looks great with burnt red. Antiques bring out an elegance and grace of things that are old and appreciated. They inspire a look that can be replicated in dainty florals, soft lace, and glowing crystals. Creativity, imagination, and confidence are what makes a statement. 


Mary Kate warms up the December cover for Nylon and makes some fabulous remarks about what inspires her personal style backstage at the shoot.

What inspires your personal style?

My Cosmic Supper

I love pondering who would attend the dinner of my dreams. The idea of the cosmic dinner is to have the ideal guest list, sitting around a big table, highlighted by candles and lanterns, eating the most superb meal, and sipping on bottomless glasses of wine. I imagine a night of intriguing conversation, my favorite songs, goofy dancing, and endless laughter.

My guests:

bob dylan & joan baez

karl lagerfeld

ingrid bergman

audrey hepburn

david bowie

john belushi

johnny depp

neal cassady

bill murray

mark twain

Charlotte, from Charlotte's Web

yves saint laurent

maya angelou

Who would be at your dinner?

Church Street Chic

The Sartorialist is one of the first blogs I laid my web-searching eyes on and have yet to look away. The problem is that I am constantly falling in love with so many of these sidewalk looks but the beloved Scott Schuman, with the rest of his Sartorialist team, updates so frequently that I forget the outfits before I can put together a similiar one! So I have decided to capture some of my weekly favorites and style these looks to the best of my ability. Let me know what you think :)

Get the Church St. NYC look:

1. Striped Jersey Dress- $180 liberty.co.uk
2. Sequin Vest- $18 forever21.com
3. Leather Combat Boots- $678 brownsfashion.com
4. Clutch- $90 (on sale from $128) calvinklein.com

5. Roberto cavalli Gold Charm Bracelet- $270 net-a-porter.com
6. Ray-Ban Clubmaster Shades- $129 swell.com
7. Brown Skinny Belt- $172 chickdowntown.com
8. Loose Socks- $22 tabbisocks.com
9. Felt Butterfly String Lights- $25 lauraashley.com
10. iPhone 3Gs 32GB- $299 apple.com
11. Grande Holiday Blend- $2.49 a starbucks near you!

Around the Ferris Wheel the Faerie Whirls

{la.douleur.exquise}

Glittering Gold & Blue

I think it's about that time to start thinking about those extra special holiday outfits. As a child, yes, Christmas was my favorite holiday for obvious reasons including the mountains of cookies, endless gift swapping, and of course, Rudolph. Surprisingly, the velvet hand-me-down jumper that my mom chose for my Christmas outfit was not. I learned to create my own fancy outfit at a very young age.

Now these outfits should not be limited to December 25th. We all know we have cookie swaps, cocktail parties with our girlfriends, Christmas dinner with our family or Hanukkah celebrations, and even New Years Eve to be thinking about. Despite what events we're penciling in, our party outfits for the next few weeks should add some sparkle to everyone's evening.

1. Gold Glitter Dress- $88 ardenb.com

2. White Tuxedo Blazer: Elizabeth James- $420 25park.com

3. Blue Satin Pump: Stuart Weitzman- $548 farfetch.com

4. Shimmer Clutch- $198 jcrew.com

5. Blue Chandelier Earrings- $40 fantasyjewelrybox.com

6. Paul Dorf Lipstick in Victorian- $22 yesstyle.com

7. Christian Dior perfume in Midnight Poison- $72 beauty.dior.com

8. Christmas Gift Boxes- $16 - zarahome.com

Style Inspired :: Katharine Ross

A flawless smile with adorable dimples, lashes that go on for days, long wavy hair, and the ability to make both Robert Redford and Paul Newman fall in love with her; my envy for Katharine Ross is endless. Her outstanding roles in Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, The Graduate, and Stepford Wives, placed her as an icon among the Hollywood elite. Her beauty and style, both on and off the screen, placed her as a fashion statement for adoring fans, well beyond her time on the silver screen.

Jellybean Rooftops & Candy Cane Lane

We have yet to discuss my dangerous fixation for those that are sugary and delicious. In other words, I have an unsalvageable sweet tooth, particularly for chocolate. So when it comes time for our family's annual Gingerbread houses, my gittyness is through the roof. Visions of tootsie rolls, marshmallows, and even sugar plums, are quite literally dancing through my head. Every year since before I was born, we have reunited with my mom's childhood neighbors and created the most majestic gingerbread homes using our creativity and bottomless bowls of holiday candy. 

My House!

It must not go without saying, that we all left with a painful, candy-induced, stomachache. Obviously, well worth it.