In the Mood for Velvet

As we enter the holiday party season, we also enter the season of velvet.  I'm pretty averse to velvet most times of the year, but I think the fabric has a special place between now and new years.  I especially like velvet pieces in classic black and navy paired with simple menswear inspired pieces like white button downs and classic trousers.

My current favorites from left to right:

Midnight Velvet  Tuxedo Blazer– I think this tuxedo inspired blazer is a perfect holiday investment that  you can pull out in December for years to come.  It’d be perfect  with jeans and a white blouse or thrown over a simple LBD. ($115  at TopShop)

Striped Velvet Dress – I love these velvet stripes and the sheer sleeves make it a bit sexy while still appropriate for a work or family party ( $140  at House of Fraser )

Maroon “Hagette” Stretch Velvet Pants – All these trousers need is a white button down and a festive statement necklace ($245 at Tory Burch)  

Rosa Velvet Heel – I love the gold heel! I’d pair this with a simple black dress and piles of gold jewelry. ($115  at Juicy Couture)

Holiday Style-Edition: Custom Christmas Cards from Minted

Have you bought your Christmas cards yet?

One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is the cards.  For many people, Christmas is one of the only times a year where they step away from their computers and actually HAND WRITE  letters and cards to their family and friends and to me, there's nothing better than getting a beautiful note in the mail!

Minted is one of my favorite sources for custom cards and paper goods.   They have a large community of designers that contribute from around the globe which I think tends to make their assortment of card options a little bit nicer than other photo-centric sites that offer custom cards.   They also print on beautiful thick matte paper that is much higher quality than what you can get from many places.

So,  if you haven't bought your cards yet, check them out! 

I love these colorful (kind of Kate Spade-esque) stripes:

They also give you tons of flexibility to customize the inside, back of cards and envelopes.

 

Plus,  custom cards don't have to include photos. They have some lovely options that you can customize with just your name  and personal note.

 Now, time to get stamps.... 

Holiday Decor: Expanding Your Color Palette

Although it's easy to stick to a 'classic' palette, the holiday season doesn't have to mean you fill your house with tons of red & green.   Each year, I find myself inspired by festive homes that pick a unique color palette for the season and stick to it.  My problem is that if I buy all my decor in some non-traditional colors, I worry I'll be sick of it after a year or two.  But then, I see something totally unique and inspiring like this insanely cute pink and light blue holiday party from Sitting in a Tree (Found via Pinterest)

Or, the peacock blues and greens that Emily Henderson has been using:

It's also fun to see when people pick holiday decorations that match perfectly with their year-round home decor, like these ladies did with yellow.

Focusing on silver for the holidays can be equally impactful, but feels a bit more traditional.  Check out this tree from Martha Stewart.

Happy decorating!

And the Holiday Season Has Begun

I can't believe Thanksgiving has already come and gone! I hope you had a wonderful food filled long weekend with family and friends!  While I'm sad that my favorite holiday has come and gone,  there are a few things I'm excited for as the holiday season gets into full swing...

Another Cute Personalized Gift Idea: iPhone Cases

When I don't have the time/money to make something myself, I still love giving personalized gifts.  (Like these custom blankets)   Plum Street Prints makes some darling little custom iPhone cases that I think could make a great  holiday gift for a friend or colleague.  At $55 they're a bit more pricey than your average phone cover (aroudn $35 from Apple) but they're completely personal, and I think it's worth a little splurge for something someone will use every day.

I love the large scale monogram on this chevron version: