It’s that time of year that every blogger writes and publishes a beautiful holiday gift guide, but I simply can’t bring myself to do it. In theory I want to. In practice, I won’t make the time. But more importantly, it’s because the best Christmas I’ve ever had was the year I gave my family donations to different charities instead of material gifts. For a while when I had very little money, we’d stick to a $25 gift limit which helped my wallet. But the year we extended the rules to be a charitable donation of $25, plus a small little something for your stocking (like a great-smelling soap – everyone uses soap, I hope), was the most thoughtful giving year we’ve had. Nothing has topped it before or since.Schedule
Picture this, Dear Readers: You head to Charleston for a long weekend with your man to see friends and enjoy the sights. You pack one of your favorite looks so that you can shoot and write a fun little “What to Wear to Thanksgiving” post. I mean this multi-layered pleated mini-dress with fun fall colors is perfect with a pair of Over the Knee (OTK) boots, right?! You walk around in the bright South Carolina sunshine all morning thinking, “Man, I must be looking super-fly because I keep getting a lot of double-takes.” You engage in a quick photo shoot and then check in on the pics to make sure they’re turning out alright. And then you see it, the reason for all those double-takes: YOUR DRESS IS 100% SEE THROUGH AND THE WORLD CAN SEE YOUR BRA, SLIP, THONG UNDERWEAR, AND BUTT. ScheduleSchedule
Happy day, Dear Readers! I hope you’ve had a wonderful weekend. Mine was chilly, which just might mean that winter is finally coming. And boy can a season change and different weather take a toll on your skin! That's why I'm writing today with some recommendations for what to put on your lovely face, as well as in your beautiful body to ensure you are nourished from both outside and within.
Each season, I try to find a few fabulous items that I know will have tremendous staying and wearing power - pieces that can turn heads for all the right reasons and that will work for the multitude of holiday parties and events I'll need to attend. Owning one or two unique yet basic pieces can really simplify any style conundrums you may run into as you prepare for the social obligations that November and December bring. Meeting your significant other's parents for the first time? Attending an engagement party? What about the office holiday party? A trip to the theatre? A religious service? That's a lot, and while you might be tempted, it's not the time to wrap yourself in a tight red dress and unleash the cleavage. It's the time to look covered up, respectful of the people who invited you, and classy.
I have really come to love the bell sleeve look, but it is so trendy that it's a little tricky to nail for a more traditional work place. If you work for a fashion-forward office, I say go for it all the way! For the rest of you who work in business casual or non-creative offices asking, 'Can I wear bell sleeves at work?', I'd say the answer is YES, but make it as professional as you can.
Something that has really struck me over the past few weeks is how wearing something small or seemingly subtle can signify a tremendous message to those around you. Prior to the election, many of us wore pantsuits to demonstrate support for our preferred female candidate. In her concession speech, Hillary Clinton wore purple to demonstrate the blend of blue and red and the need for the two parties to unite going forward. And today, we wear safety pins to signify to people that we are safety allies, that we are people who will walk with you and stand by you and stay close to you if you are in danger of being persecuted and subject to hate.
