HOLIDAY '14 | Stylish Gifts for Her

Carey Mulligan in the Dec '14 issue of Harper's Bazaar UK. 

Originally posted in The CLOSET

She's wonderful. You adore her. And she's a nightmare to shop for. I mean, total nightmare. And since you want to give her something she's going to love, it's a perennial struggle to figure out what to buy for the woman who's already got it all. 

This season, my shopping M.O. is all about giving her exactly what she wants. And while you're never going to get it perfect every time, I've got three tricks that I rely on to please any picky giftee, without having to resort to gift cards: keep it luxe, keep it festive, and always include a gift receipt.

Luxe gifts work because the stylish woman is naturally snobby; she can't help herself. Whether it's an HBC stripe, Prada sunglasses, or a bottle of Tom Ford on her bathroom counter, luxe labels serve as daily inspiration to her fashion-fuelled aesthetic. And luxe doesn't always have to mean expensive - a tiny gift from a respected label means more to the stylish woman than loads of little random gifts. If you want to splurge on a larger purchase but can't make it work for your budget, call on friends and family and go in as a group for a bigger buy.

Another fail-proof way to shop for the style maven is to keep it festive. The holidays are all about a little impracticality which means yes to shine, yes to sparkles and definitely yes to that perfect Christmas red. Whether she wears it all year or not, she'll love being able to bust out that gold lame snood every year when the snow starts to fall. What's a snood? Exactly.

And, of course, be sure to ALWAYS include a gift receipt. This small gesture means you've taken the time to go out and pick something for her (which is always appreciated), while still giving her an exit strategy in case the gift doesn't fit/she already owns it/she had her eye on something else.

Still not sure what to get her? Scroll through the thumbnails below for 50 stylish gift ideas...

READ MORE...

'TIS THE SEASON: Your Best-Ever Holiday Wardrobe

Photo via H&M

Originally posted in The CLOSET

Now's the time where we start to compile our wishlists and our seemingly endless to-do's. And while it's easy to let our wardrobes take a backseat since we have so many other things to check off our lists, here's some holiday food-for-thought for you. How can you take care of others when you haven't taken care of yourself? How can you shop when you're not properly outfitted? How, pray tell, can you host a holiday party when you're not the best-dressed babe in the room?

And so, I've put together the ultimate holiday wardrobe for you, from the coziest jammies (consider them your down-time partners in crime), to the best boots (some snow-friendly, some sparkly), to the most stunning party pieces to get you through the holidays in enviable style. 

It's all about holiday survival, ladies. And if survival requires shopping, you know I'm all for it...

READ MORE...

GET SPORTY: 3 Winning Looks

A pic from the Alexander Wang x H&M Campaign. Photo via H&M.

Originally posted in The CLOSET

Seems like everyone's super-fanning sports these days. And let's face it, while we all know the die-hards - the remote-control clenchers, the 5 am hockey practice parents, the protein shake shakers - some of us just aren't so hardcore. I studied Kinesiology at Western. Seriously. But do I remember the difference between a fibia and tibia? NO. And why, of all the names they could possibly have chosen did someone choose to purposely screw up first year anatomy students? I watch the Olympics. I catch the playoffs sometimes. I definitely watch the Superbowl, but mostly for the ads, the nachos and the halftime show. And thanks to YouTube, I don't even have to do that anymore. I'd rather be doing than watching. And by doing I mean shopping.

But as for sporty fashion? Okay, that I get. That I like. If there's a superfan for sporty clothes, it's me. I wear the uniform proudly, flying my 'Team Fashion' banner high. And since 'sporty' is such a huge trend right now, as evidenced by the reams of designers who showed models-turned-athletes on the runways and Alexander Wang's H&M collab, I'm not the only one who's a big fan. 

This season, sporty influences work no matter what the occasion. For work, keep it subtle with a streamlined baseball jacket or an elastic belt. For the weekend, rock sneakers, faux-leather trackpants and cozy bright puffers. And for a fun night out, whether you're hitting the sports bar or (hopefully) not, it's all about flirty borrowed-from-the-boys pieces like a football jersey and cute baseball cap. 

Check out these 3 winning looks. So sporty. So cool. Go Team!

SEE THE LOOKS HERE:

BRIGHT IDEA | Rock Colour This Fall

Photo courtesy GAP

Originally posted in The CLOSET

The cold weather hits and suddenly, we're a mass of black - heads down, all angsty looking. In a word: depressing. And I'm definitely guilty of putting away most of my brights when the cold weather hits, too. Sure, I'm in fashion so it's practically a job requirement to have a bright coat here and a shocking accessory there but if I'm honest, it's mostly black. All. The. Time. 

So, I'm fighting against it this season. Not because it's particularly on trend, or because it's what any style expert said we should do. But because I'm in New York this week and against the backdrop of all the buildings and pavement and black-clad people, I can't stop staring at all of those bright yellow NYC cabs.

Let's be honest - you can never go wrong with neutrals (more on that later), but here are 40 bright and happy finds to pop on anytime you're feeling blah this fall. Oh, and I've included loads of gorgeous reds to take you right into the holidays, too...

READ MORE...

BLANKET STATEMENT: How to Wear Fall's Most-Wanted Piece

via WhoWhatWear.com

Originally posted in The LOOK

If there's one trend that's clearly resonated with the Canadian style set this fall, it's the blanket. And before you think that editors and bloggers have escaped their deadlines for a long winter's nap, the new wearable blankets are anything but sleepy.

After Burberry Prorsum closed its Fall '14 show with a parade of blanket-bedecked beauties, it seems like every supermodel and her sister woke up to the trend. The brilliance of the blanket? As far as trends go, this one's as cozy as they come. Here are my fav ways to rock the blanket this fall:

THE BLANKET COAT: The blanket (aka wrap) coat makes a strong outerwear statement thanks to its ability to look laissez-faire while stil letting you flaunt your figure. While you can go quite literal by choosing a patterned blanket print, I'm particularly loving fall's pastel blanket coats which look killer when worn with sleek, edgy pieces underneath. Since the blanket coat can look sloppy if you're not careful, be sure to pair it with tailored silhouettes, thoughtful accessories and a sleek blow-out before you leave your house.

THE BLANKET SHAWL: You don't have to be a scarf-tying genius to rock this season's easy blanket coat - literally throw it over your shoulders and you'll look instantly in-the-know. Whether you opt for a proper shawl or choose a huge square scarf, look for a wool or wool-blend to keep you extra cozy. Then, wear it alone over your sweater and jeans, with a knit dress and over-the-knee boots or even over top of your coat to change up your outerwear look. 

THE BLANKET CARDI: Think of the open blanket cardi as a cozier version of your blazer. This type of cardi looks best when extra long and oversized. Make it modern by pairing it up with leather leggings and skater shoes for the weekend. 

Read on to see 3 super cute ways to wear your blanket out this fall...

READ MORE...