GET THE LOOK: Shades of Denim

Still loving those chic chambray button downs, but there's more in the world of denim and denim hues in the future (i.e. spring). Denim is no longer limited to our skinny jeans. You can take this look more downtown chic with biker boots and fun jewelry (like the one below) or more feminine with ruffles, ballet flats, etc. Make it your own this season and definitely experiment because that's where you'll win with this look. Another plus, this trend does not have to break the bank. See some ideas below.

Topshop - denim bleach demin western shirt topshop $55 topshop.com

Rag & Bone - M-15 field jacket $595 Saks Fifth Avenue

Current Elliott - the artist smock dress $238 shopbop.com

Sass & Bide - towards the light demin vest $190 net-a-porter.com

J Brand - thrasher tie dyed blue jeans $79 (sale) Barneys

Urban Outfitters - overdyed canvas skips $18 UrbanOutfitters.com

Yves Saint Laurent - denim skimmer $450 Barneys

Chanel - denim sunglasses (price tbd)

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  And to throw a little spice into the mix, depending on your style, either of these looks would go perfectly with some denim.

Lee Angel - etienne chain bracelet $95 net-a-porter.com

Frye - engineer boot $198 shopbop.com

Gorjana - feather lariat necklace $98 shopbop.com
Twelfth St by Cynthia Vincent - tia buckle flat sandal $250 shopbop.com

GET THE LOOK: Classic B&W Looks

Black and white is all over the place this spring and you certainly don't have to break the bank to incorporate it into your wardrobe. Check out these styles and definitely start adding in the B&W into your styling mix.

Diane von Furtenberg - silk piped leather jacket $695 Saks Fifth Avenue

Topshop - shrunken jersey blazer $110 Topshop.com

Prada - Captoe Ballet Flat $425 Neiman Marcus

Stella McCartney - mesh peep-toe bootie $835 Bergdorf Goodman/Neiman Marcus
(I couldn't help myself here, had to include two $$ ones!)

Rebecca Taylor - daisy silk chiffon top $275 net-a-porter.com

BDG - buffalo flannel button down $48 Urban Outfitters

Just for a little spice and both are completely reasonable!

Topshop - spotty jersey blazer $110 Topshop.com

Free People - studded stripe blazer $138 freepeople.com via shopstyle.com

GET THE LOOK: The White Blazer is the New Black

Love Love Love white blazers for now and for spring. Also loving white leather jackets. It's time to take the rocker chic look to a more fem perspective. Buy sooner than later ladies!

Hanii Y - cropped leather jacket $1200 Saks Fifth Avenue

Elizabeth and James - drapey silk blazer $445 Saks Fifth Avenue

See by Chloe - oversized blazer $540 Neiman Marcus

Tibi - linen & silk-blend blazer $400 net-a-porter.com

Bobble Till You Wobble

It might be a little late for Christmas, but these guys can make and deliver your custom bobble head in less than 7 days so definitely a good idea for gift giving! From a biker babe to the business man they really have the full spectrum covered. It's rather unfortunate that the women's bobbles love the crop tops, but if the crop isn't your thing you can always customize your own for a few cents more. Bobbles range from $79.99 to the customized one for around $159.99. Did I mention they do customized pets for $159.99 as well for the animal lover in your life. If you're still into bobbles as a desk accessory check them out.

http://www.headbobble.com/index.html

Last Minute Christmas Ideas Under $50

Here's a quick little Gift Giving Guide for this holiday season. Enjoy and hope a few items come in handy for that unexpected Secret Santa party or for your family and friends! Happy Holidays!!

Fugi Film Intax Mini 7
$49.99

       Sur La Table Petite Ramekins $13.95

La Bonne Cuisine $26.40 (Amazon)

Riedel Wine Decatur $32.99
A to Z Pinot Noir $15

Le Creuset Stoneware

Petite Casserole $19.99 ea

Spatula $9 ea

Charley Harper Coffee Table Book
$32.97 (Amazon-Smaller Version)

Salt Plate (Sur La Table)

$40

What's Next in the World of Fleece?

AS SEEN ON TV

Snuggies have proved to be more successful than most infomercial products in recent years (no offense to the knives that can cut through cans). And they've even expanded into offering Snuggies for dogs! What's next, Snuggies for babies? Oh wait pretty sure it already exists! Getting to the point, Snuggie has a new cousin...the Necky. I don't think I've laughed this hard from a YouTube clip since that "Party in the USA" guys on the beach video! Thanks Lace for sharing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VqcE1xMJGU

Pome JUST OPENED

Ladies, a new boutique has opened in Dallas and just in time for some much needed personal shopping for the holidays! I saw the Daily Candy write up last week and it's been on my short list for over a week to stop by their new store located at Preston Center (between Cafe R&D and Taco Diner...can you tell it's around lunch time!). The owners, Jamie and Summer, are so incredibly sweet and will help you find that perfect New Years dress, and yes there's plenty of fun sequin numbers, or that incredibly soft and comfy sweater to snuggle up with by the fire this winter. I literally felt like I was in my best friends closet having them dress me. The only difference is that I had to make the purchases at the end of this fashion show. If you haven't stopped by, definitely add it to your short list. Loves!

All Aboard The Marrakech Express!

My Mom recently went to Morocco and I asked her to bring me back an authentic Moroccan lantern. She ended up finding them in a local market in Marrakech and they're are wonderful! You can spice up any room in your house or find a hanging one for inside or out...for the holidays or year-round. My only advice is to make sure they aren't super thin tin as they will feel a little cheap and probably wont last as long. They come in all sorts of bold colors or just clear glass depending on your preference. Do a quick search on google you'll find a few online retailers, eBay is always a good shot and even lighting stores and places like Hobby Lobby carry them these days, although I'm not sure they're all "Made in Morocco".

YSL Resort Shoes Are OUT!

Just got a sneak peak of YSL's resort shoe collection via Neiman Marcus (it doesn't seem the other leading retailers are wanting to release too many spring styles while they still have fall inventory) and they look amazing! I can't wait to see the full collection for spring/summer! Ladies, I know it's just now starting to get cold, but it doesn't hurt to look and besides they're all pre-order now anyways. Check them out, but be savvy because there are some deals to be found. For example, they have brought back the Tribute for another season and instead of featuring it in Camel like they did last season it's now featured in a color they call Sable, but that's really more pale nude...few shades lighter than last season. Regardless, they're both neutrals so if the difference in the two neutrals is no biggie for you (and might I add that their resort shoes ranging in neutral tones) it would be a nice savings of around $260. Shades of tans, beige dominate with pops of bright orange and some fuchsia.

Candle Delirium!

New obsession...candledelirium.com! What's the appropriate version of "foody" for candles? I have no clue, but what ever it is, that's me! I LOVE candles. I was in Miami recently and found a store where I seriously picked up 5 candles to then transport home. Candles are just one of those purchases that you don't have to have a skinny day, you can be happy, sad, indifferent and still find a scent for your mood. Pretty much the easiest sale in my opinion as long as you have the options to choose from. And if it turns out the scent is not your fav, just put it in another room or have it outside over a bottle of wine! It's no biggie!

Anyway, I found a new site that is pretty much amazing! Of course tons of local stores carry candles galore, but if you already know your fav brands and prefer to online shop like moi, this is a must!

To name a few of my favs they carry: Archipelago, Belle Fleur, Paddywax, Thymes (I just bough the Fasier Fir candle since i don't have a real Christmas tree this year, but it smells like I do now! Wonderful), Tocca, Voluspa, and many more. Also something cool that they offer is a Candle Every Season gift. Such a good gift for around $160. They also do a Candle of the Month and Candle Every Other Month gift. What's better?! Maybe accompanied by a Wine of the month! Needless to say, I'm a fan.  If you order more than $85 you get free shipping and gift wrap,  so stock up!

A Plethora of MENUS!

In my first NY tutorial, by my BFF informed me about the ever-so helpful MenuPages site. What's incredible about this site is that you can simply search for a specific restaurant, by neighborhood, price point, or by type of cuisine and presto your narrowed down list of yummy choices pops up! It certainly saves more time than let's say going to each restaurants site that you're interested in and trying to find a PDF of the menu of their site.

So, I got an alert this morning that MenuPages is now expanding across the pond to include both London and Paris. I mean, j'adore! This would have been so helpful when I was living abroad. Of course there's no comparison to walking around and making new restaurant discoveries, but having one resource to search and look at local restaurants menus is pretty convenient. MenuPages.com currently offers guidance in New York, San Fran, LA, Philly, Beantown, Chi-town, DC, Miami/Palm Beach and now London and Paris.

Seriously one of the best ways for a foodie to get around in a new city and certainly more accessible and easier on the eye than let's say Time Out or any travel guide. In my opinion this site comes close to the invention of the iPhone Maps App. Just a thought...MenuPages would be even more fab if they partnered with an OpenTable-type of site and you could book on the spot. Still, for the time being the MenuPages site is pretty great!

Boot-A-Licious

Since I'm clearly on a shoe kick, I'll go ahead and top it off with an essential for the season: boots. These Frye-type of boots are all over the place right now, so I've gathered up a few of my fav Frye/cowboy inspired finds. What's better than super casual, comfortable and chic footwear?!

If you're in the market for a new pair of boots on the more causal end, I suggest making sure there's a buckle involved. It really gives your pair a rugged yet put-together look, plus it can make it easier to squeeze your foot into!

L to R:

Balenciaga folded mid boot $995; Chloe buckled  platform boots $1100; Frye rider brushoff $348; Tods pointy tronchetto boots $945; Frye dorado antique riding boot $458; Dolce Vita rumor flat boots $285; Joie New Orleans boot $465; Barney's Co-Op side tab ankle boot $560; Loeffler Randall short buckle boots $795; Givenchy buckle ankle boot $995.

   

Let's talk about Keds, baby.

If you were like me at age 5, you wore your Keds 7 days a week. I had practically a new pair for every day of the week; white, puff paint white (I would always get in trouble for putting my nail through that puff paint, anyone?), red x like 5 (LOVED my red ones), pink, and black canvas. Keds were the staple of kindergarden. To all the kinder-hearted they're baaaaack! I'm sure you've seen them over the past year or so at Urban (kock-offs here though) and even last spring Barney's was carrying a limited edition line, but now Keds is offering a new option: design your own! Yes, you heard me correctly! By choosing from over 16 colors, 5 prints, 4 stripes, uploading your own image, adding your own text and on top of that there's literally 14 different parts of the shoe that you can customize from the stitching to the sole. You can make your kicks as intricate or as simple as you please. Did I mention that after all that hard work you have the option to either buy your creations or post them to sell? Definitely worth checking out and for only around 60 bones!

http://www.keds.com/

As far as styling goes, I love keds with little small print dresses, cigarette jeans, shorts (jorts in particular for ol' times sake), etc. Just look at the "real" pictures posted on the Keds site for inspiration or even the next Urban catalog and I'm sure you can pair your custom keds with anything in there to get a cool hipster-type of outfit going on.