As told by Jessica Steele. Based in NYC.
All this week I’ve been sharing my take on Holiday party attire, and I thought it would be fun to end by bringing some of those scenes to life for you. So I present ‘Season of Shine’ – a short, but festive film. While admittedly amateur, I’m hoping to eventually share more bits of film, so I’d love to hear if it’s something you enjoy. Until then, happy weekend!
There’s something to be said for mixing it up. While my first instinct is always to go for a dress, when it came time to tackle Office Holiday Parties – I thought, why not try something different? What I love about this look is that it’s completely standout while also completely workplace appropriate. No worrying about whether your dress is too short or your top too flashy. It’s festive and cool but not over the top. Which is probably exactly how you want to appear when drinking with your co-workers, right? To be honest I’ve never really been quite sure how to style this vest before now, but when I paired it with these velvet leggings (as dreamy as you’d imagine), a silky white button down and sleek metallic and grey accents it was suddenly exactly what I wanted. Black tie with a twist. After all, they always say dress for the job you want, not the one you have – and I most certainly want a job that calls for a tinsel-worthy take on a tux.Old Navy Coat – on major sale! // H&M Tuxedo Vest – similar here // F21 Shirt – similar here // K.Bell Velvet Leggings c/o // Vintage Clutch – similar here // Vintage YSL Heels – similar here on sale!
Since meeting Jess, style maven behind Prosecco and Plaid, a few months back – we’ve quickly become bi-coastal blogging counterparts (in fact we’ve each lived in both NY and LA!). Since we’re often drawn to similar pieces (she’s known to wearing them with a borrowed from the boys edge while I typically hand them a playful girly touch) we knew we wanted to team up to bring you something special for the holidays. And when Asos (mega retailer of all things awesome) wanted to join in on the fun? Well, you knew it was gonna be good. First up is styling a ‘Home for the Holidays’ look. Here on the West Coast ‘home’ means just the boy and I, so a laid back approach with a touch of glamour felt festive but still easy enough for a day by the beach. Both Jess and I went with metallic shoes and an accent of burgundy (a couple of my favorite trends for the holiday season that Asos happens to nail), but while she went slim and sleek with a grey sweater, I went slouchy cool with this fuzzy pink number. And in another perfect twist of fate? They had just finished spray painting that wall below when we arrived. Nothing says the ‘Home for the Holidays’ in Venice Beach like graffiti and skate boards.Boyfriend beanie // Fluffy V-Neck Sweater // Velvet Cross body Bag // Pointed Heels all c/o Asos **use code GIMME30 for 30% Off Sitewide through 12/4!!**
Today kicks a week long guide to Holiday Parties. That magical time of year when you have tons of places to go, but suddenly nothing to wear. Never fear. I promise you there’s options somewhere in between the kitschy reindeer sweater and the same LBD you wore last year. To start – I’m playing hostess. Whether you’re having a few friends over, just your family, or a whole houseful you’re going to have all eyes on you. So go for comfortable but pulled together. I like to go a little retro when I host (think Mad Men, with a modern twist) which here, translates to a cozy cropped open jacket, a few non fussy accessories, comfortable heels, and one knock ’em dead piece. This skirt. Full, flirty, shiny and swingy it’s everything I want in a holiday hostess outfit. Dress like this and don’t run out of cocktails. You’ll be a surefire hit. Red Clover Boutique Skirt c/o – use code FREE for free shipping through 12/31/13 // Madewell Top – 25% Off through 12/2 with code FEAST25 // H&M Jacket – vest option here // Vintage Clutch & Necklace // Asos Heels c /o – 20% Off through 12/2 with code GIMME20 
