It’s that time of year… here’s my GIFT GUIDE for all the amazing women in your life. Give well!
“The manner of giving is worth more than the gift.” ~Pierre Corneille, Le Menteur
< $25 – Glamour Travel Bags – need a Secret Santa Gift or stocking stuffer? These colourful totes are great for travel – keeping your lingerie, laundry and shoes organized.
< $50 -GAP Sequin Tote – you can never have too many totes. This sequin bag in polyester is great for gym clothes, a laptop, and other essentials.
< $75 – Iomoi monogrammed canvas makeup bag – nothing adds a personal touch to a gift like someone’s initials! And if you’re tight on time or want a little less bank, Iomoi’s noncustom large and small zigzag canvas totes serve a multitude of purposes.
< $100 -TOMS Beaumont Skull Slip-On – in red or navy – These limited holiday edition TOMS are too good to pass up. And with every purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One.
< $150 – Jo Malone’s perfume – Jo Malone has a fragrance for everyone. Favoring citrus scents, grapefruit is my go-to. The collection (including candles and body lotion) make great hostess gifts.
What are Jen-An’s travel must-haves? Looks like: jeans, a leather jacket and aviator sunglasses. Done!
On this side of the pond, at LAX, Jen wore flared jeans, a gray sweater, white tee, black round-toe boots, aviators and layered pendants. Although nothing outshines her beautiful blonde locks.
Every season MARC JACOBS introduces three new Limited Edition Unisex “Splashes” that everyone should know about. I discovered them with last summer 2010′s collection including “Apple”, “Pomegranate” and “Biscotti”. I followed up a winning “Apple” purchase with “Pomegranate” – both of which I’m still happily using as room spray (I’m forever spraying them all over my home) and perfume. The only problem with them being Limited, is that when they’re gone – and you can’t replace them. Thankfully MJ keeps things fresh with new scents every few months. This summer’s choice is between “Cranberry”, “Ginger”, and “Curacao”. Delicious. You can’t go wrong.
An added bonus, is the men in your life can wear this scent too. Making it efficient for travel (it comes with a 15 oz airport-ready bottle), and less likely to garner complaints of him leaving the house smelling like your perfume. Lastly, the gorgeous packaging makes is a perfect gift. DONE.
“When it’s three o’clock in New York, it’s still 1938 in London.” – Bette Midler
It’s Fashion Week Eve for the city that never sleeps… and whether you’ll be visiting the retail capital of North America, attending any shows, or just living vicariously through the media’s coverage – I’m dedicating this week’s must-haves to what every traveling lady needs in her life.
10 – an on trend blazer to throw over skinny jeans, a skirt or dress – I love ELIZABETH and JAMES Preppy Blazer in Black/Ivory. I can’t get enough of stripes lately, and it’s a great update on a black boyfriend blazer that can take you from day to night (over skinnies, trousers, a dress, skirt…). The pattern mixes prints for you instantly, whatever you pair it with. And the black piping is so regal!
9 – a bag big enough to go from day to night, without sacrificing style - Alexander Wang Rocco Duffel’s is my go-to bag right now, I get at least one complement on it a week. Big enough to fit your wallet, PDA, keys, makeup, water bottle, camera – yet small enough that it’s not a suitcase.
8 – the perfect polish - Chanel had me at hello… their nail polish hues can do no wrong in my eyes (she says as her collection grows monthly). Three of their most popular of-the-moment shades: Particulière, Paradoxal and Black Satin now come in a tri-pack. Pick one and rock it all week long.
7 – a statement watch, to get you to the church (show) on time… whether it’s gold, silver, rose, mixed metal, translucent, ceramic, plastic, rubber, tortoise – a big men’s size watch on a woman’s wrist is practical and just plain hot. So you can keep your iPhone and BBs off when it’s showtime.
6 – chic travel garment bag - LeSportSac’s bags travels so well, I love their weekenders as carry-ons (small to large) and checked (extra large) bags. My latest purchase is their patent garment bag, it has a strap so it can fly solo as carry-on or checked – yet it’s small enough to also fit in a suitcase.
“They say life’s what happens when you’re busy making other plans. But sometimes in New York, life is what happens when you’re waiting for a table.”
- Carrie Bradshaw, ‘Sex and The City’
5 – back to basics – go for a white blouse, add ruffles or a classic tie to your silks shirt – tuck it into a high-waisted skirt (I’ll be wearing #1 tucked into an Alice + Olivia white blouse that’s not online yet to their February 14th show at the Park Plaza), skinny or trouser pants and glam it up.
4 – Tory Burch patent Eddie black ballerina – the perfect plane shoe! And yes, that’s “plane” not “plain”. There’s nothing plain about a shimmering black flat that takes you through the terminals of JFK, LaGuardia or Newark before changing into winter-faring boots. Fashion meets function.
3 – the perfect coat, that actually keeps you warm - if you haven’t been following the weather in NYC this year, it’s been one storm after another (along with Chicago, Toronto, and even Dallas!)… the East Coast has been getting a lot of snow and/or cold fronts. So while I’m all for trying to get away with my fall and spring coats in East Coast winter months when you’re going for a certain look, 2011 is a year for WARM LAYERS. I’ll be wearing my Mackage – AKA warmest coat ever.
2 – KILLER heels – helloooo Prada, nice to see you again. The perfect balance between first-date heels (3 inches +), and second chances (everything else)- I lived in Prada heels for three years in my previous corporate gig (suited up everyday) and they are as comfortable as they are sexy. 10!!
1 – one gorgeous detail / INDULGENCE - for me this year it’s Alice + Olivia’s leather tulip skirt in tan. And yes, it’s just as DIVINE in person as you can imagine. I tried it on at their Robertson boutique and knew it had to be mine within seconds (OK, when I saw it on the mannequin in the window just a few days before I knew…). The leather is soft and luscious, and there’s a gold zipper up the back that adds the perfect finishing touch. I will have, and wear, this FOREVER. Thank you!!
“One belongs to New York instantly, one belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years.”
10 – a hot red nail - I’m not one who dresses for the holidays. Christmas sweaters aren’t my thing… but this time of year I do love a shocking red nail when others are rocking winter darks. Chanel’s new LE VERNIS “Dragon” 475 is perfection. Not too blue, not too orange – it’s all you need for a romantic red. Try it, and let your fingers do the talking… and walking.
9 – hanky panky bralettes - I live and die by Hanky Panky. From their thongs (see #5), and camis (#6 in my LiveLoveShop LA must-haves), to their bandeaus that are not to be missed. I need padding, so I wear mine over my Victoria Secret Very Sexy Push-Up bras, but they also work solo. They’re great for a low neck-line, a see-through top, or when you just want to add a touch of lace. I suggest starting with basic black, white, or cream and work up to adding brights and patterns.
7 – red or pink cashmere travel set - I travel a lot, and I don’t leave home without a cashmere blanket (that can double as a scarf). It makes those red-eyes a little less brutal… so keeping the romance alive, instead of gray or taupe, try hot pink or red to brighten your spirits for landing.
6 – blushing blouse - a soft pink top is sexy. It’s subtle, soft and sultry… Pair a silk blush blouse with dark (or white) skinny jeans, tucked into a skirt, or belted over leggings and you are DATE READY.
5 – hanky panky thongs - Marily Monrow once said “I don’t know who invented high heels, but all women owe him a lot.” This is how I feel about the inventor of hanky panky. I live in their low rise thongs, aside from the Victoria Secret Cotton Lingerie Thongs I work out in, they’re ALL I wear. There are so many colors and styles, everyday is a new thrill for you and yours… the lace fits like second skin, showing no lines – and if you can believe it they’re one size fits all! They also make a higher “original rise”, plus size, and for girls coveting full coverage there are countless options.
4 – a silk bathrobe - I believe pajamas should be comfortable. Whether you go for silk, skimpy or full on sweats, you can sex them up with your robe. To the knee or below are the sexiest, leaving more to the imagination and actually providing some warmth when you put it on… or take it off!
3 – a lace cami - worn on it’s own after hours, or high pro under a top or blazer; add some lace to your silk cami. This one detail gives the right amount of va-va-va-vooom while keeping it classy.
2 – a lavender scarf - I love purple, it was my favorite color as a kid. And lavender is my new gray. I can’t get enough… Adam Glass (Oprah’s Style guru) picked Fluxus’s Nomad Scarf as one of his must-haves for 2011 and I’m totally on board. It doubles as a blanket, and has enough material to be worn in many ways. My favorite hue is “captive” but charcoal and black are great go-tos.
1 – hot kicks - Valentine’s Day candy hits shelves right after Halloween, chocolate is everywhere! Get ready to walk off those extra calories in romantic-STYLE with New Balance’s new WT101. I loooove pink again black, gray and brown. These runners are a 10. Nothing but net. Let’s kick it.
“You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep
because reality is finally better than your dreams.”
