gift highlights

At the risk of sounding overly gushy, I think I fell in love with my husband all over again when he gave me this Square Lust scarf for Christmas. It's even more beautiful in real life than I imagined. I'd be halfway tempted to frame it if I wasn't so excited to wear it. Which brings me to the question: how does one artfully tie a scarf? Any good tutorials I should check out?



Oh and the ring? Pretty much been wearing it nonstop since the moment it came out of its package Christmas morning :-)

round 2

How did the holidays treat you? Did Santa bring you everything you wanted? I have some Christmas photos to share, but in the meantime, here's my outfit from today's after Christmas shopping and exchanges expedition, which wasn't nearly as frightening as I expected it to be.

Illamasqua lipstick in 'Growl'
ASOS necklace
button-down c/o Ann Taylor
Webber Sweater c/o Joie 
Michael Kors watch 
Oscar de la Renta ring (someone read my Christmas list :-)
Ann Taylor belt
H&M jeans
Karen Millen boots (old, so here's a similar style)
Saddleback Leather bag

PS Don't forget to enter the Chictopia Joie Girl Contest! I've been checking out the latest entries and getting tons of inspiration already!

...and to all a good night!

A few of my favorite Christmas songs, but I hope all of you are having a lovely holiday, whatever you celebrate!

flashback to October

Now that I'm on vacation, I finally have a little time to go through pictures I may or may not have promised months ago. Back in October, my friends and I tailgated at the fall Gold Cup races. The weather was perfect and the company was stylish, as always :-)

joieful

I'm not sure why, but something about elephants strikes me as festive for the holiday season. Either that or I'm beginning to crack. Maybe I should just let the top speak for itself...

top c/o Joie

jacket c/o Romwe

ASOS satin pants

Jean Michel Cazabat pumps

Chanel purse

Adia Kibur necklace (similar here)

smaller necklace from a boutique in Hoboken

Hermès bangle

PS Don't forget to enter the Joie Girl Contest and you could win goodies like this beautiful top!

Joie { Girl Contest }

Exciting news for all of you stylish lady readers! Joie is looking for a girl from the Chictopia community who knows how to style the perfect “understatedly chic” outfit and be the face of their upcoming spring campaign. The next Joie girl could be YOU!

The 1st place winner will be featured in Joie's upcoming Spring campaign, plus receive $600 worth of Joie outfits! The first runner-up will win a $200 spending spree to use at Joie. The second runner-up will win a $150 spending spree to use at Joie. The contest ends on Thursday, January 19th, 2012 at 11:59 PM PST, so hurry and show us your best Joie girl outfit! The winners will be announced the following week.

I am honored to be guest judging this competition along with Hallie of Hallie Daily and Iris of Fashion Zen!

Check out all the details here and good luck!

neutralized

I apologize for the temporary radio silence. I learn a lot about myself during the holiday season, like how I would react during a natural disaster. Not well. When bombarded with situations that require split-second decisions, I panic. In recent days, I've been weeding through a seemingly endless sea of packages, each containing multiple gift options for various people, because I was unable to decide on just one. Mix this chaos with several holiday parties and great intentions of regular blogging go right out the window. Cue the tiny violins.

Trovata shirt dress (similar here and here)
sweater c/o Romwe
KMRii bag
Michael Kors watch
Zara ankle boots (similar here)

light reading

(A Passion for Blue and White, Stylish Sheds and Elegant Hideaways, New Paris Interiors, A Perfectly Kept House Is the Sign of a Misspent Life)

I cannot wait for vacation when I'll actually have time to do some reading! Right now I've got home design on the brain. Here's hoping Santa will bring me one or two of these :-)

winter whispers

One of the few dresses in the world that actually responds well to windy weather (I wish I could say the same for my hair). I wore this on the ride home from CNY last weekend. Amazingly comfortable for traveling. Also in love with the gauzy-like fabric.

Marc by Marc Jacobs sunglasses (similar here)
Patterson J. Kincaid dress (similar here)
jacket c/o Romwe
necklace c/o JewelMint
Hermes and thrifted bangles (similar here and here)
KMRii bag
Zara booties (similar here)

the morning found me miles away

No fun mountain activities for me yet this year, but for some reason, I was feeling the retro skier vibe the other day. I think winterwear needs color, and humor for that matter. I mean, c'mon December, why so serious?

Ray-Ban wayfarers
Canterbury of New Zealand rugby shirt (similar here)
J. Crew down vest (similar here)
Michael Kors watch
Zara jeans
Tory Burch boots (similar here)

Santa Baby

(1.Topshop Striped Intarsia Sweater, 2. Pendleton Striped Blanket Cape, 3. Kenneth Jay Lane Cocktail Ring, 4. Alice Hannah London Gloves, 5. Whistles Leather Trim Coat)

'Tis the season for blogger holiday wishlists!  Here are a few more things I wish Santa would leave under the tree for me ;-). You can see more of my shopping picks on Currently Obsessed. Just use access code District_of_ChicObsessed to join!

(1. Topshop Rainbow Lurex Cross Back Dress, 2. Piu by Celapiu Teddy Bear Beanie, 3. Surface to Air Forme Vest, 4. A.L.C. Francesca Crew Sweater, 5. Topshop Knitted Fluffy Collar Tie Top)

Hope you all are enjoying your holiday shopping!

the road goes on forever

Two new loves: these boots and this jacket. Both are surprisingly perfect for cold weather travel. Since I can't handle anything other than soft fabrics for long car rides, my suitcase for this trip was comprised almost entirely of dresses like this one. Suffice it to say the boots and jacket got a lot of wear this weekend.

Marc by Marc Jacobs sunglasses (similar here)
necklace c/o JewelMint
jacket c/o Romwe
James Perse dress (similar here)
ASOS tights
Belle by Sigerson Morrison wedges

wedge wanderings

Just arrived back from an exhausting, but thoroughly enjoyable weekend in Central NY. Wasn't even as cold as I expected to be, though I packed these new furry wedges from Belle by Sigerson Morrison just in case. Hope you all had a nice weekend, too!

family heirloom

Whenever we visit New Mexico, B's mom gives me some beautiful creation that her mother made. B's grandmother was an artist and probably ahead of her time because I always think her designs would fit well with trends today. This knit poncho is one of said creations. I think it might have been intended as a skirt, which I would like to try one day, too...

Marc by Marc Jacobs sunglasses (similar here)
knit poncho made by B's grandmother
C&C California top (similar here)
various vintage and New Mexican silver jewelry  
Michael Kors watch
H&M jeans
Kors boots
Bally bag (similar here)