Fur-tastic!

Written by: Madeleine
In Collaboration with: Brittany


We show you how to make your holiday outfits fur-tastic three different ways!

Happy December! Now that the weather is finally feeling like winter, it can be hard to keep warm while looking fashionable. Obviously, the best thing to do during winter is layers. Layering allows you to keep warm, but also adjust to the weather by adding or taking off a layer. The best thing to do is to start with a basic layer, such as a cami or long-sleeved tee. Even though it is a simple piece, it will blend into your outfit and keep some of your body heat in! Next, do whatever top you wanted to wear. (Using the "Brittany tuck" here can keep the outfit from looking super bulky.) Then add a light sweater or sweatshirt that compliments your top. Finally, put some outerwear on! This could be a leather jacket, peacoat, or a goose feather jacket.

If you are feeling on the more adventurous side, try one of this seasons top trends... A fur vest! Whether you go with a vegan, vintage, or luxurious fur, you will be a knockout. Here are some ways to wear fur for different occasions!

Skirt it up! Throw on the fur vest over a mini skirt with boots. It is a quick and chic look that isn't too much for the daytime, but can quickly transition into a date night with some makeup changes. Here, I contrasted the fur vest with a tweed skirt. The mix of textures compliment each other and don't compete with each other.

Skirt: Hinge
Blouse: Forever21
Vest: Jack
Boots: Tory Burch

Break out those light wash jeans again because they look killer with a furry vest. Once again, the textures of denim and fur creates visual interest in the outfit that makes it work. This look is perfect for doing some holiday shopping, lunching with the girls, or a night out. Take it up a notch by adding some amazing heels.

Jeans: Joe's
Blouse: Madewell
Heels: Brian Atwood

Finally, spice it up with some colored jeans and booties. This casual look is still dressy, but not over the top and it will make you feel super confident! It shows your fashionista side while being appropriate. When you do a colored denim, make sure it doesn't overpower the fur vest. Like I mentioned before, it should support the fur, not take away from it. Otherwise, your outfit will just be a screaming competition between pieces. If you don't feel comfortable doing a colored denim, try a coated or black denim. It's still an appropriate and classy look.

Jeans: Hudson
Blouse: Urban Outfitters
Booties: Indigo by Clarks
Jewelry: Alex and Ani and Marc by Marc Jacobs

For more photos, please visit our gallery!

Holiday Sequins

Written by: Madeleine
In Collaboration with: Brittany


As women, there is one thing that will always and without fail capture our attention: SPARKLES. That's one reason why I am so obsessed with this Halogen sequin skirt that I bought from Nordstrom last season. But sometimes full sequined items can be intimidating because it is a hard piece to balance out. However, here are a few simple tricks to bring in that sparkle and shine into your holiday wardrobe!

It's all about the balance. Find a piece that's still bold, but that also compliments the shine. This could be a loud color, like I did here, or different texture. It might be hard to find that perfect piece at first, but it is definitely doable! Usually, jewel tones work with sequins because the color can stand on its own and have some impact.

Secondly, keep it simple. Don't try to add another piece that overwhelms the sequins. This creates too much visual interest and the eye has a hard time focusing on one area. You want people to see an outfit, not a sparkly skirt and a crazy shirt. Pick a silhouette that has clean lines, but not too structural.

Sequins and shine, when done correctly, are appropriate for any occasion. Honestly, it depends on how you style it. For this example, I would wear this outfit to work, for a business meeting, or a dinner. If I paired this skirt with a basic boyfriend tee, I could wear it while hanging out with friends or shopping downtown.

And as always, add a third piece. No matter what you are wearing, the third piece is essential. Here, it is best just to add a necklace because there is a lot going on. Shine on, my fashionistas! Shine on!

*** For more photos, visit our gallery!

Skirt: Halogen
Top: J. Crew
Shoes: Simply Vera Wang
Pearls: Vintage (from Brittany's grandmother)

Cute and Sweet to Rocker Chic

Written by: Madeleine
In Collaboration with: Brittany

How to do rocker chic when you're cute and sweet!

November in northern California is absolutely perfect. The weather everyday has that fine balance of the warm summer—like sunshine and the crisp winter breeze. Therefore, sometimes finding that perfect fall outfit is difficult. My advice is to do easy layers, so you can add on and take off. Here, I started with  simple boyfriend tee. Since the tee is a little oversized, it can look sloppy. So here's a little trick that has been come to known as "The Brittany Tuck." Take the middle of the bottom of the shirt and tuck it in right behind button of the pant or middle of a skirt. Then carefully, pull at the tuck to loosen it. Add a skinny belt if there are belt loops. "The Brittany Tuck" creates an effortless, yet chic look and it takes only a few seconds for added style.

For this outfit, I transformed a plain tee by adding pieces that have other visual interest. I wanted to do a "rocker chic" look that still fit my style. Since I am not as edgy and hardcore as other fashionistas, I stuck to staple pieces that I already had in my closet and felt comfortable in. But, I added one bold piece, the leather jacket. It is important to still feel like yourself and not to get lost in your clothes.

Like Stacy and Clinton say, make sure your outfit has texture, pattern, color, and shine. For texture, I have my Paige denim jeans on with a leather jacket, juxtaposing distressed with smooth. On the jacket, there is a beautiful, yet subtle quilt pattern. Shine plays a factor through the small hints of jewelry like my necklace, watch, and bracelets. When you layer these visual elements, a cohesive outfit unfolds instantly.

*** For more photos, visit our gallery!

Jacket: Hinge
Shirt: Gibson
Denim: Paige, "Verdugo"
Shoes: Rachel Roy
Sunglasses: Prada