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Observations in Fashion

Chic Outfits To Wear This Holiday Season That You Already Own

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With so much to do on your to-do list this holiday season you probably don’t have a lot of spare time to shop for yourself. It’s tempting to call in sick and spend the day perusing boutiques for something special to wear for this season’s festivities especially with all of the ongoing sales. But missing a day of work or trying to squeeze some me-time into your schedule just might be impossible this time of year.

Wether or not you have the time to shop for something new there is still the matter at hand—you need to pull a holiday outfit together. Don’t panic yet! There is a very good chance you have something in your closet that will take you to your holiday parties. What you need is a little holiday season inspiration.

Grab your favorite oversized cashmere sweater, slim cut black pants, and black ankle boots. Add a gold chunky chain necklace and gold handbag or black bag handbag with gold hardware.

You just might find what you need in the pastel colored pieces from your spring wardrobe. Soft neutral tones with the added touch of embellished shoes and long strands of pearls is quite elegant!

And speaking of elegant, you can never go wrong with a touch of red. A white shell and the same black slim pants, black bag, grey, cream, or white scarf can be elevated with red accessories and a few bangles or beaded bracelets.

If you are looking for something a little more provocative try this look. Pair a sheer black blouse with a red camisole and wide leg pants. Add gold earrings, animal print shoes, and grab a glass of champagne!

Eat well, laugh a lot, and be chic this holiday season!

A Little Holiday Glamour At Your Local Goodwill

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Holiday glamour is very affordable at your local Goodwill

Fashion moves in cycles and these days that fashion cycle has found its moment in casual dressing. In fact casual style has been so prominent in the last five (even ten) years that you might not own that special something to jazz up your outfit for a dressier affair. 

You’ve got your dozen or so pair of jeans, your collection of ankle boots, an abundance of tees and cozy cashmere sweaters but nothing special for a holiday party. But jeans and a tee shirt aren’t going to cut it when it comes to a splashy holiday shindig. 

It’s easy to glam-up your look with some fairly basic pieces. A black skirt or trousers can be paired with a silk shell in any number of colors. Once you have your classic pants and shell then it’s simply a matter of accessorizing your outfit with something a little more glamorous. But buying accessories for a fancy party can put the hurt on your credit card. 

If you are looking for that special something to add a little holiday flare to your outfit and don’t want to stress out about your upcoming credit card bill think about shopping at a secondhand store. Even if secondhand shopping is not your thing keep in mind that some can be a treasure trove of all things glamorous. However, not all used clothing stores carry vintage or bedazzled accessories at affordable prices. But there are a few that you can always count on like Salvation Army and Goodwill.

I recently visited Goodwill and was astonished at not just the collection of fabulous affordable vintage jewelry but also the quality and selection of clothing! Faux pearls, crystals, chains, fresh water pearls and combinations of both were abundant. But there was also a wonderful selection of shoes, bags, wraps and even some divine tops and skirts.

Eat well, laugh a lot, and be chic this holiday season!

Wrapping Up Your Fall & Winter–The Best Cashmere Shawls This Season

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A large cashmere shawl is indispensable during the fall & winter months. Have a look at this selection of my favorites. Don’t get caught in the cold without one!

Do you remember when pashminas (those large, colorful and luxurious shawls) were a thing? Overnight pashminas became the must have accessory to own sometime around the 90s and 00’s.

However, because of the huge and sudden demand the market was flooded with cheap imitations. The sudden popularity for any type of pashmina scarf lasted quite sometime. You could find them anywhere and in every color. But when this trend was over it was over. After its rapid fall from grace rarely did I get requests for those colorful wraps.  All of that said I hope you didn’t throw your pashminas away because a large cashmere shawl never really goes out of style.

Real pashminas are made from the hair of the cashmere goat which comes from the Himalayan Mountains. The hair from these goats produces the most luxurious and lightweight scarves. They also have a price tag that reflects the extravagance of this fiber.

A cashmere scarf is an investment piece and owning a few in different colors comes in handy. In addition, they are timeless, can be worn effortlessly, and there will always be an occasion when you will need one. For example, on those long flights where the AC is cranked up who doesn’t want a large scarf to wrap themselves in?

We all have days were we struggle to find the perfect piece of accessory to complete an outfit. In times like this a large luxurious wrap can easily do the trick!

But not all cashmere is created equal. I am always suspicious of clothing made in 100% cashmere with a price tag that reflects the dinner tab for two at In & Out Burger. You want your clothes to last for years so be aware that good quality cashmere is not inexpensive. If you are in the market for a great wrap here are a few that are worth the investment.

Pocket Wool & Cashmere Shawl by Lafayette 148 $398
Cashmere Chunky Scarf by Portolano Reg. $150 on sale $99
Available in 6 colors
Large Cashmere Wrap by Halogen $249
Available in 3 colors
C by Bloomingdales Travel Wrap Reg. $198 on Sale $138.60
Available in 15 colors
Poncho by Rag & Bone $495
Available in 3 colors

Eat well, laugh a lot, and be chic!