Is your New Year’s Eve outfit all squared away. I did the hard part for you, narrowing down your party dress choices from everything on the Interwebs to 75 perfect party dresses. If you missed it, click back because I know you will definitely find one (at least one!) you like.
What? You need shoes too? Must I do everything for you? No, that’s fine; that’s why I’m here. Here are 30 perfect pairs of party shoes from StyleCarrot partners. I went heavy on the glitter, but seriously, when else do you get to pretend your’e a princess? There are a few sexy blood red heels too, as well as cobalt blue, and the prettiest shades of pink pumps.
Dancing, dancing, dancing. I’m a dancing machine. (That’s sung. If you don’t know the tune, you are not a child of the ’70s.) Have fun!
P.S. The purse and jewelry are on you.
1 Hoss Burgundy Velvet Heels, $326 at Anthropologie.
2 Jeffrey Campbell Gold Peep Toe Heels at Bloomingdale’s.
3 Paola d’Arcano Cobalto Pumps, $398 at Anthropologie.
4 Badgley Mischka Nude Peep Toe Pump, $245 at Zappos.
5 Kenneth Cole Metallic Cage Pumps, $150 at Bloomingdale’s.
Many of you are probably still in the crush of the holiday rush. But since I celebrate Hanukkah, my present giving season is complete. My husband and I celebrate our anniversary on Christmas Eve -a spur of the moment elopement – so there’s opportunity for one more give and get, but the real buying, and by that I mean the buying for the kids, is complete.
That means it’s time to move on to planning the perfect New Year’s Eve outfit. Or you might have some holiday parties to attend. I’ll likely cozy up at home. But if I were planning a rocking New Year’s Eve, I’d start trying on dresses right now. There’s nothing worse than buying a party ensemble under pressure. After all this research I may just make a buy so I have a pretty party dress on hand.
I may have gone overboard—there are 75 party dress picks here from StyleCarrot partners and other sources. Lots of lace happening this season. There’s a turquoise lace dress by DVF; a cobalt lace dress from J.Crew, and a one-shouldered navy lace number fromReiss. (Princess Kate should totally dare to wear that.) Of course there are plenty of metallics. Metallic gold and gunmetal dresses, as well as jacquard (big trend right now, especially at Tory Burch), and a sprinkling of sequins. Plus capes. Channel Gwyneth and try a dress with a cape. The white one from Pixie Market is darling. 01
What would I wear? If I were a tiny bit younger and going dancing, I think #3 is really cute, though I’d probably opt for #33, the pleated midi by Rebecca Taylor or #47, the gold wrap dress. The stripey sequin Marc dress, #16 is adorable, especially paired with those studded clogs. The green knotted Lanvin silk shift (#25) is more my style these days, if I could afford it, along with #38, the modern minimalist black gabardine from Ssense. (Everything from Ssense is fierce. For a more festive feel but still considering comfort, I like #49, a black embellished chiffon shift by Velvet.
Last week I pulled together a collection of cute cosmetic cases, “Kiss & Make Up” in the Boston Globe. I generally like to do a travel-related roundup in the summer, and I had already done weekend bags last year.
Mostly, though, I was inspired by a particularly cute cosmetic case by Deux Luxe, that the publicist had sent me back in the winter—the Anguilla cosmetic case in jade green emblazoned with exotic birds. I love the look. Unfortunately it didn’t make it into the Globe, but I’ve included it here (#17), along with 29 other cute cosmetic case finds.
Bostonians, pay attention to #1, #9, and #18 by ultra preppy, Brookline-based design label Ame & Lulu. I’m kind of attached to #2 from Catseye London. Adorable, though maybe channels too much of a crazy cat lady vibe? There’s a doggie one as well (#21). And if you’re more of a boho girl, Target has a couple of great Coachella-worthy makeup bags (#5 and #8).
A million years ago, we offloaded our television in the living room, leaving an extra roomy could-be bar cabinet free and clear. It soon became a convenient space, given its boxy shape, to store art we weren’t displaying, extra picture frames, and overflow throw pillows. A television has since taken up residence again with a new DVD player, specifically for me to watch movies (since I don’t know how to work the main TV with its fifty-buttoned five remotes), or currently, Friday Night Lights (OMG, Tim Riggins).
I had the best intentions; I imagined transforming the newly vacant slot, complete with pull-out shelf, into a stylish home bar cabinet for my husband. I thought about it a lot, knowing it would make a much appreciated birthday gift. But no follow through from me. Instead, liquor bottles remain relegated to the upper cabinet of the pantry, with some of the more attractive specimens on display atop the would-be bar cabinet in a teal lacquer bar tray, provided by the lovely ladies at an agency for Absolut. (You can see my bar tray styling post here.)
So, woe is my husband’s home bar situation. Jon Draper he shall never be. But if you have room in your living room, you could set up a stylish home bar in one of these 25 bar cabinets chosen from a dozen of my favorite sources for modern and classic furnishings, including some partner sites. Imagine tucking one of these bar cabinets into an unused corner, complete with a shiny cocktail shaker, sleek drinkware, and stripey paper straws.
S H O P P I N G
Shop StyleCarrot partners & others for bar cabinets.
Not to go bananas—I mean pineapples—on you, but playing off my roundup “Put a Fruit On It” in Sunday’s Boston Globe), followed up by the pineapple centerpiece, I’m offering up 40 examples of pineapple fabulousness from StyleCarrot partners and others that illustrate this season’s pineapple fashion trend.
Inspired by Tory Burch’s pineapple obsession for spring (I’m not sure what’s up with that . . . I couldn’t find any quotes from her about it online), I found so many cute examples of on-trend pineapple-printed pieces, from pineapple handbags and jewelry to pineapple swimsuits and sweaters, I wanted to put them all out there for you. And with its preppy aesthetic, its perfect for New England summers.
While the best pineapple may well be served up in tropical cocktails, these pineapple fashions are pretty darn cute. If anyone’s interested in a pineapple decor roundup (minus the gold pineapple finials), I’m happy to oblige.
SHOP PING
1 Pineapple Picker Vinyl Tote by Kestrel, $144 at Nordstrom.
2 Ananas Pineapple Studs by Moon and Lola, $38 at Tuckernuck.
3 Emma Pineapple Sequined Sweater, $555at Net-A-Porter.
4 Cork Convertible Clutch by Lenore by LaRegale, $43.40 at Kohl’s.
5 Pineapple Party Silk Scarf by Echo, $68 at Nordstrom.
6 Metallic Pineapple iPhone 5 Case, $15 at Topshop.
7 Lula Pineapple Wedges by Sophia Webster, $410 at Net-A-Porter.
