Cheers to 2016

Well, can you believe it, it's the last day of 2015!? Where did this year go... 

As you've probably come to realize, I love any excuse to get dressed up and wear something sparkly. New Year's Eve is the perfect night to wear sequins and heels and no one will think you're over dressed. So, I am taking this excuse to sparkle, and wearing my gold sequin skirt today paired with heeled booties and tights. On top, another piece that felt perfect for the occasion, a tee that says "Champage S'il Vous Plait" layered with a comfy black blazer. I couldn't resist the urge to throw on a sparkling necklace and red lip as well. Altogether the look is sophisticated and fun. All I need now is a glass of champagne in hand to ring in the new year! 

Happy New Year's everyone! 

Thanks to all who have been reading along this year!

Tee: Ruche, available in blue here, sweatshirt here, or rose tank here. Skirt: Tulle ($10.99!). Blazer: Urban Outfitters. Lip Stain: Sephora. Necklace: J. Crew. (factory version $32.50) Booties: Steve Madden. 

xoxo, CC

After Christmas Sales

Sequin skirt as seen in: Not-So-Ugly Sweater

Now that the holiday shopping season is winding down there are lots of major sales going on. If you need a little something to spice up your New Years Eve outfit this is a great time to snag that perfect sparkly piece! Here are some of my favorites 


Two of my favorite stores, Anthropologie and Kate Spade, are offering additional 25% off sale items. I'd hit up Kate Spade for adorable shoes and everyday bags and Anthro for cozy sweaters and household knickknacks.  


Tulle has really great prices to begin with, and with sale discounts it almost feels like you're getting away with a steal! Like, talk about $3.99 leggings in an array of colors. A few years back I got some great pieces from Tulle at amazing prices, including this sequin skirt ($10.99!) and this dress.
tulle4us.com

Tulle dress. From: Galentine's Day

LuLu*s has tons of cute dresses on super sale (hello New Years outfit!), up to 70% off and going fast, as well as plenty of jewelry marked down.

Sephora is offering 20% off all sale items through 1/1/16, and I always find something fun to try out! Code: EXTRA20

J. Crew is also giving 40% off their winter sale! I love this skirt and how easily it can be dressed up or down.

from J. Crew

I hope this list helps you find something great!

Xoxo, CC

Holidays at Home

Happy Christmas Eve everyone! 

I am excited to be heading home tonight to spend Christmas with my family.

I put together this casual festive look for spending the holidays cozy at home. Something so comfy and cute like this is suitable for many situations such as Christmas Eve baking cookies while jamming to Ariana Grande's Christmas album, Christmas Day at home with family (you know somebody's gonna get out a camera), or even a low key New Years party watching the ball drop on TV. The leggings are super comfy for lounging around but the leathery look dresses them up a bit too. Layering tops keeps the look casual while the sequined sweater makes this look totally holiday-chic. 

Sweater: BB Dakota (similar: splurge or save). Chambray: J. Crew. Vegan Leather leggings: Lysse. Necklace: J. Crew (similar 1/2/3). Lip: Nars "Cruella" Velvet Matte Lip Pencil.  

xoxo CC

Holiday Outfit: Leather and Sparkle

It used to always baffle me that people considered black a holiday color for wearing to parties this time of year. To me 'festive' has always meant color and sparkle, but I can see now that black can be a very elegant color suitable for parties and events. To me it still needs a bit of sparkle and fun (like leather, beading, and gold accessories) to be holiday-ready, but I thought I would give it a try.

I wore this look to a holiday toy drive party at work over the weekend. I created a festive vibe by pairing a black top with a sparkling beaded neckline with a faux leather skirt fit for a party. I added dotted tights and tall boots to break up the black-on-black and add a touch of texture and pattern without overwhelming the look. Each of these pieces is a little bold but since they are all the same color they meld seamlessly into a unified outfit. I topped it all off with my festive gift bow earrings for a touch of sparkle and a nod to all the toys donated that will soon be wrapped up in paper & bows for children in need.

Champagne and treats at the event

If you're looking for more holiday outfit inspiration I've compiled a few looks with a bit of a twist. While I love a good classic party dress (and in fact I wore one to the holiday party my roommates and I hosted the other week) I've had my eye out for looks with a little bit more of a unique and bold feel that still fit the holiday theme.
Which of these is your favorite?
(images via Pinterest)

 Top: Old Navy (1/2). Skirt: H&M. Tights: similar. Earrings: Kate Spade. Lipstick: Bare Minerals "Risk It All."

xoxo, CC

West Village Wandering

One of my favorite areas of the city to wander around aimlessly is the West Village because it is full of pretty brick buildings and interesting little stoops. It has a very neighborhood-y feel which is so welcoming and calming. I would love to live there if I could! Anyway, over the weekend I found myself wandering the streets of the West Village admiring how cute it is.

It has been unseasonably warm in New York the past few weeks, with an amazing 65 degrees this weekend which totally warranted bare legs and skirts. This olive hued skirt is a favorite for this time of year because it goes so well with seasonable colors like black, chocolate, and taupe--all of which incorporated into this look.

It really doesn't feel like the holidays because of how warm it is, but it is creeping up on us fast! Only a week until Christmas! What are your holiday plans this year?

Skirt: Splendid (1/2/3). Top: here. Jacket: BB Dakota (on sale here and here). Boots: Frye. Bag: Kate Spade--also love this.

xoxo, CC

Twilight

I loved this shoot on the rooftop at twilight so I wanted to share a few more photos from it. The glow over the rooftops creates a dreamy backdrop for highlighting an elegant outfit.
While this look was inspired by Las Vegas it works perfectly for a night in New York as well. Rooftop restaurants and bars are a fun destination in the city because you can get a phenomenal view of the buildings and skyline. When the weather is nice my friends and I like to go up to the rooftop of my apartment building and look out over all the lights of the city as well.

I love the color of this dress because it is bright and fun but it works in any season. The vibrant purple makes it an easy choice for warmer months but the crochet-lace is a heavy enough that it doesn't look out of place in winter either. With a blazer layered over it and pointed black heels it's a great choice for a dressy rooftop dinner--or even a holiday party!

Dress: ModCloth (similar 1/2/3) Blazer: Urban Outfitters. Shoes: Vince Camuto. Clutch: similar. Earrings: J. Crew (1/2/3). Lip: BareMinerals "Risk It All."

xoxo, CC

#Bestdressed for Vegas

One of my friends is planning to celebrate her birthday this year with a group trip to Las Vegas. Since it is never too early to start planning outfits I took this chance to put together my Ultimate Vegas Outfit. I wanted to do something a little different while still incorporating the typical Vegas glitz and glamour. Statement earrings and a fabulous clutch are some of the defining factors of the outfit, which I tried to keep simple, classy and still totally fun. 

For a day-to-night look I chose coated leggings with a ruffled tank and glam earrings. This sexy-casual style is perfect for walking the strip, grabbing lunch on the patio at Olives, and checking out the casino at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The leggings and tank with flat slip-on shoes ensure comfort all day, but the edgy leathery look, fluttery ruffles, and glittering earrings nod to Vegas style and will keep you feeling confident at the poker table. And in case anyone doubted, the #bestdressed clutch makes a playful statement, suitable for the notorious Vegas "anything goes" approach to style. I even made sure to have the necessary accessories on hand to transition this look to a night out at Ghostbar or Hakkasan: all it needs is a pair of eye-catching heels and a jewel encrusted clutch to take the look up a level. A brighter lip and collar necklace don't hurt either for a touch of glam suitable for the dance floor.

Top: Ella Moss (similar: 1/2/3). Leggings: H&M (1/2). Shoes: Elk. Clutch: Deux Lux at DSW. Earrings: similar 1/2. Lip: e.l.f "Pink Umbrellas."

I had so much fun with this that I put together a second outfit for an evening out in Vegas.

For an elegant look suitable for dinner at STK and a show, a tight lace dress is a great option. Honestly, I wish the skirt length were a little longer on this one to make it more sophisticated, but with a blazer layered over it and pointed black heels it's a great choice for a dressy dinner. I added a blingy clutch and bejeweled drop earrings to complete this show-stopping look for a night out in Vegas.

Thank you to Vegas.com for inviting me to participate in creating the Ultimate Vegas Outfit. Check out the various Las Vegas hotels if you're planning a trip or want to learn more about all they have to offer.

Look 2: Dress: ModCloth (similar 1/2/3) Blazer: Urban Outfitters. Shoes: Vince Camuto. Clutch: similar. Earrings: J. Crew (1/2/3). Lip: BareMinerals "Risk It All."

xoxo CC

Serenity & Rose Quartz

It looks like pastels are coming back into the spotlight! Pantone has announced the colors of the year, Serenity and Rose Quartz, and I couldn't be happier because these are some of my favorite shades. In fact, I've been wearing similar shades quite a lot in the past two years.

This website shares a list of color palette suggestions using Serenity and Rose Quartz that show some useful ways of styling these colors and incorporating them into your wardrobe. I am excited to see how these colors manifest themselves into spring fashion this year, but in the meantime I've compiled a few photos of outfits I've worn using similar shades to start brainstorming ways to bring these colors into 2016.

Weekend Brunch; Snowflakes and Florals; Rustic Chic; Sugar Rush

Hermes Moment

xoxo, CC

Printed Winter

I find that in the fall and winter my wardrobe tends to get a little drab in terms of colors and I end up wearing a lot of solids in greys, blacks, blues, and whites. It's so noticeable when I put away my summery dresses and bring out the warmer pieces how much darker the closet looks! I am therefore always on the lookout for cute printed pieces for winter, especially if it adds a little color to my wardrobe.  When I found this top on sale at Anthropologie this fall it seemed like a perfect fit. The print uses plenty of black for pairing with dark jeans and jackets but still has bright fall colors like orange and green to give a little pop. The floral print is festive and multi-seasonal, while details like the trim at the neckline and longer sleeves make it a perfect fall piece. Adding OTK boots and a moto jacket leave no doubts about this top's ability to transition seasons easily.

Anthro is seriously such a dangerous store for me... no one should ever let me in there without first confiscating my wallet so I am forced to leave empty handed! I wish I could buy half the store every time I go in there. Shopping the sale rack makes me feel at least a little bit better about my choices, but seriously, I am not allowing myself back in there for a very long time now! Just a few of my other favorites in the store included this gold polkadot skirt, fun ombre sweater, and adorable zodiac pouches.

Top: Anthropologie (similar 1/2). Jeans: J brand. Boots: Sam Edelman (similar). Jacket: Zara. Earrings: Gorjana. Clutch: Rebecca Minkoff. Lip: Lipstick Queen 'Frog Prince' (see my review post here).

xoxo CC