Merry Christmas!

Dear Readers,
Wishing you a warm, safe and happy holiday season. Hope that you are enjoying time with the people that are important to you and not getting too sucked into the stress and commercialism that has become what this season is known for. Enjoy time, enjoy the moments and enjoy the people that make life special! We are all on vacation until January so our posts may be a bit more sporadic while we spend time with our loved ones in LA and Toronto. Thanks for making the past few years interesting and great and we'll see you more regularly in the New Year!

xo,
Erin, Lani & Jeff

Online Shopping: Holiday Discount Codes & Sales

Hopefully you've got all of the holiday shopping out of the way, and maybe now you can shop a bit for yourself? If not, you've got a few hours for next-day shipping for Christmas Eve arrival, and with gifts, better late than never!

There are so many sitewide discount codes and sales happening online. With some down time at my parents' house, I've done a lot of browsing, and here are some of the best deals I've spotted!

Karmaloop: 30% off + free shipping with code "BERSERK"
If you're looking for a body-con dress or bold footwear, karmaloop.com has got you covered. I'm not always a fan of the styling, but they have a pretty extensive list of brands: Evil Twin, Style Stalker, Mink Pink, Motel, Jeffrey Campbell, Melissa, Ash.
Left: Cheap Monday Cape Sleeve Dress ($40.60 after discount, retail $58)
Right: 80%20 Adair Hidden Wedge Boot ($107.80 after discount, retail $154)


80s Purple: 20% off with code "twelve" & free shipping on orders over $99
I love 80s Purple because they have so many of the brands that I like, and the pieces that I actually want from those brands. Some of my favorites on the site include Dear Creatures, Costume Dept, and Kaylee Tankus.
Left: Grey Any Kennedy Sunglasses ($196 after discount, retail $254)
Right: Cheap Monday Siri Dress/Skirt ($37.52 after discount, retail $67)*
*I didn't mean to post another Cheap Monday find, but this skirt was already on sale and with the additional discount, this 2-in-1 find was too good not to share.


Shop The Far Out: 25% off with exclusive code "ImWithSugar" + free holiday shipping
Based out of New York, Shop The Far Out is a new online boutique with a nice selection of the effortless downtown chic that the city is known for. They've got a lot of my favorite brands like Funktional, Rebecca Minkoff and Cynthia Vincent. And soon they'll be adding Leifsdottir and Les Halles. Definitely worth checking out as much of the site is already on sale and with 25% off, you can score a real steal!
Left: Kova & T Oxley Dress ($197.25 after discount, retail $350)
Right: Plastic Island Geraldine Silk Blouse ($87 after discount, retail $155)

Fashion 2.0 Holiday Party!

Earlier this week, Erin and I had a chance to stop by the Fashion 2.0 Holiday Party presented by Beyond the Rack at the Griffin in the Meatpacking district. I was feeling a bit under the weather but after getting some booze into my system, compliments of Martin Codax, I was feeling much better. Overall - definitely a great way to start my holiday season!

The venue was nice and reminded me of a more posh lounge with mirrored ceilings, chandeliers and plenty of space to sit around or mingle. There were lots of different people across various industries and bloggers so it was nice to touch base with people before the holidays! Tunes were provided by DJ Belle De Jour with plenty of Katy Perry blasting in the backdrop.

There was a contest to score a $1,500 shopping spree to Beyond the Rack which was great - too bad Erin and I were slow and couldn't score any points =/

Special thanks to Yuli for organizing such a great event!

Photos courtesy of Sunny Norton

On a side note, the plaid shirt I'm wearing is from the William Rast for Target collection that launched last week. While I wasn't a huge fan of the line when I saw it in person, I loved the plaid shirts and grabbed a couple. They're lightweight fabrics and easy to layer with.

On Erin:

Over the Knee Boots - Delman
Tank Top - LnA
Ruffle Taffeta Skirt - Lanvin x H&M
Floral Print Tights - Primark
Chunky Necklace - Club Monaco
Velvet Collar Blazer - Vintage YSL (picked up at Housing Works!)
Chain Strap Satchel - Botkier Ava

On Jeff:

Blue Plaid shirt: William Rast x Target
V-neck T: Uniqlo Heat-Tech (seriously the best thing ever)
Dark Skinny Jeans: Jonathan Alders for 7 For All Mankind
Satchel bag: Matt & Nat
Nut/bolt leather wrapped bracelet: Giles & Brother

Product Review: William Rast for Target

I was super excited for the launch of William Rast for Target as I am for most Target collections so I actually tried to check it out online it as soon as it went live on Sunday am, but since it wouldn’t let me shop at midnight, I decided to head to stores the next morning to see what I thought about the line in person.

The first items I headed straight towards were the leather jackets.  They were absolutely buttery soft leading me to believe that the leather used was actually lamb!  Lamb leather is usually quite pricey but these Target versions will only set you back about $200.

While the construction was great and I loved the red pop lining in the Fringe moto jacket, I found that there was absolutely no bust room.  Considering that I am not a busty girl by any means, I am not sure how these will fare for other ladies. Also, the fringe was fun but I felt a little bit costume-y trying this on. The Tan Biker jacket fared a bit better in this area.  Both jackets are cut quite snuggly which I’m sure that petite girls will appreciate.  Since my heart is still set on getting a black biker jacket I passed on both items as neither quite fit’s my specifications.

Next to the biker jackets was this bomber jacket that took be back to the early 90s, it had a waxy/stiff feel that was not really something that enticed me. I also spotted plenty of twill biker vests and cargo pants.  The vest is a little bit fussy looking for my personal aesthetic but on the right person I’m sure it could look really cute.  The cargo pants were great but the fabrication wasn’t as soft as I hoped.  I am so into comfort these days that I can scarcely manage to wear a pair of regular skinny jeans.

Items that I would have loved had they been made in silk are this silky snap front blouse and tank top.  The original line charts stated silk, but I think perhaps due to cost they were switched to Poly before they went to production. The items are definitely trend right, but the fabrication was a bit of a turn off.  Perhaps if they get marked down I will consider it, but I really would have paid a bit more for silk. Since I’m not much of a fan of dark wash denim, I didn’t really look at them too closely.

I initially thought this lace-up jacket was a really fun shape, but having lace-up detailing on the sleeves and the back seemed a bit overdesigned.  I would have liked it' more if they kept it to one spot.  However, it’s still an overall fun style.  From photo’s I loved the look of the Ponte High Waisted skirt and thought it could make a great replacement for my Jonathan Saunders for Target Skirt that is starting to shred.  On the hanger I was a bit disappointed because it looked flat, but on the body it really does look great and much better than I expected after my initial disappointment.  Another great item that is well made are these Ponte leggings, they are a nice thick material that might even be able to be worn alone (sans long tunic/dress)  The geometric flag pattern at the knees adds a sporty fun touch as do the ankle zips.

A couple of the best made items in the collection was the Ponte Biker vest and these Pleather shorts!  Both items were very cleanly constructed and felt great.

My sleeper fave item of the collection was these plaid shirts. Had I only saw them online, I never would have wanted them.  In real life the fabric is purposefully disheveled, soft, thin and has a great overall look.  I tried on a couple sizes just to see and I might size up on this one because my regular size fit my body, but again like the leather jacket there was very little bust room in them.  Finally for the chambray shirts, they are a great price for an overall great basic, however the little iron on studs on the pocket flaps bother me and actually detract from the shirt. Had the shirt’s not included the studs, I think I would have bought them in a heartbeat.

LA Love: Leyendecker Spring 2011

Leyendecker is a line from Los Angeles. They've been around since 2006, but I actually only came across their designs sometime in the past year when I saw a few of their dresses on Gilt Groupe. Their pieces caught my attention, as I love neutral colors and subtle cutouts.

Here are some looks from their holiday 2010 collection. I'm a fan of the shaggy, fuzzy pieces and prints (I'm so predictable I know), but what I'd really like to highlight is their spring 2011 collection.

Awhile back, Erin and I had the chance to preview the new spring collection, which left me longing for warmer weather and a trip home to LA. Many of the pieces had touches of the relaxed, boho chic look that southern California is known for. And the color palette was simple: soft neutrals, pastels and black.
I like stripes and I like lace, and together, they look pretty nice! The top on the right would be a great easy, breezy piece for spring. It would look great with jeans, shorts for more casual outings like the beach or outdoor concert.

This top was one of my personal favorites. Print, mesh detailing? Done. I think this would be a great day-to-night top. I could wear this to the office under a blazer with some nice dress pants, and after hours, I could lose the blazer and be ready to go out.


Same print. Cute shorts. I don't think I need to explain myself.
I love lace; it never goes out of style! These are pieces you could buy and wear season to season, year after year with simple change of layers and accessories.

And lastly, I'll leave with a shaggy pink sweater. Hug me!

You can find Leyendecker online at Shopbop or in stores at a number of boutiques. For more information, visit leyendeckerlosangeles.com.

iWant: 80%20 Eliotte Toggle Geometric

About 5 months ago when I was moving, I counted all of the shoes in my closet and was sligtly horrified by how many I had. So I decided to start strictly enforcing, "one in, one out". Since then I haven't bought a new pair of shoes, but I think I may have found the pair to update my collection!

I've been eying the Eliotte Toggle booties from 80%20. I love how warm and comfy they look, just perfect for winter! I like them in black pony hair, but I absolutely adore them in this geometric print. With the signature 80%20 hidden wedge, they would look hot with leggings. And in this print, these booties would be a great touch to a layered look.

These desert boot-inspired shoes are quite affordable. You can find them for $80-$115 depending on the color at endless.com and karmaloop.com. You can also find them at anthropologie.com, but they'll cost you $158 there.

Deal of the Day: Cheap Monday at Alter Brooklyn

One of our favorite boutiques, Alter in Brooklyn is having a one-day sale - 40% off all Cheap Monday jeans and collection. Get a pair of signature tight skinny jeans for $39.00.

Sadly, Cheap Monday jeans don't fit me, but I am excited at the thought of 40% off the collection. Cheap Monday has some great jackets, sweaters and skirts.

For those who don't live in New York, you can also shop over the phone! Just call 718-349-0203 and they'll ship to you via UPS.

CND Shellac Nail Polish Review

I had the chance to try out Creative Nail Design’s Shellac nail polish (compliments of CND) a few weeks ago while I was at a clothing preview event.  I had never heard of Shellac before and was really excited to try a nail polish that claimed to stay put for up to 14 days! I can barely get a manicure to last 7 sometimes because I’m pretty hard on my nails between working in fashion, cooking for myself and just being a general klutz.  Shellac is sort of a nail polish/gel hybrid.  It looks like regular nail polish and is painted on your nails like usual.  The only difference is that you stick your hand in a UV lamp in between coats.  I had a hard time choosing which shade to try out but in the end the beautiful deep Fedora color called out to me.

First thing I notice was how quickly the polish was dry and how glossy it was. It was like I had a mirror finish on my nails.  Unlike regular polish it wasn’t only surface dried but it was fully cured and ready to go.  I could sort through racks of clothing without fear from the instant I came out of the UV lamp.  It was my first manicure at a preview that I’ve gotten without smearing a couple nails before heading home.Day 1 –  After a day where I’ve been fairly rough with my nails they are perfectly intact. Typing, texting, using pins for a fitting, cooking, the list goes on. No signs of edge wear.  For a moment I think I spot a dull spot and realize it’s not a surface scratch but the manicurist missed a spot of residue when she was doing my nails and it easily rubs off with a few swipes of the pad of my finger.  My fingers look like deep richly colored little mirrors.

Day 2-5 – Seriously hardcore finish.  Glossy as Day 1, still looks pretty much perfect on the left hand, while the right hand is showing minimal edge wear at the tips of 2 nails that is so minimal (it’s about the width of a strand of hair/less) that you wouldn’t notice unless you were really staring for a problem.

By Day 6-7 my nails are glossy as ever but a closer examination will reveal minor surface scratches.  The minimal edge wear is on 2 fingers on my left hand and 3 on my right on my most used fingers (the thumb, the pointer & the middle finger).

Day 8-9 – Still shiny for most part but due to surface wear there are some slight dull patches that are only discernable with intense staring at a distance of about  6 inches.  The tip wear has extended from only a hair deep to about ½  a mm on certain parts of nails.  Nails are really starting to grow out so there is a 1 mm gap at my nail bed.  My ring finger, pinky and surprisingly my thumb are by far the most pristine, with hardly any edge wear and no dull surface scratch spots.  Not too shabby for over a week of hard use.  From less than 2 feet away my friend comments that my nails look freshly painted from the nail salon.  (On a side note my Sephora shipment came today and I’m itching to try my new nail polishes I ordered…but I must endure)Day 10 –While I was out at dinner my nail caught the edge of something and the first signs of truly noticeable damage occurs.  It’s funny because I complained about my nail chipping to a guy friend and he actually commented that he had thought that I just got my nails done.

Day 11 – The damage on my left middle finger increases a bit. The nail polish seems very flexible like a sheet and once the seal is broken it just sort of seems to want to give way.  My right hand however still looks pretty darn good. Day 12-13- There is very minimal change from Day 11.  On Day 13, there is a slight chipping of the middle finger by the cuticle but otherwise very little change.Day 14 – I think I was working with my hands on a broken piece of jewelry and I managed to dent up the polish in my right index finger and thumb a bit.  While the nails are still generally glossy I think  that I’ve trashed them to a point of time for removal.

Day 15 – I know that you are really supposed to use special cuticle wraps in acetone to remove this polish.  However, I just started picking at them while I was sitting and realized that Shellac’s strength is it’s flexibility that allows it to sort of stick together and come off in sheets.  I ended up peeling off all the nail polish off my fingers in a matter of minutes sans acetone.

Overall, I really enjoyed my Shellac Manicure.  I loved how shiny it stayed even til the very end.  I did however after the 10 day point get a bit color stir-crazy but I really think that if you have a busy lifestyle or want to ensure great nails while you are on a vacation, Shellac would be the perfect answer.  While it does cost a bit more than a traditional manicure, it makes up for it in staying power.

Shellac is available in 12 fashion colors but requires a trip to the salon as it needs the special UV lamps to cure the color.  To locate a salon near you click here.