holidays

Christmas is right around the corner- like 2 or 3 days away depending on what you consider to be the “real Christmas”- and that means you still have a couple of days left to find the perfect Christmas/New Years outfit to make everyone in your family (even those annoying distant relatives) think “man they look good- they must have their s*** together!”

If you’re looking for some inspiration to punch up your holiday outfit ideas, your search ends here! I’ve dug through the trove of outfit inspiration to end all outfit inspiration- the Fall 2018 couture collections! If you want to make an impression that will last a lifetime, get your pen and paper ready to furiously take some notes. You’re going to need them! Check out some of my favorite trends that would definitely serve you well during the holiday season:

Comfy, Chunky Knits

Winter is knit season, so what better addition to a cozy winter ‘fit than a good sweater? Except, this time, take your idea of a comfy knit and turn up the intensity like 3 or 4 notches. What have you got to lose by going bigger? Chunkier? Bolder?? The answer is nothing, so go for it!

Source: Sonia Rykiel Couture Fall 2018 via Vogue.com

Shimmery, Red Sequins

Your Christmas ornament should be flattered- get it? Because imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Enough with the jokes! Red sequins will add so much festive fun to any look, you’ll feel like a party on legs! Anything with this much shine will also look incredible next to a well-decorated tree, so break out your Kira Kira app and get snapping!

Source: Left- Maison Francesco Scognamiglio, Center- Alberta Ferretti Limited Edition, Right- Zuhair Murad via Vogue.com

Get Into Green

We’ve given red a shout out, so we thought it would only be fair to do the same for the season’s other most iconic color- green! We’ve already spoken about why green is a huge color this season, but if that isn’t reason enough to get this color into your life, just consider how spirited you will look in green with red accessories!

Source: Left- Jean Paul Gaultier, Center & Right- Valentino via Vogue.com

Sugarplum Pink

The Nutcracker Ballet’s very own Sugarplum Fairy is taking note of these gorgeous gowns. Shimmery, feathery, light, sheer and romantic- these dresses are dreams woven into reality! Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you can’t wear a soft, Spring-y shade. You totally should! And look like a total cutie doing it!

Source: Fendi Couture Fall 2018 via Vogue.com

Sleek Black

The Little Black Dress has never looked so good. While every woman needs a good LBD, you should have a GREAT one with fun details like a dramatic slit, some funky bows, or a full, cupcake skirt that’s just too fun to pass up. Plus, you can add pretty much any accessory to a black dress, so go nuts and really make it your own!

Source: Chanel Couture Fall 2018 via Vogue.com

Oversized, Dramatic Silhouettes

Make sure that when you show up to the Christmas celebration everyone turns and thinks to themselves “She. Has. Arrived.” with a dramatic dress that’s only a little bit extra. Okay, a lot extra. But look at how fun these looks are! It will all be worth it!

Source: Left- Valentino, Center & Right- Giambattista Valli Couture Fall 2018 via Vogue.com

Prim Pleats

Posh, pretty, preppy pleats are the perfectway to dress up your holiday outfits- just look at how sharp and shimmery these are! If you want to look like an angel, or a mermaid, then this trend may be just the thing you need and were lucky enough to stumble across!

Source: Azzaro Couture Fall 2018 via Vogue.com

Even if you didn’t find what you were looking for, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! No matter what you wear to celebrate, you’ll look amazing! What are your plans gearing up for the new year? Let me know in the comments!

Stress, Materialism and Selfishness During the Most Joyful Time of the Year

My childhood memories of Christmas play out like a movie- snow, pulling mittens over cold hands, getting snow up the sleeve of my coat, winding neighborhoods of colored light, Christmas carols, sleds, New Hampshire frozen lakes, hot cocoa and marshmallows, never enough marshmallows, A Christmas Carol, The Grinch, Santa Claus, reindeer hooves beating against the roof, Christmas cookies, milk in mugs… and presents. Wrapped in shimmering bows and pretty patterned paper, they held everything I dreamed of, and made the season magical.

For young ones lucky enough to receive gifts for the holidays, Christmas seems like a dream, the most joyful time of the year, accompanied by a fleeting sadness the day after because we would have to wait a whole year to sense the magic again. Eventually that magic fades. Slowly, first with the realization that Santa isn’t real (a fact that my parents have never wanted to tell us) and then with the onset of adulthood, where Christmas becomes much more about giving gifts than receiving them.

When I started to buy gifts for others, Christmas lost its luster. I don’t mean to make myself sound like a selfish jerk who only loves to receive and never wants to return the favor- no, that’s not what I mean. I love giving gifts, especially ones that have a lot of meaning that I know the recipient will truly appreciate. What bums me out about Christmas is the fact that gift giving is expected and anybody that doesn’t participate is hailed a Scrooge and painted as a greedy, joyless miser.

What do you get someone who doesn’t need or want anything? Something they don’t want or need. How many holiday gifts have you gotten that you had to pretend you were grateful for? How many gifts have you re-gifted? Yeah, we’ve all probably gotten plenty of presents that were basically meaningless junk all in the name of ~Christmas~. The evening of Thanksgiving, a day we are supposed to spend being thankful for what we have, thousands flock to big box stores to buy even more stuff! And a lot of the time they aren’t even buying gifts, but taking advantage of the mediocre deals for themselves It’s materialism on steroids. Overindulgent and selfish.

Then there’s the stress of it all, my least favorite part of the Christmas season. Trying to figure out what to get someone who doesn’t want anything is stress. Trying to mail the gifts on time is stress. Managing finances is stress. And at the end of the day it seems like it’s all in the name of stuff rather than loving and appreciating your family and friends and significant others.

I would much rather have a thoughtful, well-cooked meal, or a nice trip to a fun place than things that will line my shelves and gather dust. I guess that’s why we can make Christmas whatever we want it to be, despite companies trying to push their rampant waste and materialism upon us. I know the Christmas magic is still there somewhere, I just have to dig a little deeper to find it.