We’re mid-week in our special HolidayDouble Featurecollaboration with Cassie of Style Cassentials.
What holiday series would be complete without talking about Sparkle & Shine? That’s exactly what we’re gonna focus on today. 🙂
Photo credit: Val Soo
There is A LOT of sequins in holiday wear this year. Don’t get me wrong…I love me some sequins!!! But everyone else is gonna be wearing it right now, and I would rather do something different this time around.
Knowing HOW to wear sequins can be a bit tricky. I’ve done a previous blogpost on How To Wear Sequins & Shine earlier this year, if you’re interested 😉
Photo credit: Rebecca Northcott Photography
For this holiday look, I decided to let the sparkle and shine show in my accessories, rather an my entire frock.
Photo credit: Val Soo
I found this peplum dress last year from AdditionElle and have come up with many uses for it, like say THE South Asian Princess Leia…. click here to see what I mean 😉
There is just something about wearing crisp winter whites that really steps up the glamour of an outfit. I wanted to use the ‘sparkle and shine’ factor sparingly for this holiday look.
This amazing sliver-gold-jewelled belt was found in a lovely boutique on West Queen West called Fashion Crimes (NOTE: this shop has recently closed it’s doors and will be reopening as a bespoke boutique elsewhere in Toronto in 2015).
I matched it up with this jewelled bracelet (Aldo Accessories) and gold drop earrings (Your Big Sister’s Closet) to jazz up this holiday outfit. And lastly, I decided to keep the heels a simple nude pump (Payless), to not distract from the rest of the look.
Photo credit: Val Soo
Cassie dazzles in her boyfriend jeans, black glitter heels, ivory camisole and black sequin jacket! Loving the statement necklace too! Head over to Style Cassentials for all the details on Cassie’s holiday outfit. Or visit her Facebook page here.
And just in case….if you’ve missed a few from thespecial Holiday Double Feature? Not to fear…
We began the week with a special Holiday Double Feature collaboration with Cassie of Style Cassentials yesterday. If you missed our first post, no worries – click here 🙂
Today we’re we focusing on getting Office Party ready for both before & after 5pm!
Before 5pm…
To get through the workday, I chose a black collared shirt with a gold faux belt attachment (Reitmans) to go with my gold & black brocade pencil skirt (Lane Bryant). Keeping the shoes a simple beige pump (Payless) with sheer black hose (Dollarama).
For the party portion of the day, I’d lose the blazer and put on one piece of awesome jewelry: like this amazing black n’ gold statement necklace (SexyPlus Clothing)! Click here and here to see it in other looks.
Jewelry has been the most successful fashion conversation starter at networking events, or so I’ve found. Both women and men feel comfortable complimenting or commenting on a piece of jewelry. It’s considered in the safe zone — Statement Jewellery May Help You Network.
Are you more of an earrings girl? Go For It! You can wear a big bracelet or put that vintage embellished hair clip in your do. Just stick to one eye catching piece of jewelry….try not to over do it.
Now, to elevate my look After 5pm…
I got rid of the collared shirt, and went with the mock-neck peplum top with a sheer peek-a-boo neckline (Forever21+)
I didn’t want to add anything more to the neckline of this top, so I opted for bling’d out earrings instead (Your Big Sister’s Closet)…
I also swapped shoes for these edgy gold spiked pumps (Torrid, click here and here) with a purse to match (Danier Leather, click here) and put my hair up.
Cassie green leopard dress is amazing….! With blazer or without it’s perfect for office party mode, don’t you think? Head over to Style Cassentials for all the details on how Cassie has styled the trends. Or visit her Facebook page here.
Cassie of Style Cassentials
What do you think about these look? What have you worn to your work’s holiday party? Tell me in the comments section…
Ok…the holiday season is upon us and I’m sure you’ve got 101 places to be as invitations start filling up your calendar. I aim to write not only about What I Wore …. but rather What I Did while wearing it.
So get ready for a flurry of Holiday Happening posts from me throughout the month of December friends 🙂
One of the first invitations was to a Vintage Cookie Exchange!
If you’ve been following the blog, you know that there is a group of special friends in my life from all my involvement with the Toronto Vintage Society. Among them are the crafty, kitchy, artsy, put-Martha-Stewart-to-shame few who’ve really helped me expand and discover new skills I never knew I had. And this invitation was one of those moments of discovery!!!!
The Mission: Bake 8 dozen holiday inspired cookies to give away to the others who were coming to this shindig, plus a few to be plated, shared and enjoyed at the party.
Now, for a chick (moi) who doesn’t bake, my immediate thoughts were …. DUN DUN DUNNNNN…Run Away! Run Away! in a Monty Python spirited way.
But then I bought this amazing fanny midi skirt, which would be perfect for the get-to-gether …and so I decided I’d make an effort by trying my hand at baking! 😉
I picked up this lovely skirt from Tatyana Boutique’s newest location on West Queen West during their BOGO deal. Yup – Buy One, Get One FREE!!! Naturally I had to scoop up this midi in both colours: wine and green. Needless to say that these two skirts will be making multiple appearances over the holidays (stay tuned to the blog for that!) 🙂
Best part about these skirts: THE POCKETS!! Perfect for iPhone, cab fare and lip gloss … you know, the essentials!
In an effort to step my up holiday glam, I decided to wear festive accessories like my gold xmas bows set I picked up from Target a few years ago. Still kicking myself for not picking them up in the other metallic xmas colours they had at the time. Sigh…
How I Got The Look: Black n’ white polka dot 3/4 length top from Reitmans; Fanny midi skirt from Tatyana Boutique; Xmas bows accessory set from Target; and shoes were thrifted
Outfit Photo Credit: Val Soo
As for my baking effort and contribution … I’ve been told that peanut butter cookies are the easiest of all the cookies to make. And with the help of Pintrest, I found the following recipe and added my own holiday twist and TRIPLED it!
Ingredients (needed for approx 3doz cookies):
1/2 c. butter (unsalted is best, but salted works fine)
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. peanut butter
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
Un-wrapped Hershey Kisses, 1 for each cookie
I’ve even documented my efforts step-by-step for y’all 🙂
Step 1: In the bowl cream together butter, both sugars and peanut butter. Add egg and vanilla. Step 2: Then combine flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl. Add flour mix to butter mix. Step 3: Refrigerate dough in bowl for 30 minutes.Step 4: While dough is in fridge, preheat oven to 375C, line your cookie sheets and unwrap all your Hershey’s Kisses. I went with Hugs instead…the swirls looked more ‘holiday-like’ 🙂Step 5: Form into 1 inch balls and place them 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet.Step 6: Bake for 9 to 10 minutes, or until cookies are just a little brown.Step 7: Discard all the burnt ones – lol. This was my very first batch…seems the recommended use of parchment paper was of critical importance. Sigh…Step 8: Remove from oven, and press a Kiss/Hug into each cookie. Cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes and then move cookies to cooling racks (or plate).Step 9: Put a dozen of them into individual festive baggies to give away at your Vintage Holiday Cookie Exchange! I call these cookies: Christmas Hugs!!Step 10: Become Cookie Monsters with your cookie baking friends and eat as many as you can in a violently horrific manner!! #nomnomnom
This was my first cookie exchange ever – first time baking cookies ever, in fact. And with relatively little work and preparation I’m now am able to offer a variety of lovely baked goods to family & friends at upcoming holiday festivities and gifting. HAZZA! 🙂
Between all the shopping, parties, wrapping, decorating, and travel this time of year, most of us would put “more time” as the number one item on our holiday wish lists. So this year, why not kill two turtledoves with one stone by hosting a cookie exchange party?
PPMeow! 
