dear miley (again)

dear miley,

oh, we have spoken a few times before. i have once praised you, just to take my compliments away only days later.

and really? i still don't care for you. i don't love you, i don't hate you...but you're not my favorite person on the planet? when it comes to singers, queen gaga and t. swift are. you my friend are not.

but you have redeemable qualities, kiddo. you do. you have that party in the usa song that i love to sing while i'm driving to get weird looks from other drivers. you have a recent sense of style (sometimes). you're even going to be in a movie that i actually have an interest in seeing.  

so see, maybe i do like you a little bit. damn, that was hard to admit.

the two closest walmarts by me suck the big one. really, they do. they do no justice to your clothes. the entire store is a mess. but ah, super walmarts in pennsylvania. THAT IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. i'm sure you appreciate the difference between super walmart and walmart ms. cyrus, don't you?

anyway, i have something to share with my readers. you can score a REALLY cute plaid shirt from walmart, by miley. it's probably the best plaid button down that you can score for $12.

and no, it's not that one.

btw miley, pictures like these are why i don't care for you. knock it off with the pose.

apparently, this amazing shirt is not online. thanks miley. now i can't share the link. but seriously, go to your local walmart to check these out for yourself. 

SO glad i waited to post this (or you know..forgot to post it and just found it in drafts now) ... here are the links for the blue/black (personally my favorite), white/black and purple/black. 

i would have taken a better picture, but the people that work there were kind of watching me.

you will be happy. 

thank you miley.

xoxoxox, 

fashion court

ps: the charcoal dress that you're wearing in the first picture, it's really a top. and i still want it.

pps: i want this too.

WHAT'S YOUR VERDICT ON SOME OF THE NEW ITEMS BY MILEY & MAX?

ohh and another little note, i have a few outfit photos but i've been too lazy to upload lol hopefully new year, new inspiration :P

 

 

christmas hangover

is it me or are the hours after christmas some of the most depressing, let down hours ever? seriously. we spend MONTHS planning, preparing, shopping and it all comes down to those few hours of opening gifts. and then it's all over. oh well :P

i hope everyone had a fantastic holiday and that santa treated you all well! i'm very happy with all of my gifts because honestly i picked most of them out and  the rest were nice suprises. seriously, my three passions in life are law, fashion and cooking...so this garlic press was one of the highlights of my christmas [i know, i'm weird. and please, don't think i'm sitting under the tree aimlessly with my garlic press, i did get some aaahmazing gifts (plus a keyboard that makes me feel like i'm typing on itty bitty baby clouds in heaven)]

i left off discussing rodarte for target and i have an update about some of the pieces. all of my orders came and i've been to the store back and forth numerous times trying different things on. remember, if you have AAA there is a way to get 10% off on all of your target.com orders. that's why i prefer shopping online, especially since i usually spend the $50+ requirement for free shipping.

below are some more reviews of rodarte, hopefully they are helpful! (and dudeeee, i promise..last rodarte post haha :P)

sequin leopard print dress

i had a bit of a problem regarding the sizing of this dress that i addressed in my initial post. i tried another medium and it fit perfectly. i have to say, i am very happy that it worked out because the large was just waaay too big and even though the dress is cute it would have been stupid to keep. my suggestion is to try this dress out for yourself. fyi,  it was in the rachael ray magazine's christmas edition...but not really "featured"... it was a dress that a guest was wearing at a party.

crepe silk lace dress - black

this dress is available in a yellow tone and a nude tone. i didn't see the yellow in person, but i did see the nude. it's okay, i can see a lot of people really working it but it's not for me. i prefer the black (always seem to gravitate towards little black dresses anyway). it is a pain in the butt. really. but if you can get past the tulle static hell, it is really a cute cute cute dress. the static does straighten itself out once it is on you for a while.

cardigan sweater

i love this piece and i would definitely recommend it in the heather gray as well as the white. the heather gray has silver accents while the white has gold accents. i really do like this piece because it is super comfortable and it comes with a detachable scarf. like i said before, it is a teeeny bit itchy but nothing that i couldn't get past (and i'm pretty picky). plus, i'm a cardigan/sweater freak so i couldn't pass up either color. be aware, it's like a chunky-knit-ish (i'm a pre law student, not a fashion student :p) so it has little holes in it (aka, you will not be wearing this baby by itself...i hope)..but supersuper cute.

crepe floral wrap dress

seriously seriously seriously. i wanted to LOVE this dress. er, well at first i thought it was a bathrobe and i don't think i'm alone on that. it's really a good concept but for me, i don't feel that it was well executed. it just...didn't look right. i can't imagine it looking right on anyone (okay, maybe some people..it didn't look BAD with a thick black belt but still, looked like a bathrobe.) i asked my dad if i was crazy/delusional thinking that it had potential and he said yes. so...yeeeeah. it's not just me. i had such high hopes for this dress, so BOO. plus, i felt that the sizing ran really odd on this piece (be alerted: dreaded side zipper.)

bow belt

also available in leopard and a blue leopard. i'm not sure how i feel on the belt yet. it's like a satin-y material and once again the concept is there. i felt it ran a little small (you adjust it to your size). i have a super small waist where i always put my belts. i had some extra room if needed though. then again it is juniors sizing, so that makes sense. i'm on the fence about keeping them but for the price you really can't go wrong. i'll probably wind up getting a lot of use out of them. they're sold out online and "available in stores" but whenever i asked an employee where the belts were they looked at me like maaaaybe i had a bit too much eggnog. good luck trying to find them... i haven't seen the tights or socks either come to think of it. i checked the display and the accessory section.

swiss dot dress

OHMAHGAWD. okay, i kind of obsessed over this dress multiple times. i also like to refer to it as the cinderella dress...cuz let's face it, IT IS SO A CINDERELLA DRESS. the fashion gods were sort of against me getting it. my mom picked up my normal size, which fit but was a little tight due to my chest. i went back to try on the next size up, but they only had two sizes up. it fit where i didn't even have to undo the zipper, but it was way too big. so i figured i was set by ordering that in between size online, right? THEY SENT ME THE EFFING WRONG SIZE. grr. not to fear, i finally ordered it in my size and i'm hoping for the best. i have to disagree with those who say this isn't a dress for anyone with a bigger bust. i think it works fine, but again that's just me :o)

mesh lace cardigan - black

i finally received the black in the mail and i'm so happy that i went with the small. it fits perfectly, considering i'm on the petite size with short arms (wow, that paints an odd picture but i swear i look normal!). honestly.. i think this is one of the most overpriced pieces of the collection. i hope that it will last longer than i think it will. it will look great over dresses for sure. i also ordered it in tan and really like that color. it's available in yellow as well but i really have no use for the color...even though i'm super tempted.

etched print top

be aware: super low cut. i found that my perfect size regarding t-shirts in this collection was a medium (again, 36C for reference). the larges fit but they were a bit baggy. i had ordered this in both M and L but i haven't had a chance to try on the medium. the large is waaay too big and waaay too low. it's a really good price though if you don't mind layering (or hey, showing off the girls, i'm not judgemental). also available in a short sleeved version in a lighter print.

lace print with bow top

my mom picked this up for me. honestly, i had no desire to even try it. i had seen it in a magazine months before and it did not appeal to me at all. AT ALL. however wearing it, i totally changed my mind. love this piece. the bow is detachable, so if you think it looks a bit odd you can always remove it. you can definitely dress this top up or down. i'd consider it another must have of the collection.

leopard printed hoodie

do i need another hoodie? no. do i need another leopard/animal printed sweater/cardigan/hoodie? ...nope. but i kind of love this print and color. the hoodie wasn't too thick but it will still keep me warm in class. i like it and i think it's a fair price too. warning though - as you can see on the model, it's not too "long" (but by no means should it be considered a cropped hoodie).

crepe lace print dress

another item that i wasn't too crazy about until i actually put it on. let me just say, PERFECTION. it's not the best quality ever but it's like a mock silk-ish type of material. i REALLY love it. i was between the small and the medium but decided to size up instead. so much potential with this dress. a total recommendation to those who love dresses as much as i do ... and again, another must buy from this line.

leopard print lace dress

[copied from my original post] how i adored this dress. the back has like these really cute bows on it. however, i didn't like the material and it just wasn't for my body type. i have a really tiny waist but curvy hips (unfortunately the only person i can really name with my body type is kim kardashian cuz i totally gotz the bootay too). this dress will surely look fantastic on someone else though!

lace halter dress

ughhh. such a cute dress, i love the details. not recommended for anyone who wants to deemphasize the hips. really, just ... don't. 

leopard print faux fur jacket

last but certainly not least. this is the most expensive piece in the collection ($79.99) and i believe i remember reading that it sold out online within the hour rodarte was up. i was on the fence but decided to order it anyway and i'm glad that i did. for reference, i took the same size in this as i did the anna sui leather jacket. i have NOT seen the jacket in stores which is pretty odd, so if you want to find this be vigilient both in store and online sometimes target restocks, you have to be a stalker like me and refresh a billion times a day and email customer service how you NEEEED it in your life (i'm guilty of doing this with the anna sui coat, whoops. sorry tar-jay.) i really adore this coat. it has like a leather-like trim as well. if you love animal print, you'll love this.

of course - all items can be found HERE ... most are sold out though, but like i said..if you love it enough KEEP CHECKING. also, check the sale racks when the collection ends. i've had a lot of luck with that.

SO. i think i subjected you lovely readers to enough rodarte, right? or at least me rambling about it for a few posts? right? okay, welll i promise, this is the last one ;o)...i'm "off" until the end of january and then spring semester starts. however, i brilliantly decided to do an internship/web course during my month off. i know, i know. but still - i'll have some more time for posting! have a fabulous weekend lovelies!

HAVE YOU TRIED ON ANY RODARTE PIECES? HOW DO YOU LIKE TARGET'S DESIGNER COLLABS?

okay i'll admit ...

rodarte for target is MUCH better than i expected.

**UPDATE: I called Target - the collection will be available online at 12AM PACIFIC time!** 


**yet another UPDATE...see my updated review post: HERE**

i had a feeling that my local target would have it in stock early. i live in an area of nj that has blue laws..aka we don't shop on sundays. like...really, we don't. for some it's a really weird concept to grasp but i'm so used to it by now haha. if you want to buy clothes on a sunday, you either have to go out of state or out of the county.

but i digress. i checked one target yesterday and nothing was in sight, except for a REALLY similar "lamb" jacket/caplet but it was by a target brand. today, i took another shot at another local target. and bam.

i may have squealed.

..cuz honestly, ANY DESIGNER COLLECTION AT TARGET MAKES ME REALLY HAPPY. it's sad, but true. i lovelovelovelovelove target (understatement) and i lovelovelovelovelove designer collabs.

i have to admit, i was totally against this collection when i saw preview pics on talk pretty to me and the budget babe. however, in person...i totally changed my mind. like i said, there are some FABOOOOOSH pieces and some not so great ones, but that is with any target (or regular) collection. you will always love some and hate some.

the racks actually looked pretty picked through believe it or not. i wound up scoring three items. i was planning to go on sunday to another target but it is supposed to snow really bad so i doubt it. i think i'll probably shop online (did you know you can get 10% off on your target online order via triple aaa? go to www.aaa.com/target and login! presto) for the things that i missed, like the bow belts that i've had my eye on, something that i tried on in store that was too big, and this gorgeous blue dress that i saw on the lovely kaelah. (ps: enter her giveaway --- here!)

anyway darlings, here are some of my reviews. this will probably be updated at a later date when i see more items from the collection.

how i adored this dress. the back has like these really cute bows on it. however, i didn't like the material and it just wasn't for my body type. i have a really tiny waist but curvy hips (unfortunately the only person i can really name with my body type is kim kardashian cuz i totally gotz the bootay too). this dress will surely look fantastic on someone else though!

i thought i was going to hate this dress. honestly, until i put it on i wasn't crazy for it. but once it was on, it was heaaaven. the tulle is EFFING annoying. really, be patient though. as you wear it, it simmers down and cooperates with you. i also tried on the tan/beige one but wasn't too impressed. i need to find that belt.

the cardigan is really awesome. i liked the yellow color, but didn't see it as being practical for myself to wear. i may give in and get it though. it also comes in black and tan. they only had black in a large and it SWAM on me. the black looked so awesome though that i almost gave in....but it just didn't look right. i'll definitely be on the hunt for a small.

here's the black version. and look underneath...

that's an in store picture of zee dress (thanks G1 for totally failing me on the fabooshness of this). fell in absolute love with this dress. i put the large on in the dressing room and it was a bit big in the chest area. i still jumped up and down with excitement (srsly people, i wonder about myself sometimes). i was sure the medium would fit perfect, but it sort of squished my chest (36C for reference). i'm wondering if it was just the cut of that medium. they were the last dresses left along with an extra small, so i bought the large. i could not pass it up. hopefully i'll make it work (or try a different medium lol). it REALLY reminds me of a dress that kate moss did for topshop....

...that one ;)

NEED TO FIND THIS DRESS. holyyy crap.

that dress underneath...see it? sorta cute in person, but i didn't try it on. it looked like it may actually "work" ... there's also a shirt with that print.

if i had to recommend ONE item from this collection...it would be that cardigan. on the back by the neck there's a button attached scarf. it's kinda awesome, not gonna lie. it is a BIT itchy but nothing that i can't get past, especially if i'm layering with this. it was another item that i literally could not pass up. so cute. gigi - i'm thinking you may like this.

something to keep in mind about rodarte though?

THEY EFFING LOVE TULLE. i didn't try any of the above... i was not feeling it lol...but i could so see potential with the right outfit/look. call me an optimist ;o)

size wise...i'd say that it sort of fit me like the anna sui collection for the most part. i do warn you that some things are oversized and some run a bit on the small size (think the dresses that zip in the back, i have no luck with them being true to size ever thanks to my chest).

anna sui has been my favorite collection in a long time for target. i mean...really people, the one coat haunted me in my dreams until i finally found it.  i cannot honestly say that this will be my favorite, but there are a TON of faboosh and fun pieces in this collection that i completely LOVE.

all in all, i have to say that i agree with a lot of things that fetching fashions said here, so be sure to check out her review too.

images via nymag ... except for the g1 photos, taken by yours truly ;o)

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE NEWEST COLLECTION AT TARGET? WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PIECES FROM THE COLLECTION?

rodarte for target

so im literally in the car on the way home from target...my target had rodarte out early..whoohoo :p ... i got a few pictures and theyll be up later...i have to say im more impressed than i thought i would be..some pieces are super fab and some arent but you have to expect that for any collection...ttyl darlings xoxo

nordstrom holiday sale & purchases

half of yours truly

long black cardigan - marshalls, black minidress - target (the effin kid's department and my possible favorite black dress ever), leggings - national wholesale liquidators (my mom got them for $4 and they are by far the best leggings, actually scored them in hot pink the other day!), belt - nordstrom, shoes - alice and olivia for payless that i talked about here and here

...why did i list what i'm wearing when you really can't see? i don't have a clue either. i love black with a pop of color though ;o)

 just wanted to share a partial outfit photo with my lovely readers who suggested to show outfits of the day and such ;o) ... i wish i could post even more of these, but often i just don't have the time or patience lol. i was hesitant to wear red with black and gold, but i kind of like how it turned out. red boots will DEFINITELY get you attention.

sorry for the lack of posting. had a family issue this week (all is better now though) and i wanted to post yesterday but i literally slept the entire day because i felt sick :( missed everyone though!

so, i wanted to tell you guys about the nordstrom private holiday sale/party that i went to last week! they send out invites to cardholders, i'm not sure what requirements there are but i've been going to these for a few years. i think that its really nice that they show some appreciation for the customers especially around the holidays. sure, they want you to shop, but they do have a nice little get together. they have food, appetizers going around, music and some sales and offers like 10 points per dollar (which is usually 2 pts per dollar)

unfortunately, i decided to return my jimmy choo hunter boots. i never even got to wear them. i went to wear them the other day and the one boot looked awful. hunters have like that weird wax to them, but the one boot was like WHITE. and like i said, this was without even being worn. it was a painful decision, especially since i waited for them to come like for four months.

i guess karma was on my side, because as i was returning those i saw these gorgeous over the knee black leather boots hanging on the sale rack. and they were SO calling my name... like "tee, get over here. teeeeee...oh tee, you need these boots."

dear conscience,

i don't need boots, but thank you, you were right.

(and guess what? size 6.5, my perfect shoe size.)

chinese laundry tripin boot

found here, here, here, here, and oh here

i got them in black leather. they button up or down, so you have your choice of style. i was suprised that over the knee boots even looked good on me, considering i'm 5'1 and 3/4 of an inch (so proud of that 3/4 of an inch). they looked so effing hot. i got these boots on sale for $69.95, so check your nordstrom to see if they have them too! i noticed that they're available in different colors as well, but i think these are by far the nicest.

i also was passing through the jewelry section (BAD IDEA) and saw this gorgeous watch by michael kors. goodbye self control. hello new watch.

michael kors watch

found here and here

now here's where i get sorta pissed. i paid $250 for this baby, but when i checked on the website there was an extremely similar style on sale for $150. anyway, i am so happy with this purchase. i have a juicy couture watch (which was waaay too expensive if you ask me..i think it was on the upwards of $500 when juicy first came out with watches) that i got for my 16th birthday from my parents, but i never wear it because it's a) too expensive, b) a bit too fancy believe it or not to wear on an every day basis and c) it's silver. i'm a gold girl, so i'm glad i finally got a nice gold watch.


 HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO THE NORDSTROM HOLIDAY SALE? WHAT ITEMS ARE YOU CURRENTLY OBSESSING OVER?

fashion court's holiday gift guide

i am going to be taking requests for posts regarding the holiday season and holiday shopping. if you have a question or request, please email me at fashionxcourt@gmail.com! if you have a non-holiday related request or question, feel free to send it anyway! 

when i was three or four years old, i totally freaked out on my parents one christmas eve. why? i was afraid...of santa. yes, SANTA. i was completely terrified that he was going to open the door, come in my house, and leave gifts. yeah, i don't know. i was scared of everything as a kid. especially santa that one year. i cried until my parents offered for santa to leave my gifts in the gazebo in the yard instead of the house.

why did i just share that? dunno. hopefully someone finds it entertaining ;o) ... but what i really intend on sharing in this post is my holiday gift guide. i'll include some of my general gift giving guidelines (MY ENGLISH TEACHER WOULD BE SO PROUD OF THAT ALLITERATION, now that is why i got a 5 on my ap language test hollahhh) along with some of my favorite, fabulous gift ideas. if my guide can help one person give one awesome gift this holiday season, i'll be a proud bloggy bloggah.

...just please excuse me, i sound like i drank the eggnog all by myself.

general gift giving guidelines

* for acquaintances and friends, stick to a budget of under $50. two reasons. one, if you give them a few things, even if they were each like $15, they may come across as cheap. two, you don't want them to feel uncomfortable. $50 may not seem like a lot to spend, but you shouldn't be so worried about spending a specific amount. as cheesy as it sounds, it truly is the thought that counts. it's a token of friendship and thoughtfulness - not to show them that you can afford to spend $50 on some random gift. you're better off getting them something you know they will like and enjoy. preferably, stick to a budget of $10-$30. trust me, it makes sense.

* the icky situation - don't know whether you're exchanging or not? you can go about this a few ways. you can straight out ask (which can be sort of awkward) or even say, hey we have to go out for coffee before the holidays, i have a little something for you. you could also not say anything and be prepared just in case. some people like to wait to see if they receive a gift first... or you can just give it. after all, you're supposed to be giving gifts out of the kindness of your heart, NOT because you expect to receive something in return (where am i getting this cheesiness?) get something small. i'm running into this situation this year and i plan on getting the opi gift set for a friend i met in college. a small token, but doesn't look inexpensive nor expensive. guaranteed not to make either of us feel uncomfortable whether she gives me a gift in return or not.

* secret santa. it can be hell. you can wind up with something you really really do not like...and then you may feel awkward about not wearing it (ex: that hideous scarf your coworker got you, or that necklace that really isn't your style). secret santa with guidelines is the best way to go. my mom does this with her six coworkers. they pick the names out of a hat and they set a budget of $25-$30. in order for a successful secret santa, this is key...so everyone doesn't feel like they're not spending enough or spending too much. i'd also suggest to make this even better by including the person's interests on the slip with their name.

* this next tip can also be applied to secret santa. my number one guideline - when you don't know what to get, get a gift card with a small token. this is the universally the best tip with anyone and everyone. know your coworker likes starbucks? get them a pack of via and a gift card. know your hard to shop for teenage cousin likes beauty products? get them a lipgloss with a sephora gift card. know your brother likes the yankees/giants/any other sports team? get him any team gear, like a t-shirt, and a sporting goods gift card. i can really go on and on with ideas for these, as my mind tends to gravitate towards the gift card / token idea. this is one of my favorite things to do because gift cards alone often seem cold. a small little gift along with it shows that you put thought into it. another example, if you know someone has an ipod..get them cute headphones like these and an itunes gift card.

* sometimes gift cards should be tricky. how much to give? well, you may want to give your brother or someone closer a bigger giftcard than your coworker. it really depends on the place too. a $15 starbucks gift card is substantial, where a $20 gift card to sephora is appropriate, and a $30-$50 gift card may be fitting for your brother. it really depends what you're giving with the gift, who you're giving it to, and where the gift card is for.

* ah, the gift basket. along with the gift card idea, i am the gift basket queen. i have this odd innate ability to put together a flawless gift basket, especially gourmet food ones. i once made an awesome gift basket with old fashioned candies for less than $30. some ideas may exceed your $50 limit if you're using top of the line items in the basket. i could give you a million and one gift basket ideas, but i'll save that if someone cares to request it :P

* let's admit that we all regift. it's not a big deal...but really consider a few things when you're regifting. if it looks like it's regifted, don't do it. think about how you would feel if you got something that you just knew was regifted. ask yourself: would i really want to receive this or am i just looking to get rid of it?

* remember, keep it personal...but not THAT personal. don't scare the recipient. just..don't.

now that i've given you my guidelines (i think i have a few more up my sleeve, but i can't think of any more right now), here are some of my favorite gifts to give this holiday season.

opi orna-ment for you

found here, here, and here for $14.95

this is my favorite gift to recommend this season. my mom bought it for me as a gift and i loved it. not only does it include some of opi's newest and hottest colors for the season, it also includes a stylish cuff. for under $15, this is perfect for the fashionista in your life. like i said, i plan on getting this for my friend at college. there are three options - different colors for the polish as well as the cuff.

 

keurig coffee maker

found here, here, here, and here

different prices for different models

i bought this gift for my mom two years ago on christmas eve. it was the best gift i could have ever given her and it is still one of her favorite gifts to date. yes, it is a bit pricey and goes against my budget guidelines. however, if you want to splurge on one gift (especially for family or a close friend), THIS IS IT. perfect for the caffeine fiends in your life.

i honestly swear by this coffee maker. they use little "k-cups" that you put in, press down, and brew! it's really simple and the coffee always tastes great. they come in different sizes and varieties. the newest model actually makes iced tea and iced coffee (it's called the platinum...i got this for mom this christmas since the one we have just does hot beverages). also, you can just get hot water out of this baby so you can put your own tea bags in, etc. the k-cup varieties are endless - coffee (i totally just bought pumpkin spice the other day..so good), tea, hot coco, cafe mocha, etc. trust me, one of my favorite products ever. i may be slightly obsessed.

dude..just learn more here about it...cuz i can ramble for days (too late, right?). my tip... if you have a bed, bath and beyond near you, use one of their million 20% off coupons and get this baby...even for yourself instead of as a gift...hey, i'm not judgmental ;o)

dean and deluca diner mugs (set of 4)

found here for $20

like the idea for your caffeine obsessed relatives/friends but don't want to commit to buying them a coffee pot? totally understand. instead, opt for these impressive mugs. diner style mugs = huge, comfortable and cozy. dean and deluca is known for their expensive products, so this gift is an afforable way to give a bit of luxury. include a bag of gourmet coffee, box of via, or even k-cups if you know they have a keurig maker already.

a cute, yet affordable purse

found here, here, here, here, here, here, and basically everywhere in stores

it's hard to shop for clothes and shoes for other people. handbags give us some leeway. i only recommend this when you generally know the person's style, especially if you bought it at a place that does not accept returns, etc. i found handbag heaven via gigi's gone shopping ... which i think is a good site to check out since their bags range from $15-$75. my tip if you want to get this gift is to stick with classic styles that aren't too trendy - and also, stick in a gift receipt if possible ;o) i recommend target to be the best place, as they have a fair return policy and quality handbags.

raj imports beaded scarf

found here for $38.00

how pretty are the details on that scarf? i honestly can't even pick out what color i like best - they offer black, white, brown, fuschia (shown), grey and lavender. i'm honestly not a scarf person, but this actually tempts me. it looks much more expensive than $38 and also looks so international-chic (where do i get this stuff? i dunno.)

the sims 3

found here on sale for $29 $47.99 (wow, that sale ended quickly)

i used to love the sims growing up. keep in mind the age of the recipient for this gift...the sims "woohoo" (lololol), so you don't want to give this to an eight year old.

baby name books

found here

not your mom's baby name book. i love nameberry, even though i'm not planning to have kids for a good ten years.

the newly non-drinking girl's guide to pregnancy

found here for $12.95

also a cute gift idea for your former party girl friend who is expecting.

sustained and overruled cufflinks

found here for $86

i wish i was a guy so i could wear these. they're that awesome. get these for the lawyer in your life - and i'm not saying go out and get in trouble and get one. they're not exactly inexpensive, so get them for your boyfriend/husband/etc.

silver moon necklace

found here for $24

(other varieties available)

for the twilight freak. 'cuz, face it...we all know one. and this is cute even when the twilight phase ends (don't kill me hardcore fans, i know you+jacob/edward/whoever=fo-evah.)

attachment for camera phone for a special lens

found here, here, and here  for $7.50

i really love this, but i resisted temptation for myself. perfect for the gadget geek and there are three varieties to pick from.

magazine subscriptions

found here

amazon has amazing deals on magazine subscriptions. i wouldn't mind receiving this as a gift and i'm sure your fashionable coworker/cousin/mom wouldn't either. i got my mom redbook for $5 ... for TWO YEARS. amazon has sales every so often on the subscriptions. for example, cosmopolitan is on sale for $5 for a year. how could you go wrong?

for creative, one of a kind gifts... i'd flock to etsy. i recommend regina pierallini for affordable, chic jewelry (my actual review here).

okay, so i tried to include various categories of recipients. if you noticed, i didn't include kids. they are harder to buy for than you think. i'd suggest asking their parents what they could actually use intsead of getting a random toy (or clothes.. i hated opening clothes as a kid.)

WHAT ARE YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING GUIDELINES? DO YOU LIKE ANY OF THE SUGGESTIONS/GIFT IDEAS?

faux fix: the j crew edition

jackie cardigan

found here for $62.00

jackie shell

found here for $42.00

i first saw the jackie cardigan and jackie shell on gigi's gone shopping. i work in a very conservative work setting, so i'm tempted to add these to my wardrobe. they're not too expensive (but they're not so cheap where you can stock your closet with every color under the sun without some regret), with some colors even on sale.

bay studio 3/4 sleeve solid cardigan

found here for $19.98

bay studio sleeveless sweater shell

found here for $14.98

bealls is a regional store, so many people haven't heard of it. i spent half of  my childhood in florida and i LOVE this store for great clothes and great bargains. i'm glad that they have an online store so i can access it up north. i came across their bay studio cardigan and sweater shell, my mind immediately thought they would be an affordable alternative to trying out the j crew look. they also have a great selection of colors to pick from. of course, it won't be the same quality of j crew but it's an opportunity to try it out.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS FAUX FIX? HAVE YOU EVER SHOPPED AT J CREW OR BEALLS?

ps: my holiday gift guide will be up by tommorrow!

pps: don't forget, lulu's is offering 15% off your purchase with the promo code "FASHIONCOURT" until 12/27 ... see my picks here

lovelovelove

black and gold four leaf clover enamel flower necklace by regina pierallini - nylightmetals

found here

i'm relatively new to etsy. sure, i browse a lot...but i often don't wind up buying for some reason.

usually, if i really really really like something, i bookmark it and wind up coming back to it an unhealthy amount of a few times. ...i'm not the only one who does that, right? ;o)

well, i FINALLY gave in and bought these gorgeous beyond gorgeous four leaf clover necklaces that i've been admiring on lovemaegan since um, forever. and i am sososo happy that i did.

these necklaces are even more beautiful in person. i absolutely love them and i am thrilled with my purchase. i'm glad that i bought both the black and the white. i'm on the fence about what color i want to buy next - i think it's going to be turquoise (or maybe brown or yellow that regina told me about...wow, this is hard for my shopping self control ;P) i think that these necklaces are so versatile and so gorgeous (i have to stop using that word to describe them, but they really are!).

and, they're designer inspired. the designer version will set you back a few thousand (srsly, whattup ebay?!), while this beauty only cost $45.

and did i mention they're effing gorgeous?

DO YOU LIKE THESE NECKLACES? DO YOU SHOP ON ETSY - WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO SHOP FOR?

moroccan oil, or you know... GOLD.

when i was fifteen/sixteen, i used to straighten my hair....a lot. no exaggeration, at least two times a day especially if OHMYGODIWASGOINGTOTHEMALLANDMYHAIRHADTOBEPERFECT.

....what? i'm from new jersey ;o)

anyway, the sixteen year old me was stupid. i thought that having straight hair meant i had perfect hair. my hair is neither naturally straight or curly. it's just...there. it has a slight wave to it and that's about it.

only recently, i have begun to embrace my natural hair. partly because i was sick of straightening it all of the time, partly because i realized i look rilly rilly cute with headbands (finally accepted my normal sized forehead, who knew that would happen?) AND because i'm effing scared of what i'm doing to my hair. in reecnt years, i have stopped straightening two times per day, but i still did it once a day and my hair was not happy.

and i mean NOT happy.

via flickr 

k, not that bad. but you get it.

so, last month i finally got a hair cut and my mom bought me some moroccanoil products. at first, i was skeptical. first off, the price is a major turn off...and my mom even gets a discount because she has her beautician's license. i couldn't fathom paying that much for a product i'd use regularly, especially if i had to pay full price. secondly, i wasn't convinced about the cult following.

after using it for a month, i am SO convinced. i'm a part of their cult. well uh, not really but you get what i mean.

MoroccanOil Oil Treatment for all hair types

after i come out of the shower, i put this in my hair while it is a bit damp. i really have seen improvement with the overall health of my hair and it is largely because of this product. it makes my hair really silky and smooth. for me, it reduces my natural frizz. i've also read that it makes your hair dry in half the time, and i do believe that there's some validity to that.

MoroccanOil Shampoo & Conditioner 

as soon as you wash them out of your hair, you will notice a big difference. like the oil, it makes your hair sososo smooth. i honestly prefer to use 2 in 1 shampoo (lol, i'm 12) but i really love these products. my hair gets used to things sometimes, so i usually use my 2 in 1 shampoo with a little dab of conditioner.

MoroccanOil Gold Glimmer Shine

this product is great. i consider it a hairspray, but it's really not lol. it is supposed to protect your hair from "environmental factors" and all that jazz ;o) i really like it. it adds a healthy looking shine and also keeps my hair behaving when i wear headbands.

MoroccanOil Restorative Hair Mask

MY FAVORITE. love this product. they advise you to keep it in for 7-10 minutes, but uhh... i've kept it in for hours while doing homework. this could single handidly bring the world better hair....really.

you can find these products on amazon, other beauty websites and even in some stores/salons.

like i said, it is a very expensive product. the good thing is that you don't need a lot for it to be really effective, so these products will last you a long time. i use the restorative mask once a week.i usually wash my hair, put it on and stay with it on for a few hours. i don't want my hair to get "used to" this product, so i'm actually thinking about taking a break this week. there are also more affordable options. although i can't speak from experience, i've read that argan oil works well also. it makes sense - argan oil IS in moroccan oil, so why wouldn't it?

if you're looking for that beauty splurge, THIS IS IT.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE HAIR PRODUCTS? HAVE YOU EVER TRIED MOROCCANOIL?

PS: don't forget, lulu's is offering 15% off your purchase with the promo code "FASHIONCOURT" until 12/27 ... see my picks here