#BLOGMAS: Holiday Party Style Guide 2017

Wow, I cannot believe that there are only three more days until Christmas! Is it just me or has this holiday season just flown right by? However, with Christmas coming up quick, for those of us who celebrate it, means that there are many Christmas Eve and Christmas parties in the upcoming days as well, and if you're anything like me you might be trying to plan the best outfits for this year's Yuletide events. So in order to help you (and myself) brainstorm, I've decided to put together this holiday party style guide, which I am sure will have a little something for everyone as well as every occasion.

Greensleeves

This first look if perfect for a holiday cocktail hour with your girlfriends. Due to this green, lace dress' fun hemline and short cut, it's sure to be a show stopper at all those trendy Christmas pop-up bars and shops I'm sure you'll be hitting up. And of course you need some shimmery accessories to accompany this playful look, so try pairing it with these gorgeous earrings and fun faux pearl studded bag. Then, to complete this look, you can try something a little unconventional and pair it with these fun over the knee boots! (So this way you'll be rocking one of the hottest trends this winter and you'll keep your legs warm.)

Items Left to Right: Green Lace Dress, Gold & Bronze Earrings, Faux Pearl Studded Purse, Over The Knee Black Boots.

Rudolph Reds

This next outfit is a great choice for your office Christmas party. The reason this dress is a great choice is for this occasion because it is not overly formal and is comfortable for wear around the office, but also because it is super chic and easy to glam up a bit. To add some shimmer to this fabulous number, I paired it with a layer necklace along with a gorgeous gold and berry bracelet, along with this pretty envelope clutch. Then to top off this outfit, I chose to pair it with these nude, lace up stilettos.

Items Left to Right: Red/Orange Bell Sleeve Dress (Love this dress? See how I styled it here!), Layered Necklace, Gold and Berry Bracelet, Black Glitter Clutch, Lace Up Nude Stilettos.

Starry Night

The next look is for a more formal occasion, and features this beautiful star studded evening dress. Due to this dress' elegant nature, I chose to keep its accessories simple with a gorgeous rose gold pendant necklace and simple evening bag. But to up the wow factor, though this dress is gorgeous enough on its own, I chose to wrap up this formal look with these show stopping, diamond strap heels.

Items Left to Right: Black Star Mesh Evening Dress, Rose Gold Pendant Necklace, Black Evening Clutch, Diamond Ankle Strap Heels.

Blue Christmas

For those of you who want to put a twist on the classic holiday colors, I also always am a fan of the color blue for Christmas simply because it is so underrated this time of year. So, for the outfit I chose to style this pretty blue and silver lace dress. (Doesn't the lace remind you of frost? Which is totally perfect for this time of year.) The reason I chose this dress is because it is super versatile, meaning you can wear it to just about any type of holiday party without it being inappropriate. To style this piece, I chose some gorgeous drop earrings, a beautiful crystal clutch, and to complete this look I chose some faux pearl accented, glitter pumps.

Items Left to RightBlue & Silver Lace Dress, Silver Drop Earrings, Crystal ClutchFaux Pearl Accented Glitter Pumps.

Naughty or Nice

This next pretty holiday look is perfect for your more semi-formal occasions with friends and family. Much like the first outfit in this guide, this two piece dress would make for a perfect cocktail outfit while out with your girls, or even just for a casual holiday brunch with your family. To accessorize this pretty two piece, I chose to pair it with a gorgeous delicate choker, a fun fringe cuff, and a plain but chic evening clutch. And to add some extra shimmer to this outfit, I decided it would look best with some diamond accented heels. 

Items Left to Right: Red Two Piece Dress, Delicate Gold Choker, Gold Fringe Cuff, Red Evening Clutch, Red Diamond Accented Heels.

Silver & Gold

This last look is one of the more traditional variety. For this outfit I chose to go with this classic silver dress, which would be perfect for those of us who have traditional family Christmas parties to attend. The reason I went with this silver dress is simply because its just so pretty and its classic cut would be flattering on anybody. To style this gorgeous classic, I chose some pretty chandelier earrings, a nifty clutch, and some pretty, bedazzled pumps. 

Items Left to Right: Silver Dress, Chandelier Earrings, Silver Clutch, Bedazzled Pumps

What are you wearing to your holiday parties this year? Let's chat about it in the comments below or you can tweet about it at @StarkRavingChic! Wanna show off your favorite holiday party outfit? I'd love to see it! So feel free to tag me in your Instagram story at @StarkRavingChic. Later, babes!

Xx, Bree

P.S. Psssssst! If you love the jewelry in this post as much as I do, you can try Rocksbox for a whole month 100% FREE when you sign up using my promo code "starkravingchicxoxo". Don't know what Rocksbox is or how it works? You can learn more here!

Also, I am now a proud member of rewardStyle and LIKEtoKNOW.it! Meaning you can shop straight from my Instagram feed when you click here or here. Don't know what LIKEtoKNOW.it is all about? Learn more, here!

Last Minute Halloween Style Essentials 2017 (Feat. SheIn)

As I’m sure we all know, Halloween is quickly approaching (only four days away!) and that means one thing: Halloween parties! And if any of my readers are like me, you may have been procrastinating in the costume department this year, meaning you are probably in the market for something, quick easy and affordable. As my longtime readers know,  Halloween is my absolute favorite holiday and I would love to dress up as, as many different things as I can. However, sometimes on a college budget that just isn’t feasible. So in the spirit of the holiday (and to help out my fellow holiday procrastinators with a last minute costume idea) I’ve decided to do this special style guide featuring cost friendly, easy, and restyle-able Halloween costumes, featuring some great finds from my sponsor, SheIn

A Mime

A mime is the perfect costume as well as a quick fix for any last minute Halloween parties. The reason why this is one of my go-to costumes is because I personally have a black and white striped top collection that could probably rival that of The Hamburglar. But also because all the items needed for this costume are generally very easy to come by! All you need is a black beret hat, a black and white striped top (as mentioned earlier), some black pants, and some black shoes. After you have this together just throw on some white face paint and red lipstick and you're set! And as you'll see with all the other costumes on this list, you can even restyle all of these pieces throughout the year. Hooray for versatility right?

Outfit Left to Right: Beret Hat, Black and White Striped Top, Black Skinnies, and Studded Booties.

Rosie The Riveter

Next up, if you're the type of woman who is all about girl power (Which really, shouldn't we all be?) I would say that going as the iconic Rosie The Riveter would be a great costume choice for you! First of all, all over denim outfits have been making a comeback during the fall of 2017, and is anticipated to stick around throughout the spring of 2018. Meaning, the adorable denim top, jeans combo, and black sneakers combo will be a cute look for months to come. So all you need to complete this look is a red bandanna or headband to mix up your look a bit!

 Outfit Left to Right: Red Headband, Denim Blouse, Jeans, and Black Sneakers

Skeleton or Pumpkin

Though this outfit choice might be a cop out, this outfit is the best choice for those of us who might be a little lazy in the holiday/costume department, but that doesn't mean it doesn't make for a chic and spooky look! Just add a little bit of smoky, sultry makeup and all your work is done. 

Outfit Left to Right: Skeleton Sweater, Pumpkin Sweater, Skeleton Leggings, Black Skinnies, and Black Flats.

The White Rabbit (Alice in Wonderland)

This next costume is for those of us who are a bit more ambitious about the holiday, and who like to wear formal attire throughout the year. The reason I chose The White Rabbit for this list is because it is fun, cute, and unique! All you need is a pair of bunny ears, a red blazer, a white dress (Love the dress I chose for this look? You can check out how I styled it here!), a clock purse, and a nice pair of black pumps. And the reason why this look works so well for both a costume party and for everyday life is due to the fact each of these pieces can be worn together (well, minus the bunny ears) and separately all year round,making them some very versatile pieces for your wardrobe. 

Outfit Left to Right: Bunny Ears Headband, Red Blazer, White Dress, Clock Purse, and Black Pumps.

Wednesday Addams

Last but not least, our final costume is the portrayal of everyone's favorite spooky girl: Wednesday Addams! This costume is the most simple of the bunch but is arguably the most chic and possibly the most versatile for all year round wear. All this outfit requires is a simple white blouse, a black fit and flare dress, along with some cute black heels. And the reasons each of these work so well separately (as well as together) is much like The White Rabbit Costume above, you can mix and match all of these pieces to make some very simple but chic outfits!

Outfit Left to Right: White Blouse, Black Dress, and Black Heels.

So everyone, who or what are you being for Halloween this year? Do you have any go-to last minute Halloween looks of your own? I would love to hear about them, so let's chat about it in the comments below or you can tweet me about your costumes at @StarkRavingChic! Have a cute Halloween costume you just need to show off? Feel free to tag me in your Instagram story at @StarkRavingChic. Later babes, and happy haunting! 

Xx, Bree

P.S. Pssssssst! In case you haven't heard, I am now a proud member of rewardStyle and LIKEtoKNOW.it! Meaning you can shop straight from my Instagram feed when you click here or here. Don't know what LIKEtoKNOW.it is all about? Learn more, here!

Summer Vacation Style Guide 2017

Though summer is quickly coming to a close, I have always taken my vacations towards the end of the season. I have always liked to think of it as a "last hoorah" of sorts before getting back to the grind in the fall. So for my vacation this year, I'm actually heading down to New Orleans for eight days (Yes, there will be a couple new travel posts in the near future folks!) and I figured what would be more fitting than to post some of my top outfit choices for summer vacation! And though I will be going back to my typical Style Guide posts come fall, today's will be a little different because I've decided to actually show you all some of the outfits I will be styling down in The Big Easy. 

Mixing Patterns

Love this top? See some other ways I styled it here!

Love this top? See some other ways I styled it here!

The first summer trend that I am excited to style on my vacation is the mixing of patterns. The reason I love this trend so much is because it leaves so much room for experimentation and is a fun and playful touch on casual outfits. The outfit I have on above would be absolutely perfect for sight seeing around New Orleans due to the fact these pieces are light weight and airy which is great for keeping you cool and of course comfy shoes are a must! 

(Outfit: Sunglasses by Tory Burch, Top from Fascino, Jewelry from Rocksbox, Shorts thifted from Red, White, and Blue Thrift Store, Bag by Yves Saint Laurent, Shoes by Michael Kors.) 

Ravishing Reds

Of course you can't take a trip to New Orleans without going to the infamous restaurant The Commander's Palace! For those of you who are unfamiliar with the swanky spot, it is an upscale eatery known for its creole fare, beautiful setting, and I can't help but mention that they serve 25 cent martinis during lunch--who would want to miss that?! Due to its elegant nature, The Commander's Palace requires its guests to dress in business to semi formal attire, so to hit this hot spot, I will be packing this lovely red shift dress and my Kate Spade heels. To style this piece I chose to pair it with gold chandelier earrings and a plain gold cuff.

(Outfit: Earrings from Fascino, Dress by Micheal Kors, Bracelet by Victoria's Secret, Heels by Kate Spade.)

Sea Side Stripes

This next outfit it yet another summer style trend, and that would be stripes! The reason I decided to take this lovely outfit from Ann Taylor with me is for one, these pants are so incredibly comfortable!! And considering they are all cotton, they're the perfect choice to stay cool in the Louisiana heat. I also just adore this blouse due to its ruffled collar, which as I'm sure you all know is also a big trend this season. To further style this adorable duo, I chose to pair it with this beautiful Kendra Scott necklace and this pretty cuff by SLATE.

(Outfit: Blouse, pants, and shoes are from Ann Taylor. Jewelry can be found at Rocksbox.)

Longer Lengths

As my long time readers know, I am absolutely crazy about maxi dresses! So its only natural that I would pack one to style on my vacation. The reason I love this gorgeous maxi dress so much is because I love its rich colors as well as its bold pattern. To style it, I chose to keep it simple with this sweet little SLATE cuff and some brown and white sandals.

(Outfit: Earrings from Forever 21, Dress thrifted at Red White and Blue Thrift Store, Shoes by Tommy Hilfiger.)

Great Graphic Tees

Love this top? See some other ways I styled it here!

Love this top? See some other ways I styled it here!

Since I don't plan on being dressed up for my entire vacation (though, I do love dressing up!) I also plan on taking a few casual outfits as well, just considering they are much more practical for things like sight seeing and strolling around Bourbon Street. And since we all know I have quite the collection of graphic tees, you bet I'll be packing some of my faves! For this cool and casual look I chose this adorable "Haute Mess" tee from SheIn, some simple denim shorts, and these adorable Micheal Kors slides! And to dress my tee up a little bit I added these Jenny Bird earrings, collar necklace, and cuff. 

(Outfit: Sunglasses by Oliver Goldsmith, Tee and Shorts from SheIn, Earrings, Collar Necklace and Cuff can be found at Rocksbox, Shoes by Micheal Kors.)

Attractively Active

Love this top? See some other ways I styled it here!

Love this top? See some other ways I styled it here!

If you've been reading my blog for awhile, I'm sure you know how much I hate going to the gym and working out--though that doesn't mean that I don't do it. So while I'm on vacation, I will still continue running and exercising as normal because I know it is good for me and though I don't necessarily like putting in the work, I do love the end result. And not to mention I love the athlesiure and sports style trends so it also makes for some fun styling!

(Outfit: Sports Bra and Jacket from SheIn, Shorts by Danskin, Shoes by Nike.)

Fierce In Florals

Love this dress? See some other ways I styled it here!

Love this dress? See some other ways I styled it here!

If you know anything about me you know that one thing I absolutely love is BRUNCH. And if you know anything about NOLA you know that it has some of the best brunch spots in the United States, if not in the world. So, this outfit choice is for just that! This adorable floral dress is simply perfect for grabbing some beignets and coffee at Cafe Du Monde before taking a nice morning stroll through the French Quarter. To style this piece I chose to pair it with this beautiful SLATE necklace, these pretty pink Kendra Scott Earrings, and this cute cuff, along with this adorable bag from SheIn.

(Outfit: Dress from Make Me Chic, Purse from SheIn, Shoes by Anne Klein, Necklace and Earrings from Rocksbox.)

Pretty Two Pieces

Love this outfit? See some other ways I styled it here!

Love this outfit? See some other ways I styled it here!

Last but not least, the final outfit I will be packing is this adorable two piece set from my sponsor SheIn! The reason I absolutely adore this outfit is because it is so chic and casual that you can wear it for just about any occasion. It is also light and airy so therefore keeping me comfy and cool while strolling around the streets of New Orleans. To style this cute set, I kept it simple with my trusty Chloe bag and some white and brown sandals.

(Outfit: Two Piece Set from SheIn, Bag by Chloe, Sandals by Tommy Hilfiger.)

 

So everybody, where are you off to on summer vacation and what will you be styling?! Let's chat about it in the comments below or you can tweet me about it at @StarkRavingChic! Have a darling vacation outfit you just need to show off? Feel free to tag me on Instagram or in your Instagram story at @StarkRavingChic. Later, dolls!

Xx, Bree

P.S. Psssssst! If you love the jewelry I styled in this post as much as I do, you can try Rocksbox for a whole month 100% FREE when you sign up using my promo code "starkravingchicxoxo". Don't know what Rocksbox is or how it works? You can learn more here!

Also, In case you haven't heard, I am now a proud member of rewardStyle and LIKEtoKNOW.it! Meaning you can shop straight from my Instagram feed when you click here or here. Don't know what LIKEtoKNOW.it is all about? Learn more, here!