Fashion Gift Guide: BFF

Your best friend is unlike any other friend. She has the decency to tell you that yes, you do look ridiculous in that dress so that you don't wear it out and look like an idiot all night. She comes with you to the sample sales for designers she doesn't love because she knows you need someone to hold all of your belongings while you're trying stuff on - and she knows you'd do the same for her. She understands and covers for you when you miss the knitting/dance/home-brewing class you guys are taking together because you need to camp out overnight for the next biggest chain store x designer collaboration. And the holidays are just the time to tell her thanks with the perfect gift. 

Downtown-Cool BFF

Splurge:

Your fashionably rocker-chic friend will get tons of use out of this effortlessly cool Zoe Karssen sweatshirt - it's as comfortable as it is stylish. At $160 at Net-A-Porter, it's in a good price range for a dear ol' pal.

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This nail necklace from Obey is just $31 at 80s Purple. It's cool in a very not-trying-too-hard, Brooklyn-chic kind of way. And the nails could kind of be like you and your buddy. If one of you is significantly taller.

Modern Minimalist Friend:

Splurge:

Everyone loves Commes des Garcons. Everyone uses a wallet. If your friend is a sharp-dressin' minimalist, she will officially consider you the best friend in the world if you get her this wallet at OAK, for $205.

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This Fort Standard bracelet is perfection incarnate. It's so understated, but so chic and striking in its simplicity. With its little knot detail, it's kind of like a grown-up friendship bracelet, only much more timeless and fashion-forward. Plus, it's just $40 at Need Supply.

Park Avenue Prep BFF

Splurge:

I'm kind of addicted to Kate Spade's tongue-in-cheek bags. They're THE perfect gift for any BFF, really - they're chic, timeless and have a little inside joke built right in for you two. This "Knock On Wood" shopper is rich and sleek but still quirky. $148 at Kate Spade.

If your BFF has a preppy streak, she can't deny her love for J.Crew's wear-forever sweaters. Classic, versatile, clean and polished, these knits are a true wardrobe staple. Make sure to get a great bright color - $60 at J.Crew.

Handbags and Hugs,

Astor

Beauty Gift Guide: BFF

Your BFF... need I say more? She is always there for you; how many nights have you spent laughing and crying with her? Now it is time to treat her. Face it, you can be kind of a snot, a bit bossy and sometimes selfish (okay fine, that's me), BUT I also know you can be an amazing friend. So show how awesome you are and get her something she will love.

Beauty Obsessed BFF

Anastasia Want You To Want Me Kit. No, this is not just a cute clutch-shaped box. This is a full kit with everything your BFF needs to look beautiful. It includes a nine-pallette eye shadow in shimmery colors suited for all skin tones. There is a two-ended brush (usable for many looks), black liquid eye liner and brow mousse. I want to just carry around this kit at all times, but in a pinch you can remove the eye shadow pallette to toss into your purse. The shadow kit works for so many looks, from natural to smoky and more.

$34 Want You To Want Me

www.anastasia.net

Now that you snatched up the eye kit for only $34, you need to get your hands on the Kisses On My List Lip Gloss Kit with six gorgeous shades. I honestly cannot get over these... umm... I don't even know what to call them, 'gloss' just doesn't to them justice. They are a collection of matte, shimmer, satin and chap-stick glosses. No matter what make up look she is trying to accomplish, one of these will definitely do the trick.

$30 Kisses On My List

www.anastasia.net

Don't worry beauty lovers I'm not finished. I am also loving Vapour Organic Beauty’s 3D Holiday Collection. This collection includes three amazing products. The Siren Lipstick in Bold is a perfect rich red for the holidays. Want to show up to your office holiday party in drop-dead red lips?  Yes. You do.  I must admit that I suffer from chapped lips basically all winter long, lucky right? Well that doesn't make wearing lipstick easy for me because as soon as I put some red on my lips the lines and peeling disappear instantly. Siren Lipstick is also moisturizing so dry lips be gone! The Mesmerize Eyeliner/Smoky Eye Tool in Black Velvet is also a winter must. I am ALL about smoky eyes for the winter. Finally, the Elixir Plumping Gloss in Bolt is a smooth and silky - never sticky -  plumping gloss for big pouty kisses.

$52 Vapour Beauty 3D Holiday Collection

www.vapourbeauty.com

Jet Setter BFF

It can be difficult gift-buying for you traveling BFF now that airports won't let her carry on all of her fav products. Not to fear!  I have a perfect solution, and can guarantee she won’t only travel with this kit on a plane she will travel with it every time she goes into the bathroom to wash her face. It includes everything she needs to keep her skin gorgeous all winter long. (Winter is especially horrid for your skin. It’s super drying and makes it even tougher to come back from a humid beach vacation to the arctic NYC winter). She will keep her skin clean and glowing with the Pure Cloud Cleanser while pumping up the moisture with the Arctic Hydrating Balm. My personal favorite is the Icelandic Relief Eye Pen. Click the pen like a lip gloss to dispense the eye cream and dab under eyes to moisturize and enjoy a nice cooling sensation. But it doesn’t stop there! Skyn Iceland didn't forget a night time treatment: using the Oxygen Infusion Night Cream will recharge her skin while she sleeps.  

$45 Skyn Iceland Quench Kit

www.skyniceland.com

Spa Loving BFF

Of course you love your BFF, but let’s face it you can’t bring her on weekly spa trips. But you CAN let her have the spa experience at home. I am obsessed with microdermabrasion treatments. Microdermabrasion uses teeny tiny crystals to buff off the top layer of dead skin cells and brightens and smoothes your skin. Beauty Society's Crystal Ball is an AMAZING at home treatment. 

$34.59 Beauty Society Crystal Ball - Microdermabrasion Treatment

www.beautysociety.com

  

Moving on to making her bath experience luxurious, the best way to do that is to buy her Absolis Patyka Body Lotion and Body Wash. Both of these products smell amazing and used together, the scent will last you all day. Many soaps and gels can really dry out your skin, which is something you do not want in winter, or anytime for that matter. This Shower Gel is very moisturizing, it creates a 'silky foam'. Your skin will drink up the body lotion and keep you smooth all day. These products come in a variety of amazing scents;: Precious Woods, Mandarin, Spearmint, Neroli and my favorite, White Grape.

 

       $55 Absolis Patyka Body Lotion and $45 Body Wash

Happy Shopping!

Perfectly Glossed Kisses,

Sutton

Holiday Dessert Nails

I wanted to create a festive manicure for Thanksgiving but didn't want one that looks too Christmas-y (don't worry, those manis will be coming soon). So I came up with this one:

I used Sephora by OPI in The Way Tutu His Heart polish, Julep in Vivien American Beauty and some gems from the craft store.

I started by using two coats of the pale pink on my nails, after a base coat of course. I left those dry while I started making my list for Santa.

This step was super easy. Apply the glittery polish to the tips of nails similar to a French manicure. No need to do a perfect line, it looks much cuter when it is messy. Like you dipped your fingers in gold.

Finally, I applied some gems along the top moon of my nails. This is a bit tedious, but well worth the effort. Paint a coat of clear polish on one nail and then stick three gems along the top, and continue with all ten fingers. Apply 1 to 2 coats of clear polish to make sure that the gems don't fall off.

Now you have a glittery, sugar-coated manicure that looks good enough to eat. Your Thanksgiving guests might confuse your festive nails for the dessert! Which could get awkward...but at least you have pretty, glittering nails.

Perfectly Glossed Kisses,

Sutton

What to Wear on Thanksgiving

The holidays are here already and that is terrifying. We all know this is the most challenging time of the year for eating anything close to healthy, but it's also one of the best times of the year. I mean, presents are coming soon. I'm never sure what to wear for Thanksgiving - I mean, you're supposed to look nice, but you are just sitting in the house all day. (And last year I made the unsettling mistake of wearing my new Alexander Wang sleeveless tuxedo jacket while helping my mother prep some tortes and it resulted in floured lapels so aprons are crucial, people.) I actually have two Thanksgivings, one with the family and one with the Boyfriend's family. Mine is pretty dressy, but Boyfriend's is pretty casz, or however you spell half the word "casual." So, I figured, I'd suggest both types of T-day outfits in case you're stumped. 

Here is a dressier option:

$120 at TopShop

This dress is perfect because it's modern yet opulent, and its trapezey shape is ideal for overeating.

$17.59 at Asos

You could just wear plain black tights, or you could go bold and do a li'l print clash. Depends on how conservative your T-day is, I s'pose. But the results of this contrast could be epic.

$34 at Frock Candy

These gold-tipped shoes are perfect for this outfit, and you'll get tons of use out of such a classic pair all year round.

$38 at Urban Outfitters

We're going bold, right? Take this look in a baroque direction with this bauble.

And for a more casual look...

Graphic sweaters are all the rage, and the cutest form of the trend are the sweet animal sweaters popping up from all different brands. You could splurge on an Aubin & Wills one, or you can get the look for just $30 from Old Navy.

Skinny corduroys are a casual wardrobe must anyway, so you might as well get them in a great autumny hue. This 7 for all mankind pair is $125 at Piperlime.

These tweed ankle boots are a textural departure from their expected leather cousins - and will definitely add a kick of tactile cool to your look. $68.99 at ModCloth.

Handbags, Hugs and Happy Thanksgiving,

Astor