y e Holida h t t u o g n checkin r o f s w me o k o n l l o f Tha l l ’ u hope yo k page, I o o & b e e d c i Fa Gu out the k c e h c , t Twitter ail me a m e r o g blo ies.com r read the o s s e c eartofac dwj@th
elcome to my fourth gift/holiday guide for the Art of Accessories. I created the first Gift Guide on a whim during a long Thanksgiving break and I had a lot of fun doing it. Over the last 2 years I've expanded the guides, added my girlfriends into the project to make it more fun and because readers of the Art of Accessories really seemed to like it. I honestly like doing this because I love the holidays and like to help anyway that I can when it comes to shopping. This year the guide is a little different. I've simplified the guide by putting in less of my narrative and more images. I've given a bigger focus to beauty looks for the holidays and I've asked a few of my blogging buddies to contribute as well. As always, you'll be able t go directly to the products listed by clicking on the names of each item and hopefully you'll find a little gift giving inspiration while you browse. I always have fun creating the guide and I hope you enjoy it as well. I couldn't have done it without the contributions or help of the following fantastic folks and companies: Bare Escentuals Cover Girl Helzberg Diamonds Inglot Cosmetics Make Up For Ever NYX Cosmetics Pixi Beauty
A Mom in Red High Heels The Fashionista Next Door Stylin' and Profilin'
Carol C. Leah K. Melody F. Nikkia H. Shunda L. Yuvay M.
Have a safe and happy holiday season and I hope you enjoy the 2011 Holiday Guide! xoxo, DWJ
Vintage Velvet Blazer – Thrifted
LK Collection Petticoat Blouse – Philthy Ragz Boutique in Los Angeles
Express Faux Leather Pants
Sole Society “Catherine” Pumps
Braided Crystal Collar by Mimi’s, The Look for Less
Assorted Bangles by Mimi’s, The Look for Less and Forever 21
Vintage Gold Evening Bag - Thrifted
Ulta Super Shiny Lip Gloss in “Shimmer”
Zhena’s Gypsy Tea (My mom is a major tea buff, and these teas smell and taste amazing) Novelty Coffee Table Books like Vogue: The Covers for the fashion lover in your life, or Naruto Illustration Book for the special someone who loves all things Animé (a.k.a my husband). Personalized jewelry like the monogram & nameplate necklaces from MyNameNecklace.com. (my little sister would LOVE one of these).
Dark Denim KENAR skirt from Marshalls
Hanes Silk Reflections in Jet Black
Dr. Scholl’s wedge heels
Cuff/ Necklace “Gleam Machine” from Just Fab
Hoop earrings by Stella & Dot
Revlon Age Defying Makeup
Eye Shadow - Ransom and Underground from Urban Decay Deluxe Shadow Box Elizabeth Arden Powder Pencil in Smoky Black
Elizabeth Arden Double Density Maximum Volume mascara in Black
NARS Orgasm Blush
Lip Savvy by Je’ Ane in Purple Rain
For a casual fashionista: A cozy Infinity Scarf in a neutral color that she can wear with many outfits! For a fashionable techie: A bit of advice and cute iPhone cover (with the red pump, of course!) For the fun-loving style maven: A RUBR watch. So many fun color, watches are customizable and super affordable!
Metallic wrap dress, Asos Shaping Slip, Victoria's Secret Leopard print pony hair heels, Nine West Faceted stone drop earrings, Express Square wooden bangle, Gossip on 23rd Geometric bangle, Forever21 Hocus Pocus eyeshadow, MAC Great Lash Mascara in Very Black, Maybelline Pinch O' Pink, Maybelline Expert Wear Blush Luminizing Satin Face Color in GD809, Shiseido Maybelline Colorsensational Lipliner in Wine Maybelline Colorsensational Lipstick in Red Revival Marina nail polish, Zoya
Scented candles are always a good gift to give (and receive). Vera Wang's floral bouquet classic candle is one of my faves. It's fragrant without overwhelming. Gift cards -- I know it sounds impersonal, but I'd rather give something I know a person will actually use to buy something they really want rather than buy something I really want them to have that they may not use. For my gal pals, some sort of accessory item, such as a pair of earrings, a bangle or scarf. Girls love to accessorize, so it's the type of gift you know your lady-friends will love.
Blouse, Banana Republic Outlet
Skirt, New York & Company
Tights, Hue
Booties, Joan & David
Handbag, Shop Suey Boutique
Small Starburst necklace, Vintage
Long Starburst necklace, Off Saks Fifth Ave
Bracelet, Off Saks Fifth Ave
Lipstick, Mac Stylish Curves
This year I’m into handmade gifts. I’m knitting lots of scarves in unique yarn colors and cool patterns. I’m a beauty girl so I love giving girlfriends a perfect red lipstick or that shade of pink they didn’t know they needed until they put it on. Lots and lots of cookies. I bake a lot and this is the time of year where I’m more than happy to give someone chocolatey goodness to indulge in.
I asked six of my girlfriends to let me pick the perfect shade of red lipstick for them to help spice of their holiday beauty routine. The perfect thing about wearing a bold lip color like red is that you don’t need much else to shine. NYX Cosmetics sent over their new matte lipsticks for us to try to find a perfect match and we did!
Nikkia’s perfect red, NYX Matte lipstick in Alabama
Yuvay’s perfect red, NYX Matte lipstick in Perfect Red
Shunda’s perfect red, NYX Matte lipstick in Pure Red
Matte red lips aren’t your thing? No worries, we’ve got sheer, cream and glossy. There’s a perfect hue for every skin tone and a perfect formula for every woman’s needs.
Melody’s Perfect Red, Boots No. 7 by Poppy King in Power—a sheer red.
Carol’s Perfect Red, Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain in Strawberry Fields—a creamy version that has lasting power.
Leah’s Perfect Red, Cover Girl LipPerfection Lip Color in Hot Passion—a moisturizing red that feels soft on the lips.
Holiday makeup is easy with some of the hottest makeup kits out on the market. My girlfriends test drove a few of the latest kits to see if they could rev up their work look to something a bit more holiday polished. These kits and palettes can give you everything you need to be glam on the go this holiday season.
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Yuvay’s every day makeup is pretty natural. A little bit of tinted moisturizer, blush and a neutral gloss. She didn’t want to go too extreme so we used the bareMinerals Things That Make You Glow kit to add more color.
From the kit we used the Utopia and Black Gold shadows to give a colorful smoky eye and the Pretty Amazing Lip color in Courage topped off with Fruit Punch Gloss.
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3 For work, Shunda uses neutral shadows, a pop of pink blush and gloss. To take her from work to a cocktail hour we added shades of blue and purple from the Pixi Ultimate Beaut Kit.
The Ultimate Beaut Kit has 32 eye shadows, 15 lip glosses and 8 cheek colors—we used a neutral shadow base and then added blue and purple shadows and Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pencil in Blue Black to really define the eyes. She added NYX Matte lipstick in Natural for a deeper pink flush on the lips.
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Carol is a makeup maven and loved the Wild & Chic Best of Make Up For Ever Kit for an overall polished look. The kit comes with everything from primer to polish to make her look pop for work or evening. To add more drama to her evening look she used the Inglot Freedom palette and used color 388, a vivid cobalt blue.
Melody’s goal is to look fresh and bright eyed every morning (she’s chasing after a 1 year old). But for evening she wanted simple, easy but a deeper version of her standard makeup. We used the Buxom More to Love kit to add more polish and sparkle to her look. She fell in love with the Big & Healthy Lip Tarnish in Scandal, a glossy lipstick hybrid. Add the Stay-There Eyeshadow in Collie and the Buxom Lash mascara in Blackest Black and she was ready for a night out.
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Nikkia is a makeup artist and a beauty blogger, and I knew she would be perfect to play with Inglot’s bold color palette in the Freedom Palette. I asked her to take her neutral look to something spectacular and she did! Using the gold and green shadows she really amped up a smoky eye for an evening look. She also lined the lower rim with MAC Minted eye kohl pencil. A festive an fun beauty look for the holidays.
I love wrapping gifts and I love unwrapping presents. Who doesn’t love receiving? And how can you now feel awesome when you give something from the heart? If you want to give a hostess gift, a gift to your girlfriend, the man in your life, techie or baby I’ve got a few things to inspire your shopping. All links are listed in purple and you can click away and shop to your heart’s content. Be someone’s secret Santa, give a great gift for Hanukah or spread a little joy for Kwanzaa. Whatever you give this holiday season, make sure you always give love.
// 1. Twist ‘N Sparkle Carbonator 2. From the Bottom of My Heart Tote 3. Williams-Sonoma Hot Chocolate Gift Box 4. Artist Palette Cheese Tray 5. Curvy Chrysanthemum Vase //
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2 3 6* //1. Comme des Garcons low-top canvas sneaker 2. Pono Gliss Bangle Set 3. Small Felix Duffle 4. Bobbi Brown 20th Anniversary Lip Palette 5. Paperself Eyelashes 6. Helzberg Diamonds Pop Collection Swirl Necklace // *Check out the Art of Accessories to find out how to win this necklace!
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// 1. Mechanix the Original Glove Light 2. Turtle Beach X41 Dolby Digital Wireless Headphones 3. Ray Ban Sunglasses 4. Timex Weekender Watch 5. Warby Parker Holiday Gift Box of Eyeglasses //
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// 1. Drooly Bib 2. Cableknit One-Piece 3. Cozy Raccoon Hat 4. Jungle Animal Bowling Gift Set //
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5 2 //1. Olympus E-PM1 2. Polaroid Instant 3x4 Mobile Printer 3. Kindle Fire 4. Lomography La Sardina Camera with Flash 5. Atari Arcade //
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