20 Something Look Book

The holiday season, the time for the three 'Fs': family, food, & fashion of course! I know that your uncles on your mom's side & your aunts on your dad's side might not appreciate a full-on runway show upstaging the turkey, but there's no reason to go frumpy. And I'm going to give you 3 good reasons as to why you should dress to impress!

1.There's always someone with a camera &/or camera phones just waiting to capture a touching family moment or tradition. And thanks to social media (facebook, twitter, instagram app, etc) these pictures are online and ready for judgement in a matter of seconds.

2. If you're one of those families who play flag football in the backyard or local park. You never know who you'll run into, but I'm sure that you don't want to look haggard and unkempt.

3. Because there is always a point in the day where you make some excuse to leave the house and get away from everyone else. When that happens, not only do you want to dress accordingly for the weather, but, again, for your public. Let's face it, it's when you look your worse that you run into people you wish you hadn't or at least looked better when you do run into them. So spare yourself all of this holiday anxiety, and enjoy your food and just dress up a bit. You'll find that you're more willing to tag those pictures, and less likely to report it as spam just to get them offline!

Don't put away those skirts just yet. I will admit that sometimes its just too cold to practically wear some of the things I imagine (no matter how thick the tights and socks, a skirt = a freezing, but stylishly dressed, woman. And who looks cute when their teeth are chattering and extremities are turning blue?!) But, with the weather's inability to decide whether its still summer, fall, or the dead of winter I figure there is still some wiggle room left in my wardrobe. My general style, if you haven't noticed, is conservative with some type of an edge or twist (I hope). So why not go Prep for Fall?! Key staple pieces: peacoat, but in a vibrant color. No grays or blacks, there's plenty of time for that when winter hits. The cable-knit sweater in a muted tone allows for the classically polka dotted skirt to speak volumes once the coat comes off. The tights or leggings are important. Don't feel the need to wear basic black. A patterned legging adds the Gossip Girl element, taking the outfit from nice to trendy. The accessories put a nice finish on the whole kit-and-caboodle. A nice high heeled bootie, dark pearl studs and a black quilted purse all add texture without overwhelming the eye. Altogether, and you've got a great outfit for...well...any occasion.

SciFi nerd + fashionista = my Hallow's Eve costume (you know, if I had the time, money and place to wear it). That does not stop me from concocting costumes for the awesome party I'm having in my mind! Allow me to introduce you to a genre called steampunk. A hodgepodge of styles/periods that  includes: Victorian, Industrial Revolution, American Western, Post-Apocalyptic with a bit of SciFi with a punk twist. Basically think of the characters from Firefly (SciFi series) and you've got Steampunk in a nutshell! My favorite trait about this style is that it can be sexy but comfortable but the girls are never portrayed as damsels but strong-willed, fighters. So this Hallow's Eve through away that 'sexy police woman' costume and be innovative in steampunk. No two steampunk costumes are the same so you're guaranteed to look one-of-a-kind :-)