Posts tagged New Year’s Eve

‘Tis the Season to Sparkle

It’s officially the season of shopping, and we couldn’t be more excited.  Okay, so maybe it’s about shopping for gifts, but we all still deserve to spoil ourselves now and then.  After all, what better way to get in the Christmas spirit than with a festive wardrobe?  Whether you’re attending or hosting a party this season, it’s time to start planning that perfect party outfit.  And if you’re not quite sure how to give your look that holiday feel, add some sparkle and experiment with sequins!

Whether you go all out, or try just a touch, sequins are guaranteed to spread holiday cheer.  It’s hard to go wrong with a sequin dress, which can work for both formal events or your casual soiree.  Try all-over sparkle or a dress with sequin details!  This statement dress makes it easy to pair with all of your go-to basic accessories. To mute the sequined number, pair it with rich textiles, like leather or velvet. It will tone down the sequins while still giving you that holiday formality.

If that seems like too much too soon, take a shot at sequin separates.  A top, skirt, blazer, or even pants are all amazing holiday pieces.  The possibilities are endless, but be careful not to out gleam the Christmas tree.  Pair these dazzling separates with basic pieces.  A sequin skirt is just right with a black sweater.  Or throw on a sequin blazer over a t-shirt and jeans for an instant party outfit! For an even muted take on this look, pair it with traditional holiday pieces, such as a tartan skirt.

If you already have your favorite LBD set aside for the festivities, introduce sequin accessories as something special for the holidays.  Heels or a clutch are a great way to add a little glimmer to your timeless looks. While sequin-covered attire might seem like a bold purchase, you’ll definitely get your money’s worth.  After all, you can bring them out again for New Year’s!  And even though trends change over the years, the holidays will always be a season to sparkle.

All photos from pintrest.com

Countdown to NYE: Part 3, Lounging Up

While we love a great glittery New Years Eve party on the town, we know that staying in for NYE is so underrated. Have plans with a cushy couch, faux fur throw, and take-out this upcoming Monday night? Not to worry, you can still look (comfortably) fabulous as you usher in 2013 with Carson Daly on NBC.

Even when staying in, festive sequins are a doable feat. Try a sequined sweatshirt (like this one by Three Dots). Pair it with a comfy pair of leggings or cashmere lounge pants, and you’re ready to chicly welcome the New Year. If you want to keep sequins out of your at-home wardrobe, try a luxe cashmere tunic in a festive color with your skinnies and Minnetonka moccasins for an equally perfect look.

Whatever your look for an at-home New Years Eve, don’t forget to accessorize with your favorite bubbly (or mocktail!). And check out our New Years Eve tips as we countdown to the start of 2013 on our Pinterest board and daily Twitter inspiration!

~Meredith, fashioniSTA

Countdown to NYE: Part 2, Menswear at its Best

Yesterday, we dished some tips for the glitter girl heading out on the town to usher in 2013. What if sequins aren’t your thing? We have a few ways to incorporate menswear-inspired pieces (one of our favorite trends!) to your knockout New Years Eve ensemble.

A crisp tuxedo jacket serves as the perfect foundation for a New Years Eve look. For just a spritz of glamour, this Rag & Bone style features a gold collar. We love it paired with a skinny black pant or tonal sequin short, and patent black heels. Think you can’t handle shorts for a semi-formal occasion? Trust us, slip a pair on with black (or colored, for the bold) tights and just go with it. Whatever uneasiness you may have will quickly disappear when you start fielding compliments and officially assert yourself as a style star. Top it off with gold earrings, a bold clutch, and a vivid manicure, and you’ll be ringing in 2013 in the most fabulous way.

Stay tuned as we bring you NYE-worthy loungewear choices this weekend! And as always, you can find more New Year’s Eve inspiration on our countdown Pinterest board, as well as with our daily NYE tips on Twitter!

~Meredith, fashioniSTA

Countdown to NYE: Part 1, Glittering Gold

While it feels like everyone just put away Christmas leftovers, it’s already time to plan the perfect New Year’s Eve ensemble. Whether you’re ringing in 2013 with your girlfriends at the hottest party, or with your loved ones at home with a take-out container of Chinese food, we have your guide to start 2013 on your most stylish foot (or, rather, Louboutin clad heel). Here we dish out the details for the glitter girl who’s headed out on the town for the last night of the year.

It’s no secret that sequins are this fashioniSTA’s friend. A gold sequin minidress (like the one above by Haute Hippie) is the perfect look for any New Years Eve bash that’s sure to turn heads. Paired with opaque black Wolford tights and classic black Louboutin heels makes looking New Years Eve festive easier than popping a bottle of bubbly. If you’re nervous about shining too brightly, throw on a basic black blazer, just be sure to mix it up with texture - velvet, corduroy, etc. - rather than embellishments.

Unsure how to accessorize your New Years Eve look? Switch out your festive holiday manicure for a dash of gold (like Sephora’s “Come to Paparazzi” topcoat). Toss on a chunky cocktail ring, and a pair of neutral gemstone studs for the ideal amount of sparkle. Need a clutch to stash your ID, iPhone and lip gloss for the night? A sleek black envelope clutch never fails (especially when you’re already donning this much sparkle).

Need more New Years Eve tips? Check out our " onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outbound/article/pinterest.com');">Countdown to NYE Pinterest board and our daily Twitter tips. And stay tuned for our next part, where we shift from girly glitz to menswear-inspired elements for the big night!

~Meredith, fashioniSTA

All Wrapped Up: 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th Days of Style

To keep with the season of giving, we’re wrapping up four days of style in a neat little blog bow. Whether you were camped out in front of a Hallmark holiday movie this weekend or burning the shopping candle at both ends, here’s some holiday style cheer to brighten up your look into the new year!

Third Day of Style – Primp Your PJs
Styling your sleepwear isn’t just for opening presents on Christmas (or Hanukkah) morning. Although you might not have a photo-op every morning to make you jazz up your jammies, investing in nightwear doesn’t have to begin and end with what you wear out of the house.
Of course it’s easy to throw on sweatpants and a t-shirt and hop into bed. However, it’s just as easy – and comfortable – to throw on a satin pajama set, they’re all elastic-waist! If you’re hesitant to give up your t-shirt, I sympathize with you, so start small. The best part about stylish pajamas is the fact that they pretty much look the same on everyone. You can grab a pair of printed PJ pants or shorts from a bunch of stores, no matter what your age or body type. From Aerie to Victoria’s Secret to Neiman Marcus, you can stock up on your favorite patterns and fabrics without having to empty your bank account. Go with classic satin with contrast piping for a timeless winter vibe, or bold floral to infuse some warmth into the season, or try a quirky print by Primp to liven up your bedtime routine. For an extra dose of style, slip on a pair of lined slippers that look more like ballet flats for a polished look.
With just a quick change, I can pretty much guarantee that you’ll feel better when you wake up in the morning. Another perk? You won’t be embarrassed staying in your pajamas all day, don’t pretend you actually like putting in the effort to get dressed when the weekend comes. And who knows, maybe this will inspire you to host sleepover parties (what, you thought that you were too old for them?).

Fourth Day of Style – Braid Your Own Way
Braids have been popping up everywhere, from the runway to the red carpet to my house when my sister is there. This is another easy trend that anyone can try, plus it’s versatile enough to go from day to night.
To easily try out this trend, you can take a small section of hair from anywhere on your head, braid it, secure with a small elastic and you’re done. How easy was that? Try it out at first on a section behind your ear to take it slow, or work a piece in front for a bohemian look. If you know how to French braid, expand on the single braid by taking a small section right at your ear and do a tiny French braid that curls behind your ear. Part your hair to the opposite side and you’ve got a classic style with a twist.
To take it to the next level, you can step into the French and fishtail side of the trend. Tons of celebs – from Kristen Stewart to Miley Cyrus – have been stepping out in a low fishtail braided to one side and styled in front of the shoulder. If fishtails aren’t your thing, take a French braid into nighttime by braiding one side of your hair, stopping at the nape of your neck and gathering all of the hair into a low ponytail a la Rachel Zoe. Go asymmetrical by doing a large braid on one side, a smaller braid on the other and gathering both into the ponytail.
For the advanced hair connoisseur, go with multiple braids styled into an up-do for a unique and fresh look. You can French braid a couple small sections across the front of your hairline, then finish off the look by pinning everything into a low, tousled bun like Rachel McAdams (flower optional).
Whether you go with a basic low braid over your shoulder or an intricate French-braided up-do, this trend is a great way to subtly upgrade your regular hairstyle!

Fifth Day of Style – Stack ‘Em Up!
If you think wearing one piece of jewelry is fabulous, adding more will onlymake you exponentially more fabulous! (It’s math.) We’ve all seen the girls who wear an armful of bangles and look like they just stepped out of Harper’s Bazaar. Well, now with just a few additions, you can look just as good.

To try this trend inexpensively, first look to your own jewelry stash. Take a few bangles and put them together, making sure to mix up widths and textures. Go bold by mixing metals or keep it classic with similar color schemes and a single bright bracelet mixed in. There’s also so many ways you can wear a watch or a statement bangle, but if you pair either with a couple of thin bangles in a similar color scheme, you’ve got a fresh new look. If you happen to have a couple of really nice bracelets, those can look great as well in smaller groups so that each piece still gets to shine.
Got a bunch of thin rings lying around that you never wear? Stack three or four of them – depending on width – on a single finger and you’ve tried out the trend from your own jewelry box. You can also seek out stackable rings pretty easily, just look for bands in a uniform shape all the way around for maximum stacking potential.
This is an easy tweak for any ensemble, and it instantly makes you look chic with a few simple additions. Voila! You’re making the most of your accessories and spicing up your normal outfits.

Sixth Day of Style – On Dasher, On Dancer, On…Blazer
In the fashion reindeer lineup, Blazer would be guiding the style sleigh. I would not be exaggerating to say that wearing a blazer has simultaneously improved my style and made it a thousand times easier to get dressed in the morning.
A blazer is like an instant style-maker that can work with any outfit and make you look put-together at a moment’s notice. Feeling uninspired and just want to something easy? Throw on jeans, a tank and a blazer. Want to be comfortable? Leggings and a jersey tunic might make you look slightly homeless, but you pair a blazer with this combo and suddenly you’re a style star. Modernize a shift dress by throwing one on and adding stackable jewelry (see above). Even going out at night, arming yourself with a blazer makes you unstoppable. Pair a cropped version with a sequin dress to tone down the sparkle, or invest in a sequin blazer to pair with a basic black ensemble for a nighttime event.
Easy chic at its best can be found in the form of one article of clothing. And with about a bazillion different versions, anyone can find one that works.

Did you try out any of these trends and want to share the results? We’d love to see! Post on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/staconsignment) or Tweet us (@STAconsignment) with photos or comments!

~Ashley, FashioniSTA

8 Days of Style to Celebrate the Season

In honor of Hanukkah, we at STA bring you the 8 days of style! Each day we will outfit you (hardy har) with a style survival tip to get you through the busy holiday/New Year’s season. From bronzer to bowties, we’ll help you create memorable entrances and festive ensembles people remember even after the New Year’s champagne has worn off.

First Day of Style – Silver Belles
Gold may be the signature metallic of the season, but for a slightly different spin on sparkle, opt for silver this holiday. One of the best things about silver is that you can pair it with bright cranberry for a fresh, festive look, or style it with black for a classic NYE ensemble. A silver dress will always be a refreshing change from the sea of normal holiday red and basic black dresses at events. For an everyday look, pair silver with winter white for a stunning professional palette. Go with a silver skirt and a white cashmere turtleneck, or try a silver blouse with winter white wool pants to channel a stylish ice queen. To try a darker approach, pair darker silver with black for a twist on a classic color scheme.

Don’t stop when it comes to makeup either. Using a gray and silver palette, you can create a smoky eye, adding subtle silver sparkle over the lids. If smoky isn’t your thing, colored eyeliner has made a comeback, so grab your silver pencil and go to town. Try top only, bottom only, or both to make your look fashion-forward at your own pace. Should you be completely fearless, go all out with the silver lip trend that has hit the runway. Make sure to add extra gloss on top for a shiny finish so people know it’s high fashion and not hypothermia.

Looking to mix your metals? Weaving together silver and gold is not the fashion taboo it once was, and it’s all about the shades that you have to work with. I’m not a huge fan of mixed metal jewelry because I think the contrast between the two tones tends to be too stark. Start with softer shades of silver and gold, making sure that you’re leaning more towards light slate and champagne tones. Try a few soft gold bangles and alternate them on your arm with lighter silver bracelets. Or cinch a champagne matte dress with a pale silver belt. Stay small to avoid looking like you got dressed in the dark.


You can also use this trend to update your beauty routine. Want to try something just a little different for a night out? Grab a two bottles of round glitter nail polish, like these at Sephora, one in gold and one in silver, and paint your ring finger nails silver and the rest gold. Layer on the coats for full-on glitter and prepare to bring on the holiday sparkle!

Tell us your take on silver on Facebook (www.facebook.com/staconsignment) or Twitter (@STAconsignment). Until tomorrow, fashioniSTAs!

~Ashley, FashioniSTA