gift edit: home stuff

$48, anthropologie

I visited a friend in Santa Barbara this past weekend and while I was checking out her newly renovated  kitchen, I noticed a stack of beautiful ethnic-print linen napkins, folded neatly on a drinks tray. My first thought was, wow, what a nice touch! I picked up the napkins to closer inspect them and suddenly realized that I had actually given them to her last Christmas! Well done, me! This experience made me think that pretty print napkins would be a good place to start for the home edition of my gift edit. Here are a few other fun finds that would go over well in any home: a seriously stylish photographic print from Scott Schuman (a.k.a. The Sartorialist)--for $40, no less!; or for the high-brow art lovers in your life, an iconic yet very affordable fine art print from painter Yves Klein);  a vanity-defining glamorous brass bauble box from Kelly Wearstler; a gorgeous malachite bowl (I've given out a few as gifts!) from Chic Shop; and a chic Southwest-inspired patchwork print throw. All good things!

more shades of grey

$148, j.crew

I showed up at a Lucky cover shoot yesterday wearing a grey sweatshirt-inspired sweater--and I was not alone. Lucky's stylist and the famous cover subject (to be named!) also wore grey pullovers. Here's one that will stand out from the rest. And them some...

1. J.Crew embellished sweatshirt, $148, jcrew.com
2. Topshop faux fur coat, $190, topshop.com
3. American Apparel bag, $220, americanapparel.com 
4. Alice + Olivia snake-print leather pumps, $295, shopbop.com
5. J. Crew leather pants, $850, jcrew.com

oxygen therapy

UK-based Oxygen Boutique is currently showcasing a round-up my favorite holiday-and-beyond pieces from their store. There are some goodies, and you can check them all out here!

the reveal

I admit it: I just got this top and was feeling very much like I did not want to share the secret with anyone. (Fortunately I don't suffer from this often, but this is as bad as I have had it since April.) I wore it yesterday at a lunch with some girlfriends, compliments ensued, and the inevitable happened: someone asked me where I got it. So, I  had to fess up. And now it's time to do the same here, making good on my promise when I started this blog to always share: the top is from Asos. It's so good, you too might not want to tell your friends its provenance. But please do tell them you found it on LE CATCH!

most-wanted wedge

$459, barneys

I've been obsessing over these Manolo Blahnik wedges ever since I came across them a few weeks ago on Barney's website. Back then they were $765, and I was so ready to pull the trigger, confident I'd wear them (comfortably, chicly!) into the ground next spring, or even sooner on a mid-winter tropical getaway and, furthermore, I was delighted that they'd be in step with all the leg-climbing gladiator business due out from Proenza, Tom Ford, and Altuzarra next season. But, alas they were sold out in my size. Adding insult to injury, they're now on sale! They do, however, also come in a nude suede (sadly, already sold out in my size) and eggplant (which is available!). My fantasy would be to have them in black and wear them with...

1. 3.1 Phillip Lim sequin dress, $950, netaporter.com
2. Bauble Bar gypsy earrings, $24, baublebar.com
3. Serpui Marie mother-of-pearl clutch, $594, shopbop.com
4. Manolo Blahnik suede wedges, $459, barneys.com

P.S.: The sale at Barneys is chock full of goodness, including these temptations from Isabel Marant and Derek Lam. 

the leopard print coat

Spotted everywhere: the leopard print coat. And there's more to come, thanks to Stella McCartney's just-hitting-the-store-racks cat-centric resort collection. I'm wild for these options from Mango, Free People (which is similar to the one above), Stella McCartney, Warehouse, Topshop, and Zara. More meow below!

 

sought-after sweater

$49, mango

I bought this Mango gem in London back in early October, after seeing it in the retailer's Fall catalogue, scouring Mango's two floor store on Regent Street to no avail and then consequently begging a store manager to check the store's stockroom for one in a size medium. Long story short, I am in love with this vibrant sweater--which I have been wearing with my snakeskin-print pants and knee-length skirts--and I am happy to say it has finally arrived online and, perhaps may have even just hit the racks on Regent Street, too.

1. Mango sweater, $49, mango.com
2. Iosselliani rhinestone earrings, $248, forwardforward.com
3. Lanvin metallic brocade clutch, $693, netaporter.com
4. L.A.M.B. ankle strap pumps, $285, shopbop.com
5.  J. Crew sequin pencil skirt, $695, jcrew.com

the pointy toe flat

Ballerina slippers, step aside. There's a consensus--at least among Women's Wear Daily, Claire Distenfeld (owner of New York's newest must-shop Fivestory), designer Marc Jacobs, and even the Wall Street Journal--that the pointy toe flat will be next spring's power shoe. And we're talking piercingly sharp, as in Marc Jacobs' Spring 2013 interpretation, above. Here are some pointed options to kick around right now: Jenni Kayne's D'orsay flats, Asos' under-$100 black patent version, Loeffler Randall's lizard print pair and Topshop's black suede staples.

Photo: Style.com 

knit blazer

$170, topshop.com

It's a cardigan. It's a blazer. It's both! There's no mistaking the amount of polish it will add to any casual look, like this...

1. J. Crew lace print sweatshirt, $75, jcrew.com
2. Topshop floral studs, $18, topshop.com
3. Topshop knit blazer, $170, topshop.com
4. Simone Rocha metallic clutch, $368, ssense.com
5. Vince shearling trim ankle boots, $455, saksfifthavenue.com
6. Frame Denim jeans, $210, netaporter.com  

cyber monday

$486, saks fifth avenue

This Gucci (ponyhair D'orsay!) get, reduced by 30 percent, is just one example of the seriously tempting deals I've come across this Cyber Monday. Here's a quick round-up of some other great finds.  Flex your fingers and go!

$30, charmandchain.com*

This dainty chain link ring is gorgeous and subtly elegant.

 

$259, ssense.com

How delicious is this Alexander Wang wallet?

$42, ssense.com

Cute little everyday earrings to give away--or better yet, keep!

*Use code CC25OFF to get 25% off all orders at Charm & Chain through December 14 (the ring above will be $22).

the trimmings

$328, shopbop

The zip-off leather hem makes these black jeans seriously sleek, totally eye-catching, and, of course, majorly versatile. Oh, the ways to wear them...

1. Erdem silk blouse, $890, netaporter.com
2. Madewell double-breasted coat, $268, madewell.com
3. Theyskens' Theory bag, $532, ssense.com
4. Topshop ankle strap heels, $110, topshop.com
5. J Brand zip-off hem jeans, $328, shopbop.com

the best of black friday

$945, netaporter.com

Why fight the crowds and stand on long lines when the best Black Friday sales are at your fingertips? I scoured the online racks and found some seriously compelling deals, including the highly coveted Proenza Schouler PS11 tote, above, reduced by 30% at Netaporter (you don't see that everyday!). Some more fantastic finds below.

$298, jcrew.com

$173, shopbop.com

$495, charmandchain.com*

$125, madewell.com

$140, revolveclothing.com

*Use code CC25OFF to get 25% off all orders at Charm & Chain through December 14 (the earrings above will be $371).

on bead

$79, asos

Crazily embellished. Insanely gorgeous. So perfect for the holiday hysteria. But wait: can you imagine with white jeans next summer? Yes!!!!

1. River Island beaded shell top, $79, asos.com
2. Karl Donoghue shearling stole (40% off), $710, netaporter.com
3. Topshop army jacket, $96, topshop.com
4. Henri Bendel lucite clutch, $98, henribendel.com
5. 3.1 Phillip Lim pumps, $475, shopbop.com
6. J. Crew silk wool capri pants, $288, jcrew.com

fur a good time...

When the thermometer takes a plunge later this winter, Chewbacca's fur is exactly what I'll want/need to keep warm--and up-to-the-minute stylish. Here are some faux fur jackets that are downright hot: a black shaggy fur Rachel Zoe (on sale!), a color-blocked Mod Cloth (similar to above), and a white Mongolian cape-like Asos or belted brown version. Plus, more furry strategies for keeping the deep freeze at bay.

proenza score

$398, the outnet

Looks like Black Friday has descended early on The Outnet. And the sale's piece de resistance is this iconic Proenza Schouler striped raffia skirt--talk about making an entrance at a party, thank you very much--reduced by 60 percent. (Oh, and I also found these crazy good marked down goodies by Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney and James Perse.)

1. Rebecca Taylor crepe silk blouse, $180, shopbop.com
2. Suzanna Dai crystal drop earrings*, $142, charmandchain.com
3. Nine West clutch, $75, ninewest.com
4. River Island embellished sandals, $79, asos.com
5. Proenza Schouler raffia skirt, $398, theoutnet.com

*Use the code CC25OFF at checkout to get this price as well as 25% off everything else at Charm & Chain through December 14.

gift edit: jewelry

$350, toryburch.com

Every year I am the knucklehead who always waits until the very last minute to do my holiday shopping. I cannot tell you why this is the case, except that online shopping has enabled me to do this and, I might add, made it exceptionally easy. But I vow this year will be different. After all, it would be nice to give away some more personalized items, like a monogrammed bag, for example, which needs a few weeks' lead time (I'll show you my faves in the next few days!). I thought I'd share my gift edit with you, so you can get a jump start on your holiday shopping. Each week from now until Christmas, I will round up my favorite picks. Today I present you with some baubles that are so irresistibly good (i.e., blingy yet budget-friendly), you'll be tempted to buy some for yourself! Case in point: the Tory Burch stunners, above, which I swooned over at a press preview last summer. "Santa" will be putting it in my stocking. More below...
 

$28, cwonder.com

A dainty, everyday-wearable necklace is always a crowd-pleaser, and this one with a pave shark tooth pendant (very Givenchy-inspired and so easy to layer with other necklaces!) has the perfect amount of bite. 

$78, henribendel.com

This stack of studded rings manages to be edgy and crazy glamorous at once. P.S. You can remove the center ring to wear alone. Versatile = very good gift!

$52, charmandchain.com*

Great for minimalists and maximalists: This wraparound snake bracelet will look good on its own or mixed with a jumble of bracelets.

$50, baublebar.com

A custom gift, like this little 14-karat gold fill monogrammed ring, screams thoughtfulness.

$100, shopbop.com

These gorgeous drop earrings have an earthy luxe vibe, and the jade-colored stone flatters every skin tone.

$208, theoutnet.com

 A Marni statement necklace imparts fashion-insider-chic. Always good.

$75, charmandchain.com*

You know what they say: Diamonds are a girl's best friend--even when they're crystals! These earrings are made with perfectly blingy Swarovski crystals.

*Use the code CC25OFF at checkout to get this price as well as 25% off everything else at Charm & Chain through December 14.

my reach

mango, $129

On those mornings when I have less than five minutes to get dressed, I always reach for an outfit-making piece that doesn't need much else, apart from a simple pair of pants and a top. This leather-trimmed, fringed (love!) boucle statement jacket (on sale through November 21!) fits the bill--and then some.

1. Kain t-shirt $90, netaporter.com
2. Mango fringe boucle jacket $129, mango.com
3. Jerome Dreyfuss bag $730, forwardbyelysewalker.com
4. Matt Bernson wedge boots $245, shopbop.com
5. J. Crew black jeans*  $125, jcrew.com

*I've been wearing these jeans like crazy. They're super flattering, amazingly comfortable, and perfectly cropped.  

fade in

When Who What Wear's Katherine Power showed up at a Lucky cover shoot last year wearing a pair of faded jeans, I was inspired to put them into heavier rotation myself. And to keep them looking fresh and more polished, I've been teaming them with unexpected, fancier pieces, like stylist Giovanna Battaglia, above. My jeans are by Paige, and they're perfectly faded and fit like a glove. I also love these flattering light-washed pairs from Current Elliot (on sale), J. Brand, and Citizens of Humanity.

sparklers

$165, shopbop

These studs are demure and versatile enough to be an everyday go-to, but they're also fantastically sparkly and original-looking. They'd light up any old outfit, like this...

1. J. Crew leopard silk chiffon top, $138, jcrew.com
2. Lauren Wolf druzy stud earrings, $165, shopbop.com
3. Dana Ettenger crystal pendant necklace, $253, shopbop.com
4. Isabel Marant coat, $2005, netaporter.com
5. Marais USA ankle strap flats, $125, shopbop.com
6. J Brand cargo jeans, $270, netaporter.com