XOXO
[Jump]
MaxStudio [Jump]
Banana Republic [Jump]
Gap [Jump]
Ann Taylor [Jump] |
| Salutations
Fashion Finders! In preparation for the barrage of parties,
festivities, and holiday cheer, I've scouted about town like a good
little elf, made my holiday pick list, and checked it twice. Some
are naughty, but some are nice, and hopefully all will still fit
after all the eating, drinking and being merry we are about to do in
the coming weeks! |
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XOXO
has a lot of strong, bold, feminine pieces, as well as super-trendy,
over-the-top choices that I've left off this list (like orange
leather jackets and animal print coats).
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The fist
pick was chosen mainly because of my "Joan of
Arc/medieval armor is cool" trip. This gold acetate and lurex
top looks like chain mail, is slinky and a great party piece.
$38.00.
I've paired it with an olive
green, mid-calf length skirt with scalloped hem to tone down the
flashiness of the gold top. The fabric is matte and is soft, due to
the suede-like finish of the polyester/spandex fabric. Also comes in
black or chocolate brown, $44.00. |
| Next,
XOXO's black, long sleeve nylon shirt has a short strip of
rhinestones starting at the point of the V-neck that reminds me of an aircraft
runway (This shirt is for anyone wanting to flag down the mother
ship at the stroke of midnight). However, the row of rhinestones are
attached to a zipper that parts them, just like the Red Sea! $68.00. |
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This next
dress is a very lush, very beautiful result of melding Indian and
Chinese elements into one gorgeous dress. It's made of vibrant fuschia
silk with flower embroidery down the middle. It zips up the back and
has a slit in the back as well. $114.00. |
| Our final
pick from XOXO is a black, semi-sheer polyester-spandex top with 3/4
sleeves, which are romanticized with ruffles at the cuffs. Again, a
strong layering piece that adds some flounce to all the straight and
simple silhouettes that have been associated with the "look of
the millennium." Also comes in cream, $28.00. |
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MaxStudio
offers high quality knitwear, and incorporates inventive elements in
their designs. For the winter season, there is a great emphasis on
deep rich colors, like purple and orange.
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Our first
Max item is this thin, black, mohair/nylon/acrylic sweater. There is
a geometric design embroidered on the front with delicate silver
thread, as if some magical spider was trying to solve some mad
calculus problem. Overpriced at $198.00.
And these cotton/spandex, black
denim stretch jeans from MaxStudio are great for family eating
parties, because in addition to the front zipper, there are laces to
be drawn at the back. This gives you a little extra after-dinner
room that allows you to keep that top button closed! Plus, there are
fun zippers that reach up all the way to the knees.
$98.00. |
Here's a perfect combination. This
greenish-yellow silk/spandex/cashmere top is cut off at the bustline,
a new silhouette possibility, which I feel is sorely lacking in
fashion at the moment.
$68.00.
It's shown over a silk/spandex cashmere purple sweater tube top
that's amazing for
its versatility. The layering possibilities are endless, and by now,
you all must know how I love to layer! Under semi-sheer shirts, a sparkly
button-down, over turtlenecks, or alone, it’s just great.
$68.00.
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Finally, I
have chosen this Helmut Lang "inspired" sweater with
unattached elbows. The body of the sweater is dark gray, and the
elbows are light gray. By wearing a bright long sleeve shirt
underneath, one can accentuate the elbows, a part of the body seldom
accentuated. Overpriced at $198.00. |
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Banana
Republic
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| Our first
item from BR is their knitted cashmere hood. I really like the idea of
thinking of hoods as you would a hat or scarf. I mean, you're
wearing a hood, but it's not attached to anything! I think that's
pretty cool! (I'd imagine that this would look great with the purple
tube top sweater from MaxStudio) It's a whole new world for the
hood. Available in black, creamy white, gray, black, an icy blue
white, and pumpkin orange. $60.00. |
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Next we
have this polyester-rayon fleece that brings to mind the Ewoks in
winter. I think it's a comfortable piece for snuggling into the new year. Available in creamy white, an icy-blue
white, dark blue-gray, light gray, and black. $58.00. |
| Now we're
up to the mohair, merino wool, and nylon turtleneck sweater. It's
got super long sleeves that make super amounts of folds on the arms,
creating a wonderful draping effect. It is also loosely knitted,
making it see-through and ready for layering. Comes in army green or
midnight blue, $68.00.
The silk skirt is a great piece
because it's a toned-down way of incorporating the big Fairy
Princess ball gown trend for eveningwear this winter, without all
the drama and the fairy dust. Available in light brown, and black with blue
stitching trim. $128.00. |
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Our last BR
item is for those of you who want to face the holiday party scene
carrying as little as possible. This leather wallet/cell phone
holster is great for a night out on the town. Like those safety
wallets tourists hang around their necks and under their clothes, this
version is great because it can be worn over your clothes; it can hold your credit card, ID and money,
and zips it up safe and sound, while the cell phone holder keeps
your phone convenient and ready for calling home, or whatever. I'd
imagine this to be most convenient for going to clubs, so that you
don't have to carry a bag, or ask your friend to hold your money for
you while you're on the dance floor. $58.00. It's available in blue gray,
black, or icy-blue-white leather with a black leather strap. |
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Gap: I had a hard time finding evening/party gear
at the Gap. I
saw the same casually sporty items, and the same uniform work items.
However, in the last couple of weeks, they have introduced a few
more formal pieces, just in time for our holiday convenience.
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| Ah yes,
here it is, the little black dress. The Gap rendition of this tried
and true classic is a v-neck shift in acetate/rayon that is cut a
bit loosely, for a bit of 1960's flare and much comfort. This pick
also gets extra points for great after-holiday usability potential.
$58.00.
Now, due to my intentional
shortcut through the Baby Gap section of the particular Gap location
I was in, I unintentionally came across this fun jagged rhinestone
headband. It only costs $5.50, and puts the wearer instantly into
party mode. Available in diamond rhinestone, pink rhinestone, or
aqua rhinestone. |
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Our next pick is a wool, long-sleeve, hooded sweater. It's pretty
basic, comes in black or light gray, and mixes well with more dressy
bottoms. $56.00.
Speaking of which, here's a silvery-gray, sheer,
polyester/nylon pleated skirt with
silvery-gray lining. It's very delicate in a ballerina sort of way,
but also avant-garde, in a Helmut Lang sort of way. With this skirt,
the Gap has made some redemption of itself in this consumer's eye,
and I've been watching them with a scrutinous eye for the past few
months…maybe it's the Christmas spirit warming up the Scrooge in
me. $58.00. |
| Our last
Gap pick is what I like to call the B-dazzlin' holiday skirt. It's a
black skirt made of a blend of polyester/acrylic/nylon/ spandex,
and that "other" stuff that was in the pea coat that was
featured last month. Now, the "other" stuff isn't what
makes it B-dazzlin', rather it's the rhinestones that flurry down to
the hem of the skirt. I guess you could also call this the
"Silent Night skirt" (calm black background and bright
starry rhinestones). Anyway, call it whatever you like, it'll still
cost you $48.00! |
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Ann
Taylor
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Our first
pick is this retro 1950's-inspired dress. It's got the whole poof
and flower prom dress thing going on, but the shiny
polyester/acetate fabric in maroon/black mixes in enough modernity
to keep it from looking overly nostalgic, an important thing to keep
in mind for the new year. $220.00. |
| Our next
item is a snow-white, V-neck, merino wool/nylon knit sweater, with
sequins sewn up and down the body and sleeves in neat little rows.
The light-catching sequins work well with the texture of the merino
wool and the looseness of the knitting, which makes the sweater
slightly see-through, leaving great possibilities for layering on
top of colored tanks, dresses, tees, what have you (my preference
would be something orange). $98.00. |
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Next we
have a 100% red sleeveless top in 100% merino wool. This top also
has sequins, along with a smattering of little red beads. An
undeniably festive pick, I'd say. $138.00. |
| Now we are
moving on to Ann Taylor accessories, which I love. This white
sequined silk scarf may be a bit too much with the white sequined
sweater, but would be a great way to spiff up low key pieces that
you already own, like a little black dress. $68.00. |
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Lastly we
have this little bag in silver satin. From far away it looks
like chain mail, and because I have this fixation with Joan of Arc
and medieval armor, it caught my eye. It's shaped like a coin purse
with satin straps attached to it, $58.00. Also available in black. |
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| So
make your choices, be naughty or nice, just remember to have a good
time. See you next year! |
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