Under $100 gift guide: THE GIRLS

Whether it's your sister, co-worker, best friend, or babysitter—these woman deserve better than the average gift card or bath set.  Show them you care this season with some of these unique and fashionable finds...


1. Juicy Couture earmuff headphones: these are cute enough on their own as earmuffs, but the fact that they double as headphones makes them that much more amazing.

2. Marc by Marc Jacobs link bracelet: this bracelet is bold enough to make a statement but classic enough to wear every day, would look great alone or layered up the arm.

3. J.Crew Blythe blouse: I own this blouse in four colors already and am planning on buying it in two more before the holidays (unless Santa is listening... wink, wink!)  It is the ultimate basic that any woman's wardrobe would benefit from.

4. Society6 iPhone case: this site literally has thousands of unique and stylish iPhone covers in an array of prints, patterns and designs—the only hard part will be deciding which one to get.

5. Deborah Lippmann metallic nail polish set: I've already professed my love for sparkly nails, and this set of metallics has all the right shades to keep any glamor girl covered for the holidays.

6. Harper's Bazaar: Greatest Hits book: fashion books are my favorite gift to receive because they're great to display and reference for inspiration—and you can never have too many.  And since there is no greater fashion authority than Harper's Bazaar (OK, I may be slightly biased, but that doesn't make it any less true), this book should be first on your list!

7. Wool and The Gang DIY scarf kit: almost every girl I know (myself included) wishes they knew how to knit, so what better way to learn than by crafting your own snood with the help of this handy dandy kit?

Under $100 gift guide: DAD

After featuring moms in yesterday's gift guide, it seems only fitting that we focus today on their equally important counterpart, the dads...


1. Xperience Days adventure: treat your dad to flying lessons, a stockcar ride or even whitewater rafting—these are just a few of the local experience adventures offered on this incredible gifting site.

2. J.Crew half-zip sweater: if your dad is more of a sweatshirt guy like mine, the half-zip is a stylish alternative that won't sacrifice comfort.

3. Yves Saint Laurent L'Homme eau de toilette: this is the perfect "dad" fragrance—mild yet sophisticated and universally pleasing.

4. UGG Australia leather slippers: your father probably never knew he wanted UGGs, but after trying these on he'll never want to take them off.

5. J.Crew leather notebook: although our kids probably won't even know what a notebook is, dads are old school and will appreciate the quality and palpability of this throwback accessory.

6. Monogrammed branding iron: if your dad's into grilling, he's probably pretty proud of these skills, so what better way to show his pride than by branding his initials into every steak and burger that comes off the grill?

7. J.Crew flannel robe: your mom might not be happy about it, but what dad doesn't want to lounge around in a comfy robe all day?

8. Wine of the month club: the gift that keeps on giving!  Sign him up to receive a new bottle (or bottles!) of wine each month, delivered right to his doorstep.

Under $100 gift guide: MOM

Hope everyone had an amazing holiday weekend!  I decided to forgo the black Friday madness in favor of some online shopping.  This week, I'll be sharing some of my favorite finds in a series of under $100 gift guides for all the important people on your list—starting with Mom...

1. Jo Malone Red Roses bath oil: every mom deserves to be pampered and Jo Malone's products are pure luxury.

2. Armani Exchange leather gloves: this style is totally classic and timeless, something she can wear every season, at a great price for real leather.

3. Tory Burch wine cozy: my parents were given a way less stylish wine tote last year which they now take to every dinner party or BYOB spot.  This one's a super chic way to gift wine and it can be used again and again by the recipient. 

4. Kendra Scott agate earrings: when picking out jewelry for my mom, I usually look for pieces that are slightly outside the box but not outside her comfort zone.  These colorful yet simple earrings are perfect. 

5. N.Peal cashmere scarf: this scarf was originally $220 and is now on sale for just $77—for real cashmere—enough said!

6. Monogrammed throw pillow: moms love anything personalized, and this site offers a range of fabric and thread options that can be customized to suit any taste or decor.  

7. Topshop suede slippers: these combine the comfort factor that mom will love with the style factor that you'll love not being embarrassed by.

8. Saks Fifth Avenue musical snow globe: this is my go-to parental gift (both for my own and a few surrogates over the years) because of its holiday charm, chic Saks packaging and great price.  I'm a sucker for the NYC version, but they carry five other major cities as well!

Click here for more motherly gift inspiration!

Give thanks

Hope you're all enjoying the beautiful fall weather today and celebrating all we have to be thankful for!  I'm most thankful for my wonderful family and friends and everyone's good health... And of course, all the amazing fall finds below (especially this Michael Kors moto jacket and these gorg Alexander Wang booties, both of which are on sale for an absolute steal!)  

(from left to right): Madewell hat, $32.  MICHAEL Michael Kors jacket, $206.  j.crew sweater, $98.  

Hermes ring, $165.  Gala Curios bangle, $195.  Bottega Veneta gloves, $290.  

Alexander Wang booties, $270.  Reiss skirt, $180.  Cambridge Satchel Co. bag, $216.  YSL lipstick, $30. 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

xoxo

A winner and a discount!

Congratulations to Lottie H. (aka @AKnNYer) on winning the VERAMEAT anniversary giveaway!  Lottie chose this adorable lochness monster necklace in brass as her prize and we couldn't be happier for her.  Thank you so much to everyone else who entered! 

And even if you weren't a winner this time, Vera has been kind enough to extend a special discount to Dream and Dress readers.  Shop online or in-store between now and Thanksgiving using code: "MORE LOVE" at checkout and you'll receive 20% off your entire purchase! 

Vera's pieces also make for great holiday gifts, since they're so unique and personal, and her price points are surprisingly reasonable.  Not to mention—you have a sweet discount to use now.  So skip the lines and crowds on black Friday and order your gifts right from home instead! 

Happy Shopping!

xoxo

Patterned perfection: Mary Katrantzou

I am absolutely in love with these shots taken backstage at Mary Katrantzou's Spring 2012 show.  The photos themselves, along with the clothes, are like works of art.  Katrantzou is on a whole other level when it comes to color, print and pattern mixing.  If I could afford to, I would literally buy her entire collection.  Luckily, she is designing a line for Topshop, which will be available in February, so soon we can all snag a piece of the printed pie—without going broke!

An anniversary and a giveaway!

Today is a very special day here at Dream and Dress.  Exactly one year ago today this little blog was born.   It has since grown, leading to some amazing opportunities, none of the which would have been possible without your support!  I sincerely appreciate each and every one of you for reading!

In order to show my appreciation, I wanted to celebrate with a giveaway courtesy of my new favorite jewelry line, VERAMEAT.  I met Vera, the designer and owner of VERAMEAT (pictured above in her own designs), at her downtown store a few weeks ago when I stumbled in looking for a new necklace.  I wound up purchasing not one, but three of her amazing pieces and fell completely in love with her range of delicate, unique and perfectly quirky designs.

Vera explained that the “meat” portion of her name represents, “The meatier side of jewelry, more interesting subject matter and better material.”   I’m a big fan of designs with substance and a story to tell—and with pieces ranging from a dinosaur eating fried chicken (a style just picked up by Nicki Minaj!) to a pig standing on a cupcake (for those born in the year of the pig, of course)—these pieces definitely have a lot to say.  The fact that the designs are so tiny and intricate though, keeps them from looking kitschy and makes them more like a little secret between the wearer and admirers close enough to inquire.

Scroll below to see a few more of my favorites from the line, along with details on how to win your very own piece of “MEAT”!

all pieces available at VERAMEAT.COM

One lucky reader will get to choose their favorite from a selection of VERAMEAT pieces.  All you have to do is follow the below instructions between now and this Sunday to be entered.  A winner will then be selected using a random number generator and announced next week!

TO ENTER:

You can enter via facebook or twitter by following the steps below.  Enter on both and you will get two entries, which doubles your chances of winning!

FACEBOOK (complete all three):
1. Like VERAMEAT on facebook
2. Like Dream and Dress on facebook
3. Click the "share" button under this post to spread the word to all your friends!

TWITTER (complete all three):
1. Follow @VERAMEAT on twitter
2. Follow @DreamandDress on twitter
3. Tweet a link to this post with #VERAGIVEAWAY

Good Luck!

xoxo

So fur-osh...

Although some girls can pull it off amazingly, I've never been one to rock a full-on fur.  Fur collars, on the other hand, I can definitely get on board with.  Since I prefer buying only faux (unless it's vintage!), collars run a smaller risk of looking cheap since they work as only an accent rather than as the entire look.

Coats with attached fur lapels are stunning, but can also be pretty pricey.  That's why I love the idea of a faux-fur stole, which gives the same look but can also be mixed and matched with multiple coats and sweaters, as opposed to just one.  ASOS and bloomingdale's both have great selections right now, my favorites are here and here.

Outfit inspiration: Zara Fall

Hope everyone had a great weekend!  I've been shopping lately for some dressier pieces to add to my winter wardrobe—in preparation for the holidays and countless dinner and drink dates that come along with them—and Zara's look book is spot on.  I'm loving the pattern-on-pattern mixing (above), metallic touches, seventies styling and masculine influences featured here—all done in a very minimalistic, tailored fashion.  I also love that these looks don't scream holiday and can be worn for day or night throughout the season, depending on how you style them. 

all image via Zara.com

Pretty: organized

 

 

I've been receiving a lot of beauty products lately, which is always fun but also leads to the inevitable predicament of figuring out how to store and organize them all.  I love how some of the products in these photos have been left on display, as part of the decor.  

The use of recycled and re-purposed items—like the champagne glass, spice rack and old candle votive—all work perfectly as chic and cheap storage solutions.  I'm hoping to score some thrifted mason jars this weekend to keep my brushes in and also plan to hit up The Container Store for some drawer organizers like these for storing my less-stylishly packaged products.  Happy organizing!

Autumn shine

images: Josh Olins for Vogue UK

I saw this editorial a few months back when the start of fall and the holiday season felt miles away.  But now that the leaves have turned and party calendars are beginning to fill up, I decided to give these photos a second look to get some inspiration for building my holiday wardrobe.

Sequins are an obvious go-to for looking festive, but this season's styles are done on a larger scale, with over-sized paillettes taking center stage.  Leather and other high-shine fabrics are also a great option for adding some glamour to your ensemble.  Below are a few of my favorite picks...

1. j.crew top, $495.  2. ASOS collar, $22.  3. Maje top, $395.  4. Yves Saint Laurent ring, $250.

5. Christopher Kane clutch, $755.  6. Theyskens' Theory wedges, $465.  

7. Deborah Lippmann nail polish, $18.  8. ASOS skirt, $137.