holiday express

Rememeber that shopping trip I took to TJMaxx? We'll here's the Zac Posen bag I snapped up for my impossible to shop for mom.

Is your mom hard to shop for? Go to my Facebook and tell me what you buy for the mom who has everything. I'll pick one lucky winner to win a shopping trip to T.J. Maxx/Marshalls.

This year I decided to get a little festive with my wrapping by hand painting my own wrapping paper and using bits of lace, yarn and ornaments to finish off my gifts.

On my way out of the store I snagged a few nail polishes and free-handed some festive designs.

Hint: You can also use strips of tape to create cleaner lines for the candy cane affect below. And yes, I'm terrible at painting nails, so don't judge me.

So what's my take away from my shopping trip at T.J. Maxx/Marshalls?

That they have on-trend and in-season designer items at up to 60% off and thousands of goodies for you and everyone on your list.

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a vintage feeling

(dress, coat, & jewelry- vintage via The Fine Art of Design, shoes- Daaperr by Steve Madden, sunglasses-Karen Walker c/o Need Supply)

For my last Steve Brings It post I slipped on my favorite vintage dress and coat for a relaxed dinner party look. 

I love throwing low key dinner parties. They're stress free and always a good time. 

Here are my 5 tips for throwing an irresistible dinner party.

1. Always have a great playlist.

2. A homemade cocktail is the perfect way to start the night. I like Mojitos in the summer and Sangria for fall.

3. Don't forget the dessert.

4. Scatter vintage glass bottles filled with fresh flowers  around the table for a deconstructed center piece.

5. I like to end the nights with coffee on our roof. 

Check out what fellow fashion bloggers are doing for the Steve Brings it Campaign and see all of my looks here.  Use the code LateAfternoon15 to get 15% SteveMadden.com with free shipping, sale excluded.

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holiday shopping

 (pants-Madewell, boots-Rachel Comey c/o Need Supply, coat-bcbgmaxazria, scarf-vintage, bag-J.Crew, bracelets-vintage, J.Crew, Threadsence)

This holiday season TJ Maxx & Marshalls asked me to find a better way to Christmas shop by finding the perfect gift for my mom at one of their stores. At first I was skeptical. My mom is impossible to shop for as it is, so being limited to one store seemed daunting.  To my pleasant surprise,  I found more than a few of my mom's favorite designers like Coach, Theory and Givenchy at a great price. I put together a little video of my trip, and I'll reveal more about my finds tomorrow. 

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sunny side up

(shoes-Steve Madden, dress-BB Dakota, necklace-c/o Lauren Elan, sunnies- YSL, jacket- c/o Alpinestars by Denise Focil)

Another day, another party look for Steve Madden. I built my second Steve Brings It  Holiday Campaign outfit around the Chaufer shoe. This time I decided on a brunch party look and went for a flouncy dress, bright flats, and a cropped leather jacket. To go with my Great Gatsby party theme, I came up with my ultimate playlist.

Cults - go outside
Foster the People - Helena Beast
The Rolling Stones - Play with Fire
Mayer Hawthorne - Your Easy Lovin'
The Naked and Famous - Young Blood
Black Keys - Tighten Up
Lykke Li - I Follow Rivers
Ellie Goulding - Lights
Penguin Prison - the worse it gets
Miami Horror - Holiday

Did I leave anything off my playlist? What song's would you add?

Don't forget to use the code LateAfternoon15 to get 15% off on all regularly priced items, and keep up with all of my Steve Madden looks here. 

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a dream Thanksgiving...

(via fashiongonerogue)

This is exactly what I plan on doing this Thanksgiving weekend, plus about 10 more layers of knits. 

Speaking of weekends...

Call It Spring is hosting a charming little contest and if you submit a photo of your Best Weekend Ever

you could be 1 of 5 to win a 1,000 gift card.

Contest runs November 16th - December 18th.

Check them out on Facebook.

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Bubble bobble

(dress-Zara, shoesc/o Steve Madden, vintage fur-family heirloom, flower-Ruche, bracelets-Ruche, House of Harlow, clutch- J.Crew, sunglasses- House of Harlow)

As a part of the Steve Madden "Steve Brings It" holiday campaign, I was excited to build a party look around a Great Gatsby theme and their delicate blush tones wedges, the Pammyy.

For my 1st outfit I decided to play up a classic party look with warm winter textures like [vintage] fur and tweed, accented with metallic accessories. I settled on a sideswept pony for a retro touch.

Boogie decided he wanted to join the party, and prettied himself up with a flower he expertly plucked off my coffee table.

Keep up with all my party looks here, and use the code LateAfternoon15 to receive 15% off!

Happy Friday!

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