In Spades

Style... in abundance

2020 Holiday Gift Guide: Beauty

2020 Beauty Gift Guide

 

Beauty Gift Guides are among my favorites to put together.  Did you know a cosmetic purchase is proven to boost a person’s mood more than any other type of purchase?

Here are my favorites for 2020.

  1. Liquid Luminizer – this comes in silver and gold and has dozens of 5-star reviews.  It’s green beauty and can be used on the face or body for a beautiful glow.
  2. Liquid eye shadow – another green beauty hero, the colors this eye shadow comes in are GLORIOUS.  I really want to try the cool lavender.  It dries in 10 seconds, won’t crease and is buildable.
  3. Foundation brush – I wrote about how this is my best beauty buy of 2020.  GET ONE for yourself and give as a gift.
  4. Body oil – this body oil has a subtle citrus scent and feels absolutely glorious.  Another one of my best green beauty buys of 2020.
  5. Nail polish set – my absolutely favorite 9-free, non-toxic nail polish. It is SO easy to apply thanks to the wide brush.  They are offering 3 holiday sets – Noirs, Neutrals and Shimmers.  I bought the Noirs but may need to get all 3.
  6. Acid Potion – I’m a daily user of p50 lotion (it has a cult following, Google it).  This version is just as effective and easier to come by (sold at tons of retailers).  Plus it’s green beauty!
  7. Wellness set – a silk mask, luxury hand sanitizer and the best hand cream?  Practical and pretty.  Yes, please!
  8. Lip balm – I discovered this tinted lip gloss when searching for something nourishing that wasn’t sticky and boy, did it deliver.  I love this milky color for every day.
  9. Eye shadow brick – 2020 is the year for eye makeup.  This green beauty eye shadow glides on like silk.  I also love Signature for my everyday eye.
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Sale Deals You Don’t Want to Miss

If you’ve followed me for a while, you know that this is the time of year when I do most of my shopping.

I make all of my designer and investment purchases during these end of season sales.

I stock up on all of my beauty supplies: makeup, skincare, hair care and nails.

I buy holiday gifts AND most of my birthday and other special gifts for the year.

With the bevy of sales, it’s easy to get lost in the noise or feel analysis paralysis.  Here are the sales I’m shopping and why I love them.

  1. They are from retailers with ethical supply chains
  2. They have great return policies
  3. The products are high quality – they’ll last forever
Aurate

My go-to for every day, fine jewelry.  Their pieces are solid gold (also offer gold vermeil) without the high mark-up.  The dainty studs I wear on the daily are from here.

Use code STUFFED for 25% off.

Violet Grey

This is my go-to for beauty.  While 90% of my beauty routine is green, clean beauty, there are some products I use that aren’t because their efficacy is SO good.  Violet Grey is my happy balance for carrying every beauty product under the sun.

Take 20% off this week.

Naadam

I’ve written about how amazing Naadam is before.  Their ethical, superior quality cashmere is an absolute must.

Their sale is up to 75% off.

The Big 4

There are 4 designer retailers I shop with the most.  Each has their own specialty.

Moda Operandi for an incredible mix of established and under-the-radar designers.  Go for Ganni, Ulla Johnson, Acler and Johanna Ortiz.

SSENSE for avant garde and off-the-beaten-path pieces.  Go for Moussy Vintage and Golden Goose.

Matches Fashion for the best selection of everything designer.

Net-a-Porter for the best mix of advanced contemporary designers.

The Indie Darlings

W Concept has an insane selection of indie designers, mostly from the Pacific Rim.  Use code BLACK2020 for an extra 30% off.

Garmentory is an aggregated boutique of all the rad stores throughout the country.  The best of the best curation.

Black Friday Sales: Combat Boots

Bottega Veneta storm bootsIt’s no secret that I love a great pair of combat boots.  From these vintage Dr. Marten’s to these Bottega babies that I spent months searching for, I like to think of myself as somewhat of a combat boot connoisseur.

Combat boots are an awesome wardrobe addition for two reasons.

  1. They’re extremely comfortable.  What’s not to love about a flat shoe with a rubber sole?  Talk about the golden ticket of comfort.
  2. They’re surprisingly versatile.  They add edge to feminine dresses and skirts and look amazing with jeans.  Plus, they are meant to take a beating.  The more worn in they get, the better they look.

With Black Friday sales a plenty, I wanted to round up my favorites.  I’m loving the combat boot/Chelsea boot hybrid that is everywhere right now.  Two classics in one – you can’t go wrong.

Can you guess which pair I purchased for myself?

Black Friday Combat Boot Deals

2020 Sale Season Shopping Tips

I can’t believe it is already the week of Thanksgiving.  2020 has been a year like no other.  I’m SO excited for holiday movies, hot cocoa and sharing family traditions with my daughter.

This time of year also brings my favorite shopping season.  If you’re a long-time reader, you know I’m a diamond in the rough shopper.  After building wish lists with my favorite retailers all year, now is the time I pounce.

There are going to be so many amazing deals from here on out, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.  My advice?

  1. Stick to your go-to retailers and brands (this is NOT the time to impulse buy just because something is on sale).
  2. Look at your Wish Lists FIRST.  You should always build a wish list with your fave retailers.  Before you even look at the sales, check to see if items on your wish list got marked down.  THEN, you can peruse what else got marked down.
  3. Buy now, decide later.  The further into sale season we go, the more picked over the inventory is AND return policies tighten or disappear.  Protect your ability to return and price adjust.
  4. Bundle your shopping.  I like to shop at no more than 3 retailers during sale season.  Most stores have points or other benefits for shopping with them.  Keep your eggs in one (or 3) baskets so you can maximize those incentives.
  5. Think about the “now.”  I firmly believe we are at least 6 months out from the world returning to some semblance of normalcy.  I recommend investing in comfortable, high-quality staples that will transition to post-pandemic life.  Let’s face it – you’re not going to wear your finery for a while.  If you are going to buy a cocktail dress, statement handbag, killer shoes, or some other piece that won’t get a lot of wear, make sure it is something that will stand the test of time.  Now is not the time to fall into trends.

Net-a-Porter is one of my favorite retailers.  They launched their 50% off sale and for the week of Thanksgiving, they’re taking an additional 15% off the markdowns.  Here are some of my faves.

Net-a-Porter End of Season Sale Picks 

3 of My Best Designer Purchases

I’ve been thinking a lot about the pieces in my closet that have served me best over the years.

For today’s Fashion Friday, I’m sharing three of the best designer purchases I’ve ever made.

Best Designer Jacket

NYFW SS19 OOTD 3

Fun fact: This Alexander McQueen leather jacket was the first article of clothing I bought after having a baby.  It’s a classic McQueen piece that gets reiterated every year.  I had been eyeing it for some time.  When my go-to sales associate at Nordstrom informed me it was going on sale, I knew it was my moment.

To me, this jacket was fate.  I’d been coveting it, it went on sale, and it was my investment treat to myself that year.  I felt like after having a baby I had earned it.

I’ve worn it countless times.  It’s actually my travel jacket.  When we could travel, it was always the first item I reached for because it can be worn casual or dressy.

The construction of the shoulder pads, waist darts, and absolutely pristine lambskin make this a piece I will treasure forever.

Best Little Black Dress

Balenciaga black dress

Okay, this dress isn’t exactly little, but it’s a black dress that can do no wrong.  It’s classic Balenciaga.  The fabric feels like a cross between wool and scuba material (crazy, I know) and drapes so beautifully.  I LOVE that it has weight – you can feel how substantial it is just from the hanger.

I wear it anytime I need cocktail attire and have paired a turtleneck underneath it for outdoor events in the fall/winter.  It has tons of styling potential and I love that it represents the classic Balenciaga silhouette.

The best part?  It was a forgotten hold item that someone never bought so by the time they remembered it, it went for a deep discount.  I paid $250!

Best Cocktail Dress

NYFW SS20 OOTD 1 The Vampire's Wife

You know my love of The Vampire’s Wife runs deep.  The designer Susie Cave is a former model and muse to Vivienne Westwood.  This is one of three dresses that I own of hers and the cross between classic femininity and edgy grit is GLORIOUS.

Juxtaposition is one of my favorite and most revered fashion elements and The Vampire’s Wife has it in spades.

Every time I wear it I get tons of compliments.  I have paired it with chunky creepers and stilettos.

The print mixing, different textures and colorway strike such a beautiful balance.  This dress just makes me feel fabulous.  Period.