In the Mood for 2013 in Style

New Year's Eve may just be another night but for us it's another excuse to look our best! We wanted to share some inspiring outfits that we can see us ringing in the new year with. Whether you're sharing an intimate night with your closest loved ones or braving the crowds to catch some fireworks, we've you covered with an outfit that will help you face the new year in style.

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Xiang

"There's no better time than New Year's Eve to dress well - and be noticed! It is the best opportunity to experiment with fashion styles that we might feel too shy to try, such as bright colors, studs, over-the-top accessories, and sequins."

Holiday Gatherings

Don't be shy to dress up for gatherings this holiday season! It is a big deal that the world has made it pass Dec. 21 2012 :p. Bust out fun patterns with bright colors and be a cheerful funky fashionista.

Top: Need Supply Co.
Leggings: Madewell
Earrings: UO
Shoes: Valentino
Clutch: ASOS


Dance Party
If you are going to a dance party, then you should really dance, not just tap your feet or nod your head with a smile. Wear something that allows lots of body movement and a pair of comfortable shoes. As for colors, red and gold add warmth and cheer to the party atmosphere. Accessorize with a bit of shine to make the holidays bright.

Jacket: Max Mara Pianoforte
Dress: ASOS
Diamante Tights: Jonathan Aston
Shoes (Red): Madewell
Shoes (Black): Chicnova
Earrings: BCBG
Nail Polish: Zoya


Intimate Dinner
Some of us might not want to invest in a brand new outfit for NYE, so the trick to look festive is to leverage the right kind of accessories. Find some body-draping jewelry that you can easily layer on top of a simple black dress or top. Also, the add-on collars seem to be lots of fun to play with. The best part of draped jewelry or collars is that they make a great impression at the dinner table (people are just looking at what is above the table right?). Belts and clutches are worth investing too - they can make any outfit look upscale and sophisticated.

Collar: Maciano
Draped Jewel: Akira Jewelry
Necklace: BCBG
Patterned Belt: BCBG
Faux Fur Belt: Top Shop
Skinny Bow Belt: Ted Baker
Gold Clutch: Clare Vivier
Black Clutch: Lulu Guinness
Patterned Clutch: BCBG

Outdoor Fireworks
If you are going to be outdoors in winter, like waiting at Times Square for the ball drop and snapping pictures of your friends, family, and the crazy lights, bundle up with hats and special gloves. Many gloves now have the "tech fingertips" so you can still be swift taking photos of fireworks using your phone. I'd also recommend knitted, over-the-knee dresses to layer inside a long coat. Knitted dresses are the bests for cold weather: they are usually slightly over-sized, so you can wear an undershirt inside (Uniqlo has many fitted undershirts with HEATTECH). Also opt for a pair of comfy boots instead of heels for the best and most comfortable evening of 2013.

Coat: Chichnova
Hat: Accessorize
Gloves: Modcloth
Sweater Dress: SheInside
Leggings: Uniqlo
Boots: Sperry Topsider


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Jen

"Do I believe in casual gatherings for New Year's Eve? Of course I do. However I don't believe in dressing casually for New Year's Eve. Everyone should start off their new year with their best and sparkliest foot forward! So the outfits I put together have plenty of sparkle to last year round. "

Casual Gathering

Dress: All Saints
Necklace: Zara
Clutch: Clare Vivier
Shoes: Alexander Wang

Dance Party

Dress: Free People
Wrap: John Lewis
Earrings: Kenneth Jay Lane
Clutch: Anya Hindmarch
Shoes: Guess

Intimate Dinner

Dress: ASOS
Earrings: Philippe Audibert
Clutch: ASOS
Shoes: Pyramid

Outdoor Fireworks

Sweater: Nasty Gal
Skirt: All Saints
Tights: UO
Scarf: Top Shop
Shoes: Sole Society

Rock the Coats: Our Favorite Outerwear this Season!

J.Crew 2012 Winter Coats

The colorful pastels and neons of summer seem to have found a home in this year's winter coats! We couldn't resist the temptation of taking advantage of the opportunity to find a coat that pops amongst the crowd and wanted to share some of our favorites with you. Here you'll find a coat for every occasion and more! Hopefully we've covered all the bases to make this winter as warm and cozy as it should be. Let us know how you like our picks!

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Xiang

"Chicago may be the windy city but San Francisco comes in a close second. Since it's windy almost all year long in SF, my favorite coats tend to be leather to block out the wind. Leather jackets can easily accompany casual looks as well as add a bit of edge to a dressy outfit. I also love long coats to keep me warm from head to toe. There's nothing like a long coat to accompany a dress and leggings to a formal occasion but they can also be worn everyday as well. I actually had a chance to try on the short Coach jacket recently and loved it! It matches perfectly with my new Coach purse even if I do prefer a longer jacket. Lastly, since I've lived in Seattle for a bit, I know to always be prepared for rain. Raincoats tend to be synonymous with trenchcoat but I tried to pick a couple others choices to accommodate the classic trench."

Long

 left to right: Madewell, miu miu, Maxmara Studio

Short
left to right: Coach, Ted Baker, Marc by Marc Jacobs

Leather

left to right: Free People, River Island, DVF

Rain

left to right: American Apparel, Jones New York, Free People

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Jen

"Xiang did a great job covering leather coats so I skipped that category all together and instead, I subconsciously included a coat with leather detailing in almost all of my categories. I mentioned in one of my last posts that leather panels were one of my favorite trends this year and, as you can tell, I really meant it. Every year I never miss an opportunity to hit the slopes so I included some snow jackets that I've been eyeing lately. I don't think I've ever worn a cape but I do think they are incredibly versatile and can look amazing no matter how dressy or casual the outfit. Even though Burberry makes the most perfectly cut jackets, I think my favorite is the long jacket by Club Monaco. For a quarter of the price of a Burberry coat, you get a coat that looks lux with any outfit. "

Long

left to right: Club Monaco, Moschino, Mackage

Short

left to right: J. Crew, Burberry, Rick Owens

Rain

left to right: Valentino, Victoria's Secret, Steve Madden

Snow

left to right: Mackage, The North Face, Moncler

Cape

left to right: Alexander McQueen, SheInside, Burberry

In the Mood for a Small Burst of Color

Photography by the Industrious Michael Shriver

Horned rimmed glasses are pretty up and coming so I was lucky to find a pair that actually fit my tiny head. I'll have the thank that 4-year-old for tossing them aside. Unfortunately sunny days are uncommon on a June day in Seattle so it's nice to wear a little burst of color to remind myself of brighter days. These shorts are the perfect for when you just want a little pop of neon and they're amazing for the price. If only they had pockets...

What I'm Wearing

Blouse: Broadway & Bloom (seen here)
Shorts: Forever 21 Sueded Laser Cut Shorts
Belt: UO Neon Stretch Belt
Necklace: T+J Designs (seen here)
Shoes: Carola Remer Collection For H&M
Nail Polish: American Apparel Neon Yellow
Sunglasses: Vintage (similar)

In the Mood for a Dream in Creamsicle

 This skirt is simply elegant and moves like a dream. I first fell in love with it when I saw how completely simple yet unique the shape was. The asymmetrical cut gives the skirt a unique view from each side yet the slit balances out the extra length to make a short girl, like me, look taller.

I found out today that my partner, Xiang, will be visiting Seattle next month which is super exciting because we rarely get a chance to see each other. I'm excited for all the blog photo shoots to come!

What I'm Wearing

Blouse: Broadway & Bloom Silk Blouse
Skirt: The Addison Story Asymmetrical Skirt 
Earrings: T+J Designs Gold Tassels
Necklace: Forever 21 Leaf Tiered Necklace
Shoes: Vince Camuto Vickiy Pump (4" Version)

In the Mood for a Splash of Sun

I'd like to note that this is not my dog although he made an adorable accessory and I highly recommend him for anyone who wants something fluffy in their lives. I put together this outfit because I wanted to show off these cutout oxfords. It took me so long to find them in my size and now that I have them, I have to say that they make the perfect shoes for warm weather. Not only are they light weight but they're comfortable and classy. Now all I have to do is watch out for when it rains!

What I'm Wearing

Sweater: Patternplay Sweater
Jeans: Levis White Skinny Jeans
Necklace: T+J Designs Sleek Link Necklace
Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell Prospector 

In the Mood for a Lovely View

After this shoot I think I found at least 32 bobbing pins in my hair. I loved how regal this bun looked but it's way too complicated for me to do on my own! This is one of my many outfits for a cold rainy day where I will be spending much of my time indoors. It's really obvious I got the inspiration for the color palette from the grey Seattle weather.  However grey the outfit though, having a skirt with pockets is the most convenient thing in the world! This wool mini and thigh high sock combination overall is a great outfit for staying in but warm enough to run around in the rain in. 

What I'm Wearing

Blouse: Broadway & Bloom Silk Blouse
Skirt: H&M Wool Skirt (similar)
Tights: H&M Sheer Black Tights (similar)
Socks: UO Thigh High Socks (similar)
Necklace: T+J Designs Sleek Link Necklace
Shoes: Forever 21 Victorian Boots (seen here)