Last Minute Holiday Gift Guide

With a bit over a week away, the holidays are fast approaching! In order to avoid awkward gift returns I've decided to put together a guide that will hopefully please everyone on your list!

Holiday Dressing Guide

Only a few weeks til the Christmas and New Year's parties come you way! To get you ready in time I wan to share my favorite picks for the winter party season.

Winter Coats

Source: designismine.blogspot.com via Veronica on Pinterest

This is probably a bit overdue since I know it's been snowing and freezing in many places even where I live in Arizona. Outerwear is not just outerwear any more. With so many choices of coats out there it can be frustrating and expensive to find the 'perfect' winter coat. The following are some of my favorite styles this season.

Friday Favorites 11/4

Happy Friday! Hope you guys had fun trick-or-treating or handing out candy on Halloween! It may be November but my favorites this week revolve around the holidays. I was listening to Christmas albums before Halloween had even past!

1. Fashion
I am in LOVE with the November catalog from Free People. It's theme is 'Through the Decades' and the look below is from the 1950s.

2. Beauty
The weather is getting colder where I live and while I like it since being an Arizona native I grow tired of hot weather, the harsh coldness is not kind to your skin and dries it out. A solution is slathering some moisture rich body butter.

3. Food
Thanksgiving dinner! Yum!

4. Music
As I mentioned before, I have been listening to Christmas albums lately and it really puts me in a good mood. One of my favorites is Michael Buble's album. His voice is so amazing!! I also love A Very She & Him Christmas. Zooey Deschanel is adorable and so is her voice.

5. Photo

I hope this post made you anxious for the holidays!

Friday Favorites 10/28 errr

Sorry for posting a day late but I've been sick and felt to lazy to go on my computer. Anyways here are my faves.

1. Fashion
I love searching the interwebz for shopping and recently I found Chicwish. I love their collection of retro dresses and indie shorts. Here are some of my favorite pieces:

2. Beauty
Chanel No.5 Intense Bath Oil

3. DIY Project
No-carve pumpkins. No need to get your carving knife, just use your creativity!

4. Music
A Thousand Years - Christina Perri

5. Marilyn Monroe

Halloween Costumes Part 2

A day later than planned but here it is! This is part 2 of my Halloween costume series and continues from the first 5 ideas. To see part 1 click here. Part 2 is about certain 'times' if that makes any sense. :)

6. Stepford Wife (50s). 
Think 50s-60s prim and proper conservative dressing. I love this because this includes floral tea dresses and perfectly done hair and pearls! If you've seen the movie The Stepford Wives both the original or the remake they both display the attire or even the recent movie The Help.

7. Flapper (20s).
Probably my favorite decade is the Roaring 20s. Just the thought of sequined fringe dresses and short jet black hair makes me want to do the Charleston!

8. Marie Antoinette (1770s-1780s).
French couture is a fun and luxurious way of dressing. I personally love Sophia Coppola's film Marie Antoinette for it's fashion just as much as for the actual story. Think big dresses and big hair.

9. Madonna (80s).
We can all say that Madonna follows her own style. We can also say that at one point or another we've been inspired by her fashion, especially those 80s looks. Think of something you'd wear while dancing to Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (by Cyndi Lauper) or Like a Virgin. I love this video tutorial that Megan did!

10.Gypsy.
My inspiration for this is Esmeralda from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Also Stevie Nicks and fortune tellers have the look to aim for. Rich colorful and flowy fabrics and lots of bangles. Get big curly hair by following this tutorial.

That's it for my complete list of costume ideas! Hope you guys got something out of it. What are you planning on dressing up as for Halloween?

Halloween Costumes Part 1

Halloween is only a  week away so I wanted to give you guys a few ideas for costumes.This is part 1 and part 2 will be posted tomorrow. Now onto the costumes!

1. Alice from Wonderland.
I love this version of Alice, it's inspired more by Tim Burton's re-imagining than the original but you know it's Alice.

2.Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz.
Dressing up as Dorothy is popular because pretty much every girl has seen the Wizard of Oz and coveted those ruby red shoes. Channel your inner Dorothy this Halloween and you'll definitely not be in Kansas anymore (unless you are). In the picture below Kiera Knightley portrays Dorothy for a photo shoot.

3. Minnie Mouse.
Minnie Mouse is a really cute and flirty character and Bethany's tutorial is easy to follow.

4. Pocahontas.
This week was the Pretty Little Liars Halloween episode and while everyone had awesome costumes, I really liked Emily's best. She dressed up as an Indian girl but I like to call it Pocahontas.

5. Peacock.
Who doesn't love feathers? I love the colors on a Peacock and Ashley Greene looked amazing in feathers a couple years back for a party.

Come back tomorrow for part 2 which includes five more costume ideas. :)

Friday Favorites 10/21

1. Beauty
When it comes to beauty, I love anything that accentuates the eyes. Whether it's mascara, shadows, lash curler or falsies! Paperself has some really cool eyelashes made out of paper and inspired by Japanese paper cutting.

2. Scent
Pumpkin Pie Spice is the scent that lets me know fall is really here. Check out A Wooden Nest to make your own pumpkin pie spice.

3. Food
I've always loved making different variations of grilled cheese. A couple days ago I had no idea what to have for lunch and decided on making a grilled cheese sandwich. Here is my simple recipe:

• Bread
• Cheese - which ever you like, I just used American but also love mozzarella.
• Sliced avocado
• Sliced tomato
• Mayo - I used McCormick that has lemon juice in it.

Spread the mayo on each slice of bread. Add the cheese, avocado, and tomato. On the hot skillet add butter and place the sandwich in. Flip the sandwich to toast the other side until golden brown. Enjoy!

4. Music
Fix a Heart from Demi Lovato's album Unbroken.

5. Photo
Nothing like capturing the moment he pops the question! What do you think of this latest fad?

Leave me your faves in the comments. Saturday and Sunday I will be posting  my top costumes for Halloween so stay tuned!

Friday Favorites 10/14

The month of October not only bring us Halloween and awesome costumes but it's also the month in which we learn more about breast cancer. Breast cancer like any other cancer has treatments that can beat cancer and can also be prevented if found early. For this weeks Friday Favorites I will be picking some products that are good on their own but also do good by giving money to breast cancer research.

Shop It To Me

Like any other person I enjoy saving some money, especially when you like keeping up with the latest trends. While we know that there are major deals online it's hard scouring the internet to find the brands and retailers you like. Well I know of an easier way to find those sale items you covet! If you haven't heard of the site Shop It To Me you have really been missing out.

Friday Favorites 10/7

Starting on this weeks Friday favorites, I will be changing up the categories in which I pick my weekly faves, just a bit.

1. Fashion: 70s Revival
I am really loving all the 70s inspired looks in department stores. Some of these items remind me of the classic show Charlie's Angels. Here are some of my favorite pieces:

I bought these recently and can't get over how cool they are!

KHAKI DOUBLE BUCKLE CAPE - Topshop

Bow Blouse - H&M

Fringe Bag - Nordstrom

2. Book: Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer

This book is really good and I really can't say more because I will spoil it! You can also watch the movie directed by Sean Penn which got a lot of critic acclaim.

3. Food: Coffee

Growing up I've never been a 'coffee girl'. I loved the scent of coffee but the bitter taste always pushed me away. I'm Mexican and as a kid the only way we kids were allowed to have coffee was with milk and sugar, known as Café con leche. To this day that's pretty much how I have coffee! I've been addicted lately to Starbucks and found the following recipe on Lauren Conrad's blog. It's her version of Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte which she calls 'Pumkin Spice Lala-Latte'. I can't wait to try it!

Click for recipe!

4. Music: Mumford & Sons

I've been a fan of Mumford & Sons since there album came out and recently their song 'I Gave You All' has become my most played.

5. Photo: Steve Jobs

As you all probably know Steve Jobs died recently. I can't tell you how much of an impact his genius had on people and the way they communicate with others. I'm a Mac girl and always have been. My condolences to his family and friends.

1955-2011

That's this weeks faves! Let me know yours in the comments!

Friday Favorites 9/30

As promised I will be doing weekly posts titled 'Friday Favorites'. It's basically a top 5 rundown of my favorite things at the moment. I encourage you to try this meme if you so desire! Here are my faves this week.

Friday Favorites

I've been pretty lazy about posting on this blog and thought that if I started doing a weekly thing it would help me get into the swing of blogging. I'll now be doing a weekly segment called Friday Favorites. I got the idea from Lauren Conrad's blog.

2011 Emmy's Fashion

Last night was the 63th Annual Emmy's and as with any award show there was a red carpet filled with amazing gowns. Here are my favorite picks from last night!

Fall Must Haves

Since it's just some days before it's fall 'officially' I thought I would tell you what my must haves for the wonderful season are. One thing that I love about the fall season is that you can layer since the weather tends to get a bit chilly so all of these 'must haves' are perfect for layering as you would.

My first must have is a basic essential, a scarf. I love that scarves have become an accessory that is seen year round. For the beginning of fall start with a light weight scarf then as the temperature drops opt for some chunky knits. Some options are:

Scarve (see more printed scarves)

Mulberry scarve (see more knit scarves)

Jimmy Choo scarve (see more crochet shawls)

Scarve (see more cable knit scarves)

Sweaters are a given for colder weather but I love this new take on them, cropped. Cropped sweaters are great for layering because they add shape to your body in contrast to all those layers. I love the look of cropped sweaters paired with a mini dress or  bodycon skirt.

IDEE_GENIALE on Chictopia

ANNEBETH on Chictopia

The next thing I must have this season is a beauty product. A lipstick is a better option for fall. For me personally, lipgloss is sticky and messy I love the matte finish lipsticks have and the colors are more rich. My favorite color for fall is any plum color or berry. Make sure the lipstick is moisturizing because the worst thing is cracked lips and lipstick.

Lipstick Queen  Jean Queen

Last but certainly not least is a good pair of boots. I'm eyeing a couple of riding boots as my fall go-to shoe. Boots always look super chic and they are available in different styles. I love riding boots because they are low and look great on. 

Boots (see more faux leather boots)

H&M boots (see more knee length leather boots)

These boots could also be paired with a riding jacket. I love H&M because you can find great stylish clothes and accessories for a low price. This blazer which has elbow patches is only $29.95.

So that's my favorite items I'll be wearing this fall. What fashions are you excited about for this fall? Let me know in the comments!

September Love

August has finally come to a close and September is here! The month of September has always been my favorite. It has so many fun things in store, not to mention that it's also my birthday month (September 14). September offers those beautiful late summer nights in which you can feel autumn moving in and also brings back your favorite tv shows for a new season. Although those things certainly contribute to my love for September, it's the fashion that makes me fall head over heels for it. Fashion week and Fashion's Night Out all take place during the September month. Oh did I forget Vogue's September issue?! Being a fashion lover definitely has it's perks during the ninth month.

Best for Fall by midnightlover featuring a leather satchel

Here are some shows I will be tuning into this season.

Fall Shows To Watch

What are you're favorite things about September? Leave them in the comments! :)

The Cat's Meow

Before I go on I would like to say I'm back! After a long-very long-blogging hiatus, I have decided to come back to this blog. Personal reasons were a factor in my leaving but I feel better now and how can I not when it's about fashion?! Moving on...

On a day of strolling through some of my favorite fashion websites I saw a shirt that I MUST have! Maybe you too have been seeing these type of shirts around. Before I go on I must say that I have always been a cat person. Maybe it's because I have NEVER been the athletic type and when I think of having a dog I think about having to take it to the park and excercise with it. Cats always seem very home-y and they are so adorable! Here is a picture of a cat that followed me home one day while in Mexico, it lived with my grandma for a while.

Cute kitty right?

Now back to the shirt I was supposed to be talking about:

Cat tees

I could definately see myself wearing these over and over again!! I'm loving that there are so many cat tees to choose from and add to your wardrobe.

What do you think about the cat trend? Love it or over it? Let me now in the comments.

Trend Alert: Feathers Oh My!

I know that for a while now you may have seen feathers here and there at pretty much every store. That's because for Spring/Summer feathers give you a carefree breezy vibe. Here are some ideas and ways to incorporate feathers into your summer style!

Idea #1
Simple but classic, feather earrings. Feather earrings have been very trendy lately especially since Pretty Little Liar's Aria (Lucy Hale) has been rocking them since the beginning of season one.

While the bright blue ones Lucy wore may be out of your price range (they're Betsey Johnson-and sold out) you can always find more affordable ones at stores like Forever 21 and Charlotte Russe. Better yet, make your own! Bethany aka macbarbie07 on youtube shows you how easy and inexpensive it is in the video below.

Idea #2
Two words, hair extensions! What better way to show off your pretty locks than by adding feathers to your hair. Many stars have been trying the feather trend in this unique way including Selena Gomez and Steven Tyler.

Kandee show you how to put them in yourself!

Idea #3
Fans of Blair Waldorf have probably already tried this next way to include feathers. Headbands are a simple way to upgrade your look so why not get some that are feather embellished?! Plus you can make your own by using a hot glue gun to stick feathers to one of your old headbands.

Nina Dobrev not only adds feathers to her look but she also does it in a BRIGHT way, while Jessica Lowndes keeps it dark and natural.
Idea #4
One last idea from me to you guys. Necklaces! Adding feathers to jewelry gives it a tribal and bohemian feel. Again, you can do this yourself by attaching the feathers to a chain of the desired length the same way Bethany showed in her video on how to make feather earrings and you can add beads and whatever your hearts desire.

Those are all the ideas I have but if you have a really cool idea leave it in the comments to share with us. If you happen to try the feather trend in one of the ways mentioned please e-mail us a pic at messyhairprettydress@yahoo.com I would love to see them! :) Leave suggestions for future posts in the comments.