Unwrapping your holiday style

[image from Real Simple]

Somehow, you've managed to walk past a million clothing store windows, ignored the dozens of magazines with images of party dresses, and suddenly, your big holiday bash is this weekend. Sound familiar?  Now, before you grab your purse and head out the door to frantically to find something to wear, here are a few things to keep in mind.

1) Start with your closet.  Take a good look at what you already have.  You may be surprised with what you find!  Simply by changing your jewelery, your shoes or even adding a touch of colour, can change the look of your little black dress and turn into a festive frock.  For more versatility, mix & match your separates.  Play with colour, pattern and texture.  Just think how great you'll feel when you tell your friends that you created the outfit with what you already had in your closet!

2) Make a list.  To avoid wondering aimlessly and feeling overwhelmed with the selection, make a list of 3 stores that have worked for you in the past and go to those first. Also, make a list of what you are looking for - a necklace, fitted blazer, long skirt. This will help you from getting side tracked.  

3) Don't buy the first thing you see.  You will need to give yourself some time. Try on a few items at one store - then walk away. Try another store, try on a few more pieces, and again walk away.  Now is not the time to experiment! The last thing you need is another holiday outfit that sits in your closet because a)you don't really like it b)it doesn't fit very well or c)you have nothing else in your closet to wear it with.  Go grab a coffee and think about which one works best for the occasion and what you felt the best in. Then go back and get it!


Armed with this knowledge, you are ready to hit the holiday party circuit, stress free and in style!

Patterned Tight

Patterned tights can be a nice change from traditional black. If you’re a first time buyer on printed tights you need to make sure you buy a print that you will actually wear and that would go with the majority of your wardrobe.  If you want to bust out of your shell and experiment with patterns just keep the following guidelines in mind.

Always remember the busier the pattern, the simpler the outfit. A great way to wear pattern tights is to match your tights to one of the colours in your outfit, so there is some fluidity to your look.

For the most flattering look, it’s often best to choose patterns with small graphics such as tiny polka dots or little flowers. They’ll keep your legs looking slender.

Be wary of horizontal stripes – they tend to be a bit harder to pull off.
Patterned tights or leggings are interesting enough as is, so remember to keep the rest of your outfit simple.

If you’re self conscious about your legs, try letting patterned tights peek out just between your boots and a skirt.

Patterned Tight by btstyleguru featuring clutch handbags

Will you be wearing patterned tights this Winter?

Take some time

Before the hustle and bustle of the holiday season takes over, why not take some time for yourself.  Not sure where to start? Here are my top 5 - I'm taking time for me - activities.

1.Go for a long walk.
With the crisp air and vibrant colours, now is the perfect time to go for a walk.  Before the snow falls, and you're stuck indoors cooking, baking, roasting, take some time to enjoy one of the best times of the year.  There is absolutely no substitute to the crunching of the leaves underfoot or the wonderful fresh scents that nature brings.

What to wear: Needless to say, you want to be both comfortable and stylish!  Put on your favorite pair of jeans tucked in to a pair knee high boots, a warm, yet breathable jacket, layer a knit sweater worn atop a cotton tee, and to finish the look off, a bold coloured scarf.

2.Tuck into a book
With December fast approaching, taking time for oneself is at a premium.   The best way to indulge is simply by curling up with a good (or trashy) book.  Escape from all of your daily distractions – that also includes turning off your phone – and let your imagination do all the work.  Or better yet, watch Magic Mike!

What to wear: Again, comfort is key.  However, since there is always the chance of unexpected company, it’s good to be prepared.  Jogging pants are not what they used to be.  Instead of sporting oversized athletic wear; invest in form fitting yoga attire - equally cozy, and extremely trendy.

3.Clean out your closet
Changing of the seasons is always a good time to sort through your closet.  The holidays are right around the corner, making it the perfect time to make room for welcomed additions.  Remember, keep only the items that fit and that are in good condition!

What to wear: As little as possible.  Take this time to try things on and take a walk down memory lane - reminisce, laugh and then get rid of it!

4.Start your holiday shopping early
Once the hustle and bustle of the holiday season arrives, who really has the time to put much thought-let alone effort -into gifts for family and friends?  Take this time to ask what people would like and then browse the stores.  Bring a pen and pad to make notes of what you liked, the price and what store it was in.

What to wear: Whose kidding whom?  We all know, when out shopping for other people, we most often find things for ourselves.  So be prepared!  Wear clothing that can easily be slipped on and off.  Try a cardigan over a simple tee so you can easily take off the cardigan to try on that killer jacket.

5.Go out for dinner
Once again, with the busy month of December around the corner, now is the perfect time to schedule in date night.  Take this time to reconnect with your loved one (just think, no cooking and no clean up!).

What to wear: Choose something that looks great on you, is comfortable, and makes you feel your best.

There you have it - 5 fun things to do this November.  So what are you waiting for?

Holiday Party Style

I for one, LOVE the Holiday party season.  Hanging out with friends, spending time with family, eating and drinking just a little too much, and of course the fun party fashions.

Here are some stylish and whimsical outfit inspirations that are sure to get you into the holiday spirit.

Party Style by btstyleguru featuring a vintage style necklace

Holiday Party Style by btstyleguru featuring preen

Holiday Style by btstyleguru featuring a ruffle shirt

Holiday Style by btstyleguru featuring christmas earrings

When getting ready for a holiday party, it's important to keep in mind the location & the occasion; is it a work party or a friend's open house.  This will help you set the tone for your outfit choice.  Also, a little goes a long way! There is no need to wear sparkle or sequins from head-to-toe. If you choose to wear a sequin skirt, remember to keep your upper half toned down. If glitter isn't your thing, then look for pieces with rich jewel tones.   

If you want to add a touch of whimsy, leave your light-up Christmas sweater at home.  Use accessories instead to display your festive side – maybe a small bracelet with coloured bulbs or a jeweled pin shaped like a snowflake.

 Have fun getting decked out for your Holiday parties!

Welcoming the winter fairies

In a previous post {here} I mentioned how much my girls love the Tinker Bell movies. So much so that we created fairy houses to put in our garden. With the release of the latest of the fairy movies, The Secret of The Wings, we set out to create houses for our new friends, the winter fairies.

Just like the last post, these bird houses were purchased from the dollar store, along with the blue snowflakes. The rest of the stuff we had on hand.

 My girls were able to hold onto their excitement just long enough to paint the houses. Once that was done, they were off and on the the next thing.  

When the houses were dry, I used a glue gun to add the little trinkets.

Simple. Fun. Magical.

Can't get enough

Confessions: I love colour and I love accessories. In both fashion and home decor. I don't feel quite like myself unless I am surrounded by colour. And, as far as accessories go, they can liven up a room or change the look and feel of an outfit. So, of course, I am a bit of an accessory nut!

One of my favourite home accessories are pillows. No matter what store I go to, I always find myself looking at the pillows. The trend these days seem to be animal silhouettes like a deer head, and fun sayings or words. 

That was my inspiration for the pillows that I made.  

I went online to find a silhouette, then printed it out. What I like is that this was actually supposed to be a girl with an Afro, but it looks like a child's head once I sewed it to my pillow!

This fabric was from a large floor pillow I purchased. The price was right and of course I LOVED the pattern on in. I knew that I was going to use it to make smaller pillows for our living room.

I mixed the fabrics so that there would be some cohesiveness to the pillows.

Little pops of colours and a touch of whimsy to dress up a well worn couch.