Alison’s Favorite Things + A Giveaway

Nov 25, 2015

Move over Oprah.  I thoroughly enjoyed this year’s Oprah’s Favorite Things but I have some favorite things of my own to share with you today. You can bet that some of these things will be on my Christmas list while others are just items that I have and absolutely love.

Plus, one lucky girl is going to win a few of my favorite things – a complimentary winter style challenge and a monogrammed necklace.  More on that later at the bottom of the post.  For now, here are 15 of my all-time favorite things.

1.  Fabletics Athletic Wear

Hands down my favorite active wear ever is from Fabletics.  Their pieces are comfortable, stylish and SO well made.  If you haven’t ordered from them yet, I promise you won’t be disappointed.

2.  Cashmere Sweater

Last winter, I got my first of these cashmere v-necks in a pretty mint color.  It quickly became my favorite sweater and now I want the entire collection of colors.

3.  Fur Vest

My fur vest is quickly becoming my most reached for item in my closet this fall and winter.

4.  Jo Malone Cologne

Jo Malone Blackberry and Bay Cologne is signature scent right now.  It’s complex – fruity and woodsy without being too sweet.  Perfect.

5.  Winter Candle

If it’s below 60 degrees, this Winter scented candle will be burning in my house.  I stock up every time there’s a sale.

6.  Nike Running Shoes

After a few years of wearing bright colored and patterned running shoes, I’ve gone back to basics with black and white.  The Nike 5.0 is so comfy.

7.  Paige Jeans

If I could wear my black Paige jeans every day, I would.  They’re comfortable, fit like a glove and go with everything.  What’s not to love?

8.  Kendra Scott Necklace

Move over KS Rayne necklace, you’ve been replaced by the daintier, goes with everything Elisa pendant.  I want one in every color.  How about you?

9.  IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream

IT CC+ Cream is my secret skin weapon.  It’s packed full of healthy ingredients and gives me just the perfect amount of coverage and glow.  I don’t go anywhere without it.

10.  IT Cosmetics Celebration Foundation Illumination

My teen daughter and I are currently in a battle over IT Celebration Foundation Illumination.  I bought it for myself but keep finding it in her bathroom every morning.  Guess I’ll be getting her some for Christmas.  It makes both of our complexions look even and glowy.

11.  NARS Blush

Another staple of my makeup bag, NARS blush in Orgasm is just the right amount of flush and sheen for cheeks.  Blush perfection.

12.  Duck Boots

My duck boots have come in quite handy this fall.  They keep my feet warm and dry while looking stylish at all of our daughter’s barn and horse related activities.

13.  Cowboy Boots

At one point in my life I swore I’d never, ever wear cowboy boots.  Never say never.  If you’re hankering for a great “starter pair”, get these.  They go with so many outfits.  I’m totally converted now.

14.  Puffer Coat

A long warm coat is a must have.  This one has some great details including a nipped in waist and fur trim.

15.  Amazon Echo

“Alexa” our Amazon Echo is the newest toy in our household.  She does everything from telling us the weather, to helping with homework, keeping track of my shopping list and playing my favorite Christmas tunes.

FAVORITE THINGS GIVEAWAY

Personalized jewelry from Onecklace is another one of my favorite things.  I wear my monogrammed necklace all the time and got one for both of my sisters for their birthdays.  Onecklace is offering a special discount code to GYPO readers, get 10% off by entering GIFT10 at checkout.

One lucky girl is going to win her choice of necklace from Onecklace (up to $50) and complimentary membership to the GYPO Winter + Holiday Style Challenge (a $49 value).  Just choose one of the easy ways to enter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

It’s Your Turn:  What items are on your personal favorite things list?

WINTER + HOLIDAY STYLE CHALLENGE

Early bird registration for the Winter + Holiday 2015 Style Challenge closes at midnight on Black Friday.  Get your winter and holiday trends shopping list plus 26 mix and match outfit combos.  It’s a great gift to give or get.  Get the details and sign up HERE.

[Guest Post] How to Find Your Style Personality

Nov 11, 2015

I can still hear a tiny voice beside my bed, whisper yelling into my still sleeping ear, “Mommy… I waked up”. This was my first alert that I should go ahead and slowly get out of bed, take a shower, put on my makeup, style my hair and choose a trendy outfit for my day… said me, NEVER. That was my warning that if I didn’t get up quickly, then he and two more like him would start climbing me like a mountain until I got up, made breakfast, cleaned up from breakfast, dressed them, entertained them, cleaned up from entertaining them, made lunch, cleaned up from making lunch, read to them, entertained them, cleaned up from entertaining them… I think I’ve painted the picture. I was a stay at home mommy for ten years with my three darling boys, all just two years apart. Today the darlings are 15, 17 and 19 and the days of naptime stories and cleaning up puzzles have long been replaced by girlfriends, track spikes, cars and guitars.

THE PICTURE OF DOMESTICITY?

One day all those years ago I was bragging to a very stylish friend of mine, probably about how I baked my own bread and she said to me, “You are the picture of domesticity”. I recently saw some old pictures of myself and “domesticity” wasn’t very stylish. My wardrobe made sense at the time and it was appropriate for days of sewing capes and making homemade granola bars.

When my wardrobe stopped making sense was when it was time to transition into the workforce and my fashion was roughly a decade behind… wait, baby-doll dresses and chokers weren’t cute anymore? NO, not in 2005. I had to tell myself to put down the burgundy lip liner and buy a flat iron.

MY JOURNEY BACK

Today I own a fashion company and I’ve learned a lot since my bumpy style transition back into the fashion mainstream. I spent my first year back at work filling my closet with things that matched my new life, but didn’t always feel like they matched me. I knew what was stylish, but I didn’t know my style personality. Consequently, there were many days I felt like I had “nothing” to wear.

I’ve since learned that I have a classic, minimalist kind of style. If a modern day Audrey Hepburn would wear it, I’ll probably love it. Had I known my style personality ten years ago, I would have saved thousands and instead of donating garbage bags full of clothes I never wore, I would have filled my closet with timeless pieces I would still have today.

Most professional wardrobe stylists agree that learning your style personality is step one of building a wardrobe you love that reflects your personal “brand”. This is the authentic you in best fashion form!

IDENTIFYING YOUR STYLE PERSONALITY

While there is most definitely some preference overlap in the different style personalities, it’s very useful to narrow down what you like at your core. From there you can figure out your best colors, most flattering cuts and fabrics.

• Do you love florals, fit and flare dresses and all things dainty? I like to call that style personality “Forever Feminine”.
• Do you gravitate towards flowy, crocheted, fringy fabulousness? Your SP (style personality) is more “Bohemian Beauty” than anything.
• Can’t get enough of modern cuts and trends? Do you love a little rocker vibe in what you wear… leather trim, graphic prints etc. You’re an “Edgy Modernista”… own it!
• Do you prefer solid colors and classic minimal prints? Love blazers, uncomplicated dresses and simple, understated elegance? You’re SP is the “Classic Minimalist”… welcome to my party!

You can start the process of discovering your SP by deciding which of these phrases represents what you’re drawn to the most: “I like pretty/girly”, “I like flowy/fringy”, “I like simple” or “I like edgy/fun”.

Once you narrow that down, understand most women can be moody dressers and like to have components of two or more of these categories on hand for their “alter ego” days. I normally like a pencil skirt, or skinny slacks but when I’m feeling girly I want to put on a circle skirt that swings. My circle skirts aren’t floral, they are plain or classic prints and I only have a couple- compared to the pants I have in every solid, classic color. Some women are “preppy” classic minimalists and love a good polo or button down sweater over a blouse and prefer bright solid colors to black.

CREATE YOUR STYLE BOARD

I looooove Pinterest. When you figure out your SP, try searching terms that match that personality, like “modern edgy pants”, “boho dresses” or “classic fashion trends”. Then you can start building a board that reflects your perfect style.

There are many combinations of every basic style but the investment in learning who “you” are in your clothes should be a fun, confidence boosting adventure. Every woman gets dressed before she does anything. Our clothes are our uniform for doing life. I encourage every woman to build a wardrobe that gives her options every day that reflect her truest self, because it promotes confidence and we all need and deserve that as we go forth and conquer this life.

Remember, you are beautiful and brave… lovely in every way.

ABOUT CHRISTIANA

Christiana White is the owner of The Moxie Fox Curvy Couture.  She believes that women of every size should have access to beautiful, quality clothing.