And so it begins, the season of Gift Guides! I'll be continuing this series throughout the next couple months (so let me know if you have any particular requests!). To start with, this gift guide is specifically for women featuring gifts that are less than $50 from Nordstrom's Wit & Wonder Collection. All of these gifts would be perfect for a girlfriend, teacher, a co-worker, aunt or even best friend. You don't have to spend a lot of money to give a thoughtful gift to someone. My favorites are the monogrammed jewelry dish& the hanging letter ornament because they are personalized & more special! And of course, no girl can say no to white and gold *insert heart eye emoji here.*
I own the glitter coasters, jewelry dish, jewelry pouch, & both sets of earrings so I can testify to how cute they are in person! Here's a recent photo…
For some reason I always associate Thanksgiving with cozy yet comfortable outfits, and either outfits with a mix of patterns or a mix of textures. In the outfit above, I layered a striped turtleneck underneath a sweater dress for a fun look (remember to roll the sleeves of your dress up so that the stripes peek out!). I also love how the ruffled boot socks add another element to the outfit (And pssst, my Tory Burch riding boots are on major sale right now). Try experimenting & layering a striped turtleneck under some of your sweaters or dresses… it's such a cute look! You can pick the turtlenecks up from J.Crew, H&M, or order online (but do it today, so that it will ship in time).
If you don't like the idea of layering the turtleneck with a sweater, you can also add a patterned scarf for a cute pattern mixed look. I absolutely love the look below! Wear your most comfortable jeans (you'll thank me when your belly is full of turkey!).
All of these items will ship to you in time if you order today or tomorrow - I wouldn't wait longer than that, though! :) Hope everyone has a great Wednesday!
I love cozy, oversized sweaters. I also love cozy, oversized sweaters that stand out from the rest… like this one from TOBI. The back detailing is SO cute & sexy without revealing too much! (FYI you can tie the back tighter if you want less of your back to show.) For this look I wanted to keep the focus on the sweater, so I went with jeans and neutral boots. It's the perfect outfit for a date night - it says that you're confident and look good without trying too hard!
You can even throw on a poncho over this look for some extra sophistication…
Finally, I want to let you know about TOBI's Black Friday & Cyber Monday Sale… they have something amazing going on (I can't say exactly what yet :) but you'll definitely want to check it out!!! They have the best selection of party dresses that's out there. I linked up a few below!
When I head to holiday parties this year, I guarantee you I'll be wearing something like this. I love the look of a black skirt, black tights and heels, and the red scarf adds such a fun holiday element while also keeping it a little casual. And I know, they are pretty big ear muffs, but I seriously love them!
I've linked up some more holiday party outfits and dresses below if you need some ideas. I hope everyone has a great Friday!
Happy Sunday, friends! I'm back today with another gift guide, this time for the beauty guru! As a beauty lover, I am constantly testing out new products, and these are all of my tried-and-true favorites. I am putting my "stamp of approval" on these products because I use them, love them, and I know they would make great gifts!
I use this curling wand to curl my hair & it is by far the best I've ever used. I mainly use the 1 inch straight barrel on my hair because I like the way it looks the best. And - I don't even have to curl my hair the next day after I use it because the curls are still there. If you're looking for long-lasting makeup brushes, I really love Sigma brushes. I got a makeup brush kit from them several months ago & really fell in love with the brushes… I use them with this contour kit to contour my face. The glove pictures above is perfect for cleaning the brushes - you just lather them with soap & rub them onto the surface.
If you're looking for some stocker stuffer ideas, I really love this nail therapy mask and this hair therapy mask, each less than $7. I use the hair therapy mask about once a week in the shower or while I'm taking a bath, and it makes my hair so much shinier and healthier looking.
If you have any questions about these products, let me know in the comments! Hope everyone had a great weekend!
One of my favorite brands that Nordstrom carries is Caslon... They have THE cutest selection of sweaters, including the cape I'm wearing. For a normal day, I probably would have paired the cape with booties or riding boots, but since we were headed to a Christmas tree farm I opted for bright red Hunter boots instead. They were perfect for the task of picking out a Christmas tree! (P.S. If any of you live in North Carolina, we went to Little Switzerland Tree Farm - they have really beautiful trees.)
Side note - this poncho would also be incredibly cute with a striped turtleneck underneath :)
I hope everyone had a great weekend! I saw the new Hunger Games movie & it was amazing. I also caught up on sleep - it's going to be a busy week as we prepare for Thanksgiving!
Edit: Major holiday sales are going on right now - get 30% off on Tory Burch with code THANKS here & get up to 25% off on ShopBop with code GOBIG15here. Happy shopping!
If you're looking for a dressy winter outfit, I absolutely love the combination of over-the-knee boots paired with a dress or cape. I wore this outfit several times while I was in Europe because I loved it so much! A couple of things you should know about this outfit: first, my over-the-knee boots are a dupe for the Stuart Weitzman ones, but mine are about $700 less! (They would make a great Christmas present.) Secondly, you can't see this shift dress too well because I have on a cape, but it's one of the cutest dresses I own. The burgundy color is beautiful. I have also worn it with a scarf & a faux fur vest!
In other news, check out my first VLOG below! (P.S. Sorry the camera is so shaky for most of it.) You can view it on YouTube here. I am not very good at doing vlogs, but they are fun! If you want me to make more of them let me know in the comments :)
P.S. I don't mean to make light of the Paris attacks with this post, Paris is still in my thoughts & prayers daily. It is truly one of the most magical places I've ever been, and I wanted to celebrate that today.
Surprisingly, a lot of retailers have started their Black Friday sales early this year! I think the best one so far is the Tory Burch Sale because when you spend $250, you receive 30% off with code THANKS. This may seem like a lot of money, but most of the handbags and shoes are priced at more than $250 to begin with, so this is actually a great deal. Tory Burch riding boots (including the pair I have) are already marked down, so with the 30% off coupon they end up being HALF OFF. This is almost unheard of!!!
My picks are below (if the item has a heart by it, then I own it)… keep scrolling for some more early Black Friday deals!
GAP// Early access 50% off everything with code EARLY
J.Crew // 30% off full priced items, 40% off sale with code HOLIDAY J.Crew Factory // 50% off everything with code SHOPGIFTS Kate Spade // Surprise Sale up to 70% off
Love Always Couture (monogrammed jewelry) // 30% off entire purchase with code SPARKLE30
Macy's // Extra 25% off clearance designer handbags, 50% off select juniors clothing, 60% off women's coats, 50% off women's sweaters, 70% off memory foam pillow & toppers
Madewell// 25% off your entire purchase with code CALMDOWN
Neiman Marcus // Take 20% off sale items Nordstrom // New sale items, plus they are price matching!
Rebecca Minkoff // 25% off all orders + free shipping + up to 70% off selected styles
Shopbop // Spend more than $250 and save 15%, spend $500 and save 20%, spend $1,000 and save 25% with code GOBIG15
Tory Burch // Spend $250, receive 30% off with code THANKS
I love wearing black on black… it's the easiest look to throw on when I want to feel confident, but don't want to put too much effort into my outfit! This Trouve sweater is my new all-time fave. Not only is it long enough for leggings, but it's SUPER soft and comfy… and comes in six different colors! In a few photos I'm also wearing this aztec print cardigan by Caslon. I talked about my love for Caslon earlier this week… it's one of the best sweater brands that Nordstrom carries.
And speaking of Nordstrom… they are having an amazing Black Friday Sale that actually starts today! The majority of products are marked down 49-55%, including Michael Kors watches, Tory Burch handbags and designer clothes. It's by far the best sale going on today so don't miss out!
I hope everyone has a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving filled with family, friends, turkey, tight pants (lol), football, and laughter. I am so sincerely thankful for each one of you that comes back to ready my blog each day. Happy Thanksgiving!
one // Kate Spade glitter bag, 30% off two // pink pom pom beanie, 40% off with code HOLIDAY three // crystal earrings, 30% off with code THX four // fair isle socks, 30% off with code HOLIDAY five // Kate Spade watch, 55% off six // YSL clutch, 30% off seven // MAC eyeshadow palette, 25% off eight // gold monogram mug, 25% off with code SHOPTOIT nine // Robinson mini square tote, 30% off with code THANKS ten // acrylic monogram keychain, 30% off with code THX eleven // Tory Burch riding boots, 50% off original price with code THANKS Here are some of my favorite items from the Black Friday sale! This is the perfect opportunity to snag an item or outfit for a holiday party coming up, or buy all your gifts for friends & family. Keep in mind that there are a lot of great deals for men and children going on right now too. I've rounded up the best sales below... and keep scrolling for a giveaway you won't want to miss out on!
AMAZON // 30% off select clothing, shoes, accessories, jewelry & watches with code 30BLACKFRI
ANN TAYLOR // 50% off everything with code CELEBRATE
ASOS // 30% off everything with code BLESSED BANANA REPUBLIC// 50% off sweaters & 40% off the rest of your purchase with code BRFRIDAY
DESIGN DARLING // 20% off with code THANKFUL EXPRESS // 50% off everything, free shipping
GAP// 50-70% off everything GOODNIGHT MACAROON // 50% off store-wide with code BLACKFRIDAY2015
J.CREW FACTORY // 50% off everything, free shipping with code SHOPGIFTS KATE SPADE // Surprise Sale up to 70% off KENDRA SCOTT// 15% off everything with code SALE15 LOFT // 50% off everything
LOVE ALWAYS (monogrammed jewelry) // 30% off entire purchase with code SPARKLE30
MACY'S // Extra 25% off clearance designer handbags, 50% off select juniors clothing, 60% off women's coats, 50% off women's sweaters, 70% off memory foam pillow & toppers
MADEWELL// 25% off your entire purchase with code CALMDOWN
REBECCA MINKOFF // 25% off all orders + free shipping + up to 70% off selected styles
SHOPBOP // Spend more than $250 and save 15%, spend $500 and save 20%, spend $1,000 and save 25% with code GOBIG15 SOLE SOCIETY // All shoes 30% off today only TOBI// 50% off everything with code THANKFUL50
And finally... drumroll please! Because I am truly grateful to all of you, I'm giving away gift cards to three lucky readers to shop the Cyber Monday Sales! The prizes include:
- One $500 Visa gift card - One $200 Visa gift card - One $100 Visa gift card
So there are three chances to win! The winner will be announced on my blog Monday at 12 a.m. You have to check right away to see if you won - so you can shop all the Cyber Monday sales that day! (You must email me to redeem your prize - southerncurlsandpearls@gmail.com) To enter the giveaway, use the Rafflecopter widget below:
Happy Sunday, friends! I don't usually do Sunday posts, but a bunch of my recent outfits are on sale for Black Friday/Cyber Monday so I wanted to alert you to the sale items before they go back to normal price. I've included in parenthesis if the item is on sale or not.
Also, there's only one day left to enter my $800 Cyber Monday giveaway - you have to come back here early tomorrow morning to see if you won! I'll also have a roundup of the Cyber Monday Sales too! :)
Happy Monday, friends, and more specifically, happy Cyber Monday. It's the best day to spend tucked in your bed or even at your desk at work, and get all of your Christmas shopping done right from your computer. That's what I'll be doing today... buying gifts for my parents, brother, grandparents, friends, cousins, etc! There are some really good deals out there, I rounded up the best below. Scroll to the end of the post to see who the giveaway winners are!! :)
ANN TAYLOR // 50% off everything + free shipping with code EVERYTHING
ANTHROPOLOGIE // 25% off all sale + free shipping with code XTRAGOOD
ASOS // 20% off everything with code CYBER BANANA REPUBLIC// 40% off everything with code BESTCYBER BAUBLEBAR // 25% off 1 item with code GOGIFT25, 35% off 2+ items with code GOGIFT35
DESIGN DARLING // 20% off with code THANKFUL EXPRESS // Up to 40% off everything, free shipping on orders of $50+ FOREVER 21 // 21% off your purchase + free shipping with code RSTYLE21
GAP// 40% off everything with code BESTCYBER GIGI NEW YORK // Spend $125 save 20%, spend $250 save 25%, spend $350 save 30% GOODNIGHT MACAROON // 50% off everything with code BLACKFRIDAY2015 J.CREW// 40% off select items, 30% off everything else with codeMONDAY
J.CREW FACTORY // 50% off everything + extra 15% off, free shipping with code TODAYONLY KATE SPADE // 30% off everything with code SHINE KENDRA SCOTT// 15% off everything with code SALE15 LOFT // 50% off everything with code CYBER50
LOVE ALWAYS (monogrammed jewelry) // 30% off entire purchase with code SPARKLE30
MACY'S // Cyber Monday Specials + free shipping at $25
MADEWELL// 25% off your entire purchase with code SHOPATWORK
NEIMAN MARCUS // Spend $200 get a $50 gift card; spend $500 get a $125 gift card, spend $1,000 get a $250 gift card NORDSTROM // Extra 25% off selected sale items, designer sales + double points day OLD NAVY // 40% off everything with code BESTCYBER
SHOPBOP // Spend more than $250 and save 15%, spend $500 and save 20%, spend $1,000 and save 25% with code GOBIG15 SOLE SOCIETY // 30% off everything, no code needed TOBI// 50% off everything with code THANKFUL50 TORY BURCH // Spend $250, receive 30% off with codeTHANKS TUCKERNUCK // 15% off sitewide (CYBER-15), 20% off orders of $200+ (CYBER-20), 25% off orders of $500+ (CYBER-25), 30% off orders of $1,000+ (CYBER-30)
And now... the winners of the Visa Gift Card Giveaway!
$500 Visa gift card: Ashlyn Williams $200 Visa gift card: Laura Leigh (Louella Reese) $100 Visa gift card: Kelsey Rahilly
If your name is up there ^^ email me at southerncurlsandpearls@gmail.com to redeem your prize!! :)
*FYI, Giveaway winners were chosen at random using the Rafflecopter widget!
Photos by Alicia White Photography (Alicia is an amazing photographer in Charlotte - she mainly does engagement sessions and weddings, but she also does lifestyle photos and she is willing to travel. If you need a photographer, I highly recommend her!)
I sometimes struggle with looking for holiday party outfits, because I get this idea in my head that I have to spend a lot of money to look nice. Well girls, that is completely FALSE! I was so happy to find that there are a lot of timeless dresses out there that are less than $100! One of them is this sequin cutout shift dress from Nordstrom I'm wearing in the above photos. I love the sequin detailing & how flowy it is (it's not tight-fitting, which sometimes makes me self-conscious!). I paired it with opaque black tights and black pumps, but since it's a white dress, you could really pair it with any color shoes! Black, gold, even a pop of pink would be darling. The detail in person is really stunning. I will also say that I forgot to steam it or iron it before these photos were taken so that is why it looks wrinkled *smacks forehead* It is much cuter without the wrinkles, I promise! Haha :)
I linked up some more timeless holiday dresses from Nordstrom below... and all of them are less than $100!
This outfit is a little different than my normal, but sometimes I really love switching it up and playing with different patterns... it's fun! This look has all the elements of a holiday outfit... a little sequins, holiday plaid and faux fur. The plaid top is probably my favorite element of the outfit. It would also be really cute with just jeans!
It has been raining and foggy this whole week, so I'm focused on getting up all of my Christmas decor. My dad came over yesterday to help me pick out a tree (I was originally going to get a real one, but changed my mind at the last second!). I've also been back and forth to Target what feels like a million times, picking up random Christmas items for my apartment. I'll be sure to share with you guys when I'm all finished!! :)
Does anyone else feel really awkward when taking a selfie? (I never know what to look at - the screen or the camera?!) BUTTTT I'm posting this because I wanted to show you my "holiday makeup look" from one of my favorite stores, Sephora. I like to keep my makeup pretty natural looking (even for holiday parties), but I do add highlighter and some shimmery eyeshadow for a more "glam" look than my everyday makeup. Follow along to get this exact look in seven easy steps...
Step One: Foundation
I use Laura Mercier's Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide in the shade "cashew" for foundation. The makeup artist that sold this to me said you shouldn't apply it with a brush, and specifically recommended this sponge (so that's what I use!). The sponge doesn't soak up any of the makeup, so you don't end up wasting any product.
Step Two: Under Eye Highlight
I apply Smashbox BB Cream in the shade "fair" under my eyes. I usually put some on my finger first, and then dab it underneath my eyes to make sure it's not too heavy. This is really great if you're tired - it helps to brighten up your eyes.
The Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit is amazing for contouring, and it has six different powders all designed to contour and highlight (I have the "light to medium" kit). First I use the "banana" powder to set my under-eye highlighter. Then I go straight to contour… with an angled brush, I shade both sides of my nose using the "fawn" color. I mix the "java" and "havana" shades together with a brush and apply it to the edge of my forehead and my jawline. The key to contouring is making sure you BLEND really well. I have a few different blending brushes that I use to make sure everything looks seamless. For highlight, I use my finger to apply the "vanilla" powder straight down my nose, and then I use a highlighter brush to dab "sand" on my cheeks and a little on my forehead.
Step Four: Blush
I apply a little bit of bronzy blush to the apples of my cheeks - I'm wearing MAC's "warm soul" in the above photo, but Sephora's "golden old rose" blush is a close match.
Step Five: Brows
I use the Anastasia Brow Wiz pencil in the "medium brown" shade to fill in and help shape my brows. I try not to apply too much of this because I don't want my brows to look too sculpted - I want them to look natural! I must say, I only recently started using this and I'm now a huge fan. I didn't realize how much eyebrows could make or break your look!
Step Six: Eyeshadow
I'm not big into using eyeshadow, but I do like a shimmery shadow on the eyes for special occasions like a holiday party. I really like the Too Faced Natural Eye eyeshadow kit for creating a smoky eye - I mainly use "silk toddy" and "honey pot" to add a little bit of shimmer all over my lid.
Step Seven: Mascara
I don't know why, but I always save mascara for last - I think it makes the most difference and it's also fun to apply! I typically apply a mascara primer first, then finish with Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara. I have tried so many mascaras and this one is (in my opinion) the BEST out there! It helps thicken, elongate and volumize your lashes. I don't wear fake eyelashes but I always get asked about that - it's this mascara that makes all the difference :)
If you're wondering about my hair, I use this curling wand with the 1" straight barrel to curl my hair. It really does create long-lasting curls!
If you have any questions about the makeup, let me know in the comments. I'm also linking some great gift ideas from Sephora - there is a whole gift section on their website that is organized by price - it makes it really easy to look through gift ideas. I ordered a few things as Christmas gifts for my girlfriends this year!
Right now, Macy's is having their Friends & Family Sale, where everything in the whole store is an extra 25% off with code FRIEND! This sale is really great because it includes designers that rarely go on sale, including Vince Camuto, Michael Kors, Ivanka Trump, and Free People (plus many more). Even the sale items are an extra 25% off! I went to the mall earlier this week to shop the sale, and ended up coming home with quite a few things. My favorite was this houndstooth poncho by Fraas - it would be perfect for football games (just accessorize with your team's colors). If you want the exact one I'm wearing check your nearest store - there were a lot left in stock at mine!
Speaking of football games, I'm headed to the ACC Championship football game in Charlotte this weekend. UNC Chapel Hill (my alma mater!) is playing Clemson, and most of my friends here in Charlotte went to Clemson so we are all going! It's going to be fun but COLD :)
My family has a tradition where every Christmas Eve we open up one present, and it's always a pair of cozy Christmas pajamas for us to sleep in that night. I love getting Christmas PJ's every year, and I also love helping my mom pick them out for our whole family. My mom and I both agree that J.Crew Factory has the cutest pajamas for everyone… their clothes are so well-made and they always have an element of "fun" to them too - like these heart-printed socks, or these bright red polka dot pants. I wish I didn't have to wear "real" clothes every day - I'd be happy wearing these PJ's for the rest of my life!! Haha.
Be sure to order by December 21st to have them in time for Christmas!
Hope everyone has a great Sunday :)
*Thank you to J.Crew Factory for sponsoring this post
Stocking stuffers can easily add up, especially if those small things have big price tags. I love all of the items above, but especially because each one is less than $25! These aren't your typical stocking stuffer items, either. For example, this Bling Brush is the perfect portable jewelry cleaner for a girl who loves jewelry & travels a lot. And ANY girl would love this Make Up Eraser. It is just a cloth but it is a magic cloth - I swear! It takes off your makeup using just water - just throw it in the laundry machine after three or four uses, and you can reuse it over and over again. I also want to point out this makeup bag (that also comes in pink). The quote on it couldn't be more true, haha!
In other news, I filmed another YouTube video. I'm not very good at filming videos but they are so fun to make! In this one I'm showing ten different ways to get into the Christmas Spirit. The video is below, you can subscribe to my YouTube channel here! :)
Christmas Tree shopping outfit: sweater // jeans // Hunter boots Christmas PJ's HERE Second outfit: striped vest (sold out) // plaid scarf // jeans Red nail polish HERE (color: red breasted jacket) Red lipstick HERE (color: impassioned) The curling wand I used in the video is here
I'm always on the hunt for basic wardrobe items that are: 1. comfortable, 2. affordable, and 3. versatile. And this tunic by Halogen hits the mark on all three! I wasn't sure what to expect when I ordered it online, and was SO happy when I received my order for a red tunic and a black tunic that I went back and ordered more colors. I always need basic tunics for layering in the winter... I love wearing them under scarves, puffer vests, fur vests, under cardigans and even just by themselves. This one in particular is long enough to cover your bum and is made of a really soft material. It also holds up well - I have washed my black one a few times and it looks the same as the day I got it. For reference, I'm wearing a size XS!
Be sure to check out Nordstrom for more of your holiday dressing needs... they have the best basics as well as statement pieces!
I hope everyone has a great Tuesday... my friend Melissa and I are celebrating her birthday and having a sleepover tonight. We will probably bake cookies, watch Christmas movies & put on face masks.. the usual girl stuff :)
Sorry that I had to link so many "similar" items in this post instead of the exact ones... most of the items I purchased last year and they are no longer available! I hope that this outfit still serves as inspiration, though... because it's one of my all-time favorites. Cream, black and grey are some of my favorite colors to wear during the winter because they seem to fit right in with the weather. This cream cardigan in particular is amazing - it's super thick and warm, and I love the cable knit on the back!
Has everyone gotten their Christmas shopping done yet? I think I have everyone covered except for the men in my life! I never know what to get men… especially my dad, he's so hard to shop for. What are you getting your dad for Christmas?? (Please, I need ideas!)
Hope everyone is having a wonderful Wednesday :) xoxo
