Just popping in to let you know that everything in the boutique is 20% off through Monday! Use code THANKS at checkout to save on some fab new arrivals, classic monogrammed gifts, and fun baubles. Thank you so much for your support! xx
TOP 10 BLACK FRIDAY SALES
Happy Thanksgiving, my dears! I hope you're enjoying some quality time with family and friends. I'm making my way to Rhode Island for catch-up time with cousins, touch football (you'll find me on the sidelines...), and lots and lots of yummy food.
We might be headed up to Nantucket for the weekend but I'll definitely make time for a little online shopping on Friday... There are too many good deals to pass up! I've rounded up my top ten sites for Black Friday-Cyber Monday shopping as well as a few favorite items from each to get you started. And if you're buying for the boys, don't miss this list of 50 great guy gifts!
C. Wonder: 30% off three items or more with code GIFTS30
(1) Monogram cuff
(2) Lucite letter
(3) Pom pom beanie
Design Darling: 20% off with code THANKS
(1) Monogrammed cuff
(3) Monogrammed tray
J.Crew: 30% off with code HOLIDAY
(1) Cocoon coat (seen here)
(2) Everly pumps (seen in pink here and in chartreuse here)
(3) Cashmere boyfriend sweater (seen here)
Joie: 20% off orders of $250+, 30% off orders of $500+
(2) Celia sweater
Madewell: 25% off with code FEAST25
Rent The Runway: 20% off all rentals with code RTR2013
Serena & Lily: 20% off and free shipping with code THANKS20
(1) Navy color frame duvet (seen here)
Shopbop: 15% orders of $250+, 20% off orders of $500+, 25% off orders of $1000+ with code BIGEVENT13
(1) Alice & Olivia suede pumps (seen here)
(2) Rag & Bone skinny jeans (seen here)
(3) Alice & Olivia bow jacket (seen here)
Sole Society: 33% off
(1) Suede bow pumps (seen here and here)
(2) Pointed toe wedges (just bought the nude patent)
Tory Burch: 20% off orders of $300+, 25% off orders of $500+, 30% off orders of $750+
(1) Robinson Middy satchel (seen here)
(3) Riding boots (on sale!)
OUTFIT {J.CREW COCOON COAT}
J.Crew cocoon coat (use code HOLIDAY)
Rag & Bone jeans (use code BIGEVENT13)
J.Crew Everly suede pumps (use code HOLIDAY)
Loren Hope earrings (use code THANKS)
I cannot believe tomorrow is Thanksgiving! I headed back to Connecticut last night but snapped these pictures with my sister when she came to the city for dinner a couple nights ago. The weather has been absolutely freezing in New York so I've been living in my new cocoon coat. We're off to Rhode Island to spend Thanksgiving with our awesome extended family — be sure to follow along on Instagram! I'll pop back in tomorrow with all the Black Friday sales you won't want to miss. Have a lovely holiday weekend!
WEDNESDAY WISHLIST
A little interiors themed wishlist since I seriously miss the process of decorating my apartment! Serena & Lily has some seriously awesome original artwork right now — I love this, this, and this. I really think there are few home purchases more special than artwork that makes you happy but I included a few really fun decor items above if you're not looking to break the bank on an original canvas. Isn't the lucite letter great? I think it'd make a perfect gift for just about anyone. Speaking of decor gifts, these and these seem to be the most popular item for the holidays so far! Stay tuned for a little weekend sale...!
J.CREW STYLE SESSIONS
Huge thanks to everyone who came out for my J.Crew style sessions event in Greenwich last week! I had so much fun previewing the new arrivals, dressing up my little brother, and helping a few fabulous readers start their holiday shopping. Isn't it funny how you notice new pieces in person that might not have caught your eye online? For instance, I'm now totally into this metallic tunic for a fun holiday party look. Shop a few more of my favorites here:
5 VIDEOS TO WATCH WHEN YOU'RE HAVING A BAD DAY
There are a few videos I keep bookmarked on my computer for moments when I'm feeling pretty low and need a little inspiration. Whether I'm feeling sad or tired or just needing a kick in the behind, these videos always have me up and at 'em again in no time. I hope they work their magic on you too!
1. Art Williams // Just Do It
2. Steve Jobs // Stay Hungry
3. Miracle // You Were Born For This
4. Kid President // Pep Talk
5. Neil deGrass Tyson // The Most Astounding Fact
20 GREAT GIFTS FOR GUYS
I don't know about you but I find the toughest part of holiday shopping is knowing what to buy for the boys in my life. Between Dad, brothers, uncles, cousins, coworkers, guy friends, and special someones... Well, it's totally overwhelming. This year I've decided to jumpstart my Design Darling gift guides with 20 great gifts that I can't wait to give my favorite boys — and hopefully a couple of them will work for the guys in your life as well. Enjoy!
P.S. Let's go crazy... 30 more ideas just because:
P.P.S. Even more great guy gifts in the boutique!
HOLIDAY SHOPPING SOLVED WITH RANK & STYLE
As you may know, I'm kind of a compulsive list maker. In addition to my 101 in 1001 list, I have a lifelong bucket list, I make daily to do lists, and I'm in the process of writing shopping lists for the holidays as well. I also can't get enough of reading other people's lists (25 before 25, 30 before 30, etc.) — list making basically an obsession for me. So it should come as little surprise that I'm completely obsessed with the concept of Rank & Style, a site that curates the best of beauty and fashion into top ten lists to help you narrow down your choices (especially useful this time of year!).
Whether you're shopping for yourself or for your family and friends, it's an awesome resource for finding the best products when you know what you want but not quite where to find it. Case in point: this list of 10 gifts to keep it classy, chic, and charming (who doesn't want to be all three of those things?) led me to the cutest pair of smoking slippers from J.Crew. A few other favorite lists right now? The 10 best fall trench coats brought me to this perfect option for just over $100 and I definitely rounded out my Christmas wishlist thanks to the best black riding boots (really, isn't it time I bought a pair of these?). Sign up for Rank & Style here to get your favorite lists delivered straight to your inbox!
See some of my blogger friends' favorite lists here:
A Little Dash of Darling // Breakfast at Toast // Channeling Contessa // Peanut Butter Fingers // Sequins & Stripes
*This post is sponsored by Rank & Style. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Design Darling!
WINTER PASTELS
I was scanning through my style board on Pinterest when this look caught my eye. Why not wear pastels for winter? With a pop of bright purple or hot pink, it's a totally fresh update to winter white. Here are a few pieces to help you get the look:
GET THE LOOK {EVA CHEN'S OFFICE}
Confession: I have a teensy bit of a girl crush on Eva Chen, editor-in-chief of Lucky Magazine. I've been following her on Instagram for, oh, forever and kind of live vicariously through her fashion adventures. I was so excited when Domino published photos of her office — it's seriously eye candy overload. Above are my favorite shots but be sure to check out the full feature for more! Shop the slideshow below to recreate the look chez vous:
FRIENDS WITH STYLE {EDDY'S VINEYARD VINES VEST}
Vineyard Vines vest (hello, great guy gift!) // J.Crew flannel shirt // Dang sunglasses
It's been way too long since the last Friends With Style post! I took these pictures of Eddy on a coffee break from work — this is as close to #navyornothing as it gets. Pretty sharp, don't you think? The Vineyard Vines vest is such an easy piece to pull together a look and it's a great gift at under $100. Oh and I'm convinced every boy should own a pair or two of desert boots for year-round wear... As you know, I live in mine ;)
JACK ROGERS & SAIL TO SABLE
Last week Carly and I had the pleasure of hosting a party at the Jack Rogers store, where our friends from Sail To Sable debuted their holiday and resort collections. We both wore this dress — Carly in black, me in navy — and I wore these shoes (now on sale!).
The store is basically the cutest place on earth! Hot pink upholstery, lime green and turquoise dressing rooms, oversized photos of Jackie O... I mean, I could move in tomorrow.
Carly and I with the ladies of Jack Rogers and Sail To Sable! I love that three of us were wearing the same dress — the fit is just so, so good. I only picked up my dress a half hour before the event (#livedangerously) and I was so worried it wouldn't fit properly... But anything that involves a fit-and-flare silhouette, navy velvet stripes, and mandatory twirling throughout the night is basically a no-brainer. If you need a dress for holiday parties, I highly recommend it!
My next Sail To Sable purchase? This navy sequin dress. One of the girls from Sail To Sable wore it to the party and people actually bought the dress off her body multiple times throughout the night... Too funny.
Of course the best part was getting to catch up with blog friends and to meet lots of friendly new faces! Carly and I had so many awesome conversations with our readers and I just feel so darn lucky to have you guys in my life. Such a special night! xx
J.CREW GREENWICH EVENT!
YOU GUYS! I am so excited. If you've read Design Darling for, oh, five minutes, you've probably gathered that I basically live in J.Crew: easy jackets, cozy sweaters, monogrammed cashmere, statement shoes, my favorite navy blazer, winter coats, even a leather t-shirt... The list goes on. I've pinned probably every outfit that Jenna Lyons has ever worn and I shamelessly stalk style.com waiting for images of their new collection during fashion week. Suffice it to say I'm picking up what J.Crew is putting down (and usually quite literally!).
So I was pretty elated when the J.Crew store in Greenwich, Connecticut (close to my hometown of Darien!), reached out and asked me to partner with them for a holiday style session. It was a happy dance heard 'round the Upper East Side, I'll tell you that much! If you happen to find yourself in Greenwich tomorrow (Wednesday) evening between 6 and 8 p.m., I would love to see you! There will be styling, shopping, light refreshments, and you'll save 25% on orders over $150. Who's excited?!
P.S. If you can't make it to the event, you can still shop my J.Crew holiday favorites right here:
OUTFIT {HOW TO WEAR A PONCHO}
C. Wonder cat eye sunglasses // Jigsaw London poncho c/o // Jack Wills faux fur snood Rag & Bone jeans // Alice & Olivia pumps
I've been something of a sweater fiend lately — all I want to wear are elbow patch sweaters and oversized cashmere. I wasn't entirely sure how to wear a poncho before Jigsaw sent me this pretty knit option but now it's seriously the comfiest item of clothing I own. I wore mine over a plain navy t-shirt but I also think it would be pretty cute over an oxford shirt! What do you think? Would you wear a poncho? Let's hear it!
P.S. Check back here this afternoon for an exciting announcement!
JACK ROGERS NAVY GLITTER GIVEAWAY!
My friend Anne wore this dress to our Sail To Sable party last week and it was basically love at first sight. Navy and sequins in one pretty little dress? Yes please. Suddenly I found myself wanting to plan a winter vacation just so I had an excuse to add it to my closet. #normal
We hosted the party at the Jack Rogers store on the Upper East Side (it couldn't be cuter!) and these navy glitter sandals also totally caught my eye... You could say I'm a little predictable ;) I'm extra excited that Jack Rogers is generously giving away a pair of them to one of you! Simply follow the steps in the widget below and I'll draw the lucky winner on Friday! Good luck!
WINTER WEEKEND
You. Guys. This week was insane. Blogger events, emails up to my eyeballs, inventory everywhere, orders waiting to be picked up, running on way too little sleep... I feel totally burnt out and need to take better care of myself this weekend. It was definitely one of those weeks where I felt the growing pains of owning a small business — I can't wait to be able to think about securing office space, hiring more helping hands, and really kicking things up a notch in 2014.
This weekend my friend Wes (follow him on Twitter, he's hilarious) is visiting from D.C. and I'm so excited to spend some quality time with him in between a few really exciting projects for the blog. I'm so grateful for friends who put up with my craziness and help me poke fun at myself... As they say, laughter is the best medicine! I hope you all have a good one and I'll see you back here — hopefully feeling a little more like myself — on Monday! xx
OUTFIT {ELIZABETH MCKAY}
Oh man, these pictures bring back the best memories from our trip to Boston! Carly and I took these outfit pictures the day after one too many gin and tonics my beloved Red Sox advanced to the World Series on the most perfect fall day in Beacon Hill. We're both wearing pieces from our friend Elizabeth McKay's beautiful collection — I can't get enough of this navy cropped jacket and its hot pink silk lining. It feels like it was made just for me!
I'm wearing:
Elizabeth McKay jacket c/o // American Apparel t-shirt // Rag & Bone jeans (last seen here)
Krewe du Optic sunglasses c/o // Tory Burch bag // Madewell desert boots (old, similar here and here)
To see more pictures and sources for Carly's outfit, check out her post right here!
*Photos by Amy Stone
WEDNESDAY WISHLIST
one // two // three // four // five // six // seven (yes, that is a bow waistband and yes, I have died and gone to heaven) // eight (hello, monogrammed leather gloves, you will be mine) // nine // ten
Is anyone else just totally overwhelmed this week?! This is the craziest time of year for my business which means less sleep, lots of cardboard boxes all over the apartment, and working overtime to make sure everyone gets their holiday orders on time. Most days I forget to eat lunch until it's dinnertime, let personal errands like grocery shopping and dry cleaning fall by the wayside, watch unread emails and text messages pile up while I work... But I truly wouldn't have it any other way. This is my first Christmas season in New York and I intend to make the most of it! My favorite diversion of all? Retail therapy, of course. Say it with me: one for you and two for me! ;)
LULU & GEORGIA $100 GIVEAWAY!
Who wants $100 to Lulu & Georgia?! I'm kind of jealous I can't enter this one because I have my eye on quite a few things on their site: the ceramic Haleigh lamp, a leather Moroccan pouf, a coffee table book or two... Thankfully they're offering all of us 10% off today only with code DESIGNDARLING10 at checkout.
To enter to win a $100 gift card, leave a comment telling me how you'd spend your winnings and follow the steps in the widget below. I'll contact the winner tomorrow! Good luck!
NEW ARRIVALS IN THE BOUTIQUE!
Drumroll please... Say hello to Design Darling's newest arrivals! There are four iPhone cases by Emily Ley that you'll only find at designdarling.com, a couple custom trinket trays in my favorite patterns, and as always a few great giftables. I hope you find the perfect present for that tricky person on your list (I find this is an awesome gender-neutral gift) or something pretty to add to your own holiday wishlist. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your enthusiastic support this holiday season — you guys make my world go round. xx
MUST-HAVE: THE CAMEL COAT
Last week we talked about wanting a cape coat; this week let's talk about my favorite coat I already own. Every girl needs a classic camel coat — mine was a gift from my mom last Christmas and you can see it right here. Here are a few options if you're looking to scoop one up this season!
Mango military coat ($189)
ASOS leather trim coat ($195 — obsessed!)
Gerald & Stewart pea coat ($329)
J.Crew cocoon coat ($350)
Club Monaco calf hair coat ($529)
Lafayette 148 leather trim coat ($1,298)
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