Curated Craze

All the new rave seems to be surrounded by these subscription based companies that focus on a curated selection of merchandise and products, saving you the work of finding the new “best” thing. Take “Joyus” for example, it’s a website that gives a brief tutorial on each product and why its great. It’s free to join, and you have the option to buy the promoted items. There’s also “Birchbox” which caters to men and women. Every month for a fee of $10-$30 you’ll receive a package that ranges from cosmetics, gift cards, accessories, and sometimes even apparel items. What’s in the box changes monthly and the content is disclosed. Should you like what you find, you again have the option of purchasing the full size item from their website. Or “Svbscription”, the luxury box for men that is sent quarterly at $350 per quarter. This one differs greatly in price than most but it does offer items from designers like Loro Piana and Tom Ford. These are just a few of the companies catering to this trend – trust us, there are plenty!

Here at Hallie Abrams Wardrobe Consulting our thoughts on this differ a quite a bit. While some of us like the idea of being surprised monthly and potentially finding a new product we love, that we may have never found otherwise. There are some of us who don’t care to pay a fee without knowing what we’re going to get. There’s certainly a chance you won’t like or use everything that’s sent to you.

Have you guys used any of  these? Would you? We want to know!

Heres a list of some of these companies for you to take a closer look: Svbscription , Joyus , Birchbox , ShoeMint  , JewelMint

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The 7 Night Warm Weather Vacation- blog comment response

One of our awesome followers had a question that I’m sure other readers can relate to. With that we decided to dedicate an entire post to answering her. 
 
Original comment:
Here’s one, we’re going on an adult vacation! The biggest decision we have is if we head to the beach or the pool!!! What to pack for 7 nights without bringing the entire closet? Simple, sexy evenings! Any suggestions?
 
This is a great question! When traveling you don’t want to overpack and pay those luggage fees but you certainly want to be prepared…so how do you determine what stays and what goes? We’ve broken it down for you in 5 steps.
 
1. Pack by outfit
Packing by outfit will help you pack less. Having an idea ahead of time (whether you actually wear each option or not) will take the stress out of getting dressed. For a 7 night vacation you should have 10 complete outfits using versatile pieces that can serve dual purposes. If you plan to spend most days at the pool and beach bring 2-3 bathing suits to interchange.
2. Build outfits from the shoe up
Shoes tend to weigh the most and take up the most room when packing so it’s important to be mindful of which shoes you’ll bring. 3-4 shoes is perfect for a 7 night Vacation. You’ll need 1 flip flop for the pool or beach, 1 casual chic sandal that can be worn with a cute daytime outfit to shop in or lunch and transition into evening for a great flat option, 1 evening heel or wedge, and a great travel shoe that can possibly double for certain activities (maybe you’re a person that exercises on vaca, if so, a sneaker might be a good option). These shoes are the starting point to building your outfits, make sure they compliment each other.
3. Choose versatile Day to Night pieces
This is key! With warm weather travel the lax feel of your environment can sometimes allow easy day to night transitions. Think about a cute daytime dress with flip flops for the beach or pool, make it evening appropriate with the switch of the shoe and jewelry. SEE EXAMPLE BELOW.
4. Keep activities in mind
It’s important to think about what you’ll be doing on vacation. You don’t have to compromise function for fashion or vice versa. Be mindful of your activities and make sure you have the right outfits head to toe (hat/sunglasses/apparel/shoes) for these. If you plan on going out every night to dressy dinners, then you may want to focus more on outfits that cater to that need. If you will be working out or doing outdoor activities, a comfortable athletic shoe is probably a necessity. Being prepared with the right items will keep your vacation easy breezy.
5. Don’t forget practical travel wear! 
Traveling is part of the process and shouldn’t be left out. I’m a firm believer in JET SET chic but will not compromise my comfort in doing so. TSA can be a hassle so mentally and physically prepare yourself. An easy slip on flat or sneaker is quick to remove/ put on, a comfortable pant (not sweats or pj’s, we’re talking jet set here), a tank or tee and an open or zip cozy sweater or cardigan. Planes are always cold and you’re flying somewhere warm so layers will be your best friend! I’m a huge fan of the travel line ANATOMIE clothing – so much so that I have started representing the line (contact me for more information). It’s extremely comfortable, super chic, lightweight, functional, and made for travel!
Tip: Try on outfits before packing…If you like it and plan on wearing it take a picture! Make sure to include accessories and shoes in photo for reference.
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Golden Globe Red Carpet Report!

We tried to resist but couldn’t help it! Award season is highly anticipated and we were glued to the T.V. screen for none other than the highly anticipated red carpet! There were some hits, some misses, and some that needed tweaking, but we want to focus on the few who hit it out of the park from head to toe. So without further adieu here are our picks from the Golden Globes!

Kerry Washington:

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 Completely stunning! The hair was modern and added a nice edge to such this delicate sheer beaded dress. The nude flesh tone is completely on trend and I love how it was carried through from the accessories to the manicure. The midi-length of the dress complemented the perfect pointed toe shoe. LOVE LOVE LOVE!

 Kate Hudson:

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This is honestly one of the best looks I’ve seen on Kate Hudson! I’m a sucker for a long sleeve black dress but this took It to another level. The gold detail on the waist along with the mermaid cut gives the illusion of a beautiful hourglass shape. The plunging keyhole adds the perfect dose of sexy since the rest of her is completely covered. Her make up is fresh and a great contrast to the dark and dramatic gown.

Julianne Hough:

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This is the epitome of cool. Ball gowns can be very “girly” but she managed to add some punk princess to the look. The gold beading adds a gilded edge to the soft winter white. Her oxblood clutch and nails were the perfect deep punch of color to aid the regal element. I love that her hair was out of her face, it allowed the neckline to shine!

Marion Cotillard:Marion_Cotillard__GoldenGlobes2013_2

This color popped! The perfectly paired red pointed shoe was spot on and complimented by the asymmetrical cut of the dress. The half exposed metallic belt added a bit of structure to accentuate her waist. Her straight her with a middle part pulled behind her ears is sleek. I love the cool grey nail polish against the bright red. This look was refreshing!

Which Red Carpet look do you love?

Fab Find! – Lavish Color Salons Blow Dry Club

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Here is a fab find that’s sure to help with budget, convenience, and sure to keep the compliments coming! Now, introducing the “Blow Dry Club”! For a limited time, the lovely stylists of Lavish Color Salon offer UNLIMITED blow dry’s for just $65 a month! I personally am part of the club and had to share this great offer. Good hair days here I come!!!

Our New Years Blog-olution!

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Yes, it’s that time. Time to reflect on the past year and to move forward into the new one with purpose.

So as we move forward with this blog (and thank you so much for reading. And commenting. And “liking” us) we want your input. What would get you to read more? To comment more? To “like” us more?

You see, we’re here for you. So don’t be shy – let us know what you’re thinking, what you’d like to read about, what fashion conundrums we can help solve. We’d love your feedback – now and throughout the year (btw – if public responding isn’t your thing, and we get that it’s not everyone’s thing, you can always personal message Hallie here).

It’s the New Year and we are even more determined to take the stress out of getting dressed. Let’s do it together.

Happy Stylish New Year,

Team Hallie

Fab Find: Target X Neiman Marcus collaboration half off!

banner_12_20_newAs a forerunner in the Designer + Discount Retailer collaborations, Target has done it again- this time with luxury retailer Neiman Marcus. Usually the discount store focuses on one designer at a time, but by teaming with Neiman Marcus they were able to offer apparel, accessories and home décor by some our favorites! Who doesn’t love Rag & Bone, Lela Rose, Marchesa, Tracy Reese, and Derek Lam (just to name a few)? But even better is the price- and especially now with it being after the holidays, everything is 50% off!

Here are a few of our favorite pieces—

Tracy Reese:OpenZoomLayer-1

Lela Rose: OpenZoomLayer

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Marchesa (for girls): OpenZoomLayer-4

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Rag&Bone (for Boys+Men): OpenZoomLayer-2