east vs west style. holiday shopping.

during the holidays, it's all about multi-tasking to get things done. if i'm having drinks or dinner with friends after work, i'll try to meet up at a restaurant at the mall so that i can grab a few gifts before or after.

i've been loving comfy sweatshirts lately, and this pretty blue sequined one is equally sporty and festive. it's likely i would be wearing black pants or a pencil skirt at the office before swapping either out for something more comfy like these leather shorts. after cocktails when i'm ready to shop, i'll pull out the crossbody straps from my clutch, throw on my sneakers, and power shop before heading home.

how do you get things done during the holidays?

east

Jackie / Living After Midnite / New York

Tiffany / Tiffany Style / Georgia

Tracy / TheRightShoes / New York

west

Ashley / Pursuit of Shoes / California

Danielle / Envision Pretty / California

Becks / oomph. / Hawaii

(Blu Bijoux Silver Crystal Link Chain Bracelet c/o Max & Chloe)

(Show Some Spirit Blue Sequin Sweater & Elsi heels c/o Lulu's;

UO leather shorts; LANY bag c/o)

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east vs west . holiday party

casual sequins. mini skirt.

dressing down this sequined mini skirt just a hair with a simple white button-up that's still holiday party ready, but won't have you feeling uncomfortably over-dressed for after work shopping or happy hour.

hope everyone enjoyed their thanksgiving. while i had a nice four day weekend full of eating and free from running, it's time to get back on track for the marathon next weekend. getting nervous.

what was your best black friday score?

one of the better names i've been given by starbucks' baristas.

(obey shirt & heels via lulu's; patty's closet skirt; h&m bag)

in case you missed it:

casual sequins . leggings

casual sequins. leggings.

how do you dress down dressy?

throw a sweatshirt on it. or sneakers. or both.

you don't have to save those sequins or velours for parties. i wore these sequined leggings to a christmas party a few years ago, and i always pull them out at the end of the year. it's the holiday season. it's ok to be festive even if you're just running errands. i deem grabbing peppermint lattes with friends a totally appropriate occasion for rocking the triple S...

sequins + sweats + sneaks.

what's one thing you find yourself dressing down each year.

(suburban riot sweatshirt; charlotte russe leggings (similar), nine west sneakers; metallic tattoos via oomph)

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*     *     *

stocking stuffer idea for the kids!

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sequined skirt.

i survived.

the weekend, that is. saturday morning downpours cancelled our hike, so we ended up grabbing coffee and catching up. although i missed out on the workout, it probably was best. my head was stuffy and i had a lot of sinus pressure...probably would have pushed myself too far, especially with the six hour shopping marathon i did after that. but happy to say that i've finished 98% of my shopping. yes, still not done, but the remaining are gift cards. tonight i'll be wrapping presents and getting ready for our office party tomorrow. i may be wearing this sequined ensemble for tomorrow's work festivities. the skirt is from Patty's Closet. if you need a last minute party outfit, Patty's Closet has lots of cozy sweaters, dresses, and sparkly sequins, all of which are appropriate for the holidays. and, for more ideas on what to wear to your parties, you can check out the latest East vs West Coast series here.

if you follow me on instagram, you may have seen my new 50mm f/1.4 camera lens. if you are a self-photographing blogger without a lot of working space, this may not be the ideal lens. you'll have to set up far, far away from the camera to get full length shots like these, and you risk focusing on everything between you and the camera. but still an amazing lens (can you tell the difference?!) that works wonderfully for portraits, cropped bodies and general photography.

are you ready for christmas?

(Patty's Closet skirt c/o (808-235-2924); coach wristlet; Lulu's shoes (buy); ON top)

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east vs west [coast] style. new year's eve.

when i think of new year's eve, i think shiny and sparkly. and bubbly, haha. east vs west holiday edition is back with our picks on what to wear to your new year's eve celebration. this is the night you can go all out, glitz and glamour, in rich velvet, sequins, and embellishments. when you have a statement dress, you don't need much else to complete the look. throw on some killer heels and keep the accessories to a minimum. all of our dresses are from The Stylist LA, a designer dress borrowing service.

visit the girls to see their dresses in detail.

east

Jackie / Living After Midnite / New York

Meaghan / District Sparkle / D.C.

Tracy / TheRightShoes / New York

west

Ashley / Golden Divine / California

Ashley / Pursuit of Shoes / California

Becks / oomph. / Hawaii

i chose this dress because it had the sparkle i wanted in a conservative style that didn't feel over the top.

(Parker Cluster Beaded V-neck Dress ($60 to rent);

enzo angiolini shoes; Anjolee tennis bracelet (buy);

SilverSpeck amethyst ring (buy))

a few to try:

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east vs west holiday edition . holiday party
east vs west holiday edition . girls' night out

a.m. party.

with the holiday season comes holiday parties. velour, sequins, and satin are festive and sometimes thought of as formal wear...but sequins and satin paired here with denim and slippers is something i might wear to a daytime party.

foxy brown was stuck to me like glue.

this is probably the first real post with the new hair.

i made a yummy turkey chili in the slow cooker for dinner.

then headed over to my neighbor's for cake and wine.

it was a good day.

how did you spend your sunday?

before and five hours later...the easiest turkey chili.

served with a dollop of sour cream and corn muffins.

(jacket, old navy; shorts, express (similar); sequined vest, f21)

shop the look:

because.

question:

what should i do with all the clothes i don't wear anymore?

answer:

because i shop too much.

question:

where can i find stylish but affordable clothing and accessories?

answer:

because i shop too much.

question:

how many pairs of jeans do i really need?

answer:

because i shop too much.

question:

i spent a lot of money on this...i hate to just get rid of it?!

answer:

because i shop too much.

question:

i love the dress she was wearing, where can i find it?

answer:

because i shop too much.

i've asked myself these questions many times, and i'm sure you have, too. because i shop[ped] too much, i have tons of clothes and shoes and accessories that are sitting in storage or taking up precious room in my closet. thanks to because i shop too much, an interactive marketplace that allows users to buy, sell, and swap clothing, i can now unload some of these items, find some new-to-me ones, and even make a friend or two while doing it. membership is free, and the website is super easy to use. i've made a few sales and recently purchased this free people

t-shirt from co-founder lisa's closet.

you can check out my closet here.

(tee, because i shop too much; leggings, charlotte russe; heels, nine west)

a week of leggings. sequins.

gah...the dreaded legging. you either love them or hate them. i've seen enough faux pas to make me want to stay away from them...from too-tight-it-shows-too-much to the so-faded-and-thin-it-shows-evvrything-in-bright-daylight to the it-just-shows-to-darn-much. i mean, you get the point. but there's an occasion for everything, and sometimes you want the comfort and ease of a simple pair of leggings. so when choosing a pair, i try to look for ones with patterns and prints, texture, or some detail that makes them appear thicker, and i always, always try to cover a portion [if not all] of my derriere. this week i'm busting out these tricky bottoms that rarely get worn. i bought this sequined pair for a christmas party a couple years ago...dressed them down here with just an oversized tee and simple heels.

are you comfortable wearing leggings? how do you wear yours?

(hailey heart tee via oomph (buy); leggings, charlotte russe)

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