shoes of prey

December 19, 2016

Holiday 2016: 12 Thoughtful Stocking Stuffers


	
			
			
			[The perfect gift for the holidays, the Sole Relief Reflexology Mat provides pain and stress relief, flushes toxins, improves metabolism, increases energy, and provides relaxation. You need ALL of these things, right? $10, VanityPlanet.com]

			
			[Demeter Fragrance Library offers Foolproof Blending Trio: Custom Fragrance Set, in which you can mix to create a custom scent, or wear the three included scents individually. Choose from dozens of options, or the newest offering, the Winter Collection, which features Rooibos Red Tea, Royal Apricot, and Siberian Pine. $44, DemeterFragrance.com]

			
			[Essential oils can make an amazing gift, to be diffused in the air as scents, sprinkled in the shower to relax and revive, or even made into other items such as soap or skin and hair moisturizers. The Aura Cacia Essential Oil Discovery Kit comes with four great scents and a recipe booklet so you'll never tire of amazing ways to use them. $25, AuraCacia.com]

			
			[What could be cooler than the gift of designing your own shoes? Not much! You can give an instant e-gift card gift in any amount to put toward a pair of handcrafted, fully customizable shoes in a variety of styles, heel heights, widths, and materials. Returns/exchanges are a breeze, and the packaging is so beautiful that you won't even need to worry about wrapping it up! ShoesofPrey.com]

			
			[Candy gets fancy with the Sugarfina Jonathan Adler Tall, Dark & Rich Candy Bento Box, which includes three  cubes of dark chocolate sea salt caramels, brown butter brittle, and dark chocolate toffee almonds, $28, Shopbop.com] 

			
			[This limited-edition essie holiday gift set showcases mini sizes off absolutely fabulous shades that go from super soft to stunning with Go Ginza, Altitude Attitude, No More Film, and Après Chic. $12.99, Kohls.com]

			
			[Combine fashion and function for the fashionista in your life with a piece from the line that just launched in the U.S., Karl Lagerfeld Paris. The brand's  Mini Karl Profile Scarf is just subtle enough to be très chic. $88, KarlLagerfeldParis.com]

			
			[Go the extra mile with yet another great way to customize your gift this season. The Henri Bendel West 57th Cosmetic Bag Trio comes with three great travel-sized options, and has a monogram option included in the price $78, HenriBendel.com]

			
			[I've tried a lot of meditation apps, and by and far, Simple Habit is the best. The most helpful feature is the "on the go" wheel, so you can pick a meditation addressing your current mood, needs, and state of mind. Some of the options are free, but you can gift full access to it for as little as $20 for two months. SimpleHabitApp.com]

			
			[The only thing better than one Fresh Tinted Lip Treatment Sunscreen SPF 15 is eight of them, plus one Sugar Lip Treatment Advanced Therapy! Talk about a gift that lasts and lasts and lasts! Fresh Sugar Lip Showcase Gift Set, $77, Fresh.com]

			
			[My Mom always put dental health doo-dads in my stocking and guess what? I used them up every time! You've got to balance out all of that candy and sweets-eating somehow! For looks and effectiveness, I like the ARM & HAMMER Spinbrush Design Series Limited Edition $599-$7.99, Walmart.com, and the Marvis 7 Days of Flavor Gift Set, $36, EastDane.com]

			
			[For mom and for the little one, Nene Shoes offers matching footwear styles that range from wedges to ballet flats and oxfords. These shoes make a great dual gift that will be as memorable as they are photogenic. From $29, Nene.Shoes]

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I love the surprise factor that comes with the holiday stocking tradition, and my mom never ceased to delight my brother and I with a strong assortment of both practical and joyful items (read: candy) every year. We also were amazed at her Mary Poppins-like skills of managing to stuff so many things into one stocking! In the spirit of a really great “stocking hung with care,” I thought I’d channel the awe, wonder, and excitement of receiving something quite unique and special this holiday season that, for the most part, can be dropped inside of a stocking.

Also, for those last minute shoppers out there, all of these items, if ordered soon, can arrive in time before the weekend’s holiday festivities. Enjoy the stocking stuffer-inspired gift guide above, with a bevy of items both tangible and virtual that your gift recipient is certain to enjoy.

Happy Holidays!

The links to all of the items found in the slideshow are listed below:
Continue reading…

August 22, 2016

Orange & Blush on an Overcast Day

by Julia DiNardo

I can’t control the weather, but can most certainly preside over my attitude and general outlook on it, and of course, life in general. I wore this look for 10 straight hours, and by the time I got home, the overcast skies lent a cloudy halo over my photoshoot plans, but the show must go on! If I could determine the weather, and pick the perfect day, it would be sunny skies, 80 degrees, and no humidity, every single day. But then again, would I truly appreciate it, if every day was as I wanted it to be? Weather aside, we can’t always get what we want, but that’s not an excuse to not work hard and persevere regardless.

Sometimes it exhausts more energy to push yourself to do what lies ahead, than the actual task itself would take up. I’m trying to be better about getting right to the task at hand, with minimal procrastinating in the process, even if it means venturing out to take some photos when rain is eminent.

My new mantra is to cut back on the amount of activities and tasks that I fling at myself at 90 miles an hour, in order to focus better, prioritize, bury my head and get to work. I’m also going to be better at saying no to anything that doesn’t feel like a good fit for me, and that is both literally and figuratively. Thinking about this and looking at my clothing in this look makes me realize that with the exception of the bag, everything that I’m wearing has survived for years through countless purges and re-organizing of my belongings. Maybe it’s a sign that, without knowing it, I’ve been on this path along, right? Or simply put, maybe I just know what I like, and will wear, and stick to it!

In This Look:

Mossimo Top (no longer available; see similar here)

Shoes of Prey (c/o)

Zara Skirt (no longer available; see similar here)

Furla Candy Satchel (see similar here)

Straw Hat (gift)

Avon infinity Ring (c/o)

Sorrelli Riveting Romance Cuffs & Necklaces (c/o)

Kenneth Cole Ceramic Watch (c/o; no longer available ; see similar here)

September 12, 2015

What I Wore: NYFW Spring 2016 Look 2

by Julia DiNardo

julia dinardo fashion week
Photos by Giafrese

I pretty much have it all, when it comes to products. With the exception of a gift card, so that I can pick out my own items or receive a service, there’s not much these days that I truly desire. Of course there are bucket list fashion items to be had, but for the most part, I really don’t need any more stuff.

At New York Fashion Week, there will be the occasional gift bag on your seat at a show, or items give out at a press lounge or suite, which I appreciate and am grateful for, but end up giving away 85% of it to friends and family. Flowers, however, are a special treat that are thoroughly appreciated for their beauty, delicate and fleeting nature, and overall have come to be an instant happiness producer. And oh the colors!

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Twice in 48 hours I received flowers at events, and on Day 2 of New York Fashion Week, Kate Spade New York paired up with FTD for its presentation to display 30,000 flowers found in the varieties of bright pink gerbera daisies, blue hydrangeas, yellow tulips, sunflowers, and roses for guests to be able to select from and customize a bouquet with the assistance of a florist. I made this bouquet for a friend, but enjoyed it all of the way back to the office, and of course, during this impromptu photo shoot with the lovely Giafrese!

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Although I had selected to pretty much wear all black on this day, it was almost meant to be, so that I could transport these gorgeous flowers and they’d add a beautiful pop of color to my look. In all honesty, I love love love this vest, part of the limited edition nicole by Nicole Miller 10-year anniversary collection at JCPenney (available online and in-store throughout the month of September), and wanted to plan the rest of my outfit around it. I’ll surely pair it with other things in the future, but all black just felt so right in this moment.

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We found our way over to Columbus Circle and into the south west corner of Central Park to snap some photos, since New York Fashion Week is a bit scattered all over the city this season and there isn’t an easily identifiable, iconic setting for street style picture-taking. That’s perfectly okay with me, as it creates a fun challenge to find a new, unique spot to take photos, or resort to some of my old favorites in my neighborhood.

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In This Look:

J.Crew Double-Hem Tank Top

nicole by Nicole Miller Faux-Leather Trim Vest (c/o)

Designer Leather Skirt from Marshalls (c/o)

Shoes of Prey at Nordstrom (c/o)

Sorrelli Crystal Moss Collection Crystal Octagon Classic Necklace (c/o)

Sorrelli Crystal Moss Slim Crystal Ring (c/o)

Sorrelli Riverstone Collection Stackable Crystal Ring

Sorrelli Crystal Moss Riveting Romance Cuff Bracelet (c/o)

Sorrelli Crystal Chain Cuff Bracelets (c/o)

Sorrelli Nolia Stud Earrings at Anthropologie (c/o)

Shoedazzle Woven Bag (c/o)

On Lips: Maybelline Lip Studio Color Blur in Orange ya Glad

June 22, 2015

Making New Friends

by Julia DiNardo

“Make new friends, but keep the old…one is silver and the other is gold.” We used to sing that over and over in my Brownies troop in the late’80s, and in the case of new friends mingling with old…in this look, some literally are silver, and others gold! I’ve found some new brands and pieces that I absolutely adore, that compliment my existing aesthetic, while nicely building upon it with styles that may reflect a trend or two, but most importantly, reflect…me!

New to my accessories game is Shoes of Prey, an innovative concept in which you can design your own pair, down to the smallest of details. You can of course order online, but the really exciting news is that you can create a pair right inside of Nordstrom! The Shoes of Prey Design Studio at Nordstrom is found in six locations, equipped with iPads and sample shoes to try on to get a feel for the the heel height, comfort, and sizing. There’s a dizzying array of fabric swatches to pick through so that you can ensure the perfect color and texture, and the shoes will be made-to-order, arriving at your doorstep in 4-5 weeks. I modeled my Shoes of Prey after a very much loved, but very worn pair in my closet that I didn’t want to say goodbye to, but were literally falling apart. Talk about a combo of the old meets the new! My beloved shoes were reincarnated into a Shoes of Prey style that featured a similar low heel and rounded toe, but with a pop of embossed exotic snakeskin added.

Speaking of, it’s apparently my new thing, as this Isharya wire cuff features something of the serpentine persuasion, artfully wrapped around an agate stone as the center piece. I’ve been a big fan of blue agate for some time now, and snakes — well, I like looking at the imitation of life iteration of them.

If you can’t combine old and new, then what’s the point of holding onto stuff? Especially clothing; if it’s not meant for the mix, then it should go, but when a piece works, surely hold onto it (unless it goes by way of my old beloved shoes, and in that case…reincarnate them!).