Green Giving

This year, green giving is not only a hip trend to follow, but a way to help Mother Earth during the holiday season. And what better way to recycle and reuse than by giving a vintage gift! A brooch, necklace, or scarf can be a great option for the women on your list, while leather gloves or a smart hat can be perfect for the men. Not only are you promoting green behavior, but you are also passing on a timeless piece to the next generation. You can even wrap your presents in an earth-friendly way, by using part of the gift as your wrapping, such as covering your main gift with a festive scarf. Gift bags and clever wrapping papers, like the Sunday funnies or vintage newspapers from antiques shops, can cut down on paper waste. If you need any advice in choosing a green, reusable gift, stop by New to You and check out our selection of vintage gifts.

Snowed In

As winter weather creates the promise of a “White Christmas” around the country, there is nothing better to do than avoiding the elements by curling up next to the fire and watching classic holiday films. “It’s A Wonderful Life,” “Babes in Toyland,” and “A Christmas Carol” top the list of films with plenty of holiday cheer, and some even offer great fashion looks to emulate. For inspiration for a classic holiday look, check out Rosemary Clooney in “White Christmas.” Soft curls, red lipstick, and festive attire complete a holiday ensemble so stunning that it attracts the attention of Bing Crosby! So, if the weather is frightful, stay inside, grab a mug of hot cocoa, and get some fashion inspiration from these holiday classics.

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Great Style Books

I enjoyed a couple of books recently that really spoke to what it is that we do here at New to You.

The first one is Lucky Guide to Mastering any Style by Kim France and Andrea Linett and the second one is Who Do You Want To Be Today: Be Inspired to Dress Differently by Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine.

I found both fashion books intriguing because they really ask that you look at the way you express yourself. When you get dressed each and every day it always seems to be such a challenge. For many of us, we just put on the body whatever is the easiest item that just covers us up. It requires little or no thought to dress this way and seems safe. This ususally seems to be the "uniform" that we wear ALL THE TIME. Dressing ourselves is one of the easiest ways that we can express our real selves but if this is true than many of us are in a murky rut. It does seem that many times we forget that we are women, not bosses, not mothers, not wives, not grandmothers, but women... first and foremost.

These books make us say to ourselves, Who am I and what image am I presenting to the world?
Are you Euro Chic, Arty Slick, American Classic, Bombshell or are you dressed like you are taking out the garbage? Like it or not we are always being judged and these books help us clarify our inner and outer selves. Dressing and presenting ourselves to the world can be really hard work but these books help ease the pain a bit.

The Jet Set: Travel (and Dress) Smart

The holiday season sends many of us on trains, planes, and buses to the homes of loved ones during the most congested travel time of the year. The girls at New to You have come up with some tips for dressing and packing comfortably, yet fashionably, when battling the holiday crowds.
1. Don’t wear heels. Women in high-heels during the holiday airport rush just appear to be in pain. Additionally, running, especially on moving walkways, creates a veritable health risk when trying to catch a flight in stilettos. If you really need to wear them upon arriving, bring them in your carry-on and put them on before reaching baggage-claim.
2. Remember to pack your carry-on liquids in zip-lock bags. The TSA allows a limited amount of liquids in your carry-on, so if possible, put them in your checked baggage. However, if it is essential that you have them with you, make sure to check the guidelines ahead of time and pack accordingly, because you don’t want your designer perfume or expensive hand lotion to be confiscated by the TSA!
3. Being able to quickly identify your luggage saves you a lot of time at baggage check. Instead of opting for a neon-green bag, look for luggage tags with fun prints or colors that let you know which piece is yours, without screaming it to the rest of the passengers.
4. Dress in layers. While running to catch a train or standing in close quarters can make you warm, the cold weather and airflow on buses and trains will make you regret that sleeveless shirt. Try scarves, pull-overs, and cardigans that can easily be added or subtracted.
With these tips in mind, you are ready to travel! Make sure to book your tickets early, arrive at the airport in plenty of time, and pack your sense of humor: everyone’s a little frazzled this time of year!

Holiday Fashion: Warm Leggings and Forgiving Dresses

It’s a yearly dilemma: you want to look good for holiday celebrations with family and friends, but you also want to eat. A lot. What’s a girl to do? Pair leggings or tights, a winter fashion staple, with a knit or cotton jersey dress. The tights will help keep everything, well, tight, while the dress can hide all those snacks. This season’s loose-waisted bubble dresses accomplish this goal perfectly.
To make it extra-festive, accessorize! To keep away from cheesy reds and greens, instead pair winter colors, like royal purple or light blue, with deep grays or black. Add glittery jewelry that sparkles like the snow. Bright scarves or a hat and leather boots will keep you warm as you venture out into the elements. Now, go eat all those appetizers and look fabulous at the same time. Who knows, you might meet someone under the mistletoe!