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Gift Ideas for Her

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Well December is here and I wanted to get a gifts for the gals post out as soon as I could. Honestly this was a lot of fun, and I could have written ten more of these, but it’s been a busy time and it takes a lot of hours to sit and pull it all together. I know many who are concerned with things running out have already done their shopping! I’m not there at all, but I have gotten a few good things from the Gifts for Guys post. One thing that helped me this time was to think of some of my favorite things, not unlike Oprah, and what would I love to receive too…

I am a Johnny Was fan and this California company never disappoints with their beautiful designs and quality. Their wonderfully soft blankets in a bag with two designs, make a wonderful gift for anyone to cuddle up with on the couch, or on the bed! Great for all ages. So many designs. I love this one below, but all the choices here..20% off now with the code COZYUP until 12/15.

Do you know someone who would love to be in slippers all the time (me)? These Timberlands are on sale now and so cute in grey or tan. This is a nice bridge between the UGG and the sneaker, with a bit of style.

I am currently obsessed with this brand Leatherology that makes some beautiful bags with custom imprinted initials. The cross body and train cases are TDF and though this process takes about three weeks should be a lovely gift. They also have quicker options. All the offerings are wonderful and there are many gifts that will arrive before Christmas if ordered by December 17th.

I love Mark & Graham and their trays are adorable and you can still get a monogrammed one if you order now. Check the site for the exact item and date. Looks like many are still available.

I love this Snowy Day Pillow. Sweet for anyone who digs holiday home decor or just loves the snow.

The paperclip necklaces are very popular and Bauble Bar has them in this Hera one -the perfect size too and can ship immediately..

I also love the needlepoint pillows from Furbish.. Adore the Apres pillow and all their cute holiday ones found here.

For someone who appreciates a pretty table or entertaining, these Linen Napkins from Serena & Lily are now on sale in sets and four gorgeous napkins are $38. They come in eight colors including this chartreuse.

If she is is into jewelry, Anthropologie has the prettiest charm necklaces that are by by birthstone. Love!

Serena & Lily makes the best alpaca throws and this one is my all time favorite. We have two we keep at out cabin on the sofa and they are warmer than anything and so very soft and comes in five colors.

I bought these slippers on a whim a month or so ago at Anthro and they are now my go to. I can’t wait to put them on when I get home. The run S/M/L and I am an 8 and bought Medium.

My favorite pajamas are Roller Rabbit Pima Cotton PJs. Mine are two years old now and still look new and feel soft. I like that they aren’t tight, but aren’t baggy either- so they don’t bunch on you in the night. A really nice gift to give or get.

My second favorite PJs are my Serena & Lily Positano Linen ones. I have two pairs and wear them all year long with a white tank and wear the top as a jacket. Love the white (reminds me of Diane Keaton in Something’s Gotta Give) and the sky blue! They just get softer and softer. I wash them on gentle and air dry and they stay very nice.

There is also a beautiful flannel in gingham and a linen in gingham. All the Serena & Lily Pajamas here.

I love that Mersea is selling this lovely Sea Change Soap. It is made in America, without any toxic substances, and every purchase of one of a Sea Change product will provide two years of drinking water to someone in need, a partnership with Water.org an international non-profit that works on the water crisis. Beautiful -and helping make a difference! The whole Sea Change collection here.

Note- Mersea is a great site for gifts with many lovely things like the stretchy and super soft Chalet Sweater and the Sea Pines Felt Candles.

Scrabble has created a special edition Scrabble for Anthropologie. It’s very cute and on sale now..as is their Monopoly Edition..

Books are may favorite thing to give and get and I especially love Mandy’s Gourmet Salads, which has so much more than just salads- wonderful bowls, so many amazing ideas, dressings and desserts too. Great for anyone who wants more fresh ideas for eating well.

Johnny Was also has a beautiful silk oversized T- shirt pajama set which would be a dream to sleep in. The pink one and the darker version are still available and able to ship before Christmas.

I love this upcycled denim bag made by ADIFF/Lands End. Each one is unique and the interior has a handy 6 interior packets. What a cool gift for the earthy friend in your life.

Another fun idea is to customize a market tote for family members or a girlfriend with a beloved city or cities, names or initials. The Apolis Bags last forever come in many sizes and colors I have two I adore. This cute style here.

For the California girl- or someone with tastes that tend to run towards the natural, Jenni Kayne has some beautiful candles. I like the Topanga, that has a California essence, Santa Ynez has a warm scent, and all her candles and home scents here.

RMS Beauty has a great gift set with their mascara, lip balm, and famous luminizer for just $28!

For someone special like your mom, or yourself, these Tory Burch Lilac Salad Plates are beautiful.

These Liberty London PJ sets sets are marked more than half off at J. Crew. Very cute for those young girls in shorts all the time- and never seem to be cold! I am tempted to save a pair for myself for the warmer months because they are lovely.

For $28 these Pave Pisa Bracelets from Bauble Bar look so good and would be fun to stack with a watch or any bracelets. Fun to give a group of friends or family members.

For the puzzle girls, J Crew has Liberty Puzzles that are two-sided.

They also have a Liberty Sleep Set with a beautiful pillowcase and matching sleep mask. On sale this weekend along with the puzzle and most things on site.

Since most of us are wearing boot and booties so much, a set of boot socks in a super soft, but warm material like this set from Anthro is always a welcome gift. I just gave a group of friends all a set of boot socks and I think everyone seemed to want and need them!

Another fun idea for the bakers in your life..Cookies: The New Classics.

Our family are big fans of Jennifer Segel’s recipes from her Once Upon a Chef blog, so when I saw she had a cookbook, Weeknight/Weekend, I knew it would be good. I can guarantee you’re going to adore her food.

This also looks good and is in my cart! Rustic cooking..Maman The Cookbook.

This Lululemon Belt Bag comes in so many colors and is a little luxury at a great price, Everyone needs one for hikes and travel -just so nice to have!

I love the Travel Jewelry Cases from Mark & Graham that can be monogrammed. Such a luxury, useful and a good price on sale this weekend.

Mark & Graham also has the Essential Crossbody in many colors and ways to personalize for $99..

I hope this is helpful for your gift shopping! I will try and update and add more as I see good things, so check back, or save this post for later!

This Tuesday I’ll be doing Signature Style and we will be discussing holiday outfits for those who asked for ideas for events..I’ve found some cute things and I can’t wait to share them.

Kim

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Gifts for the Guys

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Just a quick post with some great gift ideas for the season. As I have mostly men to buy for in my family- hubs, sons, dad, brother and nephews, I’ve had a few things up my sleeve. I thought the men on your list would like this something from this variety. I’ll update this list as we move through the season and take off thing that sell out fast… Please leave a comment on any other good ideas!

This Crewneck Patchwork Sweatshirt in cotton and terry caught my eye for the unique look. Comes in blue and this nice tan. A good price and look for the brother, son or husband on your list..

This stretchy featherweight flannel from Faherty is the similar to a shirt I gifted everyone in the family last year and it’s still everyone’s favorite shirt a year later. The stretch makes it so comfy and a go-to of all the shirts.

My Utah son loves the sherpa type pullovers as it’s very cold there and my dad does too as he is a morning walker. This Nordstrom BP Pullover is definitely on the list for my son and maybe for the hubs too who gets cold working at home on his desk this time of year..

I love Fair Isle Sweaters and J.Crew has many styles. One of my guys who is a sweater person who is getting one of these..and I think I would even buy one for myself with the beautiful assortment of designs. Use the CYBER code for 40% off Monday.

Jack Black has a good gift set to start your favorite guy out on skincare regimen. Jack Black is fragrance-free, colorant-free, cruelty-free, sulfate-free and dermatologist-tested. These are generously sized for $49 and right now comes with a gift with purchase while supplies last. Men should start early on skincare!

How cute are these Nordic Socks for the guy who likes to ski or just loves the mountains? They are a wool blend for comfort and warmth- and 40% off this weekend, with the SHOPEARLY code. I always like to get a pair or two of nice socks for my men’s Christmas stockings.

Love these J.Crew Brushed Twill Shirts for my younger guy- and the hubs as they are slim and untucked. On sale now Monday with code CYBER and in many handsome prints. I’m thinking a good gift for our older one who is now a working stiff and needs clothes for the casual office.

This great Cotton Stitch Sweater comes in four fun colors and I know this will sell out fast with the 40% off sale using the CYBER code on Monday. Comments say it runs slightly small so order accordingly.

Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less, is a nice gift book. I listened the other day to this author on NPR which was so good. I think it’s a book everyone can appreciate, men or women.

Two years ago, I bought all the men in our family UGGs and they all still love and use them- and they are still looking great. For the price and warmth, you cannot beat UGGs for slippers and they are a gift surely to be used and loved so many days- and years! These UGG Scuffs are Max’s favorite as they are so easy to slide on. They come in a range of colors..

The Vuori Joggers are having a moment and if anyone you know has them, this is all they talk about. As the guys in my life are all about comfort, these would be a welcome gift. I like the camo color too. A good one for your dad or hubs.

My guys dig the brand RVCA for the styles and comfort and I like they are a well-made brand. Right now, while they last, Nordy’s has this super soft Fleece Hoodie in sand and in a Balsam green for $39. A quality gift for nephews ( I hope mine aren’t reading), and the younger crowd. Very soft inside!

For those gadgety types this Wireless Charger and UV Cleaner for the phone is kind of fun and smart.

These Rumpl Puffy Blankets are a super idea for those who like the outdoors, camping, ball games, or just for out by the fire pit. They come in a nice carry sack and in unique designs and are 20% off now..

Malin + Goetz Bergamot Body Wash is a super soft scent and feels amazing on the skin. A luxury for the bar soap guy to try, or anyone!

For anyone working from home, or a student, this Coffee Mug Warmer with auto shut-off is so affordable and in our house, used every day! My husband stole the one my son bought for me, so I think we may upgrade to this nicer version.

Max has this UGG Robinson Robe and he likes it as it’s not so heavy, but very warm and soft. This is a gift that will last years also..

For the guy who like fragrances, this Sunset Riot by AllSaints is a unisex fragrance and much talked about as it is similar to Maison Francis-Baccarat Rouge 540 for much less. It’s also a great price now to add to someone’s stocking (or for yourself.)

I bought my college kid this Billabong Quarter Zip Pullover when he was home in October and he says he wears it non-stop. It was a little pricier than the usual fleece, but it’s very thick and soft. He got the Moon color, center, but there are many fun patterns…

I spotted this Esquire Dress Code book at Books Inc., the other day and it’s a must have for any guy who may have some interest in style, but needs a little help. It has guidance for all ages and events. Such a treasure trove and I am getting this for both my sons.

This may not be a very glamorous gift, but it sure is handy, a radiator for a room, like an office or bedroom. We have a few of these DeLonghi heaters in our log cabin and they work so well, and make zero noise we bought one for the cold back room where Max has been working. It heats the space amazingly well and bonus-the cat loves it too! It’s nice not having to run the heater all the time. Could be great for the garage or for an older person, a college kid or anyone who needs a bit more coziness this Christmas.

Lastly, this Elf Monopoly a fun one for the whole family! We got this for the Thanksgiving weekend when everyone is here!

I hope this small list is helpful in kicking off your shopping. I’m working on another post for the women as well.

Wishing you a joyful and relaxing Thanksgiving!

Kim

If you’d like to get an email when I post, please subscribe to the blog here for a post in your inbox a few times a month! Thank you so much, as Bloglovin seems to have stopped working and I no longer post as much on Facebook and plan to do less there.

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Signature Style- Let’s Talk Bags -Crossbody, Canvas Totes and Trends

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It’s that time again for a signature style post with my chic pals, Cindy Hattersley and Sarah London. Wow the month flew by didn’t it? This episode we are chatting about handbags! The role of handbags has evolved hugely during the pandemic. With masks and keeping our hands clean, I began to going hands-free more and using a crossbody bag, a backpack or just my wallet tucked in my jacket, but now paying with my phone I don’t even really need that a lot of times.

This cream bag is a Rebecca Minkoff that goes as a shoulder bag or a crossbody and is a smart style to have in your closet depending on what you are doing that day! Rebecca has some great options in crossbody/shoulder bags. A similar one to mine here.

The crossbody bag wins me over with its hands-free feeling, less strain on the shoulder and the security too. I now mostly just carry a small card case, a lip balm, glasses, hand spray and my keys. When I need to carry a bit more I have a small backpack which feels light too. Today I’m going to talk about a new trend and bags that make us feel less encumbered.

That brings me to an exciting development that Sarah London shared with our Signature Style group, that the upcoming Sex and The City reboot has our girl Carrie Bradshaw sporting in many scenes a canvas tote bag, not a designer bag. It’s a logo bag you get for giving your money to public television or radio. Many young women in Korea were already sporting these status free bags, bookstore ones in particular.

This begs the question, is the designer bag beginning its descent? When literally everyone has them, from your 12 year old neighbor to all the people at the grocery, have they lost their appeal? When all with a credit card can buy a multi-thousand dollar purse, maybe the smartest 2021 bag is the tote from the last museum visit or that you got with a purchase at your favorite store? Food for thought.

Some of the paparazzi photos of Sarah filming in NYC with canvas bags..

I personally have been collecting these sort of bags on trips for a long time! My favorites come from museums and I never miss a gift shop as they are the kind of souvenir that is useful while traveling and grocery shopping when back home.

Just for fun, I thought I’d wear one of mine out to lunch this week as a handbag. It was light and I felt like one of the cool kids! This was from the Mary Quant exhibit I saw at the V&A before the pandemic. The tote has her name and the other side of it is white 70’s flowers.

I have a lot of the V&A totes – most are under $10 and you can see them all here. My choices of the best below. Of course you need to pay for shipping. Check out local bookstores, museums or historic spots with gift shops for unique ones.

Some more cloth totes like these at Nordstrom, below left and these Baggu ones with a handy outside pocket and in many patterns and colors..

Crossbody bags are everywhere and make up a huge part of the purse segment now. This YSL bag one is my newest and I’ve used so much this fall. I realize this is an expensive bag and I saved for it and used some gift cards too. I chose this bag for the size, lightweight and the color, which I knew would be a fun option, but still classic. I think a lot about each purchase as I don’t want a closet of just okay things anymore. I am really trying to save for pieces I’ll love for years and that is why I splurged a bit on this bag.

I have seen a lot of women with great Tory Burch crossbody bags. I have two that are many years old, worn a zillion times and still looking good.

Tory’s been making more unique styles lately and appreciate the quality of her handbags for the cost. This Kira Chain Wallet in the sycamore color is a pretty design and the right size with a zip section too.

Her Perry Bombe Mini Bags are well designed with two zip sections and very roomy and light. I have a this bag in black. The latest offerings in this style are here. I love the burgundy! All of the Tory crossbody styles here.

If you must have a larger bag, they also come in crossbody styles. I have large vintage Coach I bought at a resale store years ago and it’s still one I reach for when I’m in a big city like San Francisco all day and need to carry more..

If you can find a Coach bag in good condition at a vintage or resale store, grab it. Coach sells these vintage beauties on their site and they have restored ones as well. Keep checking back as some are added regularly if they look sold out. I wish I had saved some of my older bags. I was lucky to get mine many moons ago and for a song. I commend Coach for getting us all in the mindset that we should value what’s here and older items are classics are even cooler than new!

I also love Coach bags from the regular store. They have a pretty bag now called the Willow that’s a crossbody/shoulder hybrid in a beautiful color block and other tones. Coach is making its way back on the cool list I see with a lot of people. Right now they are having 25% off full price styles.

The white backpack from coach is still a best seller.

I have been using this Longchamp backpack that was a gift from a dear friend and it’s the perfect piece for travel as it packs down very small and so good for a hike and can carry a water bottle, sunscreen and a granola bar- and more. I had it in Tahoe this summer biking and forgot I was even wearing it as it’s so light. Such a thoughtful gift.

I also kind of love this ClaireV backpack for dressier times. I have one of her totes and I think her bags are so nicely made and just a little different which I like.

This crossbody is another classic style she makes in many different mixes. This green leopard with the stripes is a standout and fun.

A few of my friends with crossbody bags- Heidi, with a cool zip pouch, Jeanne with a Rag & Bone and and Dawn-of Fashion Should Be Fun with a beautiful silver grey YSL bag.

It is worth shopping your closet and see what bags can be turned into crossbody bags by just attaching a longer strap to the side handle links. Not all bags will have this, but I was able to do this with a few bags by taking the long removable strap off one and attach to another. Play around and see what works!

You can also buy straps from Madewell, which has many versions and gives a new look and options to a bag like below..

If you still need of a good basic crossbody well made, to last you many years, the brand Cuyana, is high on my list for gorgeous basics like this Top Handle Crossbody in many pretty textures and colors..I know many friends who love this brand.

They also have a modern Saddlebag and a pretty backpack. Here is more about Cuyana and their vision of less things, made better and responsibly through good practices and their whole collection.

Staud bags have also been having a moment, particularly this fun shaped crossbody/tote with a removable pouch.

Similar to the vintage Coach style is this Oslo Soft leather Crossbody that’s half off now at J Crew in a few colors. I kind of love the red for a change. It reminds me of French women who often wear a red handbag or a shoe as a pop of color on a monochrome outfit.

I’d love to get your feedback about bags. What are you using and has that changed the past year or so and what are you looking for in bags now? What has lasted for you and still looks great and how do you feel about status bags versus this new canvas uprising?

Please pop over to my chic collaborators blogs and see what they have in store for you today. I know they will have some great thoughts and always beautiful options…

Cindy Hattersley Design

Sarah London Style

Thanks for stopping by!

Kim

If you’d like to get an email when I post, please subscribe to the blog here for a post in your inbox a few times a month! Thank you so much, as Bloglovin seems to have stopped working and I no longer post as much on Facebook and plan to do less there.

Some links will generate a small commission. Thank you for supporting the blog.

Ideas for Thanksgiving Tables and Outfits

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While everyone seems to be full stop headed for Christmas, I am still in a Thanksgiving mindset and thought I’d share here some of the cutest finds I’ve seen for your Thanksgiving table. I also found some adorable dresses and tops if you’re looking for something to wear whether you’re hosting or a guest.

Let’s begin with tabletop shall we? This is always my favorite part of Thanksgiving hosting. I came from a mom and grandmother who both loved creating a unique table. My grandmother, (dad’s mom), was very old school in her love of classic tables with china, silver and all the special pieces. My mom was more of a casual elegant type, using a lot of natural materials and plants always in her tablescapes. I appreciate both approaches and love beautiful plates and glasses and also adding in natural elements to give a California vibe to our table.

Below a few of the tables over the years..

I think it’s good to forage through your cabinets and see what you can pull together for your Thanksgiving table a few weeks prior. That way you can see what looks good, what has seen better days and can be pitched, and also what vintage things from family can be mixed in with the newer. I did this one year with silver flatware from my grandmother and modern white plates and glasses. Pears and olive branch clippings were my natural bit that year.

Other times we have just foraged the yard for clippings and water tumblers have often made the best vases like these tortoiseshell ones with yard berries and mums, we used one year.

Another year short clear glasses worked well with small hydrangea clippings.

Another thing you can do is try throws, quilts and fabric remnants as tablecloths. I can’t sew well, but I know how to go to the fabric store and make a piece of cloth work on the table. Many times I’ve just folded the ends or ironed them down and it looks great. The important thing is to get creative and find what inspires you.

The tablecloth below was an old remnant of my grandmother’s. I saved it because she made herself a dress of this same fabric in the 70’s that I remember her wearing. It was a last minute idea for a tablecloth and it worked! Grandma would have loved it.

I love pulling a fresh mix of plates and glasses together each year and usually add one new element of some kind. Last year it was water glasses, which are no longer available, but I am obsessed with these beauties from William-Sonoma. These Vintage Etched Water Goblets come in sets of four and are a very good price. They have four colorways, but I am loving the clear and the pink especially. These would be a gorgeous addition to anyone’s tabletop collection!

I do appreciate good flatware. A few years ago, we finally got a new set after 25 years of living with the wedding service that was looking pretty beat. With boys doing the dishes and spoons going in lunch bags that never made their way home again, it was time. A year later, I bought another set. The cost of a flatware set is pennies if you think about all the days, and years they are used! Currently, I am obsessed with the brand Fortessa which seems to have the perfect weight and feel to their pieces and modern styles. I have had the bamboo looking Royal Pacific set on my radar for a while..

I also love the classically mod Arezzo Pattern in a chic black, a burnished gold, or silver.

Don’t you like the fun way these napkins are tied with the flatware above? Another idea!

If you need a whole lot more flatware- Williams-Sonoma also has this pretty set for 12 with a caddy at a good price.

How’s your plate game? Mine consists of a mix of stoneware and my original English pattern strawberry white that is no longer made. I’ve loved this Glenna Pattern that my stylish friend Cindy Hattersley has and it’s been discontinued until recently when it miraculously showed up again at Anthropologie. It’s in my cart as we speak. It’s simply lovely and has an organic feel and look that I really like.

Anthro also has some nice napkin sets that aren’t crazy expensive.. I like this Crossweave Napkin that comes in sets of four, in rust and this olive green which strikes an elegant, but Boho feel..

This is a pretty jacquard Target offering..

Serena & Lily has some of the nicest linen napkins and the price is good for linen, at about $11 a napkin if you buy in multiples. Love the color choices..

Serena & Lily are having their Tent Sale on now with a lot of good things like linen sheets, my favorite linen pjs, the cute wooden step stools, and so much more good things marked down! its a great time to get a few home items.

Target also has a new Stoneware Glazed Plate in their Magnolia collection..

Are you looking for fun plates? I love this stoneware by Jen Hewett Brown at World Market. You can use them all year and they would be perfect with a natural table look.

These Buffalo Check Napkins at WM would be pretty on a white plate or a black dish. Lot’s of options with it.

I dig a cotton smock and this is perfect for over your nice clothes on cooking day and comes in many colors. I can see customizing this with some trim and gifting it to all those cooking that day.. or for a hostess gift!

While we are talking about World Market, I love this dining chair, so stinking cute and has good reviews too. Sometimes all you need is new chairs to freshen things up, not a whole new dining set.

Another find is this Aldo Napkin with colorful gourds by Pottery Barn and it is on sale now..

The Braided Charger/placemat is also cool and would add texture to your table.

Crate & Barrel has much for Thanksgiving and I really these Mercer Dinner Plates that come in sets of eight. A good buy at $45.

And how about these Grateful Napkin Rings? I’d add a little sprig of some greenery like a cutting from an olive tree or rosemary tucked in with it.

These Forest Walk Plates by Juliska are the thing if you want something fun and fall feeling. I can see layering these with some other plates for an eclectic mix!

And these pheasant salad plates would give a Ralph Lauren look on top of a vintage larger plate…

The Cane Napkin Ring is a good choice for Thanksgiving and all year..

Now let’s talk Thanksgiving day outfits. Some people like a relaxed Thanksgiving, and other dress up..I like something that looks nice and feels comfortable.

I like this Mocha Stripe Dress, which can be dressed up or down and would be cute with boots.

This Tiger Mod Dress is fab and has a retro feel..

This Frances Dress from Tuckernuck is another great one in the olive color!

Hosting at home? This J. Crew Relaxed Sweater Dress is adorable and Iooks so comfortable. That’s my kind of Thanksgiving look. And it’s on sale now with code FRIENDS.

They have this version of a sweater dress too.. Both are highly rated and are a nice choice for casual chic holidays.

Other options.. This tiered mini dress.. It could do double duty as a tunic.

This is a great patchwork maxi dress..

Target also has a version of the sweater dress in cream, grey and this autumn color…

This maxi dress with owls and fall florals is lovely!

A few cute tops that could work on Thanksgiving…

This poncho is so cool and I love how they mixed it here with a lace t shirt.

This Fringe Sweater is a fun one for the season..

I just think this Reindeer knit is adorable.

And lastly this Tinsel cardigan is a fun piece that could be worn many ways- and comes in a dark navy also.

Hope this gave you a few ideas to run with!

I love Thanksgiving. Enjoy November and this season.

Kim

If you’d like to get an email when I post, please subscribe to the blog here for a post in your inbox a few times a month! Thank you so much, as Bloglovin seems to have stopped working and I no longer post as much on Facebook and plan to do less there.

P.s. This Burnt Bamboo Flatware, I have had for years and use in the summer and in winter, is on sale now at Horchow at a great price. Another one to consider..

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Less Stress- More Holiday..A Few Tips

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Happy weekend! I wanted to get a post out with some thoughts I had to help you get ahead on the holiday season. I’m always feeling like I don’t have enough time between Thanksgiving and Christmas and I think the key to lowering some of the stress is to start planning now, and making some decisions as soon as you can about what you are doing for both Thanksgiving and Christmas or Hanukkah and New Year’s Eve. The earlier you decide things, it takes a lot of pressure off and lets you truly enjoy the season, not fret through it.

A few things to do now

Order your holiday cards. Don’t have the perfect photo? Go through what you do have and try them out in cards just to see. That’s how I picked the last two year’s cards. You’d be surprised how good you can make things look with a pretty design and printing. Remember perfect is the enemy of good enough, and done feels pretty great! Update your addresses while you’re at it as well. Minted has been my go to for the past years because I love their modern styles. Paper Culture is another new card company to check out, and Artifact Uprising has these cool cards below, and many others..

Choose a house wrap and a few good ribbons to use on everything. This is such a great idea. Find a pretty wrap that is versatile and a bit luxe (think nice department store), a few spools of nice ribbon and you are set. I did this two years running now- one year with a faux bois paper, and another with a pretty gold. Sure you might need some cheaper wrap for kid’s toys and things, but having one wrap -or one color theme, makes things simple and it looks nice under the tree too. I love this California Holly, and on Amazon there are large rolls in a reversible plaid/dot and also a woodgrain gold and a reversible leopard/gold. Using plain brown kraft paper is another idea and you can just change up the ribbons and add natural bits foraged from the yard like below on Half Baked Harvest...

Some of the loveliest wraps here ..

You can save paper by using sharpies to creatively write names on family gifts. For others we use plain brown tags each year to make tags with rubber stamps. We have also repurposed old calendars and cards to make tags with vintage ribbon. Buy one set of brown tags and use them all year. I’m telling you this now, so you don’t go and buy a ton as soon as it all hits the stores. It can be fun to choose simple and improvise!

Buy one great gift to give all your friends. Maybe it’s a uber soft throw, or a book, hand creme or candle. Make it something you’d love to have that is a little luxury. I love the idea of finding a beautiful throw, maybe on sale early, and buying it in multiples. Same with a great candle. Keep them in a gift drawer and you are set for hostess gifts or friends. This cozy throw is one on my radar with the pom poms. Who wouldn’t want this on the couch for shows at night or on the bed this winter?

If you want to spend less this year, plan a gift to make and share. Some ideas are pretty vinegars, nuts, any fantastic family recipe (my dad always makes our secret family nuts). One year my neighbor made us the best vanilla extract ever and another made body scrub. Get creative, plan a weekend or a few nights and enjoy doing it maybe with friends even? I love this idea for a clutch for girlfriends from Martha Stewart.

Cookies are easier if you specialize in one. I used to go nuts trying to make all the Christmas cookies my family has made in the past. Then one year, I decided to just choose one and give that to everyone. Some years I have made biscotti, and others we have made sugar cookies. Even with the sugar cookies, we try and do multiples of one style- like a tree -and have fun with variations on that shape alone. They look cute packaged when they are all the same shape too. One year we did shortbread with walnuts (top pic) and they were very popular.

Family Calendars for 2021 are a great idea to make now. They take some time, so begin now. A thoughtful gift for all generations, with photos of all the family, you could add recipes, and even art by family members. It’s especially appreciated by grandparents with everyone’s anniversaries and birthdays on it. I love Minted’s calendars and when you order cards on many sites, you get a break on calendars. The same sites where you can make calendars you can usually make a bound book with family recipes ( I want to do this), special vacations or milestones that can make a precious gift for someone.

Plan a few meaningful holiday gatherings to look forward to. A holiday lunch out with girlfriends, or a small gathering of a book group, school or work friends is nice. You need reservations now. Not sure about large gatherings inside yet, but small get-togethers with vaccinated people are back this year and seem like the best idea. If you can pick a date and a place it gives you something to look forward to. If you need to keep it simple, plan to meet for a winter walk and a to-go coffee to tea with a dear friend. Or maybe get a group to meet up for a holiday movie at the theatre. If there’s a gift exchange, refer back to your go-to gift.

Don’t forget little things. Seeing the lights, caroling, and baking or crafts and special holiday movie nights are good things to add to the calendar so they happen. My family would rather do those things than have all the presents. If you can remember, it’s the rituals of the holidays that make it special, rather than gifts, you can have a lot more joy and take the focus off of buying stuff.

Can you buy less stuff? Do not just buy things to have more to open. Some families forgo presents and do holiday getaways as kids get older. Other draw names with adults and just gift the kids as families grow larger. I think anything that includes less buying makes for a better holiday. As our boys got older we did- something to read, something creative (a project gift), something to go to (tickets or a special meal/day), something to wear, and a gift card or cash. That took a lot of stress off having a formula. Tell them ahead you’re doing less. Also with family and friend exchanges can you do a meal out or a day together and skip presents? You might find a lot of others would appreciate the stress and cost taken off as well..

Keep your holiday meal plan, recipes, and shopping lists in a binder and update it with each year’s meals and details. Do you already have a recipe binder? We save the recipes we use and the shopping lists from each year. I have pages full of notes- and the post mortem thoughts too. You’d be surprised how much you can get done by just sitting down and opening up such a binder each year. We thought we’d remember what size turkey we bought- and how many pounds we needed for the amount of people, but each year we are glad to have it written down to refer back to.

In that same binder is torn pages for Thanksgiving themes appetizers, fun cocktails, and variations on stuffing and pies. The years of freenWilliams-Sonoma’s meal guides are fantastic. Some recipes have stayed in there ten years before we attempted them, but it’s wonderful to have it all culled there for the season! I highly recommend if you don’t already do this. All we have to do is open the binder, and we’ve got our guide and some inspiration. We also love Thanksgiving: How to Cook it Well , by Sam Sifton, with stories, recipes, tips and room for notes for each year.

Choose a charitable thing for the season now. A great thing to do is ‘adopt’ a family for Christmas and buy them gifts. Another is taking your kids or yourself to the mall giving tree and pick some people and make an evening out of shopping and wrapping for them. We would do this when the boys were small and they’d get dinner out for doing it too. My family has also enjoyed helping at a children’s holiday fair and another time served meals. November is the time to check with your favorite local charity and see what is going to be needed. Doing something for others gives this season a lot more meaning. The Mercury is another good place that will publish how to help many kids and families that need help by November 25. Our family held coat drive one year at the local school for One Warm Coat. You can also do it by having a drop box on your front porch. It was great having my guys help collect the coats and deliver them at the end to one of the participating groups that can so use coats during winter.

I hope some of these ideas will get you thinking a bit about how to tackle the holiday a bit early and help you enjoy the season more.

I would love if you’d share any ideas and traditions that you have make the holidays easier below!

Have a great weekend,

Kim

P.S. I will be sharing some of my Thanksgiving table ideas from this year and past ones coming up soon!

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Some Fall Inspiration and Thoughts

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Hi friends. Just a quick little post to share a few good things. How are things in your neck of the woods? We have had the gambit here with the strongest storm we have had in years last weekend and now to warm and sunny again for Halloween. Guess this is fall in California!

It is persimmon season so don’t miss out on those. Just got this bunch from my sweet neighbor…

Last October, I did a fall table post and used the persimmons for the table. I tried to replicate something like it for Thanksgiving…

Anyway, I had a crazy few weeks, and went to see the son on a short jaunt to Salt Lake City. He goes to the University of Utah and it was nice to see his place and get to experience more of the city and also see cute Park City. More photos of it are on my Instagram under my Utah Story Bubble, under my bio. Utah is insanely beautiful and Salt Lake City is surrounded by snow-capped mountains right now. The town was a lot of fun and charming.

It was fun to travel for a weekend and I mainly wore white jeans, sweaters and these Paul Green boots all three days- which a few of you asked about on my Instagram. They were bought a while back, right before the pandemic and I am finally putting them to more use.

They have the nearly same ones still at Nordstrom. This is my first pair of Paul Green shoes and I know people rave about them- the quality and the comfort. I wore these in the snow in Park City and through the airport and all around town and my feet felt great! They were rained on and no marks left. It is definitely worth paying for better shoes that are going to be a go-to and workhorse in your wardrobe. I am wondering about a black pair too. All the gals in Utah wore combat boots with their pants and dresses and it looks current. Sometimes all you need is a great shoe to update everything. The coat is a classic I wear all the time from Emerson Fry.

Right before I left, I hosted a Bunco group. It was the first gathering we have had indoors since the pandemic. We don’t play anymore, just socialize. To make sure we all had space, Max and I spread the sectional and chairs far apart, and took up the whole main space in the house. Everyone was vaccinated and I made individual appetizer platters for each person.

I was hoping to find individual wooden charcuterie boards, from Target, but not having any luck, instead used these slightly larger trays.

What is fun on these individual boards:

  • Consider the season and add a whimsical touch I added a little pumpkin shortbread cookie for an October vibe.
  • Seasonal fruits – I went with grapes and clementines, but sliced persimmons, pears or apples could be good for fall.
  • A triangle of brie, and some chèvre drizzled with honey, walnuts and pomegranate seeds.
  • A variety of crackers (I like Raincoast Crisps, Italian breadsticks, and rosemary crackers.) Ask your friends who is gluten-free. I had a basket of two kinds of gluten-free crackers. I think it’s nice to have extra baskets of the other crackers nearby also as you never have enough with boards.
  • A sweet side where I broke up bars of Ghirardelli Salted Dark Chocolate, chocolate powdered almonds and date bite cookies.
  • A savory side which I added ribboned uncured Italian salami, English Cheddar slices, olives and almonds.

The pros about these size boards versus a smaller ones is you have a bit more room for balancing them on the lap. Cons are- they are bigger, so you need more food. I might have done too much, especially with women. My husband took a tray to his office to eat during the gathering and thought it was the right amount. Consider who you are entertaining! Using them next time, I would do less food and perhaps take up part of the tray with a cute napkin and individual knife rolled up and tied.

These trays are melamine, so they stack well for storage. I bought these with the dark green stripe to use at Christmas and in the summer outdoors, as they can take on a camping look. They also have this cute plaid! Think of the holiday possibilities!

Evening photos aren’t so great, but I had almost no time to photograph them after pulling these together!

One day before the Bunco gathering, I had the nicest lunch ever at Cindy Hattersley’s beautiful new home in Salinas. Cindy downsized from her huge home in the country that you may recall I featured here on Californians at Home.

Her new home was previously a rental for them. They moved to the most charming neighborhood and in swift time, turned this lovely Spanish style home into a sanctuary with the most inviting garden where she hosted six of us for a birthday lunch for Mary Ann and I.

You may have seen on my Instagram, some of the gorgeous pics and a fun Reel I made. It was the loveliest day and Heidi, Elizabeth, Juliet and Annie (all the way from Connecticut) were part of it too. Annie did a great post on the whole day with a lot of photos of Cindy’s gorgeous home and yard- and the pretty table- and fantastic food! See it all here on Annie’s blog. I felt so lucky to be with all these sweet ladies!

Cindy’s home was so inspiring and her fall decor especially, I wanted you to see… How beautiful is this?

Cindy blogs about all of it and has shown the progression of her new place on her blog, Cindy Hattersley Design.

These girls are so kind and generous and I got three books I am LOVING. They are all so enjoyable and true treasures for your library..and yes great gifts if you need some. Julia Reed’s South is wonderful if you are into cooking and entertaining with great stories and recipes. Athena Calderone’s Live Beautifully has some of the freshest and modern, but pretty homes and kitchens to inspire you. Romantics and Classics invites you into some of the beautiful historic homes never seen in the English countryside!

I also got the coolest wooden carved salad servers from Mary Ann. They would make a lovely gift for a hostess or friend with a block-print towel like this one.

I couldn’t wait to put them with my wooden spoon collection..

Also Cindy gave me the sweetest olive wood bowls from one of my favorite shops in Carmel, Tancredi & Morgan. I’m in love with them!

I’ve got the holiday season on the brain and have been trying to find small treasures like these before the holidays hit! Anthro has a nice collection of block-printed kitchen towels ..

Pairing a towel with a small thing like a candle- like the one below, or a small bowl- (like this one -also from Anthro), or candle holders or these little vases are all good and not too pricey gifts for girlfriends or hostesses.

I try and buy several and then keep them on hand for upcoming gatherings during the season.

Also, on my radar, if you are a tennis player as I am, and love design, you may have noticed the Marimekko tennis collaboration with Adidas..My friend Jeanne had one of the looks on the other day and it was SO cute! I want the skirt and there is also jackets, dresses and a shrug to protect the arms, as well as tennis shoes, swimsuits, sweats and more. The whole collaboration can be seen here, but has already sold out on some pieces, so don’t wait if you like it! Also more of it at Nordstrom too.

Lastly, I ended this crazy week with my first colonoscopy. I waited longer than most people because of surgery for a fibroid, and then the pandemic. I knew I wanted to get this done, as my dear friend Wendy passed away at age 45. I hate stuff like this, but I can say it wasn’t bad and the actual procedure felt like a small nap. The prep was the hardest part, drinking 64 ounces of Gatorade with Miralax in two separate sequences. I honestly couldn’t get it all down, but the procedure went fine, and not really any after issues

either. Colon cancer is one of the most treatable cancers if caught early, that’s why everyone needs a screening as early as possible.

Please friends, do not put this off. I now am good for ten years!

I hope you have a great Halloween weekend and some fun. We are making our usual chili and quesadillas and hoping we get a few little goblins after really missing them last year.

Thanks for stopping by!

Kim

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Signature Style – Trending Now the Leather Look

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It’s that time again for the monthly Signature Style with Cindy and Sarah! This episode we are talking leather or more specifically, the leather ‘look’. The items I am going to show today are mostly vegan leather except for a vintage jacket. The items I am referring to as leather have a leather look, lest there be any confusion. It’s the vibe we are aiming for here and the new vegan ‘leather’ is more comfortable and affordable than the real thing and kinder too.

Leather looking skirts and looser joggers have been all over Vogue and on the streets during recent fashion weeks. It looks like leather is here for again for fall and it’s becoming a bit of a classic. I have never before owned a pair of leather pants, but I do love the look of them with a soft sweater. When I think of leather pants this is the image that comes to the forefront of my brain- Olivia Newton-John and her albums… If you grew up in the 80’s she was the girl everyone wanted to be.

Still looks pretty great doesn’t it?

For those not hitting the bars or traveling with a band, think of ‘leather’ pants as a cooler option to the classic black pant. Why not? They add a touch of luxe and a bit of rock n’ roll to an upscaled outfit. Also, being over fifty, the traditional black dress pant can scream old school slacks to me and I want to avoid that!

I recently found two pairs -a slim fit legging type and a jogger pant in ‘leather.’ They felt much more comfortable than I expected and do elevate everything I put them with. A few of the looks I pulled together with these two pants..

Try a pair of slim leather pants with a longer top or oversized sweater for a more polished everyday look that’s still comfortable. These below, are a little more like a pant. Below, the straight leg pull ons with a long white button up, sneakers, a sweater for wrapping around the shoulder and a Rebecca Minkoff chain bag. An elevated errand day look!

Similar, but a bit more fitting-and very popular by Spanx are their Faux Leather Ankle Skinny Pants. My friend just bought these to wear with pretty blouses for parties and the holidays. Note: many of these pants run a bit large so read the sizing reviews.

The leather joggers are soft and something that you can have fun with. I dressed them up with an Ulla Johnson blouse I found on consignment and dressy sandals- modern and pretty feel for a dinner out. ( Also just for the record the day I took these photos we had hurricane winds, so I look a little crazy!)

Below, a super comfy look using the joggers with a denim shirt, shearling Birks and a cross-body.

Leather looking skirts of all lengths are also back and wrap and gathered waist versions seem popular and more livable than your traditional skirt. I don’t have a leather skirt, but I do like the newer relaxed looking versions like below.. so cute!

(Lisa Aiken Neiman’s new Fashion Director- link to her below also)

One perennial classic is the moto jacket. I never really coveted a motorcycle type jacket until a summer trip to Europe a few years ago. It was July and as it was Northern Europe, I was freezing my butt off and this California girl’s denim jacket wasn’t cutting it. I noticed in Germany, Belgium and all the towns we stopped, so many stylish women were sporting a small moto jackets. They looked cool and flattered all body types. After wearing a blanket over my denim out at night (truly), I hit the high street in Salzburg and found a jacket at the first shop for 40 Euros. Sold! These little jackets are a staple for women in Europe and a good classic to have in the the wardrobe. I still have the original and another in real leather from years ago.

My original Salzburg jacket- worn over a Jenni Kayne T-shirt dress I love, (link below) dressed up and dressed down depending on footwear and accessories.

Don’t be afraid to occasionally add a nice looking sneaker to your dresses if it will make you wear them more. These bootie sneakers are good for a day in the city, museums, etc with a dress. My husband says I look cool when I add them to dresses! He doesn’t remark on a lot.

Finally my real vintage leather moto jacket worn dressed up. This is over my favorite DVF silk dress . I added some lug sole Paul Green combat boots (similar on link), I bought before the pandemic. I think they give this a bit of a younger feel than heels. My very favorite way to wear this jacket is with a big black sweater, white jeans and black flat boots or sneakers.

Below some leather looks that have inspired me lately..

Lisa Aiken, Neiman’s Fashion Director in a vegan ‘leather’ wrap skirt and friend with looser ‘leather’ pants.
Images via Vogue and Pinterest.

I hope you are excited to look at leather looking pieces and see what might add some cool to your fall wardrobe game. Go through the closet and drag out those leather pieces you might have for fall. Husband’s jackets are fair game too as the oversized look is in! Consignment places as always are a treasure trove also.

If you need to add a piece your collection below a few good vegan leather options in all price points..

Astars Inverness Skirt, Side Split Pencil Skirt, Bardot Pants, Cropped Joggers, Alice & Olivia Combo Pant, Belted Tan Pants, Laundry Pull On Leggings in Bordeaux, Halogen Joggers, Avec Les Filles Vegan Moto Jacket, Blank NYC Faux Moto Jacket, Jenni Kayne Leopard T-Shirt Dress, Bias Cut Printed Slip Dress, Target Tapered Ankle Pants, New Day Ankle Leggings,

Now please stop by Cindy Hattersley and Sarah London’s blogs and see what they do with leather. I am always getting ideas from what they share and both have so much personal style.

Thanks for stopping by. Please leave a comment if you have any thoughts or things to add about today’s leather theme!

Kim

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Project Design -Cozy Fall Home

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It’s fall and what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Getting cozy..sweaters, fires, hot drinks, soups, blankets and boots. Bring on the hygge! I was excited to be asked to join this Project Design collaboration today on Cozy Home. What makes a home feel warm and inviting?

Start with the front porch..

This weekend Max and I did a deep clean of the front yard. You can go buy pumpkins, but if your entry has a season’s worth of dust and spiders… get out there! We took a long duster to the eaves and lanterns, hosed off the porch and shined up the windows. We even wiped down the mailbox and swept the walk, and cleaned the front door. This is something nice to do seasonally. It really made the entry shine.

Next add a few pumpkins. You can go simple with one large one or go for the stacking method which seems popular here with varying pumpkin sizes and colors. If you have a long walkway you can put them along the path which is cute. If you have containers you can remove the plants and add small pumpkins and gourds as I did here with a few yard cuttings..I also added some mums and I even left them in the black pots they came in as they blended in behind the pumpkins. I went with the burgundy color this year for a change.

Make sure your welcome mat is in good shape. Maybe this is the time to get a new one so your place is looking sharp for the holidays? Pottery Barn has a nice selection of mats. I just moved a pillow and an old wool blanket to the front bench. If you can add a bench it is a nice welcome.

Since we have a front patio as well, I added a throw to the chairs out there and a candle. It just looks inviting and and reminds me it’s a nice place to chill and watch the sunset or enjoy a sunny coffee on fall mornings.

Sprinkle seasonal accents indoors..

How does it feel when someone enters your space? Ours is very open, but I moved our large wool rug right in the entry to so you hit a warm landing as you enter and changed out the coat tree things to some scarves, jackets and hats we use in fall.

I got this cute pedestal bowl as a gift and put on my island with gourds and pumpkins. I added small mum to the kitchen counter too.

I had no flowers for my round vase, so foraged the yard and took a branch off a tree for a little greenery. A bowl of pears or apples anywhere in the kitchen smells great and says harvest season..

To help the living and family rooms feel snug, add throws, extra pillows, perhaps a candle. Fall is a good time to set up a designated space for board games, or a table with a puzzle that’s being worked on is fun if you have space for it.. A basket to your main hangout room with a few blankets and throws that are easy to grab, is a nice touch too.

I warmed up the white couch with my cream and beige pillows and throws. I like the addition of creams with whites for some warmth in the cooler months.

In dining rooms you can add a little fun the the table with pumpkins..I also added a striped and tasseled throw to the bench. On the barstools I added an older pillow from Zara Home and we moved our record player and albums to the chest here so we will play them more.

I popped one of my white pumpkins with a few other bits..

In our media room, I added some darker elements and books and a fall candle to our new bookshelf!

In the bedroom, you can add some plusher elements also.

I keep my white coverlet from Crate & Barrel on all year and layer a comforter when it gets cold at the end of the bed, but during this in between time, a faux fur throw transitions it from a summer bed without the heavy duvet and looks snuggly.

It’s really just a matter of adding in details to make your place feel homey and warm. In my own space, I like adding more wood and dark elements along with creams. I think my family does love the festive bit on the porch and also the pleasant feel of soft throws on the beds and the couches.

Have fun with this season!

If you need a few things to bring a cozy vibe to the home..

From top left, by row…

Lapin Fine Faux Fur Throw, Gingham Linen Pillow Cover, Arhaus Faux Fur Throw,

Amber Lewis Cabin Blanket, Dodie Door Mat, Woven Rattan Pedestal Bowl

Anouk Pillows, Apothecary 18 Candle, Celeste White Quilt Coverlet

Block Print Pillows (on sale!), White Pedestal Bowl , Falling Leaves Bunch.

Please visit these beautiful blogs for some fresh ideas for the fall home…


Most Lovely Things

Cindy Hattersley Design

Classic Casual Home

11 Magnolia Home

Make Mine A Spritzer

Thank you for stopping by! I love to hear your feedback so please leave me a comment with any tips or thoughts.

Kim

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Friday Finds

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Happy October! Today just a quick post to share a few good finds I’ve had on my radar and mentioned on the gram in the past week. I haven’t done one of these for a while, so I thought I’d cull everything together in one crazy post!

So far I’ve only filled my Centerpiece Bowl from Crate & Barrel with gourds and little pumpkins on the island. Last year I had these guys in another wooden bowl.. I guess I sort of go with a similar theme, wooden containers always!

I’m getting excited for fall clothes and just bought this shirtdress at J.Crew. It’s now on sale which I missed. I love how they styled it here.. ( hard to see, but it has pin tucks.) I’ll report back when I receive it… I also bought this necklace…

In the interim, these corduroy shorts by Carve have been my go-to. Love them for fall days with sweaters and sweatshirts. I like the mid-rise and 4 inch inseam. They have a retro vibe and comfort I really love. I bought mine at REI, but I don’t see them there anymore, but they can also be found here at Amazon.

There are so many pretty colors I may get another pair. I like the thyme and tan and cinnamon shades. You can also buy them here at Title Nine where they also come in a longer 10 inch inseam.

I wore the shorts for day all over Tahoe last weekend. It was so nice to be back there again after two months of scary fires and smoky weather. It’s a beautiful time to go to Tahoe and they need the tourists badly. We did some bike rides and picnics and just enjoyed fall walks.

I wore the shorts with my Frame scalloped black sweatshirt – one of my favorite things.

Frame has a beautiful fall collection this year. Everything is chic, casual, and modern. The whole collection here. I want to add a few more pieces to my wardrobe. They are a bit more pricey, but beautifully made and classics with a twist.

While I was in Tahoe, I found these cute mugs for the cabin. I adore the Swiss Cross pattern for mountain homes and these mugs were at a shop in Truckee and , but can also be bought here.

Looking for them online, I found this cozy Swiss Cross throw I will get for the bottom of the guy’s beds at the cabin.. or maybe here at home. They are highly rated and come in a grey too. It’s a great look folded on a the end of a bed or on the arm of a couch.

Amazon does SOMETIMES have good things and occasionally I find stuff. Two other things I’ve loved from there lately..

One is these wooden beads that popped up when I was buying some floor cleaner! They looked nice and so I figured why not? They are surprisingly even cuter in person and I have them on a book stack in the media room..

My other new obsession from Amazon is this soap called Hand Ritual. Made in the CALIFORNIA! The bottles look great, smells light and lovely and my hands feel soft. My designer Debbie who did the space planning for the home brought the soap over when she took photos of the house and I was hooked. It’s also vegan, plant based and cruelty free. Looks cool in the guy’s bathroom..

I finally bought this book – Danielle Rollin’s A Home for All Seasons. I was looking for a book to inspire me with the holidays coming and this is a great one. Clearly most of us don’t have the funds she does to entertain, but I am finding the way she lives- the beautiful organization of the pantry and linen closet, along with the beautiful desk and stationery and pens something we could all do in our own way. Why not make every space lovely? This gets me motivated to make my house just as organized and pretty.

Don’t forget if you have been waiting on any Serena & Lily purchases they are having their big fall sale now, until October 5th. They are having 20% off most everything. I am buying a few more of their gorgeous towels. I have loved the softness, and quality so much! Two years later they are still soft and not fraying one bit. Use the code NEWSEASON until October 5th.

Have you all been watching more shows? Max and I have been getting into more since fall has come. We broke down and got Apple TV and it’s been worth it for Ted Lasso alone. That show has to be the most uplifting program I’ve ever watched – and who doesn’t need that now? I’m just trying to figure out how to get my dad to be able to watch it also. The Morning Show we have started and while not as upbeat, it’s full of good acting and fab homes and the wardrobes of Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon which I’m loving.

Remember this sweater from my jean posts? Well Mary Ann from Classic Casual Home just bought it in petite and she looks great in it with boots. I think it’s appealing with the flowers. It’s rare to see a nice cashmere sweater with a good print. A few other friends have bought it too. I just wanted to share cute Mary Ann’s way of wearing it. She bought it in a petite and it comes in plus and regular too.

I am sorry I’ve been slow posting the last month. I have been easing into fall, but have two posts coming in the next weeks- a cozy home collaboration and talking about leather- or faux leather, for Signature Style so stay tuned.

Have a beautiful autumn weekend !

Kim

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SIGNATURE STYLE – FALL DENIM REPORT

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Can you believe it’s September? As much as I love summer, I am ready for the change to-fall and warm clothes. Denim is always uppermost in my mind when I think of my fall wardrobe. Here in California it’s our uniform so much of the time, so I was excited that Cindy and Sarah wanted to do denim for our Signature Style series this month. I do get a lot of inquiries throughout the year from readers who want flattering jean recommendations. Hopefully this post will help and I’ll share my personal favorite brand and a few new discoveries for Fall 2021.

This year it looks like the straight leg is gaining more traction, and as women embrace more comfortable clothes after a year plus at home the momentum for them is just getting stronger. The challenge is finding the right pair that suits your body type. I prefer the straight legs that are cropped and have a more slim cut as a petite person. The ankle flair is also a strong second to the straight leg and that jean shows off your sneakers and booties. Wide legs and mom jeans are also trending, but you have to find what feels good and flatters you. I think we can all agree the skinny is slowly going out.

Before buying any jeans, I urge you to look at what you already own. It takes 1,800 gallons of water to grow the cotton to produce just one pair of denim jeans. The manufacturing processes also use toxic dyes. Many companies, especially those who manufacturers premium denim in the U.S., are using uprecycled cottons and less toxic chemicals and less water in manufacturing. Buy mindfully and consider denim from places like Crossroads Trading and other consignment stores that have great denim collections. Upcycling is what all the young people are doing, and we need to get onboard. I have found one of my coolest pairs of jeans that way.

Take some time and bring all your jeans out, try them on by a full length mirror and see what you still love. Keep only what feels and looks good. You can also have some altered to be ankle length or ankle flair, which is great with booties. If you’re brave, take a pair of sharp scissors and cut them to be ankle grazing if you want a change.

Assesing my jeans I have 12 pairs, including an almost 17 years old pair from Gap. I don’t know how it kept making the cut, but it’s a straight leg, mid-rise and no stretch classic pair. I would say most of my jeans last me at least 5-6 years and are a mix of Frame, Paige, Anthropologie, and a few other premium brands, and some found at consignment.

Right now the pair I love best is from Frame and I have had at them 6 years, and they still sell the style, Le Garcon . They feel great on and don’t have too much stretch, are slim at the lower leg, but not tight at the waist and hips.. That’s a great cut that is slimming, but doesn’t feel like a skinny jean. About a year or ago, I realized they would look more updated with the hem cut and a bit shorter so I carefully cut them.

Here I am wearing them back in 2016 on a trip to SFMoma..

Frame is considered premium denim, is made in California with higher standards and sustainable practices and materials. They have a section of extra sustainable styles- like the straight leg here (below left)and I especially love this slouch pair, (center), and this gorgeous pair made in Italy , (right.)

I also did a trip last weekend to Anthropologie to see what they have as I have bought a few of their house brand denim, Pilcro and like them. I tried three pairs and the Slim Boyfriend Jeans below, were my favorite. I bought these in regular, but they have petite, tall and plus sizes in these.

I appreciate that they are 32% recycled cotton which is good for the earth. If you’re on the short side like me, or are short-waisted, consider petite as the rise is 2.5 inches shorter, so they won’t feel like the waist is too high. The regular size has 9.5 inch rise, which wasn’t extreme. The gauze blouse is new from Cloth & Stone, one of the best brands. I loved this color for fall!

Another way to style these same jeans is with the cuffs pulled up instead of rolled. I especially like this look with boots. Try it if your jeans are usually rolled for a more structured look.

This rose cashmere sweater was another item I fell in love with at Anthro. I’m a sucker for florals.

Also by Pilcro, Anthro’s in house denim brand, is The Wanderer Jean, which I would call a painter’s pant back in the day, and are deemed ‘relaxed’ fit, but they also say ultra high rise. Those two don’t go together in my mind. Still, they are cute and new and will give a updated look to the wardrobe for sure. I’m still thinking about them.

It looks much cooler on the model and I like how they have clogs with it. A perfect transitional autumn look and feel!

This jean comes 3 different washes, and petite and plus sizes, and the cotton is from a special mill in Turkey that is dedicated to environmental practices. Many of the Anthro jeans are coming from places like this. Look at the details in the description before you buy!

I also tried the Selvedge Borrowed Boyfriend Jean by Pilcro and it’s made at a mill in Milan, which is called ‘the greenest mill in the blue world’ and does not use any toxins at all in their process, which can pollute waterways. I love that so much. It comes in tall, petite and plus and is what I would call an old school jean, not much stretch, but won’t sag on you and I think will soften up over time. It’s a classic straight leg and because of this special mill and cotton, this jean is a bit more expensive.

The super soft Pointelle Cardigan was another good find and a classic I’ll wear a lot this fall. I’m thinking of getting another in black while they have them..

Speaking of cost for denim, an Instagram friend read I had my old Gap jeans and she remarked she still had her Guess jeans! Do you remember those? They were quite pricey back in the 80’s, like near $100. I remember saving for them. That was nearly 40 years ago. You know what’s remarkable about that? Costs of denim haven’t gone up much in 40 years. You can still walk into Gap and buy jeans for $50 or less. Is that a good thing? Not necessarily. Beware of cheap denim, the labor may be child labor or people working in horrible conditions for low wages and it may be made with polluting chemicals.

Since I called out Gap here, out of fairness I checked out the denim they did have that was made with their new Washwell program which saves millions of liters of water. No initiatives yet for the chemicals or information on factories and labor practices, but it’s something. The Mid-Rise Girlfriend was a decent jean with almost no stretch, but a classic look and unfitted leg. I think these had a lot of extra fabric in the hip area, so you can size down, but actually felt okay on and comes in petite and tall and run $48 (online), or $69 regular price in store.

I liked the wash and with their classic Gap Organic Button-up shirt button down you could do worse. The Deconstructed Mid-Rise Girlfriend (center), is also cute and I like the raw hem. High Rise Vintage Slim Jean (right), which wasn’t at my local Gap, but looks like a chic simple cut too.. All below are using the Washwell technology.

Gap has a lot to choose from, but still had a ton of ‘jeggings’ at my local store. I’m not sure why you would buy those, but they have truck loads. They could also give the store a good vacuum and clean the fitting room mirrors, but I digress..I was kind of saddened the brand is not being cared for like it once was.

In other news, Vogue just has an article that Old Navy will be the first retailer to integrate plus sizes into the regular women’s up to size 30. Old Navy already has done this and so you can shop for the denim in all sizes which will be helpful and more equitable as half of women in America are considered plus and now their sizes will be with all the others, not off in a corner.

J. Crew is also expanding their denim and has up to size 23- 37 in jeans. These Vintage Slim Jeans seen like a perfect straight leg look… I’ve been wearing their white jeans all summer and plan to continue.

Please share your musings on denim in the comments. Do you like the new straight legs or are you still a skinny jean person? What brands are your favorites and have you shopped thrift or vintage for upcycled styles? I’d love to hear.

Please visit Cindy Hattersley and Sarah London with their own takes on Signature Style for denim on their blogs today!

 

Kim

For more inspiration and more ideas for to style denim, you can follow my Pinterest Board, Jean Love.

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