Hot Leather In the City

It is officially fall and the weather is finally cooling down, so now is prime time to rock your favorite fall trends. Last year, we posted about the faux leather trend, and this year the trend continues. Today's focus is on faux leather dresses,  which we absolutely love but are a bit wary of pulling off. Our theory is that you can start off gradual with just some leather embellishments and then before you know it, you will be clad head to toe in leather like Angelina Jolie on the red carpet.

1.  The Limited | 2. DKNY | 3. Aqua | 4. Urban Code | 5. Urban Hearts | 6. Top Shop

 XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Nice Bootie

Our trip to the mall this weekend helped us scope out some of the things we hope to pick up during those black Friday and cyber Monday sales. One of the main items on our list is a cute pair of booties.  Recently Jen went on a boot bender and ordered at least a dozen boots from Zappos before finding the perfect pair of knee high boots to fit her wide calves. But while knee high boots are sexy, and great for those of us who can't bear the thought of giving up our skirts in the winter, the hassle that comes with finding a pair can be frustrating. Measuring calves, packaging and returning, struggling to zip them - it's all very time consuming and somewhat stressful. So, put down that measuring tape and focus your energy on snagging yourself a great pair of ankle booties. Ankle booties are really popular right now and can be dressed up for work or down for casual get togethers. Wear these heeled booties with your jeans and sparkly top or a cute dress and tights for a holiday worthy look that is casually cool and chic:

1. Nine West | 2. Anthropologie | 3. DKNYC | 4. Kimchi Blue |

5. Seychelles | 6. Jessica Simpson | 7. Madewell | 8. Steve Madden |

XOXO

Jen & Saira

Hot Gloves for Cold Weather

The Christmas lights are up, the snow is falling, and pretty soon we'll be waking up early to de-ice our windshields and salt the sidewalk.  As much as we hate to admit it (except Jen, because she is actually a crazy winter lover), the chilly winter weather is fast approaching.  Don't get stuck fumbling for your keys in the bitter cold, or shivering as you try to drive your car with the ice cold steering wheel!  Keep your digits free from frigid temps with a warm and soft pair of gloves or mittens.  Know someone who needs a little warming up?  A great pair of gloves or mittens can be really handy (pun intended) and would make a really cute gift or stocking stuffer this holiday season.  And, speaking of gifts, don't forget to comment on today's post for another chance to win a prize during our 12 Days of Christmas Gift Promotion!!

Black and elegant, these gloves from Anthropologie are the perfect pair to shield your fingers from the winter chill.  The pearl and jewel embellishments are very retro chic, perfect for your dressier occasions or if you're just feeling fancy.

These teal gloves from Modcloth are bright and fuzzy, perfect for keeping your hands warm and dry on a brisk winter morning.  Plus, not only are the lightweight and practical, they are adorable with their sweet ruffle detail on the cuff.

Beads and bows are just so classically girly that we can't help but adore these Milly gloves. Available in 3 colors, these wool gloves are as warm as they are charming!  Also, bows kind of remind us of Christmas, and, well..if the glove fits..

Send a text or keep your fingers?  Is this what our world has come to with the advent of the iphone and the touch screen?  Well, lucky for you, we just might have found a stylish solution.  Avoid the risk of frostbite with these dainty and super colorful gloves. These pretty gloves are fashion friendly and have a special touch pad on the thumb and ring finger so you'll never have text while glove-less again!

These cute knit gloves from Urban Outfitters remind us childhood fun with their bright gold color and bit of sparkly glitter.  Best of all, these gloves are super thick and warm, with a furry lining to keep your fingers extra cozy.  Let the snowball fights begin!

You'll be saluting in style with these gray military inspired gloves.  The gray cable knit pattern is classic and understated, but the three rows and gold buttons give these gloves just the right amount of personality that we think will pair perfectly with some black boots and your navy blue pea coat.

Planning ahead for some serious blizzards?  We suggest a great pair of gloves like these by Dakine.  Sure, they may be bulky and unattractive, but gloves made for winter sports are waterproof and are particularly designed to keep your hands completely warm and dry for hours!

And, finally, is it a glove? a mitten? It's both! The perfect marriage of glove and mitten, the "glitten" gives you the dexterity of gloves and the warmth of mittens all in one. Target seems to have the largest variety of colors and styles, but you can really find a pair of these pretty much anywhere these days.

Baby, it's cold outside.

XOXO

Jen & Saira

Fall Fashion: Leaf Jewelry

Autumn in NJ is known for brightly colored, falling leaves.  We love fall and we love accessories, so, why not combine the two? Leaf jewelry makes it easy to add some fall flair to your wardrobe and with the kick off of the holiday season we think some of these items would be great gifts!  Here are a few great styles we've come across:

Dainty and delicate, this leaf necklace by JewelryDeli is a great find for those elegant special occasions or for your classic, everyday, work attire.

This modern style leaf bracelet by Juliesadorabowls is certainly something to swoon over.  It's got just the right gold tone and it's clean lines and modern shapes make it easily wearable all year long.

For a slightly more statement like necklace you can choose this one by Mystic Moon Studio.  The bold leaves will certainly draw some attention and update your fall or winter wardrobe. 

You don't need to be a Greek goddess to rock a bracelet like this one, by BeadsbyEvelyn.  Show the world you're a winner in this bracelet that we think is reminiscent of Greek laurel wreaths, a symbol a victory.

Hello, modern!  This is not you typical fall inspired jewelry.  Paper Demon Jewelry's necklace is a crisp, modern, and romantic take on fall with an icy blue color that can seamlessly transition to winter.

How this is done we cannot comprehend, but lauralidesigns uses real leaves, hand painting and gold plating them, to create these lovely little works of art.  The detail is amazing and they are real leaves so each pair is slightly different from the next, making them as unique as you are!

This necklace by FreshyFig has a classic leaf  pattern with modern varying sizes, but the antique brass gives it overall vintage charm.  We think this would look stunning on some fall wedding bridesmaids in strapless navy gowns!

Sometimes simpler is better and, when it comes to jewelry, it's nice to have pieces that are versatile.  These earrings by roundabout are so simple that they can go with pretty much any outfit, for any season.  

Express your love for fall in this casual, understated bracelet by Silkstone Designs.  The thin suede wrap-around band and tiny leaf charm make this bracelet the perfect one to accompany your weekend jeans and t-shirt look.

An acquaintance of ours, a best friend of a friend, has recently started selling jewelry through her company, Gypsy Warrior!  We want to help her spread the word because not only is her stuff lovely, it's unique and therefor right up the PDR ally.  Check out these fun, dangly leaf earrings and other accessories on her etsy shop!

Hammered metal makes a statement and this handmade bracelet is no exception.  Be bold and show your your edgy side this Fall with a metal leaf shaped cuff like this one by birdforbread.





XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Thanksgiving Tips and Style

This week we celebrate one of our favorite holidays, Thanksgiving!  The one time a year that we are allowed to stuff ourselves like a turkey and not feel too guilty about it in the end. For our Turkey Day post we're going to channel our inner Martha Stewart once again and share tips on how to make your Thanksgiving extra special. While all the focus is normally on the food (as it should be), we paper dolls certainly have a great number of things to be thankful for this year.  We are thankful for our wonderful families & friends, our health,  our loyal readers, and, of course, finding beauty in simple things like place settings, serving dishes, and decorations, among other things!  So, while you ponder over what you will be thankful for this year, take a look at some things we found that can help make your Thanksgiving even more enjoyable!

While Thanksgiving isn't exactly a five-course meal (more like one neverending course) sometimes it helps to serve "appetizers" first in order to keep your guests satiated while carving that big turkey.  We love serving roasted butternut squash or pumpkin soup before the big meal, and a friend of ours suggested serving it in mini pumpkin bowls. Just scoop out the insides, add in soup, and you have a bowl that is both functional and lovely.

Sticking with the squash theme, be creative when making your table settings! We love this turkey squash, because it's easy to make and very cute.  Just find some well-shaped gourds, fold up a napkin, and voila! This is also a great way to keep the kids busy while you're busy prepping the meal, which is definitely a big help.

Centerpieces certainly help to beautify your dining area.  For Thanksgiving there are many options to choose from such as pumpkins, gourds, bunches of wheat, leaves, candles, a cornocopia, etc.  Any of these things would be perfect for your harvest celebration! We particularly like the charming look of the table above with the simple, colorful maize centerpiece and vintage tablecloth!

And, speaking of tablecloths, we had to steal at least one idea from our girl Martha.  Check out these lovely printed linens!  If you're feeling crafty, and want to really personalize your table, you can hand stamp your own linens for a look that is totally charming!

Pottery Barn always has the cutest plates for Thanksgiving. While these dishes are sold through PB Kids, we wouldn't mind serving all our guests on these colorful turkey plates. Unfortunately, they're all sold out online, so run down to the nearest PB and stock up!

Start your own Thanksgiving tradition  by having your family write down what they're thankful for this year. Have them sign it and mark the year, and slowly you'll get a wonderful collection of Thanksgiving memories. Save it in an album or make a tablecloth by stitching on a new leaf every year and share these memories with your loved ones each Thanksgiving.

Sitting at the kids table shouldn't be a punishment! Cover the kids table with brown paper, throw in some crayons, construction paper, and scissors and let the kids make their own decorations! They can color on the table for once in their life without getting into trouble, and you can give them Thanksgiving themed projects (turkey hands, pilgrim hats, etc.) It will save you a lot of time and energy, and it will keep the kids occupied while the turkey is cooking.

But, the grown ups table can be a little more sophisticated.  We think plates like these by would be lovely for serving your holiday dinner! Not only are they whimsical and charming, but they would also serve as a beautiful conversation starter for your guests to get them sharing what they're thankful for!

If you have a big Thanksgiving, you'll probably have a ton of leftovers.  Bloggers Rex and Regina inspired us with their post about sending leftovers home in style! Rather than fishing for unmatched tupperware, plan ahead with cute cardboard boxes, ribbons, and card tags to provide your guests with their very own Thanksgiving-to-go.

While we look forward to this Thanksgiving with our families, it's important to remember there are many people out there who may not have a Thanksgiving this year.  We may write about our preferences for linens and centerpieces but we are sensitive to the fact that there are plenty families all around us who worry about important things like where they will sleep or where their next meal will come from. We know times are tough, but we ask that you please consider donating some time, some food, or some money to your local food bank or soup kitchen and help makes someone else's holiday special too.  In the end, isn't that what the holidays are all about?



Gobble Gobble!



XOXO

Jen & Saira

Fall Style: Coat and Jackets and Shawls, Oh My!

Fall weather can vary quite a bit, going from sunny and warm to windy and crisp. You don't want to whip out your heavy winter coat just yet, but your light spring trenches aren't quite right either. While we can't all be like Blair Waldorf and have a different jacket for every outfit, you can add a few more choices to your fall wardrobe so you can fluctuate with the weather. Here are some cute coats that will keep you warm and stylish this fall.

We've already talked about how we love the military look, so just add this one to the list! This navy blue, super cute peacoat is perfect for the fall!

We love this cropped wool coat from Zara as it's sure to keep you warm on a brisk November morning.  Plus, it's more casual than a mid length coat, and looks great with layering! 

If you want to dress it up a little, try this cute little capelet from Anthropologie! We admit, it won't exactly keep you warm, but we just love the colors and the cut so much that we had to include it on our list.  We've recently been considering how to stay warm during an outdoor wedding ceremony, and a cute coat may do just the trick. Wear it with long sleeves or elbow-length gloves and you'll stay warm till death do you part. 

Sticking with the plaid, we love this wrap coat available at Mod Cloth. It has a lovely vintage look to it (think Love Story) and the fleece collar will definitely keep you warm.  This coat has some staying power and we can even see it keeping you warm in the winter months to come.

We just love Mod Cloth! And one of the reasons is for their coat "warmness scale" which tells you what type of weather the coats are suitable for. This charming, mauve coat would be the perfect addition to any fall wardrobe.  It earns a rating of 3 out of 5, meaning perfect for fall or early winter but not quite warm enough to carry you through a blizzard.

Or, if you're feeling a bit more sassy, then opt for a fierce, fitted leather jacket. It's a nice blend of edgy and sexy, and we love the feminine fit and the wide collar. And bonus -- it's on sale! 

And, finally, a similar look is this fur-lined bomber jacket from Top Shop. It has great details and a snug fit, and you can pull up the collar to keep yourself extra warm.

That's a wrap!

XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Color Day Themes: Rustic Romance

Autumn in the Northeast is a beautiful time of year when the leaves on our trees glow with brilliant reds, yellows, and oranges.  Now, as we've said before, though coordinating and found together in nature, these hues can sometimes seem a little juvenile or hokey when put together as part of your decor. Sometimes the easiest way to gear up for Fall is to think "rustic".  Although rustic details are actually beautiful any time of year, they are particularly heartwarming in the fall.  Maybe it's because fall brings about a renewed connection with nature for many people or maybe it's because the smell of fall reminds us how much we love to layer, but whatever it is there is really nothing like the cozy and comfortable feeling of a rustic fall wedding.  Lucky for you, rustic details are easy!  Add a few loose flowers or candles to a mason jar, utilize branches and leaves, keep stationary simple, and add down home touches like pies or jam and you'll be all set!

Rustic Fall Wedding Inspiration Board

Images from: Anthropologie, ritzybee, Betsy White, Chillipit, Wedding Bee, Hello Lucky, Project Wedding, labellebride       

  

XOXO

Jen & Saira

Wedding Style: Hauntingly Gorgeous Goth

It's finally here!  With Halloween just two days away, this post concludes our creepy, kooky, mysterious, and spooky series.  When planning for your Halloween event it is not always necessary to include ghosts, pumpkins, witches and the like. If those things seem a little too silly and childish for you then the best alternative for you would be to think in terms of Gothic style.  Instead of ghouls and spider webs you get roses and lace.  The key players in this motif are black and dark, blood red, candles, ornate damask prints, and lace.  These may not be the most traditionally beautiful spaces, but there is something eerily enchanting about this type of decor that we just can't seem to resist.

Horror movies always take place in the dark, which means you need candles! Candles are a great way of adding light and ambiance to your venue, and the type of candles you choose can really shape the theme of your wedding. You can opt for heavy pewter candelabras with tall, thin candles, or large pillar candles to give it a Gothic feel.

We truly believe that your choice in flowers really sets your wedding theme, which is why we think these black calla lilies are perfect if you're going for a dark, Gothic theme.  Lilies are often related to funerals and death, but traditionally they signify innocence and purity! Regardless, they are beautiful. If you're not into the lilies, however, then opt for black roses as a nice twist on tradition.

This Gothic wedding cake proves that beauty is in the details.  Seriously, how gorgeous is this cake?! It simple, but so detailed! Covered in swirls, vines and flowers, this cake really helps evoke the feelings of love and passion and it just looks too good to eat!

Or, for something even more dramatic (did you think that was possible?) check out this bloody masterpiece.  It's gorgeous in that American Beauty meets True Blood meets Twilight kind of way.

The first thing you think of when you think of horror and Gothic style are skulls, and we agree with that sentiment.  However, as far as your wedding goes, you may want to hold back on the skulls, as it can be a little too kitschy and Hot Topic for our tastes.  With that said, we think you can use skulls in your decor to add a subtle and interesting look, without coming off as too Avril Levine. Try this silver skull place card holder, for example. It's small, discrete, and tasteful (as far as skulls go), plus it's practical!

Antique rings are both unique and beautiful!  This antique Edwardian ring is an intricate little work of art and would be a perfect engagement ring for the off-beat or Gothic bride.

Sexy & sultry, the birdcage veil is a must have for a modern Gothic wedding.  There is something about it that is just so mysterious and alluring.  Plus, the feathers on top really help to give this a costume-y Halloween feel.

Unique guest books are always fun!  This ultra eerie book and feather pen are a beautiful and unique way incorporate the Halloween theme into your event.  The torn pages are a nice touch and create an aged look and the matte finish on the frame and table certainly add to the drama.

 The Goth bride can't just wear any old dress - she needs a dress with character, something enchanting and a little different. Luckily Claire Pettibone has such a great eye for romantic details and this dress from her 2009 Fall collection is perfect for our post today.  Having a Halloween wedding doesn't have to mean costumes and scary make-up, it can be really feminine and pretty if done the right way.

Double, double toil and trouble.



XOXO

Jen & Saira

Color Day: Halloween (Orange and Black)

Better late than never!  We apologize to our regular readers for having to wait so long for today's color post so, without further ado:



 When it comes to selecting color schemes not everyone goes for soft, coordinating colors. Some brave souls take the road less traveled and go for bold contrast. Luckily for those with a flair for fright, Halloween is all about the drama! Orange and black are the traditional colors associated with Halloween, probably due to a variety of things such as darkness, death, and the general orange-y colors of the harvest. Orange and black can be a fun pairing to really get you in the "spirit" of fall, but it can also be elegant and warm depending on the shades of orange you go with.  A vibrant orange will give you that youthful, spooktacular, kind of feel while a butternut squash or pumpkin hue will create a space that feels more cozy and sophisticated.

Black and Orange Halloween Color Inspiration Board

Images from: a variety of wonderful sources that were lost when Jen's computer crashed.  We are working to recover them and will credit accordingly.

XOXO

Jen & Saira

Orange You Lovely

A good wedding guest will show up on time, not run up the drink tab, and compliment the decor or theme... at least that's our theory. Fall weddings means lots of orange details, and your attire should be no exception! While wearing orange is usually a pretty bold choice, especially at a more formal event, here are some ways to wear the color du jour and still look on fire:

You definitely won't be mistaken for a pumpkin in this sexy burnt orange dress by Elie Tahari.  It's soft and feminine enough to wear at a wedding or formal event, but add a blazer and you're all set for work or a night out. 

If orange isn't exactly your color, you can still look festive with this gorgeous floral necklace featuring orange tones in tiger lilies and hibiscus.  Wear it with a solid colored dress, and allow your accessories to speak for themselves.

Every gossip girl knows that you must have a headband of power to coordinate with every outfit.  Dress yourself from head to toe with this handmade headband designed with flowers and feathers. It's not too over the top, but it's definitely a fun and bold choice. Whether you have a cute pixie cut our luscious locks, your hair will thank you.

While not exactly subtle, this plaid dress plays up fall colors in a more understated way.  The geometrical neckline is only for the bold, but if you can pull it off, you will look sweet and sexy at the same time, as well as very fashion forward.

We're big fans of wearing bold shoes, like these orange satin pumps pictured above (which by the way are identical to the shoes Jen wore at her wedding!) We think it looks best with a more muted color dress, but if you're a New York Mets fan and want to pair these shoes with your royal blue dress, who are we to stop you?!

We're going to throw caution to the wind and say that you can pair this handmade clutch with a number of different colored dresses. Don't worry too much about matching... just focus on not clashing! We love this fabric because it shows different shades of red, orange, and yellow depending on how you hold it. So while you can definitely pair this with your LBD, why not accessorize your cute purple halter dress as well?

Your wrists deserve to be adorned with the warm and rich colors of fall!  We like this pumpkin/squash colored bracelet by Tooli.  At just $30 the price is right, it would look great with any color of the season, and it has little touches of pearls, perfect for brides and bridemaids, that add a refined touch of class.



Orange you glad we didn't say banana?



XOXO

Jen & Saira