Suz's Favorite Holiday Bling

It's the time of year when you can sparkle all day and night long. Why not wear your baubles during the day? It's the Holidays! Let your sparkle shine on.

Here are my favorite sparkly accessories for this season:


These earrings add just the right amount of bling to your outfit. Especially if you are already wearing something else sparkly. They are from Banana Republic and cost $29.50.

This beautiful statement necklace is from Hive and Honey. It's available on Piperlime.com for $68.00.





This bling-er-ific necklace is from Urban Outfitters and would be the perfect addition to your accessories collection. This piece costs $34.00




This fun, bold, cuff bracelet will jazz-up any ensemble. Ann Taylor sells this bracelet for $88.00.



This similar option is from Monet and is sure to add pizazz to your day for $45.00.


Every lady needs a big, gaudy, statement ring. Fact.

These are both from Forever 21 and are only $5.80/ea!

If you're not bold enough to wear something quite as blingy, try one of these more subtle, yet still sparkly options:


This necklace is from Monet for $30.00. It looks like a small disco ball in person. I liked this one so much I almost purchased it for a friend of mine -- then I remembered we agreed we were no longer exchanging gifts.


These earrings are a classic with just enough bling to make them 'holiday-worthy.' They are also from Monet and retail for $24.00.

It's the holidays...go ahead and put a little sparkle, a little shine, a little shimmer and a whole lot of fun back into your accessories and your day!


'Til Next Time,
Stay Stylish!

Suz on Holiday Parties

SUZ ON HOLIDAY PARTIES

Ahh, it's finally here, the holiday season. Can you hear the sleigh bells ringing? Who cares about sleigh bells?!?!?! I want to hear the delightful 'clinky clinky' sound of toasting my champagne flute!

Wondering what to wear this year? Well, don't worry your stylish little head about it anymore. Suz is here with the perfect holiday party look for this holiday season 2010. (And I'm not talking about festive Christmas sweaters.)

There is only one thing you need to remember about holiday dressing this year: Sequins. Yes, that's right. SEQUINS! They are everywhere.

There are three main sequins pieces out right now. They come in all price points.

1.) Sequin tanks

Top left: Urban Outfitters, $39.00

Top Middle: Forever 21, $17.80

Middle: J.Crew, $69.50

MiddleLeft: Ann Taylor Loft: $69.50

Middle Right: Forever 21, $17.80

Bottom left: Forever 21, $19.80

2.) Sequin jackets/cardis

Left: Forever 21, $24.80

Middle: J.Crew, $128.00

Bottom left: Urban Outfitters, $79.00

Bottom Right: Forever 21, $24.80

3.) Sequin skirts

Top left: J.Crew, $385.00

Top middle: Gap, $49.50

Bottom left: J.Crew, $128

Bottom right: Forever 21, $17.80

How to ROCK this look?? Well, clearly you do NOT want to wear a sequin skirt with a sequin top and a sequin blazer/cardi. The trick is to pick one of the three and then build your look around that piece.

We'll start with the tank. I'll use my personal favorite, the J.Crew tank as an example.

First, decide whether you want to wear a skirt with tights, jeans or black pants. If you chose skirt, I would recommend a short black skirt with a higher waist. Being a Suz on Style maven I'm sure you ran out and bought the perfect skirt from Loft when I recommended buying it in August, right??? Remember this one from the post, "Suz on Shopping?" I'm sure you all own it in black as recommended. Oh, you don't? Well, that's OK. I have other similar options for you.

Left: Forever 21, $17.80

Middle: Old Navy, $25.00

Then pair it with either a black cardigan or black blazer. Top it off with tights and boots, flats or booties and you are ready to rock.

Top left: Forever 21, $24.80

Top middle: Gap, $98.00

Bottom left: J.Crew, $69.50

Bottom right: Loft, $49.50

You can also wear it with skinny jeans or black pants.

Left: Gap, $69.50

Right: Gap, $59.50

For the sequin blazer/cardi, my favorite is the Urban Outfitters cardi.

I would wear this with a plain tank or tee underneath and either wear it with skinny jeans, black skirt (see above) or black pants.

Left: Gap, $12.50

Right: Gap, $39.50

For the sequin skirt, my favorite is the Gap option.

Pair the skirt with a plain tank or tee and a blazer or cardi. You could also wear a warm wooly sweater.

If you are on a budget this season all you really need is to purchase one item. With these prices beginning at $17.80, you can't go wrong! You could buy the Forever 21 sequin tank for $17.80, the Old Navy skirt for $25.00 and the Forever 21 blazer for $24.80 and you would have the whole look for $67.60.

Dressing for the holidays should be fun. Put a little sparkle back in your wardrobe and buy some sequins this season!

'Til Next Time,

Stay Stylish!

Suz on Style Tips

Many offices (including mine) have Casual Fridays. You would think it would be easy for the average person to figure out what is appropriate attire for Casual Friday and what is not. Unfortunately, many people take this to the extreme and wear wildly inappropriate clothing.

Here are Suz on Style Tips for Casual Friday:

1.) No jeans with holes, tears, or rips.

These are stylish, yes, but not appropriate for the office. Instead, opt for a pair with no holes, tears or rips in a dark wash. Stay away for jeggings (leggings made to look like jeans -- see previous post for rules on leggings) or very tight styles. A trouser style jean in a dark wash is a great choice. I recommend these from Loft.

2.) No sweatpants, yoga pants, pallazzo pants or any sort of pant that would be comfortable enough to wear to bed. It's the office people, not a couch!

Sorry, Britney! You are not office appropriate. Or any sort of appropriate in this outfit.

3.) No message tees. Message tees will make you seem juvenile when you are trying to portray that you are a serious employee. Opt instead for a smart sweater or blazer. I recommend this boyfriend blazer from The Gap for $98.00.

4.) No tennis shoes. Tennis shoes are inherently too casual. They are made for the gym, the street and the tennis court -- not the office. Instead, opt for flats, boots, brogues, or heels. I recommend sparkle flats (see previous post) to give your outfit that little bit of pizazz it needs.

5.) No flip-flops, tank-tops, shorts, mini-skirts, slippers, mid-section baring tops, cut-off jean shorts, sweatshirts, or cleavage-baring shirts. Basically, anything that shows too much leg, arm, stomach, boob or foot is not appropriate.

Now, here's a Suz on Style recommended Casual Friday outfit:

Start with a great pair of trouser jeans. Pair it with a feminine blouse and a boyfriend blazer. Add your sparkle flats and a fun scarf or necklace to top off the look. Change into some killer heels and viola!, you are ready for happy hour. Your perfect casual Friday look courtesy of Suz on Style. Your welcome.

'Til Next Time,

Stay Stylish!

Jeans: Loft

Top: J.Crew

Blazer: Gap

Flats: Banana Republic

Scarf: Banana Republic

Necklace: J.Crew

Suz on Style Tips

Leggings. Love them or hate them, they are a huge trend right now. Here are my top 5 tips for rocking leggings.


Suz on Style's Tips for Wearing Leggings



Rule Number One: Leggings are not pants!! Let me repeat, LEGGINGS ARE NOT PANTS! Therefore, you must make sure to cover your rear-end. Sure, you can go alot shorter then you would if wearing tights or bare legged...but you still must cover your bum.

Lindsay! Put on some pants!!!


Rule Number Two: No capri leggings. Capri leggings will cut the look of your calf in half right at the meatiest part. This will make your legs look chunky and disrupt the long, lean line of your body.




Sorry Khole, but this is not a good look!



Rule Number Three: Make sure the fabric of your leggings is thick enough so when you bend and move you are not exposing any skin. Some of the cheaper leggings can be so thin that when you stretch the fabric at all it becomes almost see-through. That, combined with not covering your bum, could be a huge problem.


Rule Number Four: Stick to neutral shades. I know, I know...the pink, purple, leopard, zebra, metallic colored leggings are so cute. Maybe. Ask yourself, would I wear pink or leopard print pants? Probably not. So, do not wear them in leggings. Neutral shades = black, grey, brown, navy blue.



(Do not wear these!)


Rule Number Five: Only wear leggings with two kinds of shoes. Boots or flats. If you wear leggings with high heels, in my opinion, you will look like a street walker (especially if you are additionally violating either rule number one or rule number four). You run the risk of looking like you just came from pilates class or the gym if you wear your leggings with athletic shoes. Therefore, in my opinion, you can't go wrong with ballet flats (see sparkle flats post below) or boots.

(Look! Our bums are covered!)

Following the rules, and looking great!



'Til Next Time,
Stay Stylish!