Petite Faux Fur Coats

 Outfit Details: Miss Selfridge Petite Coat c/o (similar here, here, and here), Kate Spade Handbag, Michael Kors Booties (similar), Aqua Bottoms, Sunglass Warehouse Round Retro Style Sunglasses

Winter coats can be so terribly heavy and boxy. If you happen to be petite and/or short then you understand the struggle of trying to find a coat that your body does not physically get lost in. I've been in search for a feminine pea coat for work this season, but I had trouble finding a style that fit my upper body. Either the arms were too long, or the frame was too loose. I want to feel like a lady, not a girl. I was starting to feel slightly defeated until I was introduced to the brand Miss Selfridge by an industry friend- hi Kellie ;)! Miss Selfridge is a UK based retailer that is available online in the US. They have so many adorable dresses, skirts, tops, accessories, and outerwear. I was so delighted to find that they cater to women of all sizes.

 The coat I am wearing above is from their petite collection and it fits me like a glove. No tailoring needed. The best part? Their price points are totally reasonable. Every time I wear this coat I receive so many compliments. It really is such a chic little button-down. I love how the fur collar is accented with a bold rhinestone button at the neck.

Keeping warm without the bulk: Puffy coats are the most practical and useful winter coats. They keep you extremely warm and you can literally go jump in a pile of snow and still not feel the cold. To avoid the thickness try finding a jacket that features a belt. This will help to narrow your frame and create a sleek silhouette.

Just remember a winter coat is an investment piece. Try to steer away from the trends and opt for a classic cut. It will last you decades!

XX,

Photography by Art Petrosemolo Location: Molly Pitcher Inn

The Perfect Party Dress

Outfit Details: LuLu*s Ivory and Black Shift Dress, Fringe-tastic Earrings, and Studded Black Purse (c/o), Francesca's Belt (similar), Jeffrey Campbell Shoes (similar), Madewell Pave Spike Necklace

This week on the blog it's all about dressing up for your holiday parties. Earlier in the week I talked about the ideal party pants, and today I am sharing one of my favorite party dresses in collaboration with LuLu*s. As you might already know, I am a big fan of dressing festive and hunting for the perfect dress. Luckily, LuLu*s makes holiday dress shopping easy and budget friendly; you can shop for Christmas, New Year's Eve, cocktail parties, a fun girl's night out, and even bridesmaids dresses. Whatever the occasion, it's all there!

When shopping for holiday outfits, opt for patterns and bold details. You don't have to stick to christmas-y colors like green and red. Instead, try finding a dress that you can get some mileage out of. This black and white shift dress featured above is a flattering style for all body types, plus the colors are neutral and it can be re-styled for any season.

Dressing slim tips: Forget about gym classes and eating healthy. This time of year is filled with too many treats and goodies to fret about the scale. If you are looking to instantly slim your appearance try reaching for fabric that will "keep the eye moving"- think metallic fibers, tweed, a bold print...etc. You can also distract the eye with a sparkly necklace or statement earrings. I personally love how chic these long fringe earrings look with a side swept pony. They also scream holiday glam!

I hope these tips make you feel incredible for your special occasions. Don't forget to stop by lulus.com and check out their #partyPerfect dress shop. You can also join in on the fun on instagram by uploading your chic holiday style and hashtag the photo #LuLusPartyPerfect. If you are in need of outfit advice feel free to send me an email or ask away in the comments below.

Happy Holidays!

XX,

Photography by Art Petrosemolo Location: Molly Pitcher Inn

The Ultimate Party Pants

Outfit Details: Party Pants by Pink Slate Boutique (c/o), Aqua Black Blazer (similar), LuLu*s Snakeskin Heels (c/o),"Thankful" tee and Mahogany, Green, and Brown Bracelets by Pink Slate Boutique (c/o), 

After a busy weekend of holiday shopping, I am officially ready to start celebrating with family and friends. I still have plenty of gifts to wrap and label, but the heavy lifting shopping is over... thankfully! Between office holiday parties, family soirees, and New Year's Eve celebrations, there's plenty of opportunities to dress festive and full of holiday cheer. These gold Party Pants from Pink Slate add the perfect touch of glamour to any outfit. I was so excited when I saw that these pants were available on their site. I've been dying to get a pair to wear over the holidays. They are super comfortable, and in my opinion they add the perfect amount of sparkle ;).

It's not essential to wear sequins or a bold sparkly outfit to a holiday party. It's not for everyone, I get it. Which is why I paired these leggings with a festive "thankful" t-shirt to show you that sometimes, it's the cool little details that make an outfit flattering for the holidays. To finish off the outfit, I added a stack of chunky bracelets. Never underestimate the power of an #armparty during the holidays. It's the first thing people notice when you are holding your glass of champagne or wine.

The holiday season is the busiest time of the year, but don't forget to kick back and enjoy the special moments with your family and loved ones. Don't be afraid to bust out your favorite sparkly holiday dress (or in this case pants) and feel your brightest- literally!

What are you planning to wear to your parties this year?

Photography by Art Petrosemolo Location: Molly Pitcher Inn I want to give a special shout out to my colleague Art for helping with these photos, and a very big thank you to the Molly Pitcher in Red Bank for letting us use your beautiful venue for this shoot. 

XX,

(Re) Work Your Holiday Party Dress

Outfit Details: BCBGeneration Faux Fur Vest, Aqua Gold Mini Dress, Jeffrey Campbell Shoes (similar), H&M Tights, Francesca's Necklace, Mimi Boutique Handbag (similar)

It's party time people! Every December I usually make an effort to try and find the "perfect" holiday party dress, and every December I find myself exhausted from hours spent roaming the mall. Last year on my birthday, I invested in this adorable gold mini dress from Aqua and I found myself wanting to wear it over and over again. I couldn't wait to bring it to the forefront of my closet again for the holiday season. The notion of needing multiple party dresses can get a little overwhelming, not to mention costly. So, instead of emptying your wallet, why not look in your closet to see which items you already own? Then, add some flair to your look by adding a standout accessory, such as an oversized cocktail ring or statement necklace.

Last year I wore this dress plain, with no tights and sans statement necklace- see pic below. For holiday parties this year, I'm going to layer over a white high-neck blouse and turn this dress into a skirt. There's so many options when re-styling a piece of clothing. Don't ever think for a second that you have nothing to wear. Because trust me, there's nothing a killer pair of heels and statement earrings can't fix ;).

Will you be re-wearing any of your holiday dresses to parties this year? How will you re-style them? Would love to hear in the comments below!

XX,

Birthday Message

 Outfit Details: Forever 21 Long Lace Kimono (similar here and here), H&M dress (similar) and tights, Urban Outfitters Sunglasses (similar), Aldo Ankle Booties, My Monogram Bar Necklace

Today is my birthday and I am spending it doing all of the simple things I love in life. I wanted to take this time to sincerely thank all of my readers, friends, and family. All of your sweet comments and support have truly motivated me to continue on this blog journey. This year has been full of excitement which was in part due to the birth of this blog. It has allowed me to personally express my passion for style and to connect with beautiful women and men from all over the world that find the same joy in fashion as me.

I chose to share some more photos from my Paris trip for this blog post because it was one of the most special moments in my life so far...I got engaged! Although this happened two months ago, I'm still trying to digest the fact that I will be marrying my best friend and dream man. It sounds cheesy, but it's true. He makes me laugh unlike any person on this earth. His smile warms my heart and we stick with each other through the happiest times and the absolute worst times. I'm excited to begin this next chapter of my life and share these special moments with all of you.

Thank YOU from the bottom of my heart for believing in me and following along on this journey.

XO,

Holiday Hair Inspiration

Although this time of year is focused around shopping and giving gifts to family and friends, it's also a time to get all glammed up for parties and family gatherings. If there's one time of year to experiment with your hairstyle...it's the holidays!! There are plenty of elegant styles that you can try at home without having to spend a fortune at the salon. One of my favorite looks is a loose, tucked bun. It creates the perfect canvas to add statement earrings, like these mixed stone earrings from Dorothy Perkins. This un-done hairstyle is a little tricky to secure if you have layers (like me). You will need 5-10 bobby pins to secure the stray ends in place. Don't forget to spritz a light layer of hairspray all throughout. Voila. It's party time people!

Scroll down below to see a quick and easy illustration on how to pull off this chic up-do. 

Step By Step:

Image via LuLu*s 

I hope this inspires you to get fancy with your hair this holiday season, and if you wear it out and about I want to see it! Tag me on instagram @jgalfo.

XX,

Fall To Winter Sweaters

Photography by Art Petrosemolo

Outfit Details: Charlotte Russe Open Back Knit Sweater (c/o), Express Scuba Leggings, DSW Kelly & Katie Bootie, Ray-Ban Sunglasses, Pink Slate Boutique Earrings and Necklace (c/o)

After the long holiday weekend, it's back to the work grind. I hope you all enjoyed the family time and endless amounts of turkey and apple pies. It was so nice to be back at home in the suburbs. I almost didn't return to the city...almost. Over the weekend, I spent a decent amount of time deal-searching with my mom. We didn't participate in the Black Friday madness, but we DID go shopping on Saturday and we scored some wallet-friendly deals in every store. Who needs to shop on Black Friday when the specials last all weekend? It's a marathon, not a sprint people!  

During this time of year, it's important to shop for quality and worthwhile pieces. It's better to invest in these pieces now while all the sales are still going on. I typically look for items that are transitional. This time of year is extremely unpredictable. One minute there's six inches of snow on the ground, the next minute it's 65 degrees outside. As the temperature begins to steadily decline, you'll want to have these items in your closet: riding boots, ankle booties, oversized scarves, a parka, a blanket poncho, and a few fun knit sweaters. The open-back knit sweater featured above by Charlotte Russe is one of the newest additions to my closet. I'll be wearing it on repeat this season with a variation of statement necklaces and dainty jewelry- like these adorable sapphire stud earrings & long layering necklace from Pink Slate Boutique.

Chunky knits are great investment pieces for your winter wardrobe because they add texture and create depth to any look. Plus, they pair strikingly well with ankle booties. Can we talk about how adorable these Kelly & Katie booties are from DSW? Can't wait to wear them to upcoming holiday parties! 

What items are topping your holiday list? 

XX,