Style Notes: New Year’s Eve.

Well guys, I’m certainly foodie and the party planner of my family — but I’m certainly not the fashionable one. I leave that job to my stylish sister Mara, and I’m super excited to announce that she’ll be joining the DomestiKatedLife team and contributing a monthly style column with tips and ideas for looking your best! To kick it off, she’s rounding up some last-minute accessory additions for the perfect New Year’s Eve look: 

‘Tis the season to sparkle! With New Years Eve just around the corner (how did that happen so fast?), here a few ideas for accessories you can add to dress up a little black dress that’s already hanging in your closet (or consider buying a new one — this Old Navy version is under $20!). One accessory not pictured: copious amounts of champagne—cheers!

New Years Eve Outfit

Party Time Headband | BaubleBar Earrings | Pop Fizz Clink Bangle | Clutch | Kate Spade Heels | Little Black Dress

Entertaining

Entertaining Inspiration.

Sometimes inspiration just comes in bursts, doesn’t it? I have been scooping up ideas from so many gorgeous parties around the web — like a darling garden party from Grey Likes Weddings — I need to dip-dye some napkins just like those! The color palette, the bows, the florals, and the stripes are all perfection in a Kate Spade-inspired bridal brunch. And a sweet little farmer’s market picnic party has my wheels turning for some spring-time fetes!

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Bar Cart Styling.

I finally got around to doing a little bit of styling of my new Society Social bar cart, it’s a work in progress, but I felt like it was time to share a few snaps of what I’m working with!  I propped up a vintage painting that my parents gave us as a wedding gift, and culled together a bunch of pieces I already had scattered around our apartment, like a green lacquer tray from Target, my Kate Spade coasters (that coincidentally were a gift from Roxy of Society Social!), my Mrs Lilien Cocktail Book, and lots of little drink accessories, like striped straws and flamingo cocktail stirrers (what, you don’t have those lying around your house?).  I also added my new ‘shake, rattle, and roll’ cocktail shaker which I get a total kick out of! I need to hang a few more pieces on the wall above it, and I’m hunting on Etsy for some more vintage barware, but it’s getting there! I get so excited every time I turn the corner now and see it as I walk into the apartment — it makes me so happy!DSC_0003DSC_0001 DSC_0004DSC_0002

Entertaining

Dinner with Friends.

This weekend we had big Saturday plans to go to Ikea and buy a new couch, but right before we left we checked the inventory online and saw that it was out of stock — bummer! So I was faced with a rare treat: a weekend day with zero plans. I decided to take advantage of our surprise day of freedom and threw a little impromptu dinner for friends. Since it was super last minute, I worked with what I had and re-purposed our table topper from our wedding, and some bright pink napkins from our rehearsal dinner, and then I finally broke out a few of our wedding shower presents, like my sea urchin salt and pepper shakers (I love them!), some Kate Spade candles, and a bunch of farmer’s market blooms — I was so happy with how it came out! ADSC_0033 ADSC_0037 ADSC_0040ADSC_0039

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Mad Men Bar Cart.

I am anxiously awaiting tonight’s premier of the new season of Mad Men. As I’m counting down until it airs, I was reading an interesting article in the Boston Globe about the evolution of the cocktails throughout the 1960s and what that means for this season (say ‘so long’ to the dry Manhattans  and ‘hello’ to vodka martinis). The goods news is that this means a while new era of cocktail glasses and fun drink accessories for their prop stylists to impress me with. Who’s going to be watching with me tonight?

Mad Men PartyClockwise: Dress, lipstick, pen necklace, lighter, decanter, cocktail shaker, bar cart, glassware set

 

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Valentine’s Day Gift Guide.

Did I mention yesterday how much I love Valentine’s Day? I’ve been eyeing lots of cute little Valentine’s Day-inspired gifts lately, from trinkets for your girlfriends to a few little gifts I wouldn’t mind myself (yes, I mean you, you darling little gem locket!). Who’s your Valentine’s Day gift list? Untitled-1

Need some more Valentine’s Day inspiration? Follow my Pinterest board here.

Sources: Locket, iPhone case, bottle stopper, scarf, clutch, card, earrings, measuring spoons.

Charmed.

I poured over the new arrivals for Spring at Kate Spade today and stopped my scrolling right at this nifty charm bracelet. I feel like it’s sort of cheating to buy a charm bracelet already stacked full of charms, no? I’ve always admired the one that my Grandmother wears, knowing that each charm she has commemorates a special occasion or memory — but I guess you have to start somewhere right? Perhaps this is a good time to get collecting!

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Life

The Classics.

When I was getting ready for an event last week I came to the realization that I really didn’t own a pair of plain black shoes. I’ve been caught up in the trends lately and somewhere in between neons and bows and animal prints I forgot about the classics. My wardrobe has been missing the building blocks, so I made it my mission this weekend while I was shopping with a girlfriend to locate those closet staples. I’m happy to report I found both black ballet flats and heels — it makes we want to go back to basics with the rest of my wardrobe and invest in the classics. What are you closet staples? 

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Wedding Day Contenders.

Finding the perfect wedding dress was a super painless and easy task for me — I was incredibly decisive and knew exactly what I was looking for. As a self-professed statement necklace junky, my hunt for the perfect wedding day jewelry has been far more of a challenge. Big chunky beaded necklaces, layers or pearls, delicate gold chains, I just can’t seem to make up my mind! These are the few of the contenders in the mix now, which one is your favorite?

Clockwise from top left, Kate Spade, J.Crew, Kate Spade, Margaret Elizabeth