MAKE A ROARING TWENTIES OUTFIT.. FROM CLOTHES YOU ALREADY HAVE

One thing I've recently realized is that Roaring Twenties Attire & Holiday Attire are impressively similar. Sparkles! Make up! Fur! More sparkles! It made it very easy for me when it came time to find a Roaring Twenties outfit for the Cincinnati Opera's 95 Anniversary Gala Ball. (At which I was a volunteer.) (& at which there was a candy bar.) (For which I bought $400 of candy....... um yes.)

Anyway, here is a rundown of the Holiday staples you already have that will make for a great Flapper outfit.

1. Your very average pencil skirt. If you don't have one in your closet, chances are you need one. Here's a good one from H&M. This is the perfect fit & style for flappers who did  show off their legs, but did not show off too much.

2. The sparkle shirt. You really must have this! They were all the rage about two years ago -- & are coming back in force this Holiday season! Don't have one? Mine is very similar to THIS. Plus, isn't the very first thing you think of when someone says "Roaring Twenties" sparkle???

3. The shiny shoe. Surely you've picked up something like THIS during a Christmas past! This is actually not accurately flapper attire - but it matches our Great Gatsby inspired re-invention.

4. The crowning piece of your Roaring Twenties outfit: the sparkle headband. Again, think of Christmas past .. didn't you pick one of THESE up back then? No? Head over to Forever 21 now! For Flapper life, you'll want to wear this across your forehead rather than in your hair. (It's totally way more fun!)

5. & the Faux Fur Vest. Umm YES. Nothing screams warmth & comfort more than THIS. & in my research I found many a Gatsby pic in fur :)

I can't even remember  how many times that night I told my fellow volunteers (& new friends!) that I wanted to wear "Gatsby clothes" for the rest of my life. It's the perfect style - stylish but not too revealing. Flirty, but not showing too much skin. Basically, it's just fantastic. & best deal? Every piece of this ensemble is multi-outfit worthy!

^^^^^^^^^ Sorry for my pixels, but here's an insta-selfie.

^^^ Me & my volunteer friends. We all used to intern for the Opera. We are also all amazing. Also: that back drop.

Other tips for being a flapper (that also can be used as great advice for Holiday parties):
- Cat Eyes
- Lots of jewelry; preferably pearls
- A pretend bob to your hair (easy to do!)
- Excellent dance moves

PHOTOS | A BLACK TIE AFFAIR

OoooOOoh la la. Isn't she lovely? A few weekends ago the gorgeous Taelor asked that I meet her to capture a few images before she attended "Men of Honor - A Salute to African American Men" Awards. We were racing light & it was bitterly cold... but our end product is just stunning. Taelor is a natural model. & though we only had a short half hour together, it was shot after shot of flawless pictures. I loved our location (Purple People Bridge & Newport River Walk) & the excellent backdrop of the city. & even more fun was that between it all, we were able to reminisce about how many, many years ago we lived together in this very city as random roommates over one summer internship. (It just so happened my twenty first birthday fell upon that summer. It was a legendary event.) Now, enough of my ramblings. Here is the lovely Taelor. 

MIXING: COZY + FANCY

Happpppy December! You know what that means? Well, many things, actually, but on the top of the list: Holiday Parties!! I think I'm booked every weekend through the end of the year! (Not complaining :D) Anyway, I wanted to pull a little example together for you guys to help get the creative juices flowing for Holiday attire. 

To me, it is utterly important to have the maximum amount of comfort at all possible times. (That's why you will find me in sweat pants well past noon every weekend.) Even my dress up clothes sneak in a cozy piece. Queue the outfit we're looking at here.

We have the oh so classic sparkle skirt (that I got on after-season sale from TJmaxx a few years ago) + the totally comfortable waffle sweater. Guarantee you can party-on for hours in this ensemble! 

^^^^ That's my "You Can Trust Me Because I'm making this Face" face. Actually, it was more of a "Will taking these photos on public roads ever stop feeling awkward, Natalie?" Face. Anywho, party-on, party-people! What clothes do you swear by for the Holidays?

Sweater: JCrew Factory Warmspun Waffle Crewneck Sweater (a classic!)
Skirt: Tibi via TJMaxx (two years ago) (similar) (also love) <<< Thanks, Tory!
Shoes: Tassel Tie Bootie via Coach (thrifted) (similar)
Photography: Natalie Folchi of CincinNatalie

NOVEMBER FAVES

I have a short list this month. Not because I don't have favorites, (oh contraire! Thanksgiving is one of my favorite Holidays!) (So much food!) but because I was too busy to write them down! I did a lot of traveling this month: Atlanta, Baltimore, Baltimore & finished it off with just enough time to make it home for Thanksgiving.

I started experimenting with the tripod, & then decided it was way more fun to have photoshoot-marathons with Natalie instead.

Speaking of photo shoots, I had my second ever professional photo shoot (you remember my awkward first?) with CURATE BOUTIQUE for the Holiday Look Book! I had SO much fun being styled by Courtney PeGan & running around town in gorgeous clothes with Tamia at The Style Sample. I'm waiting on a few more photos from Corey Stevens Photography before I make a post for you guys! Oh what fun!!!!

We met up with the Cincinnati Style Crew for dinner a few times to work on our really exciting collaborative project for you guys. (You're really going to want to stay tuned on this one!) (It won't be long!!)

& I got to spend Thanksgiving with nearly the entire Butler side of the family. It was a truly fabulous month & now my favorite time of the year is just around the corner. I'll leave you with this Christmas tune to help get you in the spirit!

xoxo & thank you so, so much for reading!

THE TIMBERLANDS

Why do I own a pair of Timberlands? I bought them in college, at this amazing discount warehouse called Gabriel Brothers. Around that time, I also invested in a pair of Clark Desert Boots & was lusting over a pair of wingtips. So basically, every shoe we put on my little brother, I also tried to buy for myself. 

Don't get me wrong - I'm a very girly girl. (Like painfully girly.) I just love to surprise people with a touch of masculinity. Back then, that meant switching out the shoelaces of these Tims (as I lovingly dubbed them) for something superbly feminine. Queue the red laces! Nowadays, I pair The Tims with the most girly coat I own - a pleated Betsey Johnson Pea Coat. I adore the striking contrast. 

So what about you guys? Do you ever pull trends traditionally meant for the boys into your wardrobe? I've grabbed a few examples from my Cincinnati blogger friends: like THIS bow tie Katie wears at Out + Outfit;  THIS sleeveless tuxedo vest & army pant combo Natalie wears at CincinNatalie; & THIS letterman(ish) jacket from Princess at Personal Bravery. What are your other faves?

Shoes: Timberland Basic Roll Top Boots
Coat: Betsey Johnson via Burlington Coat Factory (last year) (similar)
Pants: Matchstick light wash via JCrew Factory
Shirt: Stripe Sleeve Tee via JCrew
Photography: Natalie Folchi at CincinNatalie.