House Beautiful

Tag Archive for 'rent the runway'

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Gift Guide #3: For the Gals

Diane von Furstenberg once said that when a woman becomes her own best friend, life gets easier. We agree a thousand percent, because a life without our female friends: our ride or die b*tches, the girls who’ve ridden shotgun in our lives as we’ve blazed our respectable (and sometimes not so respectable) trails – well, we can’t imagine a life without ’em.  And today’s Gift Guide is for just that kind of woman in your life.  Your sister, the bestie you’ve been in the trenches with since 2nd grade that feels like a sister, the dear friend you became instant friends with when you started your first job… all those gals.  As long as they are special, as long as they’ve taught you a little bit about not following the rules, about misbehaving a bit… well then this Gift Guide is for them.  And if you’re a guy reading this post and wondering what to get your girl, well… you’re welcome:

1 – GIPSY YOUNG HEART TIGHTS, ASOS, $11.37.  How fun are these??  Lighthearted way to mix up her work wardrobe, or a perfect gift for your niece.

2 – MUAH! MATCHES, Paper Luxe, $8.  What a pretty pop for the coffee table!  Or, let’s be honest…  the back of the throne.

3 – BLUE GODDESS STATEMENT NECKLACE, Majestical Jewelry, $35.  We love Majestical Jewelry for pimping out such jaw-dropping, J.Crew-esque statement pieces for Target prices.  Note: the pictures they post on their Instagram page are usually a truer representation than what’s on the website, so make sure you follow them over there.  It’s also where they do FLASH SALES, and you don’t wanna miss those.  I have this one, Karrie has that one, and I accidentally just bought THESE during a flash sale on Instagram. If you’re not on Instagram, then you can check out AdinasJewels.com for more jewelry pieces.

4 – SILICONE WRAPPED WINE GLASSES, Bed Bath & Beyond, $17 FOR SET OF 2.  Um, omg.  The answer to Bachelor/Bachelorette party Mondays!  Do you think this would still have shattered if I’d hurled it at the TV during Juan Pablo McD-bag’s final epidsode??  On that note: make sure you read the blog every Tuesday morning after the show when I can’t keep my thoughts to myself and post recaps like this.

5 – JEWELED FLATS, Boden, $198.  These are like the modern-day slippers that Cinderella left at the ball.  I don’t know if they belong on my feet, or behind a piece of glass in a museum… Heaven.  Also love ’em in gold.

6 – 3D FIBER LASHES, Younique, $29.  I just started using this about a month ago after receiving an incessant amount of Facebook group invites to buy it… Everyone I knew seemed like they were having a Pampered Chef Mascara party online, and if you’re a female with a Facebook account, then you probably know exactly what I’m talking about.  I’d also always loved my mascara and didn’t see the need to change things up…  But I finally did, and I gotta tell ya – it’s pretty fab.  I did one eyeball in the 3D Fiber lashes, and one eyeball in my old stuff…  there’s no contest.  My “old mascara” eye was a joke.  This stuff gives you long, super luscious, doe-like lashes.  Most days when I wear this, I don’t really feel like I have to put a lot of anything else on – just lip gloss.  PS: when you click the link above to buy, there’s a quote on the right under a pic of me that’s standard on the Younique site, and I just wanted you guys to know that I’m not getting paid or having my arm twisted to talk about ANY of these items in this post…  Karrie and I don’t roll like that.  Everything on this blog that we recommend to you is ONLY on here because we love it.

7 – ARAN TEXTURED POM HAT, C. Wonder, $48.  Perfectly classic.  And perfectly practical since it’s supposed to be the coldest winter since the ice age back where we’re from.  Also…  whenever I look at it, I want to honk the pom pom and make this noise:  “Bop-bop.”

8 – LOVE RED, Boots No7, $9.99.  Read my lips: this red is universally amazing on everyone I’ve ever seen it on.  It also goes on super smooth and creamy.

9 – ADAM + VIKTORIA PILLOWS, available through Mecox Gardens, call for pricing. This one is the Edgar Candy Flos, but omg, they’re all stunning in person.  Pricey, but the kind of piece she’ll keep forever.  Velvet appliqué on linen.

10 – HARRIS SUNGLASSES IN HONEYED TORT, Shauns, $305.  These are an investment piece for sure… or better yet an “eBay saved search” item 🙂  Do you guys know that trick yet??  Whenever I find something I love that’s sold out, or that’s out of my price range, I set up an eBay “Saved Search” for it… then as soon as your item is listed, it sends you an email with a link to it – and it’s usually for a fraction of the retail cost.  BANG.

11 – THE SWIMMING POOL iPHONE 6 CASE, Gray Malin, $49.  Le sigh.  How could you not slip into a state of serenity every time you looked at your phone?  It’s like being in Palm Springs… on a Monday morning in your office.

12 – TRIBAL PRINT KIMONO, Waverly Boutique, $54.  I picked one of these up when Karrie and I were in Manhattan Beach a few weeks ago, and it’s the shizzizzy.

Reminds me of this ditty we posted as an outfit suggestion last Thanksgiving… which is a perfect way to style it.

13 – LIP TEASE MUG, Shopbop, $25.  This has been on my lust list for years.  But for 25 bucks, it’s one of those things that’s hard to justify buying it for yourself… which is why it’d be SO perfect if someone BOUGHT IT FOR YOU (!!!)

14 – YOU’RE PRETTY Malbec, Speak Wines, $25.  If this isn’t the best hostess gift of all time, I don’t know what is.  It’s like a wine/greeting card combo…. and it’s so pretty that no one will never want to throw away… and that is why Baby Jesus invented things like DIY candlesticks, so you can pop a taper candle in it afterward.

15 – XL LEATHER POUCH, Rib & Hull, $90.  This showed up under my Christmas tree last year in tan, and it’s wonderful.  Looks better with age, holds all of your girl’s garb, and feels like buttah.  The green color is a gorgeous and sophisticated twist on the regular ‘ol neutral.

16 – RENT THE RUNWAY GIFT CARD. There was a time in our lives when Rent the Runway didn’t exist, and it was a cold, dark era in which we hope to never live again. RTR is an online service that provides thousands of gorgeous dresses and accessories to rent (for not that much dough!) The joy that RTR’s brought to our lives is hard to quantify, but let’s just put it this way: When you get someone a gift certificate to RTR, you’re gifting them the opportunity to feel like freakin’ Cinderella – and for next to nothing!   Check out what WE’VE rented over the years, herehere and here.

(A Badgley Mischka get-up currently available)

17 – VOLUSPA CUT GLASS CANDLE, $26. Every single candle in this collection has THE most heavenly scent, with Goji Tarocco Orange being our personal fave. It’s the perfect gift, not just ’cause it makes one’s casa smell like a peaceful sanctuary, but because it comes in the prettiest, girliest jar.

18 – UGG WOMEN’S SLIPPERS IN IVY, $100 and SLIP-ON CHUCK TAYLOR ‘SHORELINE’ SNEAKERS, $45. Two different kinds of comfy kicks, and both so cute. Those Uggs Ansley Mocs are so girly, they make me squeal a little. And the Chucks, well, they’re totally classic and go with everything (no, really) and did we say they’re slip-on?! Making your girl’s life about 23 seconds easier.

19 – GIFT CERTIFICATE TO YOGA CLASSES, priceless. There’s no getting around what yoga can do to the body and the psyche, so why not bequeath those benefits to one of your girls who could really use them?  The two of us are huge fans of Core Power Yoga (Amy P. in San Diego – we worship at your altar), but we’d bet a pretty penny there’s a yoga studio in any ol’ town these days.

That’s it for now – and be sure to keep following us on Instagram and Pinterest for more gift giving ideas!  Karrie – Pinterest | Instagram and Steph – Pinterest | Instagram.

xoxo,

and

Steph’s Lust List

Between magazines, Instagram, Pinterest and the blogosphere, there’s WAY too much out there to keep track of all the eye candy that blows up my shorts, so when I see it, I screen shot it.  And it usually gets swallowed up by the big black hole that is my phone, and then goes to die with thousands of its friends on the island of misfit photos.  But let’s resurrect some of those pretty little things, shall we?

I’ve never been able to keep my wits together around Adam + Viktoria pillows – sold through Mecox (view all the pretty pillows over on Lisa Fontanarosa’s website).  They are luscious and so exquisitely made – velvet appliques on linen.  #nomnomnom

No, I’m not in the market for a sparkler…  but I am totally loving Andee Layne’s OPI “Don’t Pretzel My Buttons” nude polish for summer.

Cursive “love” ring from Pigment – a sweet little gift-y shop in North Park (San Diego).  Hey.  It’s a place holder.

The aqua tile with the gold inlay from Exquisite Surfaces (Laguna Showroom, to the trade only).  Le sigh.

Best / easiest way, ever, to cook salmon:  wrap a salmon steak (tightly) in aluminum foil with a few lemon slices, a few pads of butter, and then I usually sprinkle a little fresh dill, salt & pepper on it.  Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.  Comes out perfect EVERY time.

The softest, prettiest linen I ever did see at the Becky Walker Showroom…  also to the trade only.  I’m a total slut for even putting it on here.

If you don’t follow her on Instagram, you should.  I mean.  I think she was a tickle in her mom’s drawers when I was graduating high school, but this little fashionista is wise and fashion-forward beyond her years.  Great daily dose of style.  She’s also so stunning it’ll make you wanna barf.

O&L’s Japonerie wallcovering, via Alex Kaehler’s Insta.  Love it.  I just ordered samples and they’re even lovelier in person.  Also comes in a pale silvery-and-white colorway that is TO DIE.

The best-smelling hairspray that ever lived, says my college bestie Mary.

Cassandra LaValle aka Coco Kelley couldn’t set an ugly table if she tried.

Karrie swears by this.  I *^%$ hate foundation.  But she put this on me, and then I didn’t hate foundation anymore.

Can’t wait to try it.

Dying to rent it.

Just scored this vintage Stroheim fabric on eBay.  I have no idea what I’m going to do with it, but I couldn’t help myself.  More yardage here.

Perfect little summertime staple for the pool.  No longer online but available in Zara stores.

Keeping the sun off my face with this happy hat I nabbed at Marshall’s for a song. It’s a nice pop of pigment since my wardrobe (including the bikini I’m living in this summer – not this one) is white, white and white.

I need Santa to bring these to me immediately.

Long live the 90’s!  These are amazing.

That’s all I got!  Happy Hump Day!  PS: I hate to brag, but my Pinterest boards are killer.  Are you following me yet?  …you should be.

xoxo,