Blog Posts by Julie Pereira, Thread Blogger

We know you get your jollies by dressing festively for the holidays (so do we), but there's a difference between spreading good cheer and looking, well, TOO merry. Thread host Jessica Stam teaches us how to toe the fine line between embracing the season and looking like a Christmas tree--hint: if it looks too much like something an elf would wear, steer clear!

Avoid: Head-to-toe red - Is crimson your go-to holiday dress color? Avoid looking like Mrs. Claus in red, fit-and-flare dresses with wide, black belts (ho, ho, NO) and stick to separates. A red pair of skinny leather pants with a silk shirt or a red skirt with a tucked-in embellished top will look much more chic.

Avoid: Holiday-themed sweaters - Unless you're a member of the Griswold or Huxtable clan, these bulky and bedazzled nightmare knits are not a good move. Try instead a more fitted, embellished sweater with skinny jeans and heels. Sequins or beading are a fun way to add to your holiday look without being too literal.

Avoid: Read More »from The Best and Worst Holiday Looks

Dikember Mutombo and "Science the Bear" are saving the world with Old Spice | Photo Courtesy of Gary He / Old SpiceStacy Keibler and NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo came together with Old Spice to launch the internet sensation “Dikembe Mutombo’s 4 1/2 Weeks to Save the World,” a real-time, embeddable video game where Mutombo will embark on weekly globe-saving missions based on current events that could be considered signs that the Mayan Apocalyptic prophecy (you know that one that says the world will end on 12/21/12?) is correct. Keibler was at the launch to help demonstrate the game, along with some other fun arcade games--all in an attempt to "Save the World"--along with game character “Science the Bear" and Mutombo. Keibler told us she became involved with Old Spice because she really enjoys the brand. “We all remember the Old Spice man and...their campaigns. I think it's just such a funny thing, saving the world with the Mayan calendar saying the world is going to end on the 21st--it's a fun game!" Mutombo, the 7'3" star will promote the new "Champion" product line, the latest addition to Old

Read More »from Stacy Keibler and NBA Star Dikembe Mutombo "Save The World"

Iris Apfel unveiled her line "Extinctions" at Bloomingdales. | Photo by Julie PereiraThe word "legend" gets thrown around a lot these days, and in a world full of hyperbole and fawning interviews, it's hard to take that label seriously. But believe us when we say, the famously bespectacled Iris Apfel is every inch a legend. At 91 years old, Apfel has been monumentally influential in the worlds of interior décor, illustration, and style, and has even been honored with a retrospective at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Now, with her handbag line "Extinctions," Apfel has stepped out in to the design arena. The line features the nonagenarian's signature "more is more" aesthetic; with Mongolian lamb's wool purses in bright orange, fiery red, and cobalt blue, structured handbags in hunter green pony hair with geometric handles, and snake-print totes--all with a bright turquoise lining--this is a line we're seriously lusting over. We sat down with the legendary style icon to discuss her signature style, her new handbag line, and her ability to prove that

Read More »from 91-Year-Old Style Icon Iris Apfel Peddles Handbags, Not Advice

It's that time of year, again—no, not the holidays, holiday PARTY season. Whether it's a Yankee Swap fest, a New Year's shindig, or just an excuse to get dolled up and drink festive cocktails, we have the cutest and quickest hairstyles for all your partying needs.

Ten-minute waves with a twist
Try these "Stella Bobbies" from Anthropologie ($22) with waves like Camilla Belle. Photo Courtesy of Charley Gallay | Getty ImagesTen-minute waves are our way of saying, "waves that you don't need to obsess over." Life is too short to be spent torturing each and every strand of your naturally gorgeous hair in to a "perfect" curl that will only last as long as it took to read this sentence. This will work best if you've added some mousse or texturizing product to wet hair and letting it air dry (if you want to avoid bombarding your follicles with extra heat damage from a blowdryer), so while these are "ten-minute" waves, they do require a bit of forethought. Start by lightly (lightly, guys) misting dry hair with a light hair spray, and curl hair in sections. A hint for curls that really last? After you take the curled section

Read More »from Ten-Minute Holiday Hairstyles

Ellie Goulding and Taylor Swift are hat pros.Fact: if you're not wearing a hat to keep warm, there's really no reason for it to be on your head (we're looking at you, hipsters), and unless you're Kate Middleton (and if you are, please call us and let's hang out), chances are you have very little occasion to rock a full-on formal fascinator. The perfect hat needs to hit that delicate balance between cute and functional, stylish and warm, and we have years of anecdotal evidence that this balance is not an easy one to strike. Thankfully, there is a wealth of cozy, non-crazy winter hats out there. We at The Thread have discovered the best ways for choosing the right winter hat and more importantly: how to style it.

Wintery ActivitiesTraditional Fair Isle Hat, $28, topshop.com
Skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, sledding--whatever your game, you're going to want to keep that noggin nice and cozy (and protected, naturally. If you're a beginner in any of these sports, skip the hat for a headwarmer and securely-fastened helmet--safety first!). Take a page from British singer Ellie

Read More »from The Best Hats For Your Toastiest--And Most Stylish--Winter Yet

Gomez looked radiant sans Bieber in Dolce & Gabbana | Photo courtesy of Stephen Lovekin/Getty ImagesYou may only know her as a singer (and actress, and famous bestie of Taylor Swift, and on-again-off-again girlfriend of Justin Bieber), but there is more to Selena Gomez than meets the eye. Did you know that Gomez is one of UNICEF's most ardent supporters? After getting involved with the charity in 2008 as the spokesperson for their Trick-or-Treat program, she was appointed a UNICEF Ambassador in 2009--at 17 she was the youngest to be awarded that honor. Since then, Gomez has been hard at work promoting the charity that raises funds for impoverished and underprivileged children around the globe. She has personally visited countries like Ghana and Chile to raise awareness for issues like early childhood development and preventable diseases, and cites her work with UNICEF as an exciting opportunity to use her fame for positive change. How refreshing is it to hear about a young starlet using her fame for charitable purposed and encouraging fans to get involved?

On November 27th, however,

Read More »from Selena Gomez Wows at The 8th Annual UNICEF Snowflake Ball

Photo courtesy of TmallIf you thought your grandpa was the coolest because he gives you candy or knows how to use a computer, we have some bad news for you: he might not be cooler than Liu Xianping, the 72-year-old grandfather from China who has reached overnight fame by posing in women's clothing for his granddaughter's clothing boutique. Liu told China Newsweek that he began trying on feminine outfits as a joke for his granddaughter, known only as Ms. Lv, after coming over to help her unpack new merchandise. It was then that the senior citizen began offering styling advice, and the two shared a laugh dressing him up. One thing lead to another, and now women all over the world are taking styling advice from Liu (and reportedly seething with jealousy over his enviably lithe gams). He's even getting compared to Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld! We’re not so sure about that--Liu smiles too much to be like the grumpy Kaiser--but we do know that some of the clothes he's modelling, like a bright orange cape and a

Read More »from Grandfather in China Finds Fame as (Female) Fashion Model

From industry heavy hitters to young up-and-comers, the 40th Anniversary of The American Music Awards was full of head-turning style and more “wow” moments than we can handle (well, almost). The Thread hit the red carpet in Los Angeles to check out all the gorgeous stars of the music world--like pop-punk legend Cyndi Lauper and "American Idol" champ Jordin Sparks—and asked the stars what makes a red carpet look really sparkle. The answer may surprise you (hint: you're never fully dressed without one!). But, whether you prefer Taylor Swift’s sparkling Zuhair Murad mini, P!nk’s unexpectedly cool leather and tulle Catherine Deane dress, or Nicki Minaj’s eye-catching Monique Lhuillier gown, we have all the AMA red carpet moments that shine!

Read More »from 2012 American Music Awards: Red Carpet Moments That Shined