What the Style Pros Wear & Give as Gifts This Holiday Season
'Tis the season for cocktail parties and outfit changes, boots and glitter galore. We turned to the experts at the Real Simple Holiday Pop-Up Shop in New York City's Bryant Park to pick the brains of the best style and fashion pros. Here's what they had to say to look your best.
Wear Festive
Patrick McDonald, better known as "The Dandy" and voted one of Gotham magazine's "100 Best Dressed New Yorkers," said men shouldn't be afraid to wear color this season. McDonald, contestant on Bravo's "Launch My Line" show, added: "Men out there should really just be more adventurous. Wear a red tie for Christmas. Put on green and red. Be festive!"
Make It Special With Faux
Fashion guru and Visual Therapy Co-Founder Joe Lupo knows fashion. But Lupo, the co-author of Nothing to Wear? A 5-Step Cure for the Common Closet, doesn't think you need to spend a lot of money to look good, or to help others look good. "When you're shopping for someone ... definitely think of what is it this person loves? What is it about this person that I love? Why is this person special? And go from there," Lupo told us.
"Things like accessories that they don't have to worry about or return [make great gifts]," Lupo added. "We have a new collection on QVC, as you know, called VT Luxe. One of my favorite things, one of the best gifts, I think, from the collection is a Faux Fur Infinity Scarf. I think it's twenty-nine or thirty-nine dollars. It's great and cool and it looks good on a girl of any age."
Don Metallics
Definitely get a metallic color on the eyelids, like a gold or silver, something that is really quick to do but will get that show-stopping pop on the eyes, said Tiffany Hall-Scarmana, a L'Oréal Paris Pro Team Makeup Artist, who was on the scene giving passersby makeovers. "Don't forget your mascara and top it off with a really nice, bright, bold lip." Beauty gifts like mascara and lip gloss also make for fun, affordable stocking stuffers. Just adorn with a bow!
Also Watch: ABC's Sam Champion: Add This to Your Gift List
Embrace Patterns
Lucky for us, we got a sneak peek at Vera Bradley's newest patterns: Rhythm and Blues and Plum Petals. "They are the perfect travel bag and perfect travel cosmetic," said Monica Edwards, Vice President of Marketing & Communications at Vera Bradley. "These are great items to pack and you can pack a lot with them and keep them nice and simple," added sales consultant Kelly Mullahy.
Share below: What's your real simple holiday fashion tip?
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