Monday, November 28, 2011

Holiday Decorating Inspiration via Arcadian Lighting

Good morning, lovelies! I hope you had a wonderful weekend! Even though in Canada Thanksgiving comes around waaay back in October, I've always found American Thanksgiving kind of kick-starts the holiday season for me, it's my ready-set-go to begin my holiday shopping… and decorating! So in that spirit, here's a fantastic guest post chock full of inspiration to deck your halls and yada yada. Enjoy!

Hi everyone! I'm Jessica from Arcadian Lighting, a blog and website all about the latest in interior design trends and a wide selection of lighting fixtures to go with them. The holiday season is upon us and one of the best ways to get into the spirit is by decorating your home to reflect your festive mood. But holiday decorations don't have to be identical. I've compiled eight examples of unconventional, modern interior designs for the holiday. Enjoy!
Modern Holiday
The tiger striped chairs in this dining room may not be what immediately comes to mind when you think of the holidays, but it adds an unexpected and fun twist. Garlands hung with sparkling lights on the mantle, and miniature Christmas trees at each place setting bring in traditional holiday accents.
Modern Holiday
An all white dining room is the perfect canvas for pops of sparkly, vibrant holiday decorations. The chandelier makes an even more glamorous statement when dressed up in beads and ornaments in a cool color palette.
Modern Holiday
This sparse, contemporary living room gets festive in an eclectic way. The lush wreath and garland-wrapped-antler are rustic, natural touches that contrast well with the abstract Christmas tree style decoration.
Modern Holiday
Using white as the dominate color, this living room showcases traditional red and green holiday colors, while still feeling very modern. The paper snowflakes and tree patterned wallpaper are playful touches.
Modern Holiday
Dazzling gold ornaments and table decorations make this dining room glamorous and modern. Black furniture and drum pendant lights with glitzy crystal beads are beautiful and stylish accents.
Modern Holiday
A comfy bed decked out in red and white with snowflake details is perfect for the holiday season. The thick knitted blanket and pillow are cozy touches, and the garland and red reindeer overhead are adorable, as well.
Modern Holiday
This bedroom takes its inspiration from the season's snowy landscape. DIY snowflakes are a fun addition to the wrought iron bed frame. The neutral palette is fresh and bright thanks to pale blue accents, and the chocolate brown wall sconce complements the color scheme beautifully.
Modern Holiday
A roaring fire in the fireplace, a candle-lit mantle and a twinkling Christmas tree all create an idyllic holiday scene. A big comfy chair and fluffy throw complete this warm, elegant living room.

How will you decorate for the holidays this year? Will you go minimal and chic, or glamorous and colorful? Check out Arcadian Lighting's blog for fresh decorating ideas for every season! (Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Blogger Lovin': Steal This Look

Usually my Blogger Lovin' posts have a unifying theme.  And I guess in a sense this one does too: awesomeness. Simply a round-up of looks the need to get out of my dreams, and into my closet, like, yesterday.
Hanneli Mustaparta in Vogue's best dressed issue. Perfection.
Floaty frock. Cozy coat. Chunky necklace. Purple lipstick.  via Late Afternoon
Blair Eadie can do no wrong. via Atlantic-Pacific
That studded bag is way high on my wishlist. via Viva Luxury
Super soft sweater, leather skirt.... and an extreme shoegasm. via Five Inch and Up

Burgundy velvet blazer... you should be mine! via Fashion Toast

And falling into the "Why didn't I think of thaat?" category... via Wendy's Lookbook
  
Okay yes, another black and grey look. What can I say, it's my winter uniform! via The Northern Light
Violet femme via Brooklyn Blonde
Okay, there's no way I could rock this dress as well as the hotness that is Zarna, but hot damn, that's a kick-ass dress.
via Zarna's Runway


I'd like to wish a very, very Happy Thanksgiving to my US readers and to all o' y'all around the world, don't forget to enter the 100$ Shopbop Giveaway below!

Monday, November 21, 2011

100$ Shopbop Gift Card Giveaway!

That's right beautiful babies, I'm getting my Santa on and have teamed up with Shopbop to offer one of my lovely readers 100$ to spend at Shopbop on the item(s) of your choice. Not bad, huh?
This time of year, however, between the dropping temperatures and the joys of cold and flu season I'm in full-on nesting mode and perusing all of the cozy loungewear options. Cashmere, Netflix and a glass of wine is all I need! Check out LNA clothing for can't-live-without-'em basics, Patterson J. Kincaid for the perfect luxe layering pieces, or give your well-worn hoodie a serious upgrade with one of their women's sweatshirts. Here are some of my day-off picks, indoors and out:
Top: T by Alexander Wang chunky pullover, RLX Ralph Lauren Elevation thermal scarf, T by Alexander Wang rib neck hoodie, Rag & Bone Dean legwarmers, Bottom: Free People cable knit leggings, Juicy Coutre cable robe, Marc by Marc Jacobs velvet mouse slippers, Gift Boutique Faux Chinchilla Fur Blanket

To enter simply:
Be a follower of Idle Fascination via Google Friend Connect or Bloglovin' (1 entry)
Like Idle Fascination on Facebook (2nd entry)
Leave a comment below for each entry with your e-mail address.

This giveaway is open internationally.A winner will be randomly selected on Saturday December 3 at noon EST.  Good luck!!xx

The giveaway is now closed, thank you to everyone who participated!

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Movember-Inspired Gift Guide

In case you've been living under a rock all month and have been wondering why the dirtbag population in your fair metropolis has seemingly quadrupled overnight, have no fear dears, t'is not a trend, it's just Movember! Please support your mustachioed gentlemen friends as they raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer research. And in the spirit of this hirsute happening here's a little Movember-themed gift guide:
Movember-Inspired Gift Guide
1. Jonathan Adler muse bottle opener, 2. Mr. Dannijo mus i-phone 4 case, 3. Max & Chloe demistache necklaces, 4. Fornasetti theme & variations plate #204, 5. Whisker While You Work mug, 6.Mustache-shaped flask, 7. Mustache ornament, 8. The Mustache Grower's Guide, 9. Mustache wrapping paper, 10. I love mustache panties

Friday, November 18, 2011

Stolen Inspiration: Net-a-Porter

High-end online shopping mecca Net-a-Porter is so much more than crack for the 1%-er shopaholic or, more commonly among us 99%-ers, porn for the cash-strapped would-be shopaholic. Thanks to some impeccable styling, it's also an incredible source of outfit inspiration, from breathing new life into our most heavily rotated wardrobe staples to demonstrating how to translate the most challenging, problematic and trendy pieces into the realm of the wearable.
Have a wonderful weekend, lovelies!!



Thursday, November 17, 2011

In Praise of the Bar Cart

I've been coveting a lovely little bar cart for my dining room for quite some time. And with holiday entertaining season looming before us, a well-stocked and accessorized bar cart makes the perfect festive vignette for those of us inclined to have our hooch on display. Too bad they don't come pre-stocked!




 

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Sibling Revelry

I picked up Vogue's annual best dressed issue for the dreary metro ride home from work today and it certainly didn't disappoint. Gorgeous weddings, hot blogger girls and icons galore, not to mention the cover story on supremely stylish sisters.
Cover girls Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen
Charlotte Gainsbourg and Lou Doillon

Ruby and Lily Aldridge

Poppy and Cara Delevigne

The Courtin-Clarins clan

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Guest Post: Party Girl Fashion

Hello, lovelies! This is Jennifer Fabulous, Liv's blogger soulmate. I am so honored she asked me to guest post on her awesome blog. I'm hoping a little bit of her coolness will rub off on me now. Hehe.

Liv recently got me hooked on Party Girl, a fashion explosion I somehow missed out on during my youth in the 1990s.

The 1995 film revolves around Mary (played by the delectable Parker Posey), a 24-year-old Prada-adorned bohemian who has no idea what she wants to do with her life. While she tries to figure it out, she spends her time changing in and out of designer clothes, eating delicious Middle Eastern food, and hanging out with her fabulous gay friends.

In other words, this film is about me.

I'm going to be honest, I could have cared less about the plot, no matter how hard it hit home.

It was the fashion which made me drool.

The gaudy, spectacular, glamboyant fashion.

Let's take a looksie, shall we?

(I apologize in advance for the poor quality of the screenshots. We're dealing with pre-digital shit here).

Anyway.

I knew the film was going to be fucking brilliant when Parker Posey made her entrance in GLITTER SHORTS.



(Insert hyperventilating here).

In this next scene, color-blocking on acid takes place.





I would dance on tables too, if I rocked this outfit.

The next ensemble is my all-time favorite:





Fake leo. Check. Red lips. Check. Fuck-you walk. Check.

And finally, class at it's finest.





Because nothing says lady-like career-woman more than a form-fitting leather skirt and a gorgeous satin ruffled blouse.

And these are just a FEW of the looks from the movie. Imagine.

Below I've created some outfits inspired by the film.

Party Girl 1


Party Girl 2


What do you think? Do you want to rock Party Girl style?

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Jumping the Gun on Holiday Fun!

So... here I am at home, still fighting the evil cold monster, and what else is there to do but get an early start on my holiday shopping (online, of course)? Any mention of Christmas prior to Halloween always irks me to no end but once Halloween has passed I immediately switch to Christmas holiday mode. (This might have something to do with the fact that, as a Canadian, Thanksgiving precedes Halloween for us). So my first holiday post of the season is all about the party-wear, showing you 10 ways to incorporate red, green, gold, sequins, velvet, hell, even antlers into your holiday party look without looking like a Christmas cliché!

And stay tuned next week while I get my Santa on for an awesome giveaway, a fabulous guest post (hint, hint) and hopefully Kleenex-free days and Nyquil-free nights. A girl can dream, can't she? Have a wonderful weekend!
10 Easy Pieces: Holiday Party


Vince boatneck shirt, $345
DAY Birger et Mikkelsen velvet blazer, €319
Haute Hippie short mini skirt, $695
Charlotte Olympia heel boots, €635
House of Harlow 1960 velvet handbag, $148
ASOS leather clutch, $22
Lanvin leather necklace, $3,995
House of Harlow 1960 vintage costume jewelry, $75
Miss Selfridge black belt, £12
NARS Trio Eyeshadow Arabian Nights One Size, $45

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

The Knit Parade

Wah! I'm sick! And other than hot tea and bad movies all I can think of is sweaters, sweaters and more sweaters...