Slip dresses have been trending for a while now, but they are continuing to have a moment this season. I love slip dresses for their comfort and versatility, they work for a night out but I’ve also been known to wear them to the office. Even though my office dress code errs on the side of casual, I still like to work in trend focused pieces so I get more bang for my buck.
I’ve really been making more of an effort to buy more quality, timeless pieces this year and it’s made me entirely rethink how I shop for clothes. Regarding slip dresses, they really run the style gamut from very slinky and short to long and classy. It’s up to your personal style but I guarantee you can find one that works for you! Linking some of my favorite slip dresses below as well as some ways I’ve been wearing mine.
Slip Dresses
How to style a slip dress
+ Wear on its own. Slip dresses look great on their own, paired with a wide brimmed hat during the day or your favorite heels at night. It’s an extremely versatile piece that looks great by itself or layered. I especially love this midi version from Cami NYC.
+ Under a big sweater. I love this look for fall – pairing a silk slip dress with a big cozy fall knit. At the end of the day, comfort is always key for me, but that doesn’t mean you have to look like a slouch.
+ Layered with a tee. Fashion girls have been dressing down their slip dresses for a while now, pairing them with a casual white tee for daytime.
+ Paired with faux fur or leather. Especially as the temperatures drop, it helps to throw a faux fur or leather jacket over your favorite slip dress.
Sounds silly, I know. BUT. Hear me out. In case you didn’t already know, sleep is V IMPORTANT. I know I sound like a snooze (ha, ha) but the older I get, the more I have come to appreciate sleep and everything it does for your body, mind, and soul. In college and my early 20’s I would stay up late, wake up early, pull all-nighters, and do all sorts of other things that completely wrecked my sleeping schedule. I figured: you sleep enough when you’re dead. I knew sleep was good for you, but I never fully processed how vital it is to performance and basically every human function you do.
[ If you’re one of those superhumans that can function off of 4 hours of sleep a night, no need to continue reading. I am officially very jealous of you. ]
The Importance of Sleep
Why sleep is important
+ Improves learning and brain function
When we sleep, our brains go to work. Sleep allows our brains to store memories and learn through memory consolidation. So the smart thing to do in school would be to study consistently and get enough sleep the night before an exam, not stay up all night. Noted.
+ It keeps you healthy
When you don’t get enough sleep, your immune system suffers. I don’t know about you, but I’ve found that I am so much more likely to catch a cold when I’m sleep deprived. And when I am under the weather, getting some extra hours of sleep do the most for my recovery.
+ It’s good for your appearance
It’s not called beauty sleep for no reason. Turns out getting enough sleep has been shown to improve skin texture, blood flow, and overall appearance.
+ It helps your body recover
If you’re working out on the reg, chances are getting enough sleep is helping your muscles recover and grow! And if you’re not getting enough, just know that sleep deprivation has been linked to weight gain due to increased levels of cortisol, which increases your appetite – eek!
Even though at times it seems like being sleep deprived is worn as a badge of honor and a reflection of how hard we work, sometimes the hardest thing to do is simply disconnecting and shutting down. It’s not always easy, but I feel a noticeable difference in my mood and energy when I get at 7 or 8 hours of sleep, not to mention how much clearer my skin is. Fortunately, even our technology seems to agree.
Tips for getting more sleep
+ Utilize the night shift and bedtime settings on your phone.
I have an iPhone, and I LOVE the “night shift” setting (mine is set from 9pm to 7am). This setting shifts the color settings on your phone to minimize the bright blue light that your smartphone emits, making it easier for you to fall asleep at night. You can also set alerts on your phone to remind you when it’s almost time for bed.
+ Disconnect completely.
30 minutes to an hour before bed, put away all electronics. I’ve been trying to read more before bed and honestly, this has been the best thing to help me fall asleep (ha!).
+ Create a sleep schedule.
This one is hard. It’s best to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, but it doesn’t always happen. I’m working on this one, but it’s easy to get off track, especially during the weekends.
+ Drink tea.
I don’t do this every night, but when I remember I like to drink something warm before I go to sleep. Did your mom ever tell you to drink warm milk before bedtime? It’s kind of like that. I especially like Calm and Sleepytime Tea with honey.
In the spirit of getting enough zzz’s, I’m taking the pajama very seriously and literally in this set by L’academie. Full disclosure: I don’t actually wear this to sleep although I’m sure you could, as it was intended for that use. I usually like to mix and match them as separates rather than as a set – I think you could get away with the blouse at work (the ribbon tied around the waist doubles as a scarf) with a skirt or jeans, and I really love the return of the track pant. You’ll definitely get some looks when you wear both at the same time. But hey comfort is key, and who cares what other people think?
Bonus: this set is on sale now! (End of winter sales in January are always SO. GOOD. No better time to stock up on all those cold weather essentials).
Hey babes! Happy December! We’re officially in the home stretch of 2016. From now until January there will be countless occasions to dress up from holiday parties to NYE. I figured I’d get a head start on something for once and round up the best holiday party dresses. Now is the time to pull out all the stops and be as glittery and sparkly as your heart desires! If you’re into something a little more subtle, don’t worry – there are countless silk/lace/velvet options out there for you as well. I’m always a fan of the jumpsuit to mix things up as well ; ).
Holiday Party Dresses
ALSO – if you haven’t checked out LPA yet, do so now! I can’t get enough of this line. Every single piece in the collection is a complete showstopper. This particular dress caught my eye – I am in love with the color (“toffee”), cutouts, and material (be sure to have a steamer on hand – it wrinkles easily). Perfect for any upcoming holiday party! Hope you find the perfect outfit for your holiday festivities – shop my favorite holiday party dresses (anddd maybe NYE? too soon?) below!
Hiiiii! I just got back from Palm Springs and am off to Mexico later this week! Lots of exciting stuff – I haven’t taken a big trip since Thailand (trip recaps here and here) and have been itching to travel. Oh, and if you haven’t already, feel free to add me on Snapchat to follow along: amylzhang. Now, moving on to talking about summer dresses…
I’ve always been more of a dress/skirt kind of gal over pants, especially in the summer when the ideal outfit is something lightweight and breathable. See some of my previous posts on dresses (boho maxis, wrap dresses here and here, and off the shoulder frocks) for some options.
3 Summer Dresses
As much as I love maxis, a good mini dress (remember this Jen’s Pirate Booty dress??) is the way to go when the temperatures rise. Some of my favorite options for summer dresses include:
I would choose an all white ensemble over all black any day, especially in the summer when you’re rocking a tan (real or fake). Bright white is my absolute favorite color to wear, the only downside is many pieces end up having to go to the dry cleaners often. The key is to choose fabrics that are easily washable, if you go with materials that need to be dry cleaned such as silk, it’s best to be very careful when you’re out and about!
My preferred way to show just a little skin. Showing some skin is totally acceptable in summer dresses. I like cutouts that are subtle, backless anything is a yes in my book as well. This dress is another steal from the Reformation sample sale that I loved so much, I actually got in two colors. Speaking of which, I’m totally obsessed with sample sales now.
dress: reformation (sold out) | shoes: steve madden
Slip Dresses
Slip dresses still get my vote for versatile, effortless piece you need in your closet (remember this velvet number?) Wear it on its own, over a bralette (or even better, a chain bra!) or layer it over a T-shirt. The options are surprisingly endless. Go for silky or velvety slip dresses, you may look like you just rolled out of bed, but in the best way possible.
Whether you’ve already gotten a start on your holiday shopping or are more of a procrastinator, I’ve rounded up all of my favorite gifts for women for today. Christmas is officially a month away, and even if you celebrate another holiday, chances are you’ll want some gift-giving inspiration. These gifts are perfect for the woman in your life – whether it’s your best friend, mom, significant other, or even for yourself! Tis the season to give, so keep reading this Gift Guide For Her for the best gifts (and at every price point!).
2019 Holiday Gift Guide For Her
Holiday Gifts for the Beauty Guru
If she’s VIB Rouge at Sephora and is always in the know on the latest beauty launches, you’ll want to get her a luxe beauty present from one of the brands below.
Eve Lom is a brand that was new to me this year and has quickly become one of my favorites. Not only is the packaging sleek and beautiful, but the products have worked incredibly well and become some of my staples. This set comes with all of the essentials from the line that will make your skin glow, and in a travel size friendly package.
Everything Charlotte Tillbury screams Hollywood glam, her lipsticks and liners are some of my absolute favorites, but you cannot go wrong with this glow set filled with subtle shimmer that will make your skin look like it’s glowing from within.
If there is a beauty guru in your life who doesn’t have this yet and you are looking to splurge, look no further. It’s an outrageous amount of money to spend on a blowdryer, but I promise anyone who receives it will be obsessed.
I’m certainly not the first person to fall in love with Le Labo scents, at this point they are ubiquitous but that doesn’t make me love them any less. I started with Santal 33 first but have been wearing this scent for the last few years, it’s a little strong but you will get so many compliments. The City Exclusives are worth checking as well, as are all of their other scents.
Truly a holy grail concealer, but if you’re looking to spoil someone for Christmas check out all things Cle de Peau. The most luxurious beauty products that any woman would love to have in their beauty bag.
As someone who finds most lipsticks too drying, these Nars satin lip pencils have been one of my favorites for years. My favorite shades are Rikugien, Exbury, Timanfaya, and Majella.
If you’re looking for a basic skincare set for travel or the gym, I highly recommend Glossier. The price point is more reasonable and the products are surprisingly good. The Milky Jelly cleanser is one of my go tos, but I like their priming moisturizer quite a bit as well.
How cute is this candle! I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t love to have this as decor in their house. Bonus points because it smells incredible as well.
The ultimate haircare travel set. Oribe is expensive, but worth the price as far as high end hair products go. I’ve tried almost everything in the line and can truly attest that they make a difference and are worth the price.
Say goodbye to tangled necklaces when you travel! I’ve always wondered how to travel with jewelry and often end up not packing any. This is the answer!!
If you insist on being cute but still want to be comfortable when you travel, a matching cropped set will usually work well. Cream fleece is a nice change from the usual black.
I just started carrying my passport in a case this year and it’s made it easier to locate and store, and keep my passport and other required travel documents in check. Skinnydip makes some of my favorite accessories (think phone cases and cosmetic cases).
I have and love my AirPods, but these earphones from Bang & Olufsen are so stylish and would make an incredible gift for someone who is always on the go.
Even if you aren’t about an in-flight skincare routine, face masks are necessary when you are always on the go and exposing your skin to all sorts of different climates and elements.
Some of the most comfortable leggings you will ever wear. They come in so many different colors, they’re perfect for lounging around or a light yoga/pilates class.
If you hit the gym often and hard, recovery is just as important as your training! Regular stretching and foam rolling does wonders for your long term health and the sustainability of your training. Investing in recovery tools & massages/treatments will go a long way if being active is important.
A book with style, covering nutrition but also doubling as a coffee table book (you can never have too many coffee table books!), this one focuses on foods that make a difference on your skin and overall appearance.
I can’t say enough positive things about my Vitamix, I’m not much of a cook so if I could recommend one kitchen appliance this would be it. I love making smoothies, soups, sauces, nut butters, and more in this.
I can attest to how good this cookbook is, Chrissy Teigen really knows what she is doing and the recipes are approachable, fun to read, and downright delicious.
You don’t have to go Missoni, but a nice throw blanket is a great gift for a friend who loves to entertain or spend a Friday night in. Can you ever have too many throw blankets?
Bonus points if you get a print you know your friend will absolutely love!
Holiday Gifts for Her
These are the perfect gifts for the fashion girl in your life. Chic and timeless pieces she will wear for years, you can’t go wrong with any of the staples below.
I’ll admit I was late to the game becoming a fan of these, but if you’re looking for a practical and timeless work shoe that isn’t a heel (because let’s be real, flats are so much more comfortable), I would go for these. They come in different colors and prints, but you can’t go wrong with black.
Every girl needs a mini bag they can throw on their shoulder for day to night, if you want to spend a little more on a designer brand, YSL makes great crossbody bags and clutches. I love the black on black in this style, but have also had my eye on a nude bag as I have too many black bags already.
Every girl needs a buttery soft leather jacket in their closet, I like this particular AllSaints version for the quality of leather and fit at the price (many comparable leather jackets are easily 2-3x the price). The fit is a bit snug so if you prefer a roomier fit, size up.
Chains have made a huge comeback this year, but delicate versions will be here to stay. The metal is gold vermeil on sterling silver, so it isn’t as expensive as pure gold but should still last if you take care of your jewelry. Missoma is a favorite of Meghan Markle’s (recently named the most powerful celebrity dresser of the year).
You’ve probably seen these sneakers on everyone at this point, I love wearing sneakers with just about everything because I don’t have the tolerance for heels anymore. If you opt for another pair, I also like Veja and of course, everything Nike.
A long camel robe coat is a fall staple, if you need inspiration just look up Hailey Bieber, she elevates a simple white T and jeans combination with her camel coat. Zara makes more a more affordable version I really like as well.
Maybe it’s because I still don’t own fashionable pajamas, I just think of them as such a wonderful gift but not something most people would buy for themselves. This silky version is comfortable but not frumpy.
I’ve been a fan of Slip for a long time, if you don’t have one of their eye masks or pillowcases yet, get them ASAP! The silk scrunchies are a nice small gift that will be appreciated by any girl, as we all know too well the inevitable mark left in your hair from a normal elastic band.
Protect your neck and face with an oversized wool scarf. Acne makes my favorites, but I also have similar looking scarves (at half the price) from Aritzia that I adore.