Between mugs of hot cider, Christmas light watching, and shoveling your drive-way, venturing to the mall can be the last thing on your list. We’ve come up with a great gift for everyone in the family to get your gift-giving juices flowing and make your shopping time as quick as possible.

1. Dear ‘ol Dad

The best things for dads is to come from work, slip out of the loafers and into something more comfy. These Lodge Moccasins from J. Crew are the perfect gift for dad because they’re lined and soled. Now Dad won’t have to worry about changing out of his slippers when he has to take out the trash or run to the store for a late night ice cream run.

Get them here for under $50!

2. Moms

Moms can be the easiest and the most difficult on your list. Because they’re your mom they like everything you give them but Christmas is a great time to get them something that means a lot. Why not men’s styled pajamas? These are perfect for the mom that loves to get up and do the breakfast routine for her family in comfort. They’re even appropriate enough to make a run to the school and back without having to get ready for the day.

Again, we’ve found them for a great price here at our friends J. Crew.

3. Sistahs

These triangle necklaces are the best and can be found by local artists on Etsy. We’re also big fans of the bar necklace and these simple, yet fancy additions look fantastic when paired with a ponytail and red lipstick.

We found these online for $27.00 so they won’t break the bank!

4. Brothers

You can get brothers anything from a captain underpants book to a cutout of Ronald Mcdonald and they’ll proudly display them in their rooms. However, why not try something a bit different this year and dress them in something classy so you’re not embarrassed to be seen with them and their shrunken t-shirts and ripped levis. This wool sweater sports elbow patches and you can even borrow it and pair it with leggings and boots for a comfy day at the office or a snuggle with a book in front of the fire. This is really the gift that keeps on giving.

We found this one online at J. Crew again.

Hopefully this cuts down your shopping time a bit so you can spend more time in front of the fire instead of waiting in line at the department store. Happy holidays from AJPNation

Are you tired of painting your nails and then having the paint chip on the edges the very next day? Are you tired of painting your nails and having to wait 2 hours for them to dry completely? If you’re like me, you’re obsessed with painted nails but have zero patience to wait for them to dry completely. So aside from having finger prints and smudge marks left in un-dry paint, the color chips off the edges every time you have to actually use your nail.

Never fear however, the solution has been found! Shellac nails are the hottest nail trend for 2011 and will continue on long into the future of nail-polish wearers across the globe.

What is Shellac?

Shellac is a special kind of gel-like nail polish that is applied in several coats and then your fingers are placed under an ultra-violet light to dry and for the polish to harden. Shellac is applied directly to your existing nail, doesn’t involve fake tips or acrylic. Shellac is also sometimes referred to as “natural gel” polish.

Why get Shellac?

If you like the length of your natural nails and want to go for a more natural look than acrylic tips but want the paint to last longer than a regular manicure, shellac is for you! Shellac polish comes in 100 different colors and lasts until it grows out (they typically look good for about 3 weeks). Another benefit to shellac over acrylic is that is is relatively cost efficient. Shellac typically costs $20.00 to do and then if you keep going back they take the old polish off and apply brand new instead of filling and dealing with cracks, bubbles, or imperfections.

The other pluses to shellac are that your nails dry while you’re at the salon under the light and you can open your wallet, put on gloves, put on your seat belt etc. immediately after leaving the salon. Additionally, Shellac won’t ruin your nails like acrylic nails tend to do.

It Gets Better

Because “shellac-ing” your nails is just like applying nail polish, you can shellac your nails at home. All you have to do is purchase the special gel polish in your choice of color, the finishing polish, and the UV light. It’s great to get shellac done at the salon but if you feel like you’re going to be a life-long shallac-er (like I’ll probably be) then it would probably be worth your time to purchase your own shellac polish and equipment.

You can find everything you need to get started, here!

If you’re like the rest of us fashion-conscious snow birds, then you’re probably sick and tired of wearing the same pair of boots paired with the same winter coat every day the temperature drops closer to zero (or tired of having to literally thaw your feet once you get to school or work because you just “had” to wear those leopard print flats today). It’s only the beginning of November and our winter ensemble has worn itself out.

Do not fear however, because in this post we’re going to talk about some ways you can jazz up your winter look without having to sacrifice your toes to the Gods of all things cold.

The Rainboot

Whether your area of the country gets snow or not, everyone can benefit from a trendy pair of rain boots. Now, you can save your pennies and splurge on a good pair of Hunters (the rubber is thicker, the tread is nicer, and the insides are lined with flannel) or more every-day retailers (like Target and Shoe Carnival) carry slightly thriftier versions as well. As rain boots rise on the popularity scale, they’re being manufactured in colors and patterns galore.

The Look: We have two favorite ways to sport these rubber-rubies, either with skinny jeans and knee-high “boot socks” or with a good pair of leggins. Okay, we lied, we actually have a third way we like to wear them, with skirts or dresses. If it’s freezing outside, wear a thick pair of tights, a dress or knee-length skirt, a pea-coat and your rainboots. Happy puddle hopping!

All-Weather Sorel Boots

These babies are the best because you can wear them starting in the Fall and all through the snowy Winter so you’ll be sure to get your wear and tear out of them. These boots are also great for those trying to avoid ice patches because they’ve been engineered to be worn well and to grip the slippery ground.

The Look:
You can either go bundled up with these furry friends and again, sport them with skinny jeans, a fur coat and scarf. Or for a more hipster-femme look, pair them with tights and a floral-print dress (don’t forget your coat).

The “Baker” Boot

These are our personal favorites of the season and can be found everywhere online from Nordstrom to Zappos. The reason we love these boots so much is because they’re lined with fleece on the inside (which you can cutely fold over), they’re made of water-proof leather, and they give you the sexy, feminine look of heels without sacrificing functionality (good tread, medium heel, laces to be tightened).

The Look: Pair these booties with skinny jeans or stirrup pants then pair with a bomber or leather jacket or a fitted grey pea coat (the possibilities are truly endless with these though).

Bring on the Snow!

Ok, I hope we’re all feeling better about facing the upcoming winter without having to sacrifice style!

I know we talked a little bit about faux fur in our last post but I think it’s time we discuss this up and coming Fall fashion trend in some greater detail. I suppose I’m not entirely correct in saying “up and coming” to describe the faux fur mania because there are those who jumped on the faux fur train last Fall and who are probably gloating right now because it’s taken the rest of us an entire season to catch on (like my best friend who I thought was off her rocker for scanning the internet daily to find a decently priced faux fur vest).

However, for those of us who need some slight coaxing to catch on to a fad that’s seemed to appear out of nowhere, faux fur is not only taking over the runway but can be seen on models on the cover of Look Books from many mainstream retailers as well.

How They’re Wearing it

Last season the big thing was the faux fur vest. Fashionistas who were on top of the trend tended to sport light brown vests (faux rabbit) that could be belted and worn over fitted long sleeve tees. This season however is breaking from the mold and making a bit more “wild” statement.

Yes, vests are still in (I’m actually on the prowl for one myself right now), but faux fur is now spreading to cover entire crop jackets, fill panels on sweaters, be worn “poncho” style, line hoods, and be worn as wraps. One of my favorite looks is the cheetah print crop jacket. Some of the longer jackets covered entirely in fur can appear a bit overwhelming (not to mention bulky) and the crop jacket is definitely a statement piece that will still show off your waist and make you look like you’re heading to the runway, not the North Pole.

Let’s Talk about Practicality

Not all of us have the luxury of living in the Southern states where Winters rarely drop below 50 degrees, but for those of us who face small blizzards and trapse between classes, to and from work, and through outdoor malls, we’re tired of wearing the same “winter” coat every day. Faux fur is not only stylish, but super warm (sorry Californias), and sporting a faux fur vest over a fitted thermal , or grabbing a sweater with faux fur panels could be all you need to stay warm without compromising your style. Instead of having to sacrifice your “look” every day it snows, faux fur is a fantastic option.

Where to Find Good Prices on Faux Fur

I’ve found some of my favorite faux fur pieces at Nordstrom (but they run a bit pricey, like $140 for the crop cheetah jacket I mentioned earlier) and you can take a peek at the faux fur options here.. Other places to look are The Gap, Macy’s (who often has great sales), and even trendier locations like Forever 21 and Wet Seal; overstock sites like Zappos have high-quality brands for low prices. I’m excited to wear my new faux fur pieces when the weather cools down next month, let me know what pieces you’re excited about!

As the Summer comes to a close and retailers are removing mini skirts and floral tanks from their shelves, we need to know what’s going to be “next” before we cash in our pay checks and begin making our Fall must-haves lists. Well, the research has been done and we’ve come up with a list of the next big Fall 2011 fashion trends so you can be prepared while window shopping and online purusing.

Must-Haves

1. Faux Fur- Whether you’re an animal activist or not, faux fur is coming back. We saw a sneak peak of this repeat 60′s trend in Fall and Winter of 2010, but this Fall make room in your closets for vests, boots, scarves, bags and jackets that look like they’d keep you warm and toasty in Antarctica.

Our Suggestion:Pair these oversized items with dark skinny jeans and fitted high-heel boots, pair them over boho dresses with tights, or dress them down with leggings and leather flats. We’re personal fans of the vests and can’t wait to start sporting ours this Fall.

2. Polka Dots- This feminine and flirty print is all over blouses, scarves, midi skirts, and dresses this Fall. A popular concept we’ve found is pairing a sheer polka dot fabric over a complimentary colored tank or long-sleeve.

Our Suggestion: Dresses can be worn with bare legs through September and perhaps into October, then when the weather comes, try pairing these fabrics with dark, opaque tights. Similar to our model on the right, polka dots also do well as accents for more plain pieces and solid colors.

3. The Tuxedo- We saw a bit of the androgenous look last Fall as well when fitted blazers over collared shirts peeked its heat around the fashion corner. This Fall however, the tuxedo look for women is in full swing. Again, fitted blazers will be in as well as white collared shirts tucked into jeans or dress pants. A lot of black and whites will be in as well as women make their debut in the work place more prominent than ever. Whether you’re dressing for the office, for class, or for a class field trip, you’re not going to go wrong with the sophisticated tuxedo look.

Our Suggestion: To keep your look fresh and feminine, we’d recommend pair a fitted blazer, tapered dress pants, or tuxedo shirt with heels and bright lipstick. This way, you’ll still get the feel of androgeny without completely losing your gender in the process.

Keeping these Fall 2011 fashion trends in mind as you shop this September is going to keep a step ahead of the competition who’s barely rolling out last years Fall fashions.

With the summer coming to an unfortunate but inevitable close, it’s time to start turning your eye to the new trends to hit 2011 Fall fashion. Aside from polka dots, fur parkas and vests, and slim fitting 60′s style skirt suits, a trend we’re excited about is titling itself “Collage Studies.”

What Are Collage Studies?

Remember the magazine collage and tile mosaics you made in the 2nd grade? Their colors mixed and matched but somehow the chaos led to a sense of cohesion? This is exactly the idea behind collage studies and the concept of mixing prints, fabrics, and textures within your wardrobe.

No longer are we in the days of denim on denim, this Fall, the more your prints and patterns clash, the better you’ll fit in on the big city streets. There is a method to all the madness however.

1. You can mix florals- Just be sure their colors are different enough not to make you look like you’re wearing a jumper out of the garden.

2. Don’t be afraid of shine or glitter-Gold, sequins, and rhinestones are not only for going out anymore. Pair a gold sequened tank with a navy tweed blazer, dark wash skinny crops, and green suede clogs and you just might find yourself on the runway.

3. MORE is MORE-Tis the season of the bold and the beautiful. The funkier your patterns the better they’ll mix and bring out the uniqueness of the pieces you’re wearing around it.

Keep in Mind

It’s always a good idea, especially if you’re new to the idea of Collage Studies, to keep a running color through your differently patterned pieces. If you pair black and white stripes with leapard, you’re in business. This concept applies to Jewelry as well. Pairing golds and silvers when it comes to accessories can make you look like you rolled

Are skinny jeans going out of style? Fashion designers showing their Spring 2011 collections clearly want to push consumers towards the wider pant leg and higher waistline. But many shoppers are not willing to part with the skinny jean or the “jegging” just yet.

 

Most claim that the only people who look good in them are skinny people. And the only time they actually look good are with 4-inch heels and how many of us are wearing those everyday?

The skinny jean has even become popular in menswear.

 

There are also skinny cargos and skinny denim designed for children.

 

But will the skinny jean ever leave? I believe that they have become a denim staple. The reason may be is because skinny jeans are easy to wear in any season.

 

According to fashion designers, the 70’s wide-leg, high-waist pants are the next trend. Wide-leg jeans are more flattering and are so much easier to wear.  You can wear these jeans with flip-flops, chunky heels, or even wedges and make your legs go on for miles.