What to Wear When: It's Holiday Party Season

But you really don't feel like wearing a cocktail dress or sparkly tights or pumps or, God forbid, anything that will show your hairy winter legs.


Or, in other terms, it's also finals season so your effort to get dressed in the morning has drastically decreased, and this lack of effort also applies to these infamous holiday parties. Let me first ask: why do these parties exist? Sometimes presents are exchanged but other times they are not and they only consist of christmas lights; holiday tunes (or, nowadays, Hamilton??); well-dressed people conversing about their pets, feminism, or the election; and a lot of picture taking (polaroids are a must!). They really are just like any other Dull Adult Party™, but a stigma surrounds the huge cluster of them: you have to look your best. Similar to the rules for any other party, but heightened to a certain level that seems almost impossible, and that is romanticized by Instagram because let's face it: no one really looks this good in real life:

In a year from now I won't remember how bloated I felt from eating everything in sight, I'll remember how freaking amazing the food tasted 👌🏻 #eatingEverythingInSight @jimmychoo #chootravels 📷 @katcollings

A photo posted by Courtney Trop (@alwaysjudging) on Nov 7, 2016 at 2:56am PST

Photo from Courtney Trop's Instagram, or the fashion/music blogger in charge of Always Judging

Apart from the ~deep analysis~ of how social media really screws us over for achieving our most desired looks (I've definitely been watching too much Black Mirror (season 3, episode 1, if anyone is interested)), holiday parties are difficult and sometimes more work than it's worth. Kind of like wearing a full face of makeup that you're not even comfortable in -- was it really worth it?

But parties should be fun! It's Christmas (or whichever holiday you celebrate), there shouldn't be this upsetting stigma around the most wonderful time of the year!

I'm here to change that (as I always am with every fashion dilemma I stumble upon). I'll make a fantasy where pants are acceptable and you're allowed to cover both your arms and neck, and you can still reclaim your ~holiday charm~ while most of your body is covered. It's cold!!!

When you've been stress eating because finals so you can't comfortably wear that tight dress, and sweats are the only solution:

Joggers by Anthropologie. Turtleneck by Asos. Tank by Urban Outfitters (or try this beaded one). Boots by Topshop.

Photos shot by Maddie.

I'd like to make a claim and state that fancy joggers are the definition of 2016. Who knew they even existed? Designers were probably observing the mess that is this year (19 more days until this cursed year is over, btw), and they decided it would be best to make sweatpants acceptable in public, and even in high fashion, because everyone is so over 2016 that we can only reside to sweats to get through the day. So commence the fancy sweats! Maybe try silk ones, or chiffon, or even velvet, a.k.a. the fabric of this year. Velvet seems so fitting for a holiday party! The holiday party I attended in 2015 incorporated me wearing a velvet turtleneck LBD, shown here:

velvet + turtlenecks are all I need this holiday season (follow @fracturedaesthetic to read more about this!!) #AsSeenOnMe #asos

A photo posted by natalie (@nataliegeisel) on Dec 17, 2015 at 12:34pm PST

                             

                              Photo from my personal Instagram (follow it along with @fracturedaesthetic if you'd like!).

which seems more suitable than sweatpants, of all clothing items, but I decided it was time to switch things up and stay true to the inner comfort in me. So I slipped on my new pair of velvet joggers that literally feel like pajamas (my writing professor even asked me if I ever forgot to take them off before going to bed), and felt, well, unready to attend a party. But that doesn't mean I didn't look the part! Something about velvet fixes every conflict -- how can it not when it literally feels like a cloud? I squeezed on a tight black turtleneck because this seems to always be part of my outfit template when it gets cold outside, and to ~fancify~ it I layered a red eyelet tank to give a shout out to Christmas with half of the holiday colors and to add unnecessary layers that seem to go along with the party season. I finished the look with black ankle boots, gold heel and all, to make yet another shoutout to the holiday but to also make sweats even more sophisticated. Looks like it worked, and I didn't even actually wear this to a holiday party. Hopefully it will come to good use when (if??) I go to one in the next 13 days. Maybe New Year's??

When your Levi's have been glued to your body and you can't seem to peel them off just to go to a holiday party:

alt girls + L.A. boy ready for the holiday season

A photo posted by natalie (@nataliegeisel) on Dec 10, 2016 at 9:26am PST

Top by Zara (or try this other Zara blouse). Turtleneck by Asos . Levi's jeans by Anthropologie. Bracelet by Madewell.

Photo from my personal Instagram.

Ever since I bought my first pair of Levi's two weeks ago they have been literally stuck on my body, like they're the only saving grace I have to get me through the rest of this semester. So how does one go about when their obsession with their new jeans has not yet died, but they have a party to attend at 9?
Keep
Them
On.
I'm creating a world where pants are acceptable at holiday parties, remember? Just like the previous outfit, I opted for a skintight turtleneck because it's cold and it seems to be the best base layer for events like this. I did the unnecessary layering thing again but instead went for an even more extra top to make up up for the casual jeans, and as for the shoes? You can use your imagination here because they're obviously not shown in the above picture (where I actually attended a holiday party!). The above boots that I wore with the joggers would work perfectly here, but also these clogs with these socks would work just as well. 

Or we could throw all of these ideas away and just wear tacky holiday sweaters. Is that too overdone?

twitter | instagram | facebook | tumblr | bloglovin'

Style Inspo: Halloween

I've been feeling really down in fashion lately.

Like, really down.

I'm not sure if I should blame the strange D.C. weather or my lack of inspiration or lack of time to blog (my hiatus is finally over, btw!!), but it's been really hard to get up in the morning and actually feel good about what clothes I put on my body. I'm sick and tired of jeans, don't feel like wearing the same Madewell sweater I wear at least twice a week, and want to ban sneakers from my existence. (But I really don't feel like spending money on new clothes.)

So the real question is: what the hell am I supposed to wear?

Maybe I should look to the Halloween spirits for the answer.

I'm not even kidding -- my favorite holiday has to solve all of my style issues.

Sleeveless sweater by Forever 21 (try this one by Madewell). Jacket is thrifted (an Asos alternative). Wool skirt is vintage Gap (corduroy works too). Shoes by Sam Edelman.

The leaves are changing color! The temperature is dropping! I'm able to finally ~protect my neck~ again without becoming the human version of fire! Fall came a month late for D.C., but at least it's here. This should be enough to end my fashion depression, really. But the drop of a temperature only leads me to wearing the same jeans that I don't even like that much and an average sweater that I've owned for so long that it has almost lost all of its style value. It's time to look at something greater and more abstract and even bit unexpected -- I'm that desperate for a fashion revelation.

Halloween, on the surface level, could lead to styles inspired by witches (sheer lace dresses, anyone?). Or it could simply mean dressing up like someone you're not, like I did last year or this year (see below):

robin sparkles velma and 80s workout bitch went to a comic book store for a stranger things party and we are definitely the youngest ones here and no one knows how to socialize but we're having a good time™

A photo posted by natalie (@nataliegeisel) on Oct 29, 2016 at 7:36pm PDT

But we're going to think a little more abstract. Maybe use the color scheme to inspire your outfit choice, or simply use the holiday as an excuse to dress a little different or out-there than usual (that's what Halloween is all about, right?).

Shirt by Urban Outfitters.

It's obvious that I followed the orange and black color scheme, but I actually did a lot more than that (which will be explained in the next few seconds). I purchased a sweater sans sleeves -- what's the practicality of this? How outlandish!! I then layered this over a black and white striped boatneck tee and slipped a skirt under the sweater as well, something that felt so natural but also wasn't -- my first choice was to wear my black skinnies. I made up for my lack of denim on my legs with a denim jacket, and as I slipped on my chelsea boots on bare legs (this lack of tights is so liberating), I felt the most myself I have ever felt in months. 

Halloween is about being someone you're not for one day, but maybe my stranger style choices led me closer to my real self. Who knew a single holiday could be so valuable to my style evolution?

Photos shot by Maddie.

twitter | instagram | facebook | tumblr | bloglovin'

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

And I'm serious with this title. I'm positive that everyone, or at least the majority, loves the holidays. There seems to be no wrong that can occur during such a wonderful month. People seem to forget about finals and other dreadful responsibilities because the idea that winter break is dawning upon us makes us only think about what we'll be getting under the Christmas tree or how we'll be spending such a happy few weeks (to all my non-Christmas celebrators). I may have said in October how Halloween is the best holiday, but the turn of the month made me realize that this season has to be my favorite. Peppermint hot-cocoa, holiday lights everywhere, and those huge ribbons you find on gifts are a few things that make me unconditionally happy. I love everything about this season, except for maybe that overplayed Christmas music. The most exciting thing, however, are the Christmas parties. I was never really into them until this year, but the one I attended this past Saturday completely altered my feelings toward them. Forget those tacky Christmas sweaters (no matter how much I love them), and go all out for the holiday events you go to this season. That's what my outlook was, and it definitely worked. Dressing up is half the fun of these parties, so of course I had to show off my skills (and my new buys) through this event.

Dress by Asos. Boots by Asos.

Dressing up for the holidays is almost too simple. Find that dress you've been dying to wear but didn't know when you'd be dressing formally, and slip on some tights. Glam out your face with more makeup than you'd usually wear, and finish the look with bright red lipstick. The key is to overdo everything, because, well, it's the holidays. There is still a way to overdo your look in a subtle manner (I apologize for the inconvenient paradox). I only went the extra mile in my makeup, and then followed a simple yet formal style for the rest of my outfit. Sometimes, the most well-put together outfits are the simplest. It's true that the effortless always carries the most effort.

I started the outfit by wearing my new black and velvet turtleneck dress (my dream dress, basically) with sheer tights, black boots, and mistletoe socks (I had to incorporate Christmas into my outfit somehow). I then applied my signature winged-eyeliner for the first time in months (four tries was definitely worth it), and I added a red lip that only screams Christmas. Voila. All ready to rock around the Christmas tree.

My sister and I posing for the holidays

Photos taken by my talented dad

I weirdly felt at home in this outfit at the party. Christmas music ringing in my ears, lights sparkling in my eyes, soft velvet against my skin... it was truly a magical experience. No wonder they call the holidays a miraculous time.

The party was a mix of christmas sweaters and "sexy cocktail dresses" (what my friends liked to call them), and I'm glad I went with the second route (are turtlenecks deemed "sexy" yet?). I'm the type of person to dress up for a normal school day, so of course I went all the way that night. Other than fashion, I brought the party to a whole other level by setting up a photo station with my camera, tripod, and even lights, including my colored ones. We were able to show off our Christmas wear and holiday cheer, and it made the already-successful event even better.

A few of my photo-station photos (with my wonderful friends)

Maybe I'm being a bit too cheery and even cheesy while talking about this topic, but I do believe the holidays brings out the best in people. Usually I'm a cynic, but I have to admit that the peak of my happiness occurs during this season. Wear those velvet turtlenecks, hang up those shimmering lights, and enjoy the most wonderful time of the year.

Weaving Fashion into Halloween

Halloween is my favorite holiday. A few years ago, I never thought that I would ever say that statement, but now I realize how interesting this holiday can get. My love for it is not because of the spooky atmosphere and loads of candy (I'm not saying I don't love those things, however), but it's due to how fun dressing up can be. My entire life, I've had some pretty interesting costumes (my twin and I were a tree and a literal pile of leaves when we were eight), so I understand how to create a new persona out of nothing. In my younger years, it used to be silly things, like a pumpkin or a warbler from Glee (I had a pretty bad middle school Glee phase), but now after learning more about pop culture through films, T.V., and fashion, I've "matured" my Halloween costumes. No, I don't mean buying a "sexy angel" costume online and pairing up with a friend who would be a "sexy devil". I simply mean using what I know from movies (or other things) I love and dressing up as those characters. Last year, I was the girl on the album cover of Contra by Vampire Weekend (see here), and this year, I decided to dress up as Margot Tenenbaum, a character from one of my favorite movies, The Royal Tenenbaums.

Dress by J. Crew. Coat brand is unknown.

Photos taken by me.

The best way to find a unique costume for Halloween is to find a character with a distinctive and interesting look. And this is where the fashion part comes in -- dressing up as someone with an iconic fashion sense will make a costume 10 times better than anyone else's. That's why dressing up as Margot was so fun. Her memorable fur coat, Lacoste polo dress, blonde bob, and heavy eyeliner create a look that cannot be recreated through anyone else, unless that person is intentionally dressing up as her. When you google "Margot Tenenbaum makeup", photos from fashion shows with heavy under-eye eyeliner will show, and when you google "Margot Tenenbaum style", images of models dressed in luxurious fur coats and striped dresses will appear. Even if you haven't seen the movie, you probably recognize the look, so this proves how iconic this character's style is. This made my job fairly easy. Although I did not have a tan fur coat or an actual Lacoste polo dress, I could still find a white one, put on a similar striped dress, and just do my makeup and hair just like hers (my new hair cut makes this costume so much easier). If you load on the eyeliner, straighten your preferably short and blonde locks, and walk around with a sad face all day, you will nail the Margot Tenenbaum aesthetic. I wish I would have carried around cigarettes and somehow made a wooden finger, but I didn't even need that to look just like Margot. When I showed people pictures of Margot today, they thought the resemblance was almost creepy. And if you have seen The Royal Tenenbaums, you probably recognized how I took these photos based on shots from the movie (I wish I had a Richie to sit next to on that couch...).





















For me, finding costumes like this comes easy. My favorite film director is Wes Anderson, and other than this character by his, I could think of five other characters I could have dressed up as (Suzy from Moonrise Kingdom was my second choice). And this is where fashion really comes into the equation. Dressing up as other personas is fun for me because I get to create a look different from my own. Not everyday can I go around wearing a fur coat and a pound of eyeliner, and Halloween gives us an excuse to be whoever we want to be just for a day. Many use it as an excuse to dress up as something ridiculous, but I use it to let my love for fashion shine with an iconic look that wouldn't work on the other 364 days of the year. Halloween should be easy for fashion lovers like me. The opportunities are endless, whether you want to dress up like a fashionable character or an irl fashion icon. I have seen some Anna Wintours this Halloween, but you can go even further than that. You can go back in time and be your best Jane Birkin or Brigitte Bardot, or even work that heroin-chic look by being Kate Moss. And these are just people who have influenced the fashion world. The simplest thing to do is look at characters from your favorite T.V. show or movie with an impeccable style and impersonate them. My twin dressed up as Audrey Horne from Twin Peaks by pairing a crop-sweater and midi with saddle shoes and that iconic beauty mark next to her eye. Although many people in this era don't even know what the show is, people who did watch it immediately knew, and that's due to Audrey's unique look. That's how being Margot was for me -- many people had never even heard of the movie, but people who have watched it knew exactly who I was trying to be. People think that Halloween costumes have to be recognizable by the entire population, but that's not a requirement. I already have a few ideas for next year (Angela Hayes from American Beauty or even one of the Lisbon daughters from The Virgin Suicides). So go out there, and spend this day dressing up as someone you've always wanted to be but couldn't on a normal day. That's what Halloween is for, right?