Holiday gift guide for HIM & HER.

Photo via Lulus.com

Today I have started my Christmas gifts shopping here in Budapest and this year I actually decided to do it on a more organized and controlled way. First I made a list of closest family and a couple of best friends who I want to buy gifts for and ordered what I need to order online since most online stores require you to make orders before December 19th in order to have gifts delivered by Christmas.

 Then, since I don't know the city well I googled and researched the shopping malls and found the one with most stores I would like to visit and went there with the list and predetermined budget. I withdrew the exact amount of money in cash and first went to do the customised gifts which required printing, engraving etc. so these can be done by the time I am done shopping and then I bravely walked through absolutely packed hallways and stores of the shopping mall. Usually, I prefer to shop on the work days in the morning when not many people are in the stores, due to my busy schedule, still taking over a new position at work and living in between Budapest and Barcelona I will not have this luxury this year.

The first rule for me for Christmas shopping is 'Don't panic!', a second one is 'Start early!' and third one is 'Don't overspend!', Christmas should not be about things so when you shop you shouldn't get things just to get them because it is Christmas and you need to get something to everybody. 

Sit down in peace, have a cup of coffee or a tea and think about people you care about and what are their interests, what is that they said they maybe lost and might want to have back, what are the thing they are saving for to which you can maybe contribute a bit or if you are on a really limited budget and spend a lot of time with these people just make a nice collage of photos from fun times you had together in the past year and put it all together in a creative frame or an album you will take time to decorate on your own.

Bellow are some fun gifts I was looking into which might work for your loved ones as well. :)

GIFTS FOR HER 

Dear male readers, no matter what you do, always remember make it personal, emotional, make it smell nice, always write a note to go with the present!

Luxurious scented candle by R-Nichols | Oprah's favorite| price: $45| burns 60 hours (delivers to Europe)

Ženski rokovnik - ladies only planner available for sale in each dm store in Croatia and online 

Price: 80.90 kn

Jeffrey Campbell bedazzled loafers via Nasty Gal | Price: 94.19 Euro

For busy women on a run this is a very practical gift!

Cream Quilted Olivia Butterfly Twists ballerinas via Butterfly Twists | price: 25 GBP.

Swarovski  Entwined Glamour Bracelet | price: $ 70

I have this bracelet and love it! It works both with casual and evening wear and it looks really luxurious.

GIFTS FOR HIM!

Ladies, In my experience men want practical gifts, nothing overly couture and to trendy. If you think about it, they ask quite frequently 'What is this for?' Make sure that their gift is in-line with their interest, useful and fun, cause as Coco Chanel said: "As long as you know men are like children, you know everything."

Sherlock Holmes PlayStation game, it is strategic, none violent and you can play it together :)

 Price: $ 49

Clinique men's cosmetic pack | price: 80 Euro

Customised bath robe | price: $69

Men's manicure set | price: $30

If you are not sure what to get for the lady in your life or a friend or you don't have time to go shopping, you can always write a card and get a gift card online and print it out on a nice piece of paper and put it in an envelope together with a card, just make sure you also write a nice personal note. I have great experience shopping from NastyGal, Lulu's, LuisaViaRoma and Asos. 

The same might apply to the men in your life, if they have a hobby they are very passionate about for example my dad hiking or my boyfriend dad - crossword puzzles, then go for a gift which corresponds with their interests.

I hope you found my gift guide useful lovelies! Have a lovely Christmas shopping!

All that glitters...

"Some girls are just born with glitter in their veins."

                 As month of December kicked in I instantly got in that holiday spirit! I know it is cheesy and all but I really can't help it, I really like this time of year (minus the cold weather).

 In my dictionary 'holiday spirit' stands for Starbucks peppermint mocha (skinny of course), frozen nose when walking down the street, chunky, soft and warm woolen scarf which my my made for me, smell of chocolate cookies and cakes in the kitchen, opportunity to bust out my woollen hats and fabulous glittery maxi gowns and heels (which I envisioned my self wearing much more often at point of purchase, justifying price per wear ratio).

With all of the above said, please bare with me if you are not so much into holiday celebration stuff as I am as this month I will be focusing my fashion posts on maybe a bit less practical but so much more fun and dreamy fashion pieces.

Today's post therefor I am focusing on all that glitters! I have been waiting for opportunity to post this one so I hope you like it :)

Glittery turban.

Blazer, Nasty Gal: 138 USD

Dress, Nasty Gal: 78 USD

"Personality is the glitter that sends your little gleam across the footlights and the orchestra pit into that big black space where the audience is."

Mae West

Ellie Saab SS 2012.

Ellie Saab SS 2012.

Chanel.

Of course, every true fashionista needs to have at least a pair of 'Cinderella' like glittery holiday shoes.

Casadei heels bedazzled with Swarovski crystals via LuisaViaRoma

Booties,Nasty Gal 215 USD.

I hope that you like my selection of glittery casual and dressy things to wear, I will be posting more high and low mixed items on my Facebook and Twitter pages as I am putting together my holiday shopping list so stay tune! There will be some presents going out for you as well lovelies! ;)

Nasty Gals do it better!

I wrote a post about the Nasty Gal brand as part of "My top 10 fashion brands" post series here.

Nasty Gal is about four years old company which grew rapidly in last few years, it started off as an eBay store in 2006 selling vintage clothes and now it serves customers in more then 50 countries, including Croatia.

 I first found out this brand a while ago and it seemed a bit to wild for my personal style but then after a couple of times ordering accessories I started ordering dresses for work and finally got hooked. Now, Nasty Gal is slowly becoming one of the e-commerce sites I am visiting and shopping from quite frequently.

This is why I was excited to learn that Nasty Gal is launching their own namesake label, starting with denim collection of high-waisted skinny jean in seven different colors + tropical palm print matching jean jacket and bottoms. Coming mid August the jean collection named The Kink which is currently online will extend into full 32 piece collection until mid August, while the brand also announced the leather jacket line for Fall.

My current favorites are the jackets. I have an amazing military parka from Rugby Ralph Lauren which I wear as a transitional jacket for Spring and Fall, but these are amazing so I am thinking about getting one to refresh my closet.

How do you like the Nasty Gal pieces ladies? Did you ever ordered anything from this site?

My top 10 fashion brands: Nasty Gal.

One of my favorite online stores has grown from a personal shop/sell vintage store on Ebay owned by Sophia Amoruso in only 5 years. Nasty Gal has grown into a worldwide inclusive but also cool online store offering new and  vintage clothes, accessories and shoes. 

Nasty Gal has a worldwide delivery and issues monthly style lookbooks, its buyers shop for high and low end merchandise trying to put together a store full of unique pieces with a character. Delivery charges are not to high, clothes runs true to size (I ordered only dresses so I cannot speak for all) and prices are fair in comparison to quality. 

Dresses I got are easy to take care of and wash. Also, there are always some promos and award games for loyal customers which is cool and appreciated. :)

When I shop, I get couple of dresses and I try to pick those made out of fabrics other then polyester. I know one might say ok, I pay for a bit of a lower price then Zara or H&M and then I pay for delivery and at the end the price is a bit higher even then in local store where I don't have to way for dress to arrive in mail, but honestly, at least you are not wearing the same dress and everyone else. Last Saturday I went to a wedding in Dubrovnik where two girls were wearing the same Lei Lou dress and the other two had the same Stradivarius dress on.

Bellow are the Nasty Gal dresses which I have placed on my summer must have list :)