Black Tie Christmas

Dress (similar) (similar) || Heels || Clutch || Earrings

My family celebrates Christmas with an extremely casual dress code. As Floridians, typically we gather around the holiday table and Christmas tree in t-shirts and shorts. There’s absolutely zero fanfare involved. While I’m thankful for my parents’ laidback attitude, I’ve secretly wished I had a holiday time gala to attend. Since there’s nothing on my itinerary this year, I’ll just dress the part with my favorite red dress from a charity event I had earlier this year. I’m still in love with this red lace number from Rent the Runway, originally posted here. Here’s a quick round up of some other options for a black tie Christmas!

Festive Reds

Probably my personal favorite during the holiday season, now is the time to wear the brightest shade of red you can muster. Especially in New York City, it will a breath of fresh air against the typical black and navy ensembles. Keep you head high and know that you will be the center piece of any room you walk into.

Elegant Black

Is there anything more classic than a stunning black gown? I certainly can’t think of one. Even though this slimming color seems pretty straight forward, it can have so much character! Look for pieces with interesting fabrics and a striking accent.

Dreamy Midnight Blue

I really couldn’t leave out my favorite color on the black tie fun! Navy is a little more playful than it’s black counterpart, but just as classic. It still works with nearly every skin tone and can actually serve as a pop of color. The sky is the limit with midnight blue.

Eye Catching Silver and Gold

A lot of gals are already starting to think about New Years Eve and starting the new decade off with a great look. Since we’re about to enter into the roaring 20’s, I think we should look as festive as the opulent decade deserves. Wear a flashy dress with all of the glitz to stand out when the ball drops at midnight.

Dressing up for the holidays is such an added perk! Why can’t we dress like this all year around? When you find the perfect dress for a high-function occasion, you seriously feel like you could rule the world. Cheers to finding the dress.

Love from NYC,
Katie

If you are more interested in travel than style, be sure to visit my exclusive travel page, here.

Gift Guide: Teachers

Blazer || Blouse || Skirt || Heels ($50 off with BAKATIE50) || Handbag || Earrings || Bracelet

With so much focus and time spent on buying gifts for family and friends, there’s one person I would hate for you to miss out on. This really only applies if you have young children, but their teacher should be on the top of your shopping list. Obviously, I very biased here. I know the teacher life better than most bloggers out there. Heck, even if your friend, neighbor, or relatives are teachers, thank them for all of their work with this gift guide.

CAPRI BLUE Volcano Reed Diffuser

Teachers care about their students to death, but a classroom of 20 or more doesn’t always smell so great. Candles are a no, for obvious reasons, and aerosol sprays hardly smell better. Instead, opt for a reed diffuser in a nice, clean scent. Volcano from Capri Blue has been one of my favorite candle companies for years!

LILLY PULITZER Insulated Lunch Box

When I was in the classroom, lunch was a violent 30 minutes where I had to drop off the students, go to the bathroom, make last minute copies, eat for five minutes, and pick up the students again. Knowing that I came to work everyday with a packed lunch from home was a huge relief. The print of this Lilly Pulitzer lunch box is so sweet! It’s also insulated to keep everything cold during the long school day.

ANTHROPOLOGIE Noir Monogram Mug

Whether it’s coffee, tea, or soda, teachers live on caffeine. How else do you think we are always our best selves with a roomful of kids 180 days of the year? For really nice personal touch, give your student’s teacher a monogrammed coffee mug. At under $10, you also slip in a gift card to their favorite coffee shop.

SUGAR PAPER Concealed Spiral 2020 Planner

I, and a handful of my favorite co-teachers, used to obsess over our planners. When you have 20 plus students, meetings, standards, testing, and everything else to keep track off, it’s nice to have one place to dump it all. This planner from Sugar Paper is so simple with it’s blue and white cover. The concealed spiral is great! That way, it won’t get crushed inside our giant teacher bags.

BRIOGEO Deep Conditioning Mask

Teaching is the absolute most reward career out there. Still, there are days where I would come home feeling like I just spent the last few hours inside a tornado. Going to the spa weekly isn’t normally in a teacher’s budget, but a weekly deep conditioning mask is a great way to unwind.

VINGLACÉ Stemless Wine Glass

Speaking of unwinding, maybe they need a refreshing glass of … in hand? Since I was previously in a Catholic school, my parents had a huge appreciation for a bottle of wine. For Christmas, one of my families gave me a nice bottle of red. It’s a way of saying, “I know your job is tough, but maybe this will help.” It’s a simple and extremely thoughtful gift! Be sure to double check with school policies and teacher preferences before going with this option.

KATE SPADE Mini Initial Pendant Necklace

A teacher’s last name is heard an infinite number of times in the classroom. It’s how your kids know to love a teacher and can be the entire identity of the class. A monogram necklace can be a token of how important that name is to you children. This Kate Spade pick has an Art Deco feel for a unique style.

SUGARFINA 8-Piece Candy Bento Box

I cannot tell you how many days I felt desperate for a small piece of candy. Depending on the classroom schedule, the afternoons can feel like a drag. Having a little afternoon pick me up is crucial. I am a huge fan of Sugarfina candies. They are the perfect little bite and come in the cutest packaging. This 8-piece bento box gives the teachers in your life a whole batch of options.

Even as I’m writing this, I feel a huge sense of love for my teaching career. I may have taken a small break, but I just know I’ll be back. Teaching sometimes feels like both the best and most stressful job imaginable. During the holiday season, even giving sharing the smallest token of appreciation can mean so much!

Love from NYC,
Katie

If you are more interested in travel than style, be sure to visit my exclusive travel page, here.

Gift Guide: Little Girls

Dress (similar) || Wrap || Heels || Clutch || Earrings

I’m a teacher at heart. Even though I’ve been out of the classroom since September, I just couldn’t pass up on a gift guides for the little ones. While we don’t have any kids of our own yet, it wasn’t tough for me to envision a list for little girls out there. Honestly, I just thought back to what I used to ask for. If you’re a mom, aunt, or just have a little girl to shop for, here’s a quick gift guide for you.

LILLY PULITZER Minnie Elephant & Matching Classic Shift Dress

This gift is an adorable two-parter. Admittedly, they will probably be more excited about the stuffed elephant, but mom will be smitten over the matching dress. To really go above and beyond, this can be a whole family affair. Get matching pieces for mom and dad too!

OLLI ELLA Rattan Trunk

When I was a kid, I had a little rolling Minnie Mouse suitcase. It was my pride and joy! I loved packing it up and going on pretend trips. Clearly, not much has changed. I still have a passion for planning and packing for trips around the country and world. This rattan trunk is a modern day version of that. Fill it with a costume and that little girl’s imagination will begin running.

ANTHROPOLOGIE Bea the Bohemian Stuffed Doll

Isn’t she beautiful? Soft enough to cuddle with at night, the little girl in your life will cherish this doll for years to come. Her look is modern and sophisticated, but still attainable. It can help instill a laidback mindset in a sometimes superficial world.

ANTHROPOLOGIE Breeds: A Compendium Book

This book directly speaks to the kid in me. I couldn’t get enough of dogs when I was little, or now. I think for every Christmas, I would ask for some sort of dog related book. Quiz me on breeds. I probably know a good majority of them!

LITTLE PEOPLE, BIG DREAMS Maya Angelou

As a teacher, I tried to fill my classroom library with books about aspirational men and women. The Little People, Big Dreams book series has a long list of leaders and dreamers for young kids to learn about. Let’s get back to raising up those who actually deserve our adoration.

VANS Classic Checker Slip-In Sneakers

It’s never too early to start a young girl’s epic shoe collection. Every PE teacher I’ve met will tell you, tying shoelaces for kids who don’t know how can be a pain! Vans sneakers are perfect for running around and are virtually trip free. This rainbow checkered print is a fun take on the classic.

J. CREW Long-Sleeve Sundae T-Shirt

The next time she says “pretty please with a cherry on top,” she can actually look the part This t-shirt from J. Crew is absolutely darling! I can’t think of a little kid out there who wouldn’t love a t-shirt that looks like ice cream.

SMARTLAB TOYS All Natural Spa Lab

Women need to get more involved in the science fields and it all stars when they’re very young. This All Natural Spa Lab teaches about chemistry while making spa-inspired items like body scrubs and lip balms. Let her experiment alone or have a bonding spa day together. The choice is yours!

With technology absolutely everywhere, I think it’s important to take the emphasis away from electronics through gifting. The world still needs thinkers, readers, and little girls with all the confidence in the world. The journey starts now!

Love from NYC,
Katie

If you are more interested in travel than style, be sure to visit my exclusive travel page, here.