Style Lush

Oscar Party Kit

By Janet

Will you be watching the Academy Awards on Sunday? I'm looking forward to finding out the winners because I have, for once, seen quite a few of the films! My favorites include The Descendants, The Help, Moneyball, and Midnight in Paris.

If you will be watching, do you have any fun plans for making a whole event out of the evening? I've found some Oscar Party Printables, as well as Oscar Bingo and Ballots, that would help make the night extra stylish.

Oscar Party Printables (and more here) from Hostess Blog

Oscar Bingo and Ballot from How About Orange

What are your favorites this year?

New York City Ballet-Inspired Nail Polish

By Janet

Debuting this Spring is a collection of nail polishes from OPI, inspired by the New York City Ballet. I've said before: I love to infuse a tiny bit of ballet-inspired style to my everyday wardrobe and these nail colors are just the ticket.

The colors (and their cute, clever names):

Barre My Soul: A sheer beige
You Callin' Me a Lyre? A soft pink
Don't Touch My Tutu! A sheer white
Care to Danse? A genteel lilac
My Pointe Exactly: A sheer gray
Pirouette My Whistle: Silver sparkle!

If you aren't feeling the softs and sheers, OPI is also introduing 12 shades inspired by the state of Texas. The names are equally clever and include: Austin-tatious Turquoise, Don’t Mess With OPI, and Big Hair Big Nails. 

Pretty Ponytails

The ponytail gets a bad rap. Sure, we throw our hair into ponytails when we don't have time or when our hair is being difficult (like mine has been, lately), but the ponytail can also be gorgeous and stylish. Here are three tutorials for pretty ponytails: 

Messy Side Ponytail

Knot Your Average Pony

Formal Ponytail

Do you wear your hair in a ponytail?

{Illustration by Inslee}

Birthday Confetti

By Janet

Today is my birthday and I can think of no better way to celebrate than by sharing some DIY confetti projects. Okay, well I can maybe think of some better ways to celebrate--ways involving chamagne and thick slices of chocolate cake--but as far as partying on the Internet goes, DIY confetti it is! 

Let's face it: confetti is about the simplest project ever. You don't have to know any fancy crafting skills. You don't have to watch a tutorial on You Tube. You simply cut up some crepe paper with scissors or you go to town with a paper punch (or, easier yet, you open up the three-hole punch at your office that hasn't been emptied in three years). Voilà! Instant party! 

Watercolor Confetti from Oh Happy Day

Bowls of Confetti for Tossing

White Chocolate Confetti Popcorn

Confetti Shooters

Friends, go spread some confetti and drink some champagne! I'm sure you have something to celebrate!

Lovely in Lace

By Janet

Perhaps it's all the Valentine's Day stuff in stores that has me suddenly obsessed with things like pretty paper doilies and, now, lace. Doilies you can wear! I just love the feminine, romantic look of lace. If you are nervous about looking like a grandmother, pair a lace top with skinny jeans or layer with other pieces so  just a hint of lace peeks through. Here are a few pretty lace pieces:

Lace Medallions Tank, Anthropologie

Lace-Stripe Chiffon Tank, Old Navy

Lace Dolman-Sleeve Top, Old Navy

Merino Tatted Lace Sweater, J. Crew

Keep in mind that lace snags easily so your lace garments should be hand washed (or washed on a delicate cycyle if you, like me, don't do hand washing) using a mild detergent.

Holiday Thank-Yous

By Janet

Have you sent thank you notes for all the lovely holiday gifts you received? Consider this a friendly reminder that thank you notes are due (or, if you ask Emily Post, long overdue--the standard is to acknowledge Christmas gifts before New Year's Day)! Don't fret, friends, better sent now than never. Here are some pretty cards to insipre you to get writing:

Merci Beaucoup Card, Yellow Owl Studios

Breanne Thank You Card, Rifle Paper Co.

Flowers Boxed Correspondence Set, Mr. Boddington's Studio

99 Thank Yous, Kate Spade

Happy Composing!

Pretty Paper Doilies

By Janet

Do you remember cutting and gluing doilies in elementary school to make Valentine's Day cards? It's been years since I've purchased a pack of doilies, but I suddenly have a renewed interest in making things pretty with a pack of delicate paper doilies. They are so inexpensive and they definitely don't need to have the third-grade cut-and-paste effect. In addition to Valentine cards, doilies can help make presents and weddings and notecards ever-so-lovely. For example:

See what I mean? I'll bet if you spent $2 on a pack, you'd find tons of pretty uses for the doilies. 

{Images via fromsoul, Martha Stewart, Papermash, Daydream Lily}

Last Minute New Year's Eve Style

By Janet

Recently, I implored you to get sparkly this New Year's Eve, even if just for watching the ball drop on your television. There's only a little time left to order sparkling shoes from the Internet, but here are a few last minute ways to get glittery with items you can pick up at your local Target or department store (or maybe in your own closet). Add one or more of these to a little black dress and you're set!

Put on a pair of glittered dancing tights!

Layer all your most sparkly necklaces.

Paint your nails with sparkles (more inspiration here).

Gorgeous glittered eyes!

Happy New Year, friends! See you in 2012!

{Images via Nordstrom, The Chic Department, Love Maegen, Dress Design Decor}

Sparkling Shoes for New Year's Eve

By Janet

Hands down, New Year's Eve is the most exciting evening of the year for dressing up. Everything is sparkles and glitter and glitz and shine. Whatever you may be doing -- whether it be dancing the night away at an elegant soiree or sitting at home watching the ball drop on television -- I urge you to do it wearing something sparkling. To that end, how about a new pair of shoes? 

Fergie Accente Too, Pewter Glitter, $100

Kate Spade New York Charm, Gold, $325

Anne Klein Watchit, Black Glitter, $70

J. Renee Fiesta, Multicolor, $80

Nine West Choral, Gold, $80

Any of these shoes paired with a little black dress (maybe one already in your closet?) will ensure you ring in the new year in style. Let the countdown begin!

DIY Calendar Journal

By Janet

Looking for an inexpensive DIY holiday gift to give? How about this Vintage Postcard Calendar Journal? With just a fruit box, some vintage postcards, a package of index cards and a date stamp, you can create these fun calendar journals. 

It's a gift that just keeps getting better and better as each year passes and more entries are added. 

The simple instructions can be found here. 

{Image via Design Sponge}