What a stitch

One of the best kinds of gifts is one you can enjoy and use over and over again.

In the winter, I love cozy scarves, hats and mittens. I wish I could have a closet full of them! That's why this year I'll be hoping to be given a series of knitting classes so I can start to make my own winter wears like this gorgeous handmade scarf from seller trendyknitting on Etsy.

With the gift of learning to knit, I can make a slew of presents for myself, and for others.

Party people

I've been having so much fun in NYC that I'm several days behind on sharing my Christmas list! Next up are party pieces in jewel tones, lacy details and shiny studs. Each of these five pieces in under $70 and is sure to stand out at any holiday soiree.

Party pieces by trimmedandtaylored featuring Forever21 shoes

Items in this set:
Lulus.com dress, $33
Modcloth.com skirt, $65
Forever21 shoes, $27
Myluxury.it jewelry
ban.do product details - l, $45

Lend a hand

And in the vein of helping others ... next on my Christmas list are these adorable mittens from Kate Spade. They were created as a part of Kate Spade's partnership with Women for Women International, an organization that offers employment to women in war-torn countries to help them rebuild their lives.

Read more about it here and check out all the other goodies Kate has to offer.

Kate Spade by trimmedandtaylored on Polyvore.com

Items in this set:
hand in hand colorblock mitten..., $95
SNOWMAN ;D

Savings as clear as black and white

Want to sweeten up your winter wardrobe and make the world just a little bit better?

From today until the November 15, you can save 30% off at Banana Republic, Old Navy and The Gap with the coupon located at this link www.gapinc.com/giveandget/teachforamerica.

And a major reason to splurge besides the incredible savings? 5% off all purchases go to Teach For America and the effort to close the achievement gap among children low socioeconomic areas.

So get an education in style and help getthe real education they deserve!

Below are three outfits I've put together from the stores in classic black and white and the incredible savings with this head to toe discount.

$62 for the Old Navy outfit

$357 for the Banana Republic outfit

$114 for the Gap outfit

BR/Gap/ON by trimmedandtaylored featuring Old Navy

Items in this set:
Banana Republic jacket, $152
Banana Republic top, $70
GAP shorts, $50
Old Navy dress, $37
Banana Republic shoes, $198

A cut above

Next on my holiday list ... some adorable cookie cutters from Bake It Pretty.

One of my favorite family traditions is to bake sugar cookies every winter and now that I'm on my own, I'll need a set for my apartment!

Bake It Pretty has everything from holiday cutters to birthday themes to animals and household item shapes. There's a cookie cutter for every occasion!

Here are a few of my favorites for $2.25 each.

Cookie Cutters by trimmedandtaylored on Polyvore.com

Items in this set:
Bake It Pretty, $2.25
Bake It Pretty, $2.25
Bake It Pretty, $2.25
Bake It Pretty, $2.25
Bake It Pretty, $2.25

I salute you for all you do

Happy Veterans Day!

Thank you to all the active service men and women and Veterans.

Love,
Trimmed and Taylored

Ringing in the holidays ... a little early

OK, I confess, I'm already getting excited for the holidays and thus preparing my Christmas list. Every day I'm going to share with you what's on my wish list to help inspire you with gifts for the holiday season (or a little sooner).

Right now I'm blinded by a slew of sparkly gold cocktail rings ... a lovely gift to open on Christmas day and an even lovelier one to wear on New Years.

Rings by trimmedandtaylored featuring Betsey Johnson jewelry

Items in this set:
Betsey Johnson ring, $50
J Crew ring, $30
Asos.com ring, $21
Modcloth.com ring, $20
Charlotte Russe ring, $4

Rings clockwise: Betsey Johnson Metals Bow Ring, $50, Nordstrom.com ; J. Crew Golden Orb Ring, $30, JCrew.com ; Speakeasy Cocktail Ring, $20, ModCloth.com; Vintage Style Fan Ring, $21, Asos.com; Rose Ring, $4, CharlotteRusse.com; Daisy Cluster Ring, $24, PatinaStores.com

I'm always envious of the well-styled girls blogs and magazines capture in "street-style" photos. Take the blog Streethearts, the project of two photographers in Oslo, Norway who snap photos of all the beautiful people they pass.

These street styles, though on real people, often seem so far out of reach. I wonder how I can put a look like that together at home!

Well here is Henriette, one of Streethearts au naturale models who's style I love. I've taken her look and created a tangible version from head to toe for under $250. Check it out and next time you see someone on the street with a great look, remember, imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.

Henriette by trimmedandtaylored featuring Nine West shoes

Items in this set:
Banana Republic cardigan, $98
American Apparel top, $19
Forever21 skirt, $17
Nine West boots, $99
GAP tights, $13

Clothes clockwise: bracelet, $7, Forever21.com; tee, $19, AmericanApparel.net; chunky cardigan, $50, BananaRepulic.com; white cardigan, $30, GbyGuess.com; Nine West booties, $99, Piperlime.Gap.com; skirt, $17, Forever21.com; belt, $9, CharlotteRusse.com; tights, $13, Gap.com

Well read

My books by trimmedandtaylored on Polyvore.com

Items in this set:
Aikmandesign.com
Uploadpicturesonline.com
The Big Sister's Guide to the...
Amazon.com: The Little Black..., $5.79

There are a few books I have found simply invaluable since I left the comforting arms of college and entered the big, brave world of single-gal-in-the-city.

The first is The Big Sister's Guide to the World of Work: a tongue-in-cheek guide to everything from interviews to promotions that is as informative as it is entertaining.

The writers are Marcelle Langan DiFalco and Jocelyn Greenky Herz, two women who started at the bottom of the barrel in NYC jobs sharpening pencils for bosses who only paid attention to them when they "did something wrong or (their) skirts were too short."

These two snarky, savvy writers battled their way to the top of some of the biggest media companies in the world.

Read this book for a good laugh and incredible advice. Then read it again and again and again ...

My second pick is The Little Black Apron: A Single Girl's Guide to Cooking with Style and Grace. Written by three women - a writer, a chef and a nutritionist - it offers healthy, delicious and easy recipes for one as well as ideas for entertaining a whole group of gals. Also filled with hilarious remarks and sassy stories, this book will be one you read in and out of the kitchen.

Both of these books are available on Amazon or check out their Web sites at

BigSistersGuide.com and LittleBlackApron.com