Nature and Nurture

Happy New Year, Shabby Apple fans! I am sorry things have been a little slow around here on the blog, but you know how the holidays get. Right? Before you know it, it's 2009 and time to start it all over again. (And also time to redouble your efforts in praying for no.more.snow.)

To get the new year started off right, let me direct you to this fabulous site that has just come to our (rapt) attention. Meet All Natural Mommies. All Natural Mommies specializes in products, including baby clothes, baby carriers and cloth diapers, that are good for the planet and good for your little one. Get 2009 started off right with a handmade baby carrier...

... organic (and stylish) green tea leggings...

or, my favorite, the all-natural Booby Tubes breast pack for all you sore breast-feeders out there.

The site also has some great gifts for expecting and new mothers. Pair a set of inspirational cards for mom with a dress from the Mama Apple line, and you'll have kids named after you for sure! (And, really, isn't that what we all want? I have been begging my friends to name their kids after me for ages. So far, no go, but I am sure it's coming.)

Visit All Natural Mommies for more safe and friendly products for moms and kids alike.

And tell us, what baby odds and ends can you simply not live without?

The Proper Party Animal

It is the season. The season for evergreen trees and sparkling ornaments. The season for giving and getting. The season for lots and lots of chocolate. It is also the season for lots and lots of parties. Family parties, caroling parties, office parties and tree trimming parties. That's a lot of dresses! Here are some tips to look your holiday best no matter where you're going.

Office Space

For a work holiday party, err on the conservative side and stay away from anything that might be considered risque. I think we can all agree that flashing your boss is not the way to spread holiday cheer. Go for something simple but sophisticated, such as a slinky pencil skirt and a ruffled top, or a little black dress with tasteful embellishments. Also, don't be afraid to experiment with color and texture. Shoes and jewelry can add just the right amount of pop and uniqueness. If you are going with bold colors in your clothes, though, keep your jewelry in a supporting role rather than center stage. Finally, try not to confess your undying love for that co-worker you've been crushing on in front of everyone, and the evening should be a success!

In the neighborhood

For a neighborhood party with friends you have a lot more leeway with your wardrobe. Don't be afraid to mix unexpected items, such as a lace over-lay top with a bright skirt and a patterned clutch or shoes. If you opt for pants, they don't have to be boring or overly dressy. Pants in a fancier fabric, such as velvet or satin, are sleek and chic, and comfortable to boot.

Fancy Pants

If you are attending a party at a country club, or at the home of a client or business contact, easy elegance is the order of the day. Wearing a dress will help you feel more pulled together. Spice it up with a patent belt around the waist, or a shiny clutch. Fancy jewelry, such as a large statement necklace or a sparkling brooch will add the perfect polish, and keep all eyes on you for all the right reasons.

Forget The Faux Pas

It will be pretty hard to go wrong if you follow the tips we've already talked about but, just in case, here are some things to be sure to avoid, no matter what the occassion.

1. Wearing too much glitz. Beading and metallics are exactly what the season ordered, but use them sparingly and well. Too much shine can overwhelm anyone, especially if you put it in places you don't necessarily want to highlight. For example, our busty friends shouldn't wear a sweater with extensive embellishment in the chest area. Don't say I didn't warn you.

2. Showing too much skin. Thigh-high miniskirts and dresses cut down to the belly button look great on the runway, but are basically impossible to pull off in real life, so let's not even try, shall we? Not only is it possible to look sexy and still leave something to the imagination, you'll look your best when you do. The secret is to wear things that make a suggestion rather than an outright statement. A lace camisole hints at great cleavage (again with the bustiness), a simple slit in a skirt gives a glimpse of great gams, and a cap sleeved dress is the perfect way to show off toned arms.

3. Getting caught with nothing to wear. There is nothing worse than getting an invitation to the perfect holiday party and not having the perfect thing to wear. By keeping a few dressy basics in your closet, you'll be ready for even the most last-minute of invitations.

4. Making it too complicated. Even the most organized woman can get overwhelmed during the holiday season, coordinating travel, baking, parties and presents with the perfect holiday wardrobe on top. Instead of trying to match separates, go with a simple black dress this season, and change it up with different accessories and shoes. Throw on a luxurious wrap for a dressy party, or a pair of flats and a chunky beaded necklace for a more casual affair. You'll feel like you're wearing a different dress every time, and so will everyone else.

5. Being under or over dressed. There's nothing worse than showing up in jeans when everyone else is in velvet, or wearing a party dress when everyone else is in business clothes. And you're not alone if you can't decipher vague descriptions like "business casual" or "cocktail attire," so when in doubt call your host and ask what would be best.

Are you a party animal?

What ensemble puts the happy in your holidays?

Best Foot Forward

I think I have already made my general dislike of winter pretty apparent, but I am going to add one more thing to the list. Winter wreacks havoc on my shoe wardrobe. Suddenly all my adorable ballet flats and patterned summer shoes are unwearable, unless I want to lose my toes to slushy frost bite (which I do not). But, on the flip (flop) side, I won't want to spend the whole entire cold season in snow boots. What is a girl to do?

Well, here are a few ideas for building up a winter shoe wardrobe that will keep you warm and stylish.

Warm on the Outside

Every girl needs at least one pair of warm but stylish winter boots that work just as well for walking around in a Winter Wonderland just as well as they do at the office. Leather boots are always a safe bet. Just be sure to treat them with a weather-proofing product to keep them safe in rain or shine. Knee-high boots will give your legs an extra level of warmth. Pair knee-high boots with some heavy tights and you won't even know it's winter!

It's also worth investing in a pair of boots you can tuck your jeans into. You'll be hitting a major trend for this winter, and you'll be keeping the hem of your pants dry on wet, slushy days. No matter how stylish your shoes are, no one will notice if the bottom of your pants is dripping wet.

If your needs are a little more casual, go for a cheaper fix with a pair of Uggs, or a similar style. It doesn't matter if they wear out by the end of the cold season (and they probably will). Chuck them when warm weather comes back and just get another pair next winter. Also, keep your eyes peeled for shoes with faux fur. It's not just boots that come with trimming anymore. Faux fur trimming can be found on all kinds of styles, including mules and clogs.

Rain boots are also a good addition to any winter shoe wardrobe. Rain boots are perfect for navigating slush puddles on wet, winter days. Rain boots are also a perfect chance to be bold! Go for bright colors and fun patterns.

Stylish on the Inside

One way to keep wearing non-industrial shoes even once winter hits is to leave a pair of nice, dressy shoes at the office, or take them with you wherever you are going. Whether a party or a friend's house, you can usually make a quick change out of your snowboots into something more stylish and festive.

For indoor winter shoes, choose rich fabrics and textures that will add some spice to your feet (in a good way) and keep your toes warm. Suede, velvet and velour are a good place to start. Also look for shoes in colors that match the season, such as deep plum, chocolate, crimson and gold. And for formal holiday footwear, try shoes with rhinestones, metal buckles and other accents. The weather might be drab, but your shoes don't have to be.

Best Foot Forward

Here are some other things to keep in mind.

Heed the heel: Thicker, wider heels less than two inches tall are usually best for winter boots and shoes. Anything higher can be treacherous when walking across slippery surfaces.

Leave a little wiggle room: When trying on boots and other winter shoes, be sure to account for the fact that you'll be wearing thicker socks or tights throughout the winter. Bringing a pair of winter socks with you ensures you'll go home with the right fit.

Stick to leather: This is a little gross, but your feet sweat a lot more in the winter because they are wrapped up in warm socks and shoes. Leather absorbs better than any other material. (Told you. Gross. But also useful.)

Insulate: Soaked feet are in immediate danger of frostbite in super-cold temperatures, so make sure you are wearing insulated, water-proof boots and shoes that keep your feet warm and dry.

Have a little sole: For all your winter footwear, it is critical to pay attention to the sole. Textured, rubber soles work the best because the grip will help you avoid slips and falls. Also a word to the wise from painful personal experience: if your friend falls and you laugh, you will fall before you know it. It's a universal law. So watch out!

Do you enjoy Walking in a Winter Wonderland?

Tell us about your favorite snowy season shoes.

Night to Day

One of my favorite things about the winter season is fancy, frilly party dresses. I love them. All that shiny satin, sparkling sequins and beads, ruffles and pleats and all around goodness. I can't get enough. But, I am always reluctant to spend a lot of money on a party dress because I wear it to a party and then what?

Well, I finally have the answer! Then I turn that party dress into an everyday dress, like this:

I think this outfit is brilliant. (Why didn't I think of it?) By pairing a fancier dress with colorful, casual shoes, and a quilted jacket that could be worn just as easily with jeans, our friend here turns the party into the everyday practical.

Some other ways to achieve the same result could include pairing colorful patterned tights and flat boots with a slinky satin dress, or throwing a cardigan and ballet flats on with a longer, slim and sweeping gown. Try leaving the front of a button-up dress open and wearing a collared shirt under it, or wearing a shorter, cocktail-style dress over pants or leggings. The options are endless! And you'll get more mileage out of your pretty party dresses than ever before.

For more style inspiration like this, check out The Sartorialist.

And tell us, how would you transform your favorite party dress into everyday wear?

Hostess with the Most-est

Even though there is no snow on the ground around here (and fingers crossed it stays that way), I think it is safe to say the holiday season is well underway. My Christmas tree is up. How about yours? (And does anyone have a spare Nativity scene? I need one. Call me!)

With the holiday season, of course, come holiday parties. Wasail, cookies and mistletoe aren't hard to pull together, but what to wear when you are the hostess? Here are a few ideas.

For an at-home celebration with family and close friends, such as Christmas dinner, focus on function over form.

Look for relaxed shapes in fabrics that celebrate the season, such as velour pants or cashmere tunics.

Don't dress up while you're cooking. (My mom was sure glad she followed this rule on Thanksgiving when she took the turkey out of the oven and the juice spilled everywhere. Literally. Beware. That could be you.) Instead, save time during your meal prep to change into your holiday outfit. Once you're changed, you should still wear an apron while you assemble and serve dinner to protect your holiday duds from spills.

Also avoid anything with droopy sleeves or long belt ties that might drop into serving bowls and plates. People would rather look at your clothes than eat them.

If you are hostessing a larger party with a dressier bent, such as a holiday cocktail party, keep in mind the rules we have already talked about, but go for a more formal ensemble.

Look, for example, for a dress that is elegant but not too bare. You want to look special but not let anyone get a look at anything special (if you see what I mean) when you bend over to serve an appetizer. Now, don't be afraid to show off your curves, but also be sure that whatever you wear leaves plenty of room to move. You'll be doing a lot of hugging ansd greeting, after all.

Also, choose a pair of shoes you can stand in comfortably for the entire party. Your guests can take a load off whenever they want, but you'll be milling around, hustling back and forth to the kitchen and maybe even outrunning overly-zealous guests who want to catch you under the mistletoe. If you don't want to be a cripple the next morning, comfy shoes are a must. If you'll be sitting down for most of the night, think about a pair of flirty feathery slippers instead of traditional shoes.

You can also opt for pants and a top instead of a dress. Tops and bottoms made from luxe fabrics such as velvet, satin or cashmere work especially well for semi-formal parties. If your party is casual, you can even mix jeans with a dressier blouse or sweater.

Also remember, as the hostess it's your job to let your guests, and your party shine. While as a guest you might want to spice things up with a unique piece of jewelry or a bold patterned shirt, less is more for the hostess with the most-est.

Are you a party animal?

Tell us about your favorite hostess ensemble.

Meet the Parents

There are plenty of things to love about the holidays. For one thing, it's the only time of year when it's appropriate, if not expected, to eat until you want to hurl and spend days on end in your sweat pants. (Don't pretend you don't do that. We all know you do.) The holidays are also a time of gift-giving and receiving, family and friend togetherness and general love and good cheer, which are causes I think we all can, and should, get behind.

But, there is also one holiday tradition that strikes fear into the hearts and men and women everywhere. That causes sleepless nights, cardiac and respiratory distress, sometimes even weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth. I am speaking, of course, of Meeting The Parents.

Ah yes, that age-old holiday tradition of being dragged, kicking and screaming perhaps, to the family homestead of the one you love, to be subjected to pinching by aunts, taunting by nieces and nephews, leering by grandpas and endless questions about your family plan. (Full disclosure: I have never actually been through this process myself, so I am mostly guessing here, but I think this sounds about right.)

While we can't be there for moral support at the Thanksgiving table, we can direct you to this little piece from Glamour Fashion, chock-full of tips to help you dress for success whatever the family occasion might be. I wish you all the best.

Already been there, done that?

Tell us about meeting your future family for the first time, and what wardrobe piece got you through.

And The Winner Is...

The votes have been counted and counted again. And again. All the entries were worthy and wonderful and did Shabby Apple proud. The contest was won by a nose. (That's why all the counting.) And so, after all that counting, I am pleased (and confident) to announce that the winner is...





(Is the suspense killing you?)





... Time Square Countdown!

Congratulations to Mrs. Jones and her beautiful creation, which will now be part of the Shabby Apple vignette section. Forever and ever. Mrs. Jones will also be the proud owner of the Times Square vignette. If only that lame-o ex-boyfriend could see you now!



(Mrs. Jones, leave your e-mail address in the comments section below and we'll hook you up. Congrats again!)



And, to everyone else who found us through this contest, stick around! There is plenty of fashion advice, product introductions and alarming wit, not to mention many more contests to come. You won't be sorry!