Say hello to a new era in home furnishings. Hollywood Regency, in it’s hey-day, was all about making your guests feel as comfortable as possible in your home. That’s why certain elements of this design aesthetic channel 1930’s and 40’s hotel rooms. The look is a bit more staged than comfortable – i.e. your living room organized according to entertaining, serving, and conversation, rather than all pieces of furniture in full focus of the television.

Editing is key in this aesthetic; it’s way too easy to get carried away with all of the tufted furniture, crystals, and gold detailing. Try not to jump at every formal piece of vintage furniture you see – go for cotton twill upholstery over velour, and blown glass over multi-faceted crystals. Modernizing Hollywood Regency can happen in a lot of ways, too. You can make it fresh and youthful with a bold, graphic print area rug in a coordinating hue, or soft and traditional with natural elements like coral and distressed wood.  One of my favorite, and widely conveyed themes in regency is that of chinoiserie (meaning chinese-esque in French).  This can come in the form of greek key print fabric, vintage oriental print China, and faux bamboo furniture.

Last but not least, one should ideally aim for only one piece of the quintessential Hollywood Regency mirrored furniture in each room - before it starts looking like Vegas.

Pottery Barn Chinoiserie Drapes $69+

Williams-Sonoma Home Chippendale Bamboo Chair $562 (30% off!)

Target Sunburst Mirror $69.99

Inside Avenue Greek Key Bench $715

West Elm Safari Rug $99+

I’m not much for housewares - but when I saw an ad in Lucky mag while sipping vino at my girlfriend’s yesterday - I couldn’t ignore the vibrant prints I knew were Orla Kiely. At Teen Vogue we used to get the adorable little canvas totes with the colorful and minimalist designs - but as my beau does way more cooking than me and I can hardly bring myself to finish decorating our pad, this one just passed me by. No worries, though - looks like there is still a great selection available on retailer of the moment Target.com. Maybe Target should just solely do diffusion, what an idea - like a mass, nationwide Opening Ceremony for all designer diffusion brands. Regardless, I loved the little desert trays and serving bowls, maybe this will provoke me to actually buy some rather than serving friends dip in pots and pans!

Shop Orla Kiely for Target

The Erickson Beamon for Target collection hit stores today - and unfortunately online they’re showing all of the pieces, before they even arrive - so I’m going to have to wait 2 to 4 weeks for this baby!

Shop Erickson Beamon for Target $39.99

It is very possible that this may outdo Subversive. Karen Erickson and Vicki Beamon are the fourth jewelry design team to collaborate on a mass line for Target. The whimsical yet edgy, and always eclectic design elements present in the original aesthetic are very apparent and not watered down in this collection. What I love about Erickson Beamon is the high-low mix, even though it’s not really high-low at all, it’s not too refined or stuffy - it’s an antique look with a modern toughness. My favorite is the gold chain bracelet with the different size gems, and a close second the star broach cuff the label made so popular. The great thing about the jewelry lines for Target, rather than the apparel, is that they stick around for much longer - this one until June.  Dean Harris, the last Target jewelry designer to go diffusion, has been on the site forever and I’m so happy to see it go away for something much more my taste. The colored gems are perfect for the impending arrival of Spring, and starting at $14.99 - everyone can have a little piece of luxury.

Shop Erickson Beamon @ Target.com - starting February 15th

I am SO excited for this! Lately, all it seems I do is rant about designer diffusions being so subpar – but McQueen comes to the rescue and really, what did I expect? Turns out Target switched it up and asked McQueen to base his collection off of a specific piece of inspiration, rather than creating a capsule to meet mass classification requirements. So, who’s the muse? Leila Moss, lead singer of The Duke Spirit - the reason I am itching and itching for this collection to hit. The leather-look trench & vest are so rebel, rebel – and the Grecian draping is timely but edgy with the linear prints and color blocking – somewhat reminiscent of Jonathon Saunders Sp 09 (also a Target alum).

What’s best about this collection over others – is that it’s very clearly on trend, very McQueen, and the key – very aspiratonal! If that leather vest sells out, I’ll hunt and hunt to find another but when I do find it, it probably won’t be $30 – so there is that urge and excitement to get there and have McQueen’s likeness at a low price. I will definitely brave the 5 lane super highway that is I35 and come out victorious before any Texas fashionista gets there first - and I will throw elbows!

“I am always inspired by youth subcultures. I’m also inspired by music, rebellion, style revolution, and people with the passion to make a lasting difference.”

Hits March 1st. To read & see more - visit Nylonmag.com

Hayden-Harnett hit Target this past Sunday - and will be available in stores & online (along with Thakoon) until March 15th. I actually have a tiny six-degrees-of-the-fashion-industry history with this label. As a senior at FIT I am proud to say I held down an internship at Vogue, freelance styling gigs, and a regular part time job at a start up accessories company. This may explain my angst with the Hills and the cost of living in Manhattan. Regardless, Hayden-Harnett was one of our competitors at the start up, and luckily so – because I was able to cite competitive shopping of sample sales and boutiques as hourly pay. As I clearly couldn’t get too invested - I had to keep my neutrality in check for business’ sake - it was all price point, materials, and merchandising. Now, however, the love is all out in the open.

The great thing about the evolution of Hayden-Harnett is that they bring a kind of boho-contemporary aesthetic to luxury handbags - super versatile that can go from day to night, from dive bar to club, and from mood to mood. It’s really rare that an indie label will break up the Marc by Marc, Juicy, and Botkier that have the market pretty saturated (have you heard about Project Alabama in a while? Nada -that’s my point). And although the price has jumped significantly in the past few years during their growth phase, it can only be due to the high quality leathers and expert construction. The aesthetic embodies Brooklyn completely - it’s not trying to be the crème de la crème of Manhattan - it’s laid back and youthful and still incredibly lux and aspirational.

Hayden-Harnett is the perfect answer to those damn hipsters running around Williamsburg in their American Apparel, wayfarers, and Chanel cocktail bags. And luckily - Target is the perfect answer to those of us who can’t shell out the bills, or keep a bag free of ink or wine for more than a week.

Shop Hayden-Harnett for Target

Canvas hobo $39.99

Double flap bag $29.99

Hobo $39.99

Umbrella $22.99

One of the things I hate most about holiday editorial, is the holiday gift guides that have one or two pages devoted to those under $50, and like seven to under $500 (i.e. Elle, which I just can’t relate to – strictly inspiration end use). Beyond that – when they do feature said under $50 gifts, it’s always a tea light holder, lip balm, or coasters. When I buy gifts, pretty much everything falls under that $50 bracket, and how on earth can I give my mom a set of coasters and call it a day? So, for this holiday season this commentary will be devoted to gifts worth giving – that are creative and fun and meaningful – on a working girl’s budget.

For her - runway silhouette necklace by Alex & Chloe $48

For him - skull print flask from Target.com $14.99

New York Magazine: Thakoon for Target Launches Christmas Day

To check out more of the collection - Nylon Magazine’s First Look: Thakoon for Target

NY Times article “The Way You Wear Your Hat” - Here’s to dressing well!

Forever 21 wool cloche hat $12.80 (flapper style hat - foreheads were unfashionable in the 20’s)

Urban Outfitters leopard cocktail hat $28.00

Target wool beret $12.99

Top Shop felt trilby hat $40

I’m usually not that excited by diamond or ornate embellishments - I LOVE pyramid studs, but this is a whole other aesthetic. This look is so Holiday - that special time of year when you can get away with sequins before 6pm, every occasion calls for a dress, and the egg nog may as well be through an ice luge. Although I wouldn’t classify these Oscar de la Renta and Target shoes as twinsies, I think there’s definitely some sisterly love going on. I actually prefer the smaller peep toe on the Target shoe rather than lovely Oscar’s - less toe is more when we’re talking December. And - the heel on the Target shoe is actually much higher in reality - a relief because I can’t stand a halfway heel, to me it’s 3 inches plus or bust.

Target $34.99