Threads for Thomas: November 2015

Monday, November 30, 2015

Party Skirt and Cyber Monday Deals

Happy Monday my friends. I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and scored some great Black Friday deals! I was actually really good, and didn't shop too much. Besides taking advantage of the sales at Gap and Old Navy for the twins, I got a new iPhone (which doesn't really count since it was needed and not on sale) and got a couple of new mugs from Anthropologie. There is just something about drinking coffee out of pretty mugs in the morning that makes it a tad easier for me to get out of bed. Does anyone else feel this way? However, I have a feeling that I'll be taking advantage of the Cyber Monday sales happening today. I've listed my favorite sales below.

Now that Thanksgiving has passed, I'm in full on holiday spirit, and wanted to share another look that is perfect for a holiday party. Although I don't wear midi skirts very often, there is something about them that is classic and feminine, and perfect for dressing up during the holidays. I found this stripe skirt at Bloomingdale's and loved the mix of black and blue. My initial thought was to pair it with a black, slightly cropped top, but then I decided to try something a bit more classic, and wear my white silk button down instead. I love the contrast of the white against the skirt, and finished my look with the trusty over sized bow. Although this one is currently sold out, I linked a very similar bow below . Also, this skirt is included in Bloomingdale's Cyber Monday sale, so you can get an extra 25% off if you purchase it today!

To continue with my classic theme, I added the perfect classic accessory: my AIBI watch. I love the timeless look a watch adds to an outfit, yet how it makes such a fashionable statement at the same time. This watch is from AIBI, a company who's goal is to make high end watches at affordable prices, and they are able to achieve this by using an e-commerce platform for selling their watches. Their time pieces are beautiful, and include designs both for men and woman. Whether you want a watch for yourself, or looking for the perfect holiday gift for someone special, I suggest you check them out. You can also get $20 off your purchase by using the code RACHAELT at checkout.

The Best Cyber Monday Sales:
Hurry, they end today.

AMAZON: 20% off select clothing, shoes, jewelry and watches. Use code: 20CYBERWK

ANTHROPOLOGIE: 25% off sale items, and free shipping.

ASOS: 30% off everything. Use code: BLESSED

BANANA REBUBLIC: 40% off everything (online only)! Use code: BESTCYBER

BAUBLEBAR: up to 35% off site wide.

BLOOMINGDALE'S: 25% off select regular and sale items.

BOOHOO: Up to 70% off and free shipping, plus an additional 10% off!

CHICWISH: 15-60% off site wide and free shipping.

DVF: additional 25% off site wide. Use code: CYBER25

EQUIPMENT: 25% off your purchase and free shipping. Use code: THANKS

GAP: 40% off everything, no exclusions! Use code: BESTCYBER

GORJANA: 30% off everything (some exclusions apply)! Use code: CYBER30

H&M: 20% off your purchase of $25 and free shipping (use code: 2020, 30% off your purchase of $50 and free shipping (use code: 3030), 40% off sale items (use code:4040)

FOREVER 21: 21% off your purchase and free shipping. Use code: RSTYLE21

J.CREW: Up to 40% off. Use code: HOLIDAY

LOFT: 50% off everything! Use code: CYBER50

NASTY GAL: Up to 50% off sale items!

NORDSTROM: Extra 25% off selected sale items

OLD NAVY: 40% off everything, no exclusions (online only)! Use code: BESTCYBER

REBECCA TAYLOR: 30% off site wide. Use code: CYBER30

REVOLVE: 50% off final sale items. Use code: CYBER50

SHOPBOP: Buy more, save more! 15% off orders of $250+, 20% off orders of $500+, 25% off orders of $1000+ (11/25-11/30) Use code: GOBIG15

Happy shopping and thank you for stopping by!

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Gift Guide for the Hostess + Black Friday Sales!

The holiday season had officially arrived, which means it's time to start your holiday shopping! If shopping for others is not your forte, no need to worry because I've got you covered. Over the next couple of weeks I'll be posting my gift guides, which will include that perfect gift for everyone on your list, from your impossible nephew, stylish girlfriend, to your stubborn boyfriend/husband. I've searched high a low for the best of the best, and hope this will make your season a little less stressful, and a lot more fun!

Just click the image of the product you like, and it will take you straight to the site to purchase the item! Also, I added a gift guide shop page in my menu bar, so you can see all of my gift guides in one spot.

To kick off my gift guides I'm starting with gifts for the hostess or entertainer. Whether you're looking for a gift for that friend who loves to entertain, or want to give something special to the hostess of a holiday party you're attending, I've found the perfect option. I love giving monogrammed gifts because it adds a personal touch, and how gorgeous are the ornaments above? You can't go wrong with a great coffee mug, and I just love pretty hand soaps to have in my guest bathroom. A coffee table book always makes a fun gift, and I am loving the ski one above!

Stay tuned for many more gifts, and I hope you are all having a great Thanksgiving. Below is a list of all the best Black Friday sales. Happy Shopping!

Black Friday Sales

AMAZON: 30% off select clothing, shoes, accessories, jewelry, and watches (11/26-11/27). Use code: 30BLACKFRI

ANTHROPOLOGIE: 25% off everything (11/27-11/30) Use code: SHOPTOIT

ASOS: 20% off everything! Use code: CYBER

BANANA REPUBLIC: Half off all sweaters, and 40% off the rest of your purchase! Restrictions apply (11/26-11/27) Use code: BRFRIDAY

BOOHOO: 70% off everything! (11.27)

CHICWISH: Take an extra 15% off site wide, plus save more when you spend more! (11/26-11/27)

GAP: 50% off your entire purchase (11/26-11/28) Use code: BLKFRIDAY

H&M: Up to 60% off select items, and deals from $4.99 (11/26-11/27)

J.CREW: 30% off in stores and online, plus 40% off sale styles (11-25-11/29) Use code: HOLIDAY

LOFT: 50% off almost everything! Excludes Lou and Grey new arrivals. (11/26-11/27) Use code: CORNY

NORDSTROM: Extra 25% off select sale items (11/26-11/30)

OLD NAVY: 50% off everything (in store), 60% hundreds of styles with 40% off everything else (11/26-11/27)

PARKER: 30% off all dresses. Use code: THANKS

REVOLVE: up to 50% off women's dresses and men's shirts (11/26-11/27)

SAM EDELMAN: 30% off site wide! Some exclusion apply. (11/27) Use code: SAMGIVING

SHOPBOP: Buy more, save more! 15% off orders of $250+, 20% off orders of $500+, 25% off orders of $1000+ (11/25-11/30) Use code: GOBIG15

STEVE MADDEN: 25% off plus free shipping. Some exclusions apply. (11/26). Use code: GIFT

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Turtleneck Sweater and Faux Leather

Happy Wednesday everyone. I know most people have the rest of the week off, so also wishing you a joyful long weekend! Today I'm sharing an #OOTD that is perfect for a casual Thanksgiving get together. (You can see my other two Thanksgiving inspo looks here and here.) I've been loving sleeveless turtleneck sweaters this season, and finally added one to my wardrobe last week. This one is by French Connection, and is now on major sale! It was originally $98, and you can now get it for $44! I just love shopping this time of year!

A few tips for styling a sleeveless sweater:

1. Size up. I've been loving all of my sweaters over sized this season, and also wanted this one to be slightly on the larger side. It gives a cozier feel, plus I like that the length is longer making it perfect for pairing with leggings and skinny jeans, as I did for this look. It also makes it easier to layer, which brings me to tip #2.

2. Because it's getting quite chilly outside, going forward I'll be layering this sweater over long sleeve shirts. A silk blouse is a perfect option if you're going for a dressier look, and for a fun everyday option, a stripe long sleeve top would make a fun statement. Also, I love how the sweater looks layered under a blazer or leather jacket.

3. Add a half tuck or belt. Although this sweater looks great on it's own, I gave it my favorite half-tuck for a little more style. If I was wearing regular leggings, I would let the sweater hang loose, and if I wanted to pair it with flare bottoms, then adding a thin belt is great option for giving the sweater more shape.

Shop my look

I wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving. Make sure to stop back this week for the first of many gift guides, and the best Black Friday sales!

Monday, November 23, 2015

Little Blush Dress

Happy Monday my loves! I'm in such a good mood because Thanksgiving is this week! It's honestly my favorite holiday as it's the one day a year that I'm able to eat endless amounts of food and not feel guilty about it. Actually, that's every Saturday and Sunday for me..... but in all seriousness I love the holiday because it's about being with your loved ones and giving thanks for everything you have, which I should probably be doing more often. Plus, I don't think many you know this about me, but I love to bake. It's a passion of mine that I have pushed to the side after having the twins as I just don't have the time like I used to (not to mention I've been trying to eat clean, and trust me, my baking is most definitely not considered clean), so whenever a holiday comes around, I make time to to enjoy getting my pies and cookies made. I can not wait to spend the next four days in the kitchen (between chasing those toddlers around).

Speaking of passions, I indulged in another one of mine this past week by making a trip to Bloomingdale's. I was on the hunt for some great holiday outfits, and came across this BCBG dress, which I have one word for: Love! Between the blush color, satin collar, and lace details, it's so feminine, and perfect for a holiday party. But as many of you know, I like to add a bit of edge to my outfits, so I added a leather jacket, tights, and booties and was ready to take this dress downtown. Plus this also makes a perfect look for a dressier Thanksgiving dinner.

Shop my look

Wishing everyone and great week and thank you for stopping by!

Friday, November 20, 2015

Burgundy for the Holidays + Link Up

Happy Friyay everyone! I'm finally feeling better and hoping I've had my share of being sick for the winter... or at least until the holiday season is over. Is anyone as excited as I am that Thanksgiving is next week, and the official holiday season beings? Believe it or not, I was listening to Christmas music in the car yesterday! Normally, I would say that any Christmas shenanigans before Thanksgiving is too early, but I'm more than ready for it this year. I'm not sure if it's because every other blogger I follow has been in the holiday spirit and it's rubbing off on me, or that fact that this year has flown by that I want to savor this time as long as possible, but either way, I'm ready. Plus, lets not forget that Hanukkah is less than two weeks away!

With Thanksgiving being next week, I thought I would share a look that I'm considering wearing for Thanksgiving dinner. We tend to keep the holiday more on the casual side in my family, but I still want to look like I made an effort, which is why this burgundy blouse is a perfect option. I love the cut of this blouse, not to mention that the burgundy color couldn't be more perfect for the holiday. Wearing grey jeans gives a dressier feel than your everyday blue, and the fur vest not only adds a fun statement, but it gives me extra warmth.

Stay tuned because I'll be sharing more Thanksgiving looks next week. I'd love to know, what's your perfect turkey day look?

Shop my look below

And now for the link up! Sorry we missed the link up last week, but we're back!

An InLinkz Link-up

I wish everyone a great weekend! Thank you for reading and linking up!

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Camel Coat

There is not an item of clothing that I find more sophisticated than a camel wrap coat. I love how layering one over anything, even sweatpants, can instantly make your outfit look polished. I had been wanting to add a camel coat to my wardrobe for a couple of years, but everyone that I fell in love with was way out of my price range. I recently discovered this one from Boohoo, and at only $52, I decided to give it a try. I must say, I'm very pleased. I have already worn it a couple of times (seen here), and have received so many compliments while wearing it, I only thought it appropriate to give it its own blog post. You should see the look on my friend's faces when I tell them the price! It looks more expensive than it is, which is an important factor when buying a high street coat. My only complaint is that I wish it were a little heavier in weight. It's on the thin side so I won't be wearing it in the dead of winter unless I have a really warm sweater on underneath. Then again, you get what you pay for. Until I'm able to add this gorgeous Max Mara coat into my wardrobe that I have been lusting over, it makes the perfect alternative, and comes in several colors. The best part is that Boohoo often has 30% off sales, which makes this coat a must have (P.S. they are having one now!). I'll probably even get it in another color. The only question is black, mocha or navy?

Shop my look below

Shop camel wrap coats

I hope everyone is having a good week so far. I am still sick and have the worst sore throat. This is the second time in the past month that I have been sick, and I'm really hoping that it's not an indication of how the winter is going to be...... Thank you for reading!

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

How To Dress Up A LBD For The Holidays

Happy Tuesday everyone. Sorry that my posting schedule is off this week, but there are a couple of reasons why this post didn't get published yesterday. The first being that I went over to my sister's Sunday afternoon to watch the Patriots game and have dinner. I ended up having too much fun, that I didn't get home until late, and by then I was too tired to blog so I went straight to bed. I don't think that I have shared this yet on the blog, but my sister is moving away from me! Besides my semester studying abroad, and the two years that I moved to Boston before her, we have always lived within 10 minutes of each other, and now she is moving an hour away. I know it's not that far, but when you're used to stopping over at each others houses anytime, and always hanging out, an hour car ride feels like she's moving across the country! I only have two more weeks before she moves, so I'm sure any spare time will be spent together. Then I woke up yesterday morning not feeling well with a sore throat, so I decided to let myself sleep in instead of getting up to blog, and luckily the twins did too. And well, it's hard to get work done during the day with two 16 month old running around. I did end up having a fun weekend surrounded by friends and family, so it was worth having this post come a day late #sorrynotsorry.

Now, about this look. The holidays are right around the corner, which means it's time to start thinking about dressing for all those upcoming parties. One of the easiest, and most versatile, items to wear to a holiday party is a little black dress (LBD). Whether it's a work event, gala, or family holiday party, a little black dress is something every woman already has in her closet (and if you don't, you should). But lets face it, sometimes you want something a little more exciting to wear, especially if you have worn the one hanging in your closet several times before. So today I'm sharing with you three easy ways to make your LBD more interesting.

1. Layer on the statement necklaces! A statement necklace is a great way to dress up a LBD and give it more interest, but have you tried layering on multiple statement necklaces? I've been seeing this look lately so thought I'd give it a try, and I love how it turned out! I have worn both of these necklaces separately on the blog (here and here), but layered together they make a bolder statement that really adds character to my dress. The trick to doing this is to use two necklaces that are made of the same metal, and have slightly varying lengths.

2. Add a bold jacket or blazer. I love the bright blue color of the one I'm wearing, which instantly brightens up my black dress, plus adds warmth. I especially love silk blazers for holiday parties since they have a dressier feel, but a beaded or textured jacket would also be a great option.

3. Wear a red lip. There is nothing that brightens up an outfit like a bold red lip, and I love this matte lip balm from Revlon. Not only does it stay put on my lips for a few hours (even after eating and drinking), but it's not overwhelming on my thin lips.

Do you have any tips for dressing up a LBD? I'd love to hear in the comments below.