Christmas month in photos

The anticipation and event of Christmas day is now gone- sigh (how am I going to cope without 'Santa Baby' on repeat?). It will be another 50 something weeks until we get this giddy holiday feeling all over again. Until then here are some of my favorite pictures from this magical time of overindulgence, festive garb, and nonstop champagne cocktails!

Hope you all have a happy and blessed New Year!!

two more days to enter my giveaway...

1. liqueur poires and champagne cocktails at my holiday party

2. December coat- favorite ever!

3. friend making authentic Glühwein

4. new 'black swan' feather necklace

5. empty bottles midway through the party

6. holiday rings and candy canes

7. the makings of chocolate mint chip cookies

8. bumped into well dressed Club Monaco mannequins whilst compulsively shopping

Marie Claire Style Council

Several months ago I was invited to become a member of the Marie Claire Style Council- yeah that Marie Claire- well it was completely unexpected, but extremely flattering! I was wondering what on earth they wanted me to do with this prestigious title- jet set around the world and preview new collections, or perhaps pull a Stacy and Clinton and berate 'unstylish' outfits? My first task was way better than I could have ever imagined- to host a wildly fabulous party- booze included!

I've always been an avid fan of hosting parties, so this was perfect for me, minus the clean up after everyone part, or even worse taking care of an overflowing toilet in the midst of the elegant soiree--eek! Well no housekeeping duties here, just show up, wear something fabulous, and mingle like it's nobody's business all while sampling every last one of the festive cocktails!

kidnapping Emma



Fashion blogger extraordinare- Chandamheer from pancakeSTACKER



Please check out the article I wrote for Shecky's San Francisco event,

and........ the deadline to enter my giveaway is New Year's Eve!! 1 entry for following on GFC, extra entries for bloglovin' and liking ATV on Facebook...cheers!

GIVEAWAY on my 100th post!!

Starting allergictovanilla.com was my New Year's resolution this year. I usually never keep them after the first few weeks --not procrastinating, not snoozing, less shopping-- but we all know how hard it is to make and keep these changes. This was the one resolution I have been religiously keeping up with, and it has proven to be much easier than expected, seeing as it's something that I have very much fallen in love with. I've made countless blogger friends- who instantly uplift my spirit on hearing one of their witty comments, gained immeasurable inspiration- style and otherwise, and I wouldn't have any of this if it was not for you dear friends! So thank you. As a small, but handmade token of my appreciation I am hosting a giveaway- a leopard magazine clutch studded with amethyst, olive, gold and clear stones with a large amount of beauty goodies thrown in- including some of my go-to's: a Stila lip gloss, a 100% Pure mascara , and 100% Pure organic Coffee Bean Eye Cream, which smells amazing (all full sizes)!

Entering is simple; you must be a public follower on Google Friend Connect.

Please leave your email after each comment.  

Additional entries:

1 entry for following allergictovanilla on bloglovin'

1 entry for liking allergictovanilla on Facebook

Three ways to enter, what are you waiting for? Whether you've been naughty or nice this year, someone's going to win this prize- it might as well be you! Good luck...

xo Carlina

staples

With the California weather getting colder by the moment (I know I'm complaining, for all those ladies in less than desirable snowed in conditions), I have been constantly layering up. Most recently I have been living in this gorgeously thick Alpine-ish cardigan, and these weather proof tights. They are constant staples that I see myself wearing to death, since I refuse to give up dresses or shorts any time soon.

{Aeropostale sweater, wet seal shirtdress, F21 stud belt, Ya Living scarf, Steven heels, M+0 headband, SaSa hoop earrings}

I should have snapped up some pictures of myself in what I was wearing earlier in the day. With the forecast predicting rain, and low temperatures I threw on my fur vest over this outfit, and looked about as fierce as a dressed up grizzly bear! Pinky promise to show you next time.

where the wild things grow

{vest/ F21, blazer/ Empyre, denim/ Alloy, boots/ Elle for Kohls, sweater/ American Apparel, broach/ vintage Chanel}

I'm all about this vest right now. I recently dug it up from storage and haven't been able to put it away. The vest was purchased last year on impulse when fur was starting to reach trend status; unfortunatley it was barely worn for it seems this very large abominable snowman-ish vest hardly goes well with just anything. This year though I'm throwing caution to the wind and just going for it. It seems not everyone is on par with my new found vest obsession as my sister so eloquently put it-- "you got a lot going on there".

On a much different note, is anyone out there interested in doing a blogger secret Santa?

dramz

{F21 coat, cashmere vest, random white button up, Alloy denim, Franco Sarto boots, UO hat}

I love this hat, yet I always feel it's a little too much. Oh, who am I kidding I'm all about the drama! I wore this out for a run to the supermarket. Speaking of drama, I just purchased a feather collar necklace, (thank you cyber Monday!) and have the perfect place to wear it--the gym, the mall, the movies maybe? Or perhaps a more reasonable option would be a fabulous cocktail party, someplace fun and festive! I'm hoping to attend as many of these as possible- any excuse to dress up is fine by me. The glitter, the sequins, the sparkle- the feathers....

thirteen hours, four (Irish) coffee's, three items

I always do Black Friday, but I never get up before ten. It only makes sense to enjoy a day off with a restful night's sleep, an unrushed breakfast, and maybe a morning show or two before the shopping ensues. For some unknown reason it was decided that this year my beau and I would join the rest of the crazies and begin our Christmas shopping at four am, following our first hosted Thanksgiving dinner- which went well thank you very much! 

Credit cards at the ready, running shoes on (just in case we encountered a Wal-Mart 2009 scenario), first coffee in hand, and out the door we go. Never in my life have I seen so many people awake intentionally at this god awful hour. People were running into the mall. It was crazy. Ok, I thought maybe there are going to be some really great deals! I'm totally leaving this place with a hundred bags. Hardly. My boyfriend bought more stuff than I did! One purple velvet dress, one sequin bolero, and one pair of Rock & Republics later- and I was ready to go home. If you're wondering why it took so long to buy three things- it's because I like to torture myself, and actually went for round two in Union Square and then attempted to stay for the annual tree lighting ceremony.



Ear cuff, cashmere scarf, Hollister fur trimmed coat



We purposely did NOT decide to match. It was our sister intuition- red lips and fur trimmed parkas!

Waiting patiently for Irish Coffee's between stores

Since Friday was uneventful, I decided a little DIY project would pick up my spirits. So I got my hands on an amazing leopard zip clutch and bedazzled the hell out of it! It's fun, chic, and goes everywhere. It will be perfect for all those holiday parties..

sunshine sweater

 {thrifted sweater, vintage Bottega Ventta bag, Dollhouse ankle booties}

I felt like wearing seasonal fall attire this day, but the weather was too warm to bundle up in mittens and scarves. So being the traditional girl I am, I threw on a sweater with about million holes over my cutoffs and some boots to jazz it up. This sweater dress has got to be one of my favorite pieces ever thrifted- it's got this unique boho-crocheted look, can be belted as a dress, or thrown over jeans as a sweater. And I love how the fringe blows in the wind!

To all my American readers, Happy Thanksgiving! Hope you are spending it in good health, good company and good food! I'm hosting my first family Thanksgiving meal- fingers crossed it's not a disaster. Any tips for a newbie? Either way I'll let you know how it goes.

improvising

Until a few days again fall wasn't really fall for me. It was more of a stretched out Indian summer. But of course I was determined to wear my season appropriate basics. So regardless of the pictorial oxymoron shown below it made me giddy to frolic around my living room, and later Target wearing flannel, over the knee wooly socks, and my favorite/only, extremely versatile faux fur stole. If only for the fact that these items were paired with cutoff denim shorts, I might have felt completely normal. I think these shorts have been getting more action these past few weeks, than any other time this year. I'm a bit obsessed with them.

{Newport News flannel shirt, Target: jacket & OTK socks, Fox shorts, Franco Sarto boots, fur stole detached from another jacket}

hot topic: faux fur/ no fur?

I enjoy perusing the racks at high end vintage stores as much as the next hipster, but you can never go wrong with shopping at the local Goodwill, or Salvation Army. So when I decided on a whim to pop into the Goodwill store a few weeks ago, my sight was set on a gorgeous chocolate fur chubby. There were numerous holes in the back and near the pockets- nothing some thread and needle time couldn't fix, so I figure I'd try and bring the price down. The asking price was forty. After pointing the imperfections to the cashier, she offered me a 20% discount.  I never expected to honestly pay anything that high at a thrift store anyways. The only thing about the coat was that it felt like real fur, even though there was no signage or label indicating so.

I know the topic of fur is quite controversial. I would never advocate buying new fur, and not just because PETA would follow me with a bucket of red paint! But what about vintage, recycled or used fur? How do you feel about the subject? What would you have done faced in a similar situation, enamored with fashion, and trying to save a buck?

it's a shoe-off!

trying to rock as a cape- failing miserably