the style du jour

a dash of thrift, a sprinkle of stripes and a whole lot of lovely

Small Spaces Decor Inspiration: How to Create a Pinterest-Worthy Small Office

In looking back over this past year of content sharing here on The Style DJ, it’s interesting to see that, for the second year in a row, my most popular post and most pinned on Pinterest is a decor-centered post, “Small Spaces Inspiration: How to Create a Vanity in Your Closet. ” Since then, I’ve continued to slowly work on projects around our house, but I haven’t really shared many updates. So, in line with “Small Spaces” decor inspiration, here is a glimpse at the before and after journey of a small sunroom located off our main living room which I like to call my “office.” 🙂

  • BEFORE: The sunroom when we first moved in.
  • BEFORE
  • BEFORE
AFTER! This wall, which shares the fire place on the other side, is the only windowless wall in this room. To help break up the white space, I went with this bold banana leaf print paper from Accent Wall Customs a la the Beverly Hills Hotel. I like the contrast of the crisp high-gloss white desk and shag rug with a geometric pattern against this vintage print.
Colorful photos are set in metallic frames from Restoration Hardware. I like how bamboo window shades are neutral and let in a lot of light. They make me feel like I’m in a sunny and warm locale (and not in Chicago in the middle of winter!)
A faux fur stool serves as the resting place for my current projects (e.g., Santa’s Workshop!)
  • Some of my favorite decor inspiration books double as a stage for seasonal decor.
  • I use a gold monogrammed glass from Anthropologie to hold my pens.

I adore this vintage palm print removable wall paper so much that I’ll be using it in my next small spaces decor update – a tiny powder room located on our first floor. I can’t wait to share that room refresh with you in the New Year!

Do you have any decor updates planned for the New Year?

XOXO,

Emily

Tech Gift Guide : Modern Gifts for All Ages

Still looking for that perfect gift for someone on your list? Here’s my list of modern tech gifts that will surprise and delight family and friends of all ages. 

The Lovebox $99 (As seen on Goop): The French know a thing or two about love so it’s no surprise that this French-made modern day love messenger is a wonderful way to share notes with your friends and family! The Lovebox is a wooden box that syncs to your smartphone to send love notes back and forth via a (free) mobile app. The heart dial on the outside starts to spin to notify you of a new message. Open the lid to read the message on the Lovebox screen. Once read, spin the heart to notify the sender that the message was read. In return, the sender will receive a stream of hearts displayed on their smartphone screen. For my kids, the Lovebox will be a fun way to experience “surprise” notes from our out of town grandparents or when my husband is traveling for work. Plus, when it’s not in use, the pretty design and cute heart shape make it an appealing addition to your home decor. *

The Beauty Bank $30: This is the ideal accessory for your girlfriend who is always on the go. The Beauty Bank is an illuminating compact mirror that is also a portable charger for your Apple or Android phone. Phone charger – check! Book light – check! Pocket mirror to save your friend from walking around with lunch crumbs in her smile – check! It also comes in a variety of finishes and metal hues. 

Amazon Echo $69 (regular price $99):  The Amazon Echo, also known as “Alexa,” is the perfect gift for anyone of your list! You can use “Alexa” to do pretty much everything, which is how we use the Echo in our house (from closing the garage door to turning off lights) or simply use “Alexa” as an on-call music box. I also rely on “Alexa” to report the daily weather, tell us a joke or to play a family game of jeopardy. 

Vtech Kidizoom Camera Pix $39: The durable design and easy to use features makes this a great first camera for a little one. The photos and videos my son takes on this camera are truly priceless! Available in blue and pink.

Samsung The Frame TV $1935: Can we say group gift? Or maybe a Christmas, birthday and anniversary gift combined for the next few years? I’m not one to care about TVs, but this is a beautiful television that looks like a lovely framed piece of art on the wall when not in use. 

Photo Calendar with Brass Easel $55: This monthly photo calendar displayed on a brass easel is modern and elegant plus can be personalized with all those memorable photos on your phone. All of the customizable items from Artifact Uprising are sleek and minimal in design. A beautiful gift to create and share using treasured snapshots.

*I recently received a Lovebox in exchange for an Instagram campaign post. I loved it so much I had to include it in this post! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Holiday Gift Guide For Kids

This holiday, consider these “outside the box” gifts for the kids on your holiday list that will inspire creativity, play and confidence building. From personalized gifts to monthly educational subscriptions to swim lessons, these are some of the beloved gifts we’ve received, given or are on our wish list.

Goldfish Swim Lessons:  We’re huge fans of Goldfish swim programs and their incredible staff. Teddy has improved leaps and bounds since he started less than a year ago: From holding onto the wall to now swimming the full length of our pool by himself. This is the perfect experiential gift for a child who has plenty of “stuff.” Plus, it’s a great activity during the winter months to work on an essential life skill, have fun and boost their confidence. Did I mention the water temp is set at 90 degrees? :)*

Highlights Magazine: We received a subscription years ago as a gift and it’s one of the best presents the kids have received! It’s entertaining, educational and inspires their imagination. It’s always a fun surprise when it arrives in the mail. I always make sure to keep a handful of old copies in our car to entertain Teddy and Sloane on road trips. 

Nugget Comfort: This is a great group gift for siblings. These four-piece couches with washable covers in bright and bold hues can be stacked and folded a zillion ways to create forts, spaceships, castles galore. We have the navy Nugget and we all adore it! I love it’s modern look and have used it in our finished basement/play room, the kids’ room and, where it now rests, our family room. The kids love lounging on it and, even better, building forts. We’ve also used it to make two cozy sleeping beds when we have a house full of houseguests. Check out their Instagram feed for some serious home decor inspiration, too!

Wonderbly Personalized Books: They offer a variety of personalized books that make for really touching presents. My kids each have the “Lost My Name” personalized book and I have the “Where Are You…?” book on my radar for when they’re a little older. 

Silly Street Character Builders – This is the latest from one of our favorite game brand (it always makes my holiday gift list!) It uses a theater-themed set with cute animal characters to help little ones explore emotions in a creative way. For little ones who love playing with small characters, this is a fitting gift to inspire their creativity!

Little Passports – This is a monthly subscription that helps your child learn about the world through monthly adventures and activities. I don’t think it’s ever too early to inspire a love for travel and learning about different places and cultures. 

Do you have a great gift idea that inspires creativity, play and imagination? Please share if you do! I’m always looking for new ideas. 

XOXO,

Emily

*I am a Goldfish Swim Partner which means I currently receive complimentary lessons in exchange for sharing my honest opinion. 

How to Create A Holiday-Worthy Cheese Board

Whether you call it a cheese board or a charcuterie tray, it can be agreed that a flavor-packed spread of cheese, meat and other fixings is the perfect prelude to a holiday feast. Or simply a feast in itself! More than 9 out of 10 of you told me on Instagram recently that you’re likely to enjoy a cheese board as the main meal. Count me in that mix! 

My kind of cheese board looks a little like this. It varies depending on what I have on hand, but I try to include a variety of hard and soft cheeses, a couple of cured meats, and a combination of complementary flavors, textures and colors. We eat with our eyes, after all.

A butcher block or large cutting board is my go-to serving tray. Once the cheese and meats are placed, I add seasonal fresh fruits, a variety of dried fruit, mixed nuts, olives or pickled vegetables and sweet or savory jam. Add a combination of crackers, pita or baguette slices to pile high with fixings.

A must for a crowd-pleasing cheese board is an aged cheese like Parmigiano Reggiano. (Hint: Look for the pin-dots on the rind to make sure you are getting the real deal made in and around the province of Parma in Italy. It’s the best!) Fun Fact: When I studied abroad in Italy, I got a first-hand look at how Parmigiano Reggiano cheese is made. You can read all about it here and get my family’s recipe for Carbonara).

For the holidays, you can add seasonal and festive accents like fresh rosemary twigs, a bowl of sugared cranberries or slices of sugared citrus (which add a nice touch to holiday cocktails as well!).


What are you favorite fixings for a holiday-worthy cheese tray??

XOXO,

Emily

*I was gifted Parmigiano Reggiano for this post. 

Holiday Gift Guide For Your BFF

Here are a few trinket ideas for the lovely ladies on your holiday list this year who seem to have it all and definitely deserve it all.  From faux fur details to glittery baubles, these gifts and stocking stuffers are the kind of things they’ll want to receive and all for less than $100.

Velvet Bow Scrunchie

Luxe Faux Fur Robe with Hood

Agate Coaster Set (4)

Lacquer Metallic Square Tray 

2019 Desk Calendar   (I love a fresh, pretty calendar for the New Year! I often save my favorite prints from old calendars to use in frames and collages around the house)

Gold Stacking Ring Set

Kate Spade NY Belt Bag

Cozy Leopard Print Slippers

Monogram Mugs (These are my all time favorite! I’ve both given and received these as a gift and love them.)

Ombre Faux Fur Throw (Another favorite! You can never have enough of these throws. One for every room in my opinion.)

Faux Fur Fingerless Gloves 

Multistripe Socks

Monogram Wrap-Around Ring

Lip Gloss Set

Faux Fur Earmuffs

Have a fantastic gift you’ll be giving your BFF this holiday? Please share!

XOXO,

Emily

Five Reasons to Shop From KIDBOX

It’s that time of year! School events, special dinners with family and friends, Santa adventures and holiday celebrations galore. As we prep for these special moments, I’m also planning the kids’ outfits. I don’t typically buy an entire new outfit for these kind of occasions, but they’ve outgrown most clothes from last year and are in need some new sweaters, pants and dresses to outfit them for the season.

Enter KIDBOX, a personalized style box filled with on-trend kids clothing that’s delivered to your door. When I learned about KIDBOX, I was instantly intrigued. I loved that it was a convenient way to discover new clothes for my little ones, at a significant discount (you know I don’t like paying full price!) and without a shopping trip required. 

KIDBOX offered me a chance to review their Limited Edition Special Occassion Box, filled with clothing geared for the special events of the season, and I was thrilled to put it to the test. Honestly, I’m a little particular when it comes to the quality and look of the clothes my kids wear. Could I really let someone else choose clothing for my kids that I, and most importantly, they, would like??

Before we get into my review, here’s how the shopping process works:

  • You fill out a brief survey about the child you’re shopping for which includes some fun personality questions. You also can share what you want or don’t want see if your box. You can get really specific, if you want, or in my case, I shared my kids’ favorite colors, but decided to leave it open to the discretion of my stylist!
  • Delivery fun! Each box is filled with 6-7 items chosen by a stylist and based on your completed survey. 
  • Pay for what you love. If you love one item, keep that and return the other items with a pre-paid shipping label. Love everything? Keep it all at a major discount. The baby box is a total of $68 and the boys and girls boxes are $98 each.

Teddy and Sloane were so excited to dig into their very own boxes. Teddy loved the handsome navy toggle sweater and cozy corduroys which is an “old man” outfit I would typically purchase for him (nice job, KIDBOX stylist!). His box included two sweaters, including this cool antler head black crew neck sweater, three pairs of pants (including Paper Denim & Cloth skinny black jeans) and two knit tops perfect for layering with the sweaters. His Thanksgiving and Christmas outfits are set!

Sloane’s box included a 7 For All Mankind brand outfit (the jeans and top alone would cost more than the total price of her box). Also included: a dress (which she put on right away), two pairs of stretchy leggings, Disney-branded Minnie Mouse top with a matching legging + skirt combo and a fuzzy pink purse. She promptly stuffed the purse with her My Little Ponies collection and requested to wear her new dress (two days in a row!). 

We didn’t forget about little Sebastian! His box included some “street style” baby pieces including four adorable onesies, lightening bolt printed pants, a Mickey Mouse pajama set and a beachy tunic (perfect for that post-holiday warm weather trip). 

Five Reasons to Shop From KIDBOX

  1. No subscription required. You order when you need new clothes. No need to worry about joining and cancelling a subscription by a certain date to avoid unwanted charges and unnecessary shipments.
  2. Shopping for a cause. If you decide to keep the entire box, KIDBOX will donate to a child or family in need. You get to choose, from a list of charities, where KIDBOX will donate on your behalf.
  3. Access to 120+ premier brands at a super discounted price. While I’m kind of a control freak about the styles and brands I buy for my kids, it’s refreshing to relinquish the decision making to a pro stylist. I was surprised to see familiar designer brands (like 7 For All Mankind and Paper Denim & Cloth) and excited to be introduced to cute new brands.
  4. Convenience! A few minutes is all it takes to complete a survey and order a box that has enough separates to mix and match and create many outfits. All from the comfort of home. 
  5. A new take on gifting. Not sure what to gift the kids in your life? Looking for a gift for your bff’s first child? Ordering a KIDBOX is a fun way to surprise a little one with a variety of clothes and accessories to wear now and later. If you’re always looking for a new “gift” idea, this is one to add to the list!

SHOP HERE! Get your shopping done for the holidays early and make sure to have some new outfits for those special events. Use code StyleDujour to save 15% off your first box.

It’s safe to say KIDBOX is Style DJ- and kid-approved on our end. Have you tried KIDBOX before? If you give it a try this holiday season, please let me know what you think! (And remember to save with code StyleDujour). 

XOXO,

Emily

*This post is in collaboration with KIDBOX. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

5 Ways to Buy Designer on Discount

I have a confession: I can’t buy anything full-price.  It goes against my moral compass. Also, purchasing an item for a fraction of the retail price simply makes me love it more.

For major retailers, sure, it’s easy to make a purchase with a discount (who else receives hundreds of promotional e-mails every day?!).  What about those luxe items and investment pieces like designer apparel, shoes, handbags and jewelry? I’ve found that you don’t have to spend your entire month’s mortgage on classic or trendy designer goods. In fact, I’ve purchased pre-loved designer clothing and handbags at a fraction of the price from consignment stores and online retailing sites for years.

From a Chanel handbag to Kate Spade wool pants, here are some of my favorite luxe finds that I found on consignment or at a secondhand store which means I paid only a fraction of the original price. 

If you’re not familiar with consignment, here is how it works. 

A business agrees to pay a seller (the consignor aka you!) for merchandise after the item sells. Often times the payment arrangement is a specific percentage of the selling price (e.g., 50% – 80% of the sale price). As a buyer, you can purchase a designer good at a steal. On the flip side, as a seller, consigning an item that you no longer use is an easy way to free up space in your closet and make a little money at the same time.

Bold logos are one of the hottest fall trends (which I highlight in my  recent post, “Five Trends for Fall and Beyond“) so I wanted to reveal my top consignment and secondhand retailers for purchasing those coveted luxury designer logo handbags – along with shoes, apparel and accessories –  for less!

5 Ways to Buy Designer on Discount

  1. ThredUp – I’ve used ThredUp since they opened their virtual doors a few years ago (In fact, I talk about them in one of my first blog posts, “Fall Closet Cleanout: How to Make Room + $ At the Same Time“). *STYLE DJ TIP: While you won’t find the range of designer handbags like you would from other sites (read on below), ThredUp offers classic luxury styles and designers at discounted prices like this classic Fendi Zucca bag. (Bonus: Click here to save $10 on your first order).
  2. TheRealReal – This is my go-to online consignment shop for anything designer, whether I’m planning to buy something or sell/consign an item. Everything is authenticated and an item’s condition is described in great detail so you know exactly what you are getting. They have a huge inventory including a wide range of unique and vintage pieces. Items on my wishlist include this vintage suede Gucci handbag and Dior silk scarf  *STYLE DJ TIP: On top of their already discounted prices, make sure to use a discount code to save even more on your purchase by creating an account and receiving their e-mail alerts. Also, here is a referral discount code to save $25 on your first order. 
  3. Tradesy – This is an online marketplace to sell or purchase clothing and accessories. As a seller, you personally control your product listings (similar to eBAY). As a buyer, listings are reviewed/authenticated by Tradesy so you can feel confidant in your purchases. When it comes to designer goods, the range of new and vintage styles is never-ending. I could spend hours sifting through postings and admiring the designer listings! *STYLE DJ TIP: If you’ve noticed an item has been listed for a while, message the seller with a proposed sell price a bit below the asking price, but still fair.  (I used this technique for the pink Chanel bag pictured above). Also, every purchase comes with a free return. If the item arrives and is not what you had in mind, return it to Tradesy for a full refund.
  4. Crossroads Trading – This store is my preferred place to sell on-trend clothing for a little cash and they also take designer handbags and accessories which they sell on consignment. *STYLE DJ TIP: Check to see where your nearest Crossroads Trading store is located! Sell any like-new items from your closet that you’re not wearing in turn for store credit which you can use to “buy” a fabulous designer handbag being sold on consignment at the store (I did this to get the round red patent Kate Spade bag pictured above).  This is an easy way to swap out trendy clothing for an investment piece you’ll likely own and wear for years to come.
  5. ShopGoodwill.com *WARNING* There is a high chance of becoming addicted to shopping from this site! A fellow treasure hunter told me about this online version of the Goodwill stores, and since that time, I bought red Chanel sunglasses and a vintage Fendi baguette for each less than $100! (For reference, a pre-owned Fendi baguette typically retails for $200-$400+). The website offers eBAY-style auctions for everything from lots of antique buttons to designer goods. This site may be best for an experienced thrifter as you have to have patience to review pages of postings and have an eye for uncovering a treasure. *STYLE DJ TIP: Use the “search” bar to identify current listings for a designer of interest. Make sure to read the listings carefully as all sales are final. Before you bid on an item, make sure you’re clear on the condition by contacting the store selling the item (there is an e-mail contact button which makes it super easy!) One final tip, for an item you love, set your max price and get ready to submit your final bid a minute before the bid end time. 

I hope my five ways to buy designer items on discount are helpful to you whether you’re looking to buy your very first vintage bag or plan to add to your growing collection. If you shop from the above retailers and have some tried and true shopping tips up your sleeve, please share! I always love to hear from you.

xoxo,

Emily