Luxury or Local?
My Word For 2019 is elevate. Part of that means elevating my lifestyle because I believe every girl deserves to live her champagne life! That said, I still LOVE a bargain. I believe one of the most important skills in life is being able to differentiate between when a splurge is worth it and when a “knock-off” brand is just fine.
MAKEUP
For example, when it comes to makeup, I do not believe in skimping! Especially with lipstick! These products are going directly onto your skin and often into your body, so it’s 100% worth the investment to make sure they are well-made. Plus, no doll wants to be reapplying lipstick thirty times a day because it fades or discolors! One of my very favorites is, of course, my Christian Louboutin Sheer Voile lipstick. Treat yourself right by investing in high-end makeup.
HOME DECOR
When it comes to decorating your home, it’s totally ok to mix in Ikea and Home Goods pieces with your luxury items! Basically our entire office is from At Home. And you know how much we love our Ikea cabinets—sometimes all it takes is a little innovation to elevate a simple piece and still save money.
SHOES
It probably comes at no surprise that I looooove shoes. And when it comes down to it, I can’t live without any of them! I believe that the craftsmanship that goes into designer shoes is totally worth the dollar amount. Designer shoes are made with better materials and will last longer. Never underestimate the confidence boost a red bottom can give you, either!
DISHWARE
I love a Waterford Crystal as much as the next doll, but I also love having a collection of pieces for every day use. In fact, I am an advocate for having several sets of plates, flatware, and glassware to fit every occasion! There are so many cute sets out there that are budget-friendly, and I say buy ‘em all! I use my World Market glassware every day!
FUR
I go faux when it comes to fur (because…animals), but that doesn’t mean I’ll get a cheaply made synthetic! Trust me: you do not want a fur that sheds or easily mattes. A fur coat can start to look ratty very quickly, and plenty of designers offer well-made furs that are animal-friendly! I especially love my limited edition pink fur from J.Crew.
DENIM
In this case, totally go with your local Zara or Topshop! Denim is such a staple that you can’t really go wrong with any label—as long as it fits you and you can rock it with confidence, don’t worry about finding the luxury version!
GIFTS
I am strong believer in pretty mail and gift-giving. I just love picking out the cutest mini champagne, pairing it with a Kate Spade journal, and gifting it to a new client! I believe in being generous with gift-giving, so don’t be afraid to spend a little more to show your loved ones how much you cherish them.
GIFT WRAP
On the other hand, you can totally get your printed collateral on the cheap! We are at Hobby Lobby almost every day picking out cute patterned paper, ribbons, and confetti. And I’m obsessed with the Christmas wrapping paper I got at Home Goods! We also print almost everything in-house. This saves money AND time and allows us to test print as much as we want to make sure what we are making is absolutely perfect!
XO,
