This holiday season, we wanted to showcase our favorite styles not on models, but on the real women who inspire us. Sis and I are surrounded by a group of creative and accomplished women – many of whom we’ve known since childhood in Wilmington, DE – who make our hectic, entrepreneurial lives in NYC a little less overwhelming and a lot more entertaining. It is with these ladies that we take time out of our busy schedule to re-charge and energize each other with a lot of support, a good bit of wine, and tons of laughs. We recently had our girl gang over to my Clinton Hill home for a pre-holiday dinner and quizzed them on what’s inspiring them; what they’re gifting this holiday season; and of course, how they will be accessorizing.
Maud Heline:
Maud (along with Margot) is a French transplant who has fallen into our Delaware crew. Maud is an accomplished ready-to-wear designer with the resume to prove it, formerly serving on the design teams at Maiyet, Isabel Marant, and Balmain (casual!) and creator of her namesake line Maud Heline. Maud radiates creativity and is equally enthusiastic discussing clothing design (she is currently launching Maison Aroze, an elevated line of separates made from alpaca) or burning the midnight oil at a late-night dance party.
$320
1) Which gift guide are you shopping from? Why?:
2) How are you accessorizing this holiday season?:
3) What’s inspiring you right now?:
$115
$75
Amber Star Wright:
An incredible ball of energy and inspiration in a petite 5’2” package, Amber is mama to two precious daughters, until recently led accessories production in a role that took her overseas multiple times a year, and just purchased a home to renovate in Garzon, Uruguay. Most of us go upstate when we want to get away, but heading to South America with Amber and family is definitely a plan we can get on board with.
$645
1) Which gift guide are you shopping from? Why?:
2) How are you accessorizing this holiday season?:
I am keeping it sexy and sophisticated with hair accessories and pearls. The holidays are hectic and a headband and pearl accents give the festive appearance of having it all under control. Wait, does a baby count on my hip as holiday accessory too?
3) What’s inspiring you right now?:
Girl power! From Greta Thunberg to my two daughters, I feel like there’s no better time than now to be our best selves.
$365
$70
Holly Zappa:
Holly is always up for an adventure. On the outside, this lawyer-turned-product & technology company executive director appears to be an intelligent, focused, hard-working gal (all of which she is), but get to know her and she’ll tell you that she has attended Burning Man five times, loves a Bushwick rave and would never turn down a spur of the moment Marfa road trip. Sis and I are so inspired by independent, bold girls, and Holly embodies that description to a T.
$175
1) Which gift guide are you shopping from? Why?:
I’m shopping from The Hostess gift guide. I’ll be making a few new rounds this year, including my sister’s new apartment and Christmas in Wales. Those Skultuna candlesticks make for the perfect gift!
2) How are you accessorizing this holiday season?:
Gold hoop earrings, warm layers, and my favorite hat by Albertus Swanepoel.
3) What’s inspiring you right now?:
My upcoming trip to Marfa for my bestie’s birthday. Looking forward to putting my camera to use, exploring the desert art scene and of course indulging in the local food!
$345
$16
Katie Christopher:
Do you have those friends that have had a clearly defined (and need I say excellent) sense of style since you met them? Katie has the enviable ability to curate the best looks, and her talent for finding the diamond-in-the-rough fashion piece is so strong that she recently launched Shop Feels Good where she sources and sells the coolest pieces after hours (by day you can find her running the showroom at Egg Collective). Love her ability to mix vintage Gucci with a pair of this season’s satin Nomia boots? She will share it with you — she’s got a side hustle as a personal stylist.
$295
1) Which gift guide are you shopping from? Why?:
I am shopping from the Minimalist gift guide! I dress mostly in vintage and am channeling modern 90s minimalism for my winter look. The Arc Cuff and Pronto Purse are the perfect architectural accessories and the Grand Boule Candlestick and Tatlin Vase are on my wish list!
2) How are you accessorizing this holiday season?:
LFJ Arc Cuff with everything! My Nomia Binx Boots in satin have an amazing sculpted lucite heel and look as good with jeans and a t-shirt as they do dressed up. And my antique scarab ring and gold Greek key hoops were both gifts and never come off!
3) What’s inspiring you right now?:
I am in the midst of moving into a new apartment and I am currently inspired by modern 70s interior design. Dreaming of a Milo Baughman burl wood credenza, chrome and leather Guido Faleschini chairs and lucite accessories by Dorothy Thorpe!
$155
Taylor Patterson:
The floral mastermind behind Fox Fodder Farm, Taylor has been a friend since we were five years old. Needless to say, we are very close: we even live only five blocks apart in Brooklyn. Taylor is as good a chef as she is florist, meaning that our frequent post-work glasses of wine and suppers are gourmet affairs. Let’s just say she’s a friend with benefits.
$250
1) Which gift guide are you shopping from? Why?:
The Hostess. I love having people over for dinner and cooking really elaborate and beautiful meals…I’m secretly a really good cook. Winter dinner parties are the only way I can deal with 4:30 sundown. It’s nice to get dressed up just to stay home, best of both worlds.
2) How are you accessorizing this holiday season?:
With layers…lost of layers. Layered necklaces and stacked cuffs to start.
3) What’s inspiring you right now?:
My friends… is that lame. It’s true tho!
$290
$38
Margot Pascal:
You know we die for sister-sister designer duos, so when Kate Towill introduced us to Margot eight years ago, we immediately fell for her and the beautiful leather goods brand she owns and operates with her sister, Manufacture Pascal. When she’s not entertaining us with her fabulous sense of humor she is raising three (!!) sons, assisting her parents with their vineyard in France, and renovating a centuries-old farmhouse in Burgundy. Margot just might have 30 hours in her day
$320
1) Which gift guide are you shopping from? Why?:
Definitely The Zodiac Guru and The Hostess gift guides. Impossible to pick one with my dual (Gemini) personality. I am a very superstitious person and believe in signs, in the influence of the moon, and the power of stones and crystals. I also love to get my friends together at home for family brunch style and cook for hours and hide from my adorable children. Sharing my family’s wine with the ones I love.
2) How are you accessorizing this holiday season?:
Scarves and belts AND scarves used as belts are my thing. Anything to keep a normal waist after delicious meals. With the days getting darker I also enjoy wearing a bright piece of jewelry with pearls for example.
3) What’s inspiring you right now?:
$290
$275
Caitlin Thomsen:
In the dictionary, next to the word “meticulous” should be a photo of Caitlin Thomsen. Caitlin is a highly respected photo retoucher who has worked on big-name campaigns (think Dior and Victoria Secret) and is a master at changing someone’s clothes or replacing a frown with a smile with the click of a mouse. It’s no surprise that her recently completed upstate house (which she’s been escaping to with her husband and young son on weekends) is a cool and calm design oasis from which she can work and play.
$370
1) Which gift guide are you shopping from? Why?:
The Hostess guide. We just bought and renovated a beautiful mid-century home upstate and will be hosting friends and family for the first time this holiday season. A little nervous but mostly looking forward to it. Trying to decide between the gorgeous blue casserole dishes or some fancy earrings but I may have to do both!
2) How are you accessorizing this holiday season?:
Hoops and headbands. Does it get more festive? Especially my Mood Hoops. They go with everything!
3) What’s inspiring you right now?:
Females. So many of my girlfriends are having such amazing success in their careers right now, motherhood included. It is truly inspiring! Not to mention some of the women killing it in politics. We are definitely having a long-overdue moment right now and something tells me it’s only just begun!
$275
Jenny Capano:
If you recognize her name, it’s because Jenny was one of our “Friends for 10” series. Jenny is a constant source of fashion, professional, motherhood and life inspiration for us. As Sales Director at the cult-favorite fashion brand Sacai, she is always dressed to the nines and is equal parts wonderful girlfriend (she’s always initiating our nights out and group activities) and amazing mama. We all want to be like Jenny when we grow up.
$195
1) Which gift guide are you shopping from? Why?:
The Boss Lady gift guide is so attractive to me! I have been in search of the perfect chain necklace and the Abalone Link Necklace is it! I love to wear strong statement pieces, especially gold. Give me the Abalone Link Necklace, Porto Chain Bracelet with the Chain-Link Hoops all together. It’s the holidays so I want to dress festive and shop something special for my family members and myself!
2) How are you accessorizing this holiday season?:
I’m wearing the Abalone Necklace with everything from cozy sweaters and jeans to Sacai printed corset dresses. Gold accessories add another sparkle to the look, who doesn’t want to feel festive and chic?
3) What’s inspiring you right now?:
$60
Tara Gilson:
Tara is a fashion / mama / business bad a$$. She cut her teeth at 3.1 Phillip Lim and has since made her mark at Alice & Olivia, Apiece Apart, Outdoor Voices and FlyWheel — we’ve even tapped her to come school the Lizzie Fortunato team. Think Tara knows how to manage multi-million dollar businesses? How to build an e-commerce business from the ground up? Check and check. Oh, and did we mention she had a baby just 3 months ago? #powerhouse.
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$195
1) Which gift guide are you shopping from? Why?:
2) How are you accessorizing this holiday season?:
3) What’s inspiring you right now?:
My 4-month old babe, Adrien.