holidays – The Sol Compass

12 Gifts of Christmas

Hello everyone, happy Friday! Today I’m sharing a gift idea for the holidays! B and I have a crazy Christmas weekend, with holiday plans and parties from the 22nd through Christmas Day, and I knew we wouldn’t have ample time to do a gift exchange, so instead I had an idea to give him a gift each day for the 12 leading up to that crazy weekend.

I got my kraft paper, baker’s twine, Sugar Paper ribbon, festive tissue paper, and classic bows from Target, and rounded it off with some washi tape from Amazon. Lindt Chocolate Truffle Bars, a ski ornament I found at the Christmas Tree Shop, a simple red bell, and a pine branch made the perfect toppers for these gifts!

Lastly, if you want to go all out with the 12 gifts theme, these fun letters were the perfect finishing touch, whether you’re looking to control the order of the gifts, or just looking for a fun decoration!

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you all have a great weekend!

xo, C

Eggnog After Work

Welcome back guys! I hope you all had a great week. Today’s holiday outfit is inspired by those impromptu happy hours after work where you have to take your 9-5 outfit out into the real world. This skirt is the most festive pencil skirt possibly ever and there’s no reason for it to not make an appearance once per week until Christmas. Seriously guys this is not a drill. It adds a bit of holiday happiness, to your work day, but by swapping your blazer for a leather jacket at 5:01pm. all of a sudden you’re ready for some well deserved Christmas Cheer.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

xo, C

Holiday Picks

Happy Friday guys! I hope you all had a good week and have some exciting plans for this weekend. I’m sure most of you have tons of holiday preparations to start working on over the weekend, hopefully including some shopping for yourselves! While I have a ton of holiday content to share with you over the next month, I unfortunately do not have an unlimited budget, and therefore will never be able to share ALL of the things I love with you guys! A majority of my outfits through every season are a few new pieces mixed in with old ones. Today’s collage is a few of my favorite pieces on my wish list to give you guys a few more options to shop from besides the one in my outfit posts!

holidaypicks

Le Rogue et El Noir

Besides being one of my very favorite 19th century novels, red and black also make for a classic and fail-safe holiday combination. I love incorporating them into my every day wardrobe during the month of December to keep the spirit alive- especially since any day has the possibility of turning into a festive celebration after work! As someone who loves remixing and rewearing clothes, I’m not a huge advocate of buying a red sequined dress you’ll wear to one holiday party and then never again (at least for another twelve months). Instead I opt for the classic combination of red and black, which flows seamlessly from work to happy hour and is seasonally appropriate with just a touch of gold accents (or a decadent amount of gold accents, if that’s your thing). These are two of my favorite black and red outfits, with pieces I’ve worn plenty before and I know without hesitation I will wear again.

Thanks for reading! Hope you are all enjoying the holiday season!

xo, C

Visions of Sugarplums

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is the ballet. The Nutcracker will always be a timeless Christmas tale, and the ballet brings it to life so gracefully that it would be a shame to miss it even once. Channeling the ballet’s tradition of pastels, I chose some cool winter tones and embellishments for some extra holiday glam. This sweater is super cozy and warm, but I may add some tights with the temperatures still dropping consistently! I also love this skirt with black for a sophisticated evening look- the embellishments add the perfect amount of extra sparkle for any holiday occasion!

Outfit details: Sweater: GAP | Skirt: The Limited | Shoes: Banana Republic (old, I’m obsessed with this similar SJP pair!) Necklace: J.Crew Factory (sold out online, similar here)

xo, Caitlin

Gift Guide: The Foodie

Foodies can certainly be stressful to shop for. It’s tempting to buy them a monthly club membership, but then they can miss out on the fun of opening something tangible. So I’ve rounded up my favorite items to add to their favorite hobby!

one // two // three // four // five // six // seven // eight // nine

For the coffee lover, I adore this color-blocked espresso set (I also love this black and white set) and this cute elephant creamer to add some spice to the morning cup. For the homemade pizza enthusiast, this whimsical bike pizza cutter and state cutting board bring some more excitement to the cooking process. For some after dinner fun, The Chillsner keeps beers cold without a coozy, and this electric wine bottle opener makes for a great conversation starter as the party gets going. I love this Moscow Mule mug and Mint Julep cup for those who like to go all out with their cocktails. For the chef of any caliber, this stylish tablet stand makes following an internet recipe or video hands-free a breeze (bonus that they can use it outside of the kitchen, too!)

Follow my Pinterest board for gift ideas for everyone all season long! Happy Holidays!

xo, Caitlin

Comfort Season

Whoever decided to make something as cozy as a poncho chic is officially my new hero. My TOMS for Target poncho just came in the mail this past week and it has been my best friend during this chilly and relaxing weekend. I love layering a collared shirt underneath to keep my outfit polished while feeling like I’m wrapped in a blanket all day long!

Much of the TOMS for Target collection has already sold out, but you can view the full collection here and make sure to check your local Target store to see what they have left! The collection also makes some amazing gifts, I especially love the throw blanket, candle, and frame for gifts that will delight just about everyone! Gifts that give back are the best way to spread our good fortune to others this holiday season. Follow along with my Pinterest board to see gift ideas all season long!

Poncho: TOMS for Target | Hat: Mossimo Supply Co. | Shirt: GAP | Jeans: Lucky Brand (old, similar here) | Booties: Old Navy

More poncho styles I’m loving:

one // two // three // four // five // six

xo, Caitlin

Black Friday Ensemble

Finding a Black Friday outfit may not seem high on your priority list this week as you scramble to get your travel accommodations or hosting preparations in order, but you will definitely appreciate thinking of it ahead of time when you need to get up and ready early the morning after Thanksgiving!

The key here is attaining that difficult balance between fashionable, functional, and comfortable. I opted for leather leggings- still chic, but more forgiving than jeans when I’ve had one too many slices of my dad’s apple pie- and a chambray as my foundation. Flats are comfortable to walk in and easy to slip in and out of when you’re trying on clothes, so I chose to wear my stylish leopard print flats. A cross body bag is key! You won’t keep hitting other shoppers in the crowd with your huge shoulder bag, and you’ll have both of your hands free for shopping! I always keep my jewelry simple when I go shopping so I don’t have to worry about constantly taking it on and off when trying on different types of clothes in the fitting rooms, so I stuck to the basics with this silver necklace and studs. I’m so obsessed with this look I will probably be wearing it much more frequently than just on Black Friday!

Chambray: American Eagle (old, love this one) | Leggings: Rock and Republic (old, but I may love these even more!) | Flats: American Eagle | Bag: Coach Factory (similar here and here) | Earrings: Banana Republic (old, similar here (and on sale!) | Necklace: Nadri

xo, Caitlin

Home for the Holidays

This week I’m excited to be sharing all of my Thanksgiving week outfits! With lots of downtime for catching up with the family I don’t see very often, I definitely plan on lots of comfortable sweaters making an appearance next week!

Big and cozy Fair Isle sweaters are all I ever want to wear on chilly weekends, and Thanksgiving is the perfect time to start! I am so excited to bring out my favorites again this year. I like to belt this cardigan together for extra warmth and a more polished look.

Fun shopping story: I saw this belt in a window display and loved it so much that I had to ask the sales associate to take it off of the mannequin for me! Now I find myself wearing it virtually nonstop all year long.