Fried Chicken and Champagne...

...Sounds like a winning combination to me. With a menu this simple and comforting you can't go wrong - I think I feel a holiday gathering coming on. Now I am looking forward to the comfort and joy of the season. Thanks for the inspiration Lisa.

What's In Store - TracyChambers Vintage

Are you ready for the holiday party season? No worries, TracyChambers Vintage has got your back!

Lanvin Resort 2012

One of my favorite houses has done it again. The metallics are fire!

Fake it 'til you make it

It is no secret, to those who know me, that I do not like to cook or do any kind of housework for that matter - I am no domestic diva! So when I found this on the Williams-Sonoma blog, The Blender, I had to repost. Thanksgiving stresses me out every year because my family has come expect a big Thanksgiving feast. Ugh!! This year I think I will fake a few and make a few:) Enjoy - and thanks Olivia!!

Making Store-Bought Thanksgiving Dishes Your Own

NOV 1511:09 am by Olivia Ware Leave a Comment

A traditional Thanksgiving feast contains an often overwhelming number of components, from the vegetable sides to the gravy and cranberry sauce. If you’re pressed for time or just want to make things a bit easier on yourself, take advantage of some of your grocery store’s prepared turkey day offerings. You can pick and choose the parts you want to focus on, and your guests probably won’t know the difference.

Here are a few ways to make your store-bought Thanksgiving feast feel a little bit more homemade.

Soup

Instead of roasting, simmering and pureeing, consider buying prepared soups. Organic, boxed varieties can be very flavorful; choose a low-sodium option so you can season to taste yourself.

To improve the presentation, fry some sage leaves or garnish the soup with other fresh herbs, such as minced chives. Alternatively, tart yogurt or a gourmet herb-infused oil look beautiful when drizzled across the top of the bowl.

Mashed Potatoes

Frozen mashed potatoes can taste a bit bland, so try grating your favorite sharp, nutty cheese, like Parmigiano Reggiano, to the mix. Crispy bacon, fresh herbs and rehydrated dried mushrooms or shaved truffles can also add an elegant touch.

Gravy

Many cooks pressure themselves to make gravy on the spot as dinner guests wait, using pan drippings from the roasted turkey. Try a method that demands fewer steps, such as a Turkey Gravy Base that only needs to be simmered with milk before served.

Stuffing

Fortunately, there are plenty of high-quality stuffing options available for purchase now, like La Brea Bakery’s Focaccia Stuffing Mix. To make it your own, add in one of your favorite flavor combinations, such as apples, nuts and sausage or fresh herbs, carrots and celery.

Green Beans

Frozen green beans make an easy substitute for fresh, and they’re delicious whether steamed, sauteed or roasted. Top with slivered almonds or crispy pancetta and your favorite vinaigrette.

Cranberry Sauce

There’s always one person at the Thanksgiving table who can’t live without canned, jellied cranberry sauce. Your simplest approach is to simply slice it into discs and display them in an attractive pattern on a plate.

Otherwise, try some add-ins:

• Fresh fruit: slices of pineapple, orange, grapes and apple add flavor and crunchy texture to the standard sauce. Try pinches of citrus zest, too.
• Nuts: Chopped walnuts, pecans or other festive holiday nuts counter the sweetness of the sauce and add an earthy touch.
• Dried fruit: Dried apricots, figs, dates, cranberries, cherries add deeper flavors to the sauce.

Pie

If you’re hosting guests who’ve generously offered to bring a dish to the gathering, suggest that they take care of the pie. Otherwise, buying a pre-made pie is a fine option; lightly whip some heavy cream with cinnamon and sugar to accompany it.

Alternatively, buy a frozen pie crust from your local store and fill it with an easy-to-use filling, such as Pecan Pumpkin Butter or another prepared pumpkin pie filling. Use festive Fall Piecrust Cutters to embellish the top of your pie for a personal touch.

Topshop leggings

Love these leggings from Topshop. I am officially on the hunt.

She Better Mind Her Business - Natalie Massenet

Courtesy of Marie Claire taken by Anthony Cook

I have been waiting for this story to show up on the Marie Claire site so I could re-post. Natalie Massenet, founder of Net-A-Porter, is one of my favorite female entrepreneurs. Her tips for success, while they seem obvious, hit me like a brick. Enjoy!

NATALIE MASSENET'S TIPS FOR SUCCESS

1. KNOW YOUR FIELD: "The important thing is knowing what you're going to do and being an expert in what you want to do. It can be something very simple, like being an artist doing screen prints on T-shirts. But don't pick an industry you have nothing to do with, and make sure you have a basic skill set or knowledge."

2. DEVELOP A VIABLE BUSINESS MODEL: "Start small, do everything beautifully, have the right people around you, and make sure what you do generates money, because you can't sustain a business that doesn't make money. It sounds simple, but a lot of people don't have any idea of how they're going to make the money."

3. GET IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME: "Never forget that you only have one opportunity to make a first impression — with investors, with customers, with PR, and with marketing."

4. PLAN FOR THE LONG TERM: "When I started, my entire salary went into paying the nanny. But I knew my salary would increase. You are building something, and your business gets bigger. I can invest today and get the return tomorrow."

Look-A-Likes

Ralph Lauren

TracyChambers Vintage

TracyChambers Vintage

TracyChambers Vintage

Perfect look for the holiday season. Both items available in the shop.

Street Style Vintage Inspiration

All photos courtesy of Harpers Bazaar.com from Paris Fashion Week: Spring 2012.

I love when I come across photos that are the mirror image of what is in my shop. These ladies have successfully integrated vintage pieces into their wardrobe while remaining current. Look out for a TracyChambers Vintage Look-A-Likes post coming soon.

Who Rocks?!!!

(photo courtesy of Fashion Bomb Daily)

(photo courtesy of Fashion Bomb Daily)

Mary and that Yves Saint Laurent blouse - that's who. She was spectacular in every way and again, Black Girls Rock did everything it set out to do - inspire, uplift, and entertain. I think I cried during most of the show. I cannot wait to watch this with my kids, especially my black girls who rock!!!

Commander in Chic

Mikki Taylor and guests

Soledad O'Brien and Lisa Price

Marketing mavens

Earlier this week I attended an event at Tracy Reese hosted by Essence Magazine to celebrate the release of Mikki Taylor's new book, "Commander in Chic: Every Woman's Guide to Managing Her Style Like A First Lady". The book will be available in stores in a few weeks but for those of you who cannot wait it can be pre ordered on Amazon. What a wonderful night full of inspiration from women who I admire for so many reasons.

Closet Purge

before

before

before

donations

more donations

Two years ago when I started this blog I was going through the same thing and my first post was about editing your closet. I guess October is my time of year to rid myself of the old and bring in the new. I hate clutter but somehow I let the "stuff" pile up. These pictures do not show half of the stuff that I was too embarrassed to post. I guess I have a bit of an addiction because I do not wear 90% of the clothes I own. Or was I a collector? Anyways, this was a start and I will tackle every closet in this house. At the end of the day I had ten bags of clothing and shoes to donate to a local women's shelter and the salvation army. I hate to think of all of the quick getaway weekend trips I could have taken. Ugh.