Find Your Perfect Perfume For The Winter Season!

imageA couple of spritzes of fragrance is the final polishing touch of an outfit. It’s like the cherry on top of a sundae, or the chocolate drizzle on your mocha latte. An already chic ensemble only gets better with the right perfume. It’s what lingers on peoples minds after you’ve already left a room, and just a whiff of a signature scent can evoke memories. With all the different scents available for us to choose from, how does one locate their own “perfect scent?” Many times, a perfume will smell incredible inside a magazine or as a sample, or on someone else. Don’t be too hasty to run to the department store to snatch up a bottle for yourself just yet, though! Our natural oils and body temperatures make the same scent smell different from person to person, warm weather or cool. The only way, really, is to sample a spray on your wrists, and then smell it again after half an hour or so to see if the perfume meshes well with you. One way to cut down on having to try hundreds and hundreds of different scents is to choose one that it appropriate for the weather outside. While your favorite summer scent of sweet pea and cucumber still smells delicious, it may be a little too light and crisp for the lower temperatures that are now here. Find a scent that is a little more saturated and heavy and look for ingredients that make sense for the winter. So while the daisies and citrus scents may need a break, it’s a great time for vanilla and roses. Click on the slideshow to see some favorite winter scents and fragrance sets to choose from for yourself or find a classic as a gift!

view slideshow

It’s All About You: Personalized Holiday Gifts

imageThere are some people out there who love monogramming their name and initials on pretty much everything. Although I do not feel the urge to engrave my name onto all that I own, I have to admit that it does have its appeal. Whatever the reason, personalized gifts are just that — personal. What was just a “good” gift becomes a great and thoughtful gift with the addition of just a few letters and maybe a short but sweet message. There are a lot of products that now offer the personalization option so stray away from monogrammed lockets and towels that have been done time and time again and find something different! Click on the slideshow to see which items out there can be made that much better by a simple engraving or embroidery!

view slideshow

Cute And Stylish Holiday Gifts For Under $50!

imageIf I had to have a least favorite form of shopping, holiday shopping would be it. Don’t get me wrong- I love finding the perfect gifts for my friends and family- but the process is downright exhausting whether you brave the malls or swipe your credit cards the virtual way. Setting a price limit is the best way to start narrowing down who’s getting what, and furthermore, the best gifts happen to be the ones whose prices aren’t quite so obvious, so you might want to skip the typical mall stores (unless you know exactly what your recipients want, of course!). I’ve compiled a list of 10 stylish gifts as precious as they are practical, like a limited edition Tsumori Chisato lip gloss set or a set of super sweet enamel bangles from Dylan’s Candy Bar. Or what about a luxe neckwarmer from Madewell? They’re all under $50, so you can still stay within your budget without feeling like you’ve skimped. Click the slideshow to see my picks, and happy shopping!

view slideshow

Fashionistas Have Sweet Dreams in Vintage Lingerie

imageThe term lingerie comes from the Old French linge, which referred to scandalous underclothes. Though the term was not in widespread use until the 1850s, the history of lingerie itself started centuries earlier, back in ancient Egypt around 3000 BC. And while the choice for men may center around something as simple as boxers or briefs, we women have so much more to consider: peignoirs, chemises, nighties, camisoles, slips, crinolines and teddies — both racy and demure. Now we gals know that buying luxurious lingerie is not necessarily practical, but we also know that this form of self-indulgence can have a subconscious impact on the way we look and feel — even if no one gets to witness our underpinnings. So choose one of these beauties from past decades and bring on some sweet dreams. Just click the slideshow to see the selection.

view slideshow

Hot In The Hive: Sami Rinne Design Reindeer Mug

imageAs the weather gets colder and colder and I have to wear more layers than an onion has, that means I also have to switch over from iced tea to hot chocolate! I have a giant Audrey Hepburn/Breakfast at Tiffany’s themed mug that fills me up every time, but sometimes I just need a smaller sized cup so I don’t drink my weight in chocolate. That’s why Finnish designer Sami Rinne totally read my mind and made the Reindeer Mugs which are cute and functional! These ceramic mugs are handmade in Finland and they’re microwave, oven and dishwasher safe. Best of all, I’m totally set for the holidays with his reindeer handle design. I’m going to bet that my peppermint hot chocolate will taste even better than ever! If you’re not into the reindeer, check out the angel and the bat mugs too.

Price: 24.90 GBP
Who Found It: facadeindreams was first to add the Sami Rinne Design Reindeer Mug to the Hive.

CollegeCandy Seeks To Sparkle With Anthropologie’s Twinkle Headband!

imageAre the employees at Starbucks beginning to memorize your order? Do you have under eye circles resembling black eyes? Might someone mistake you for a caveman if they happened to graze your leg? Same here. And it’s not pretty. My fashion sense is screaming to get out, as I’ve locked it away for a couple weeks and invested instead in a couple new pairs of Pink sweats. And let’s not even start on my hair. When it gets washed, it definitely doesn’t get brushed, and in the morning I end up looking like Chewbacca and Medusa’s offspring. This is something a straightener can’t even begin to fix. Which is why right now I am totally loving Anthropologie’s Twinkle Headband. Slip this badboy on and it will instantly transform my rat’s nest bun into a chic updo. What I love most is its antique look; the muted gold tones and metallic beaded accents give a sultry Grecian feel to even the simplest jeans and t-shirt combo. Yea it’s a little pricey at $38, but let’s be honest, a $5 headband from Claire’s doesn’t come with the booty-call saving abilities. Check back with CollegeCandy for more style-saving tips for finals season!

Teen-Friendly Gifts They Won’t Roll Their Eyes At

imageYou remember what it’s like to be a teen, whether it really was only yesterday or it just seems like it. Bored, moody, rebellious, mad at the world — especially mad at your parents. Okay, just kidding about most of that description, but really — when you’re no longer in high school, it can be hard to relate to those who still are, which makes it really tough to pick out a thoughtful gift they’ll actually enjoy. Despite what you may hear in the news, not every teenager is obsessed with “Twilight,” so your search isn’t always as easy as stopping by your neighborhood Hot Topic. So what is “all the rage” these days? First of all, not saying “all the rage,” and secondly, it’s about tapping into a general interest. If you know the teen at hand loves music, this portable USB turntable plugs directly into their laptop so they can start testing their skills as resident DJ. Or if you’ve got a future “Project Runway” contestant in the fam, gift a fashion designer start-up kit to get their creative juices flowing. Take a look at the slideshow for the selection of fool-proof gifts for teens!

view slideshow

Decorate Your Home On The Cheap With Stylehive’s Decor Deals!

imageThe best part about finding sales is not that I can shop for my favorite things for super low prices. The favorite part about sales is that I can share the sales with all my friends so they can save too! Decorating your home can be a huge expense since there are so many things to buy like furniture, bedding, and even artwork. Luckily, there’s Decor Deals, so it’s even a greater joy to share the deals that can be found for over 50% off the original retail price. If you’re going to be entertaining a lot during the holiday season, a nice pair of stainless steel salad servers is a must have at any dining room table. The Dorado salad servers used to be over $40 but you can snag them for $16.95. Mirrors can also be a huge expense (and totally worth it when you glimpse your gorgeous self), but I’ve found the Turner Portrait Mirror for $149.99 down from $500! Click over to my slideshow to see all the must have deals that will keep your home well decorated and your wallet happy.

view slideshow

Haute Deal: A Designer Bustier Zipper Dress For A Fifth Of The Cost!

imageAs an obsessive bargain shopper (I rarely go a week without at least stepping foot into a Forever 21), I’ve developed a pretty keen eye for spotting designer look-alikes for less, not only at super-cheap stores that are known for popping out runway replicas, but on the racks of mid-range contemporary stores like Bebe too! For example, this Knit Bustier Full Zip Dress at Bebe touts a reasonable $89 price tag, but in comparison to its designer twinzie, this Lisa Marie Fernandez “Leigh” Dress ($425), it’s a total steal! True, LMF’s is a little more structurally body-con with its neoprene fabric, but quite frankly I think Bebe’s is more flattering with its banded detail and breathable fabric (not to mention more forgiving after a batch of holiday cookies)!

Hot In The Hive: Estee Lauder Pleasures Glimmering Take-out Solid Fragrance

imageAll I want for Christmas is … something shining, sparkling, portable and it would be great if it smelled deliciously feminine too. Estee Lauder must have seen my wishlist because they’re back with their gorgeously packaged solid perfumes. The Glimmering Take-Out Compact is a cute gold compact in the shape of a take-out carton, complete with mini gold chopsticks and overflowing with dazzling jewels. As if the beautiful design wasn’t enough, it houses Estee Lauder’s popular and classic scent, Pleasures, in solid fragrance form. Dazzlingly eye-catching, it’s small enough to throw into a tote of purse, or leave it at home to brighten up a dresser or bathroom counter, but holds enough fragrant solid scent to last a long while. It makes a wonderful gift for a loved one, or as the perfect holiday scent for yourself!

Price: $89.00
Who Found It: idabone was first to add the Estee Lauder Glimmering Take-out Solid Fragrance Compact to the Hive.