CHIC THANKSGIVING ENTERTAINING

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Thanksgiving is a week away and we can’t wait to tuck into all the goodies—mashed potatoes drowning in gravy, whip-topped pumpkin pie, and don’t get us started on all the delicious Black Friday sales! If you’re playing hostess with the mostess this year, we know things can get crazy in the kitchen (a tip: Tastespotting is an absolute gem for recipes), which is why we’ve made a list of easy ways to entertain with style. Our tips are quick, chic and pack major punch, so guests leave with a lasting impression while you can focus your energy on more important things, like that big bird in the oven.

COCKTAILS, ANYONE?


Iomoi Double Elephants Tray, $250

Greet friends & family with a très chic tray of cocktails as soon as they arrive to make them feel at ease. Iomoi makes these colorful Lucite confections (enjoy free shipping with code NMFALL) which you can personalize with your family’s name or initials.

PRE-DINNER WARMUP


Dean & Deluca classic hors d’oeuvres, $70 for 46 pieces 

Skip fussy homemade appetizers and serve up light, ready-made bites to hold guests over till dinner. Dean & Deluca’s Classic Hors D’oeuvres collection includes a yummy mix of crowd favorites, such as crab cakes and mini quiches. They ship frozen overnight, so all you have to do is pop in the oven a few minutes before arrivals.

TURN UP THE VOLUME


iTunes Thanksgiving Dinner Essentials, $28.95 for 25 songs

Set a festive vibe with the perfect dinner playlist. You can download ITunes’ Thanksgiving Dinner songs, which includes a warm mix of Michael Buble, Keith Urban and Bing Crosby.

THE SIDESHOW


Williams-Sonoma Three-Tiered oven rack, $22

Don’t let side dishes get cold while your turkey hogs the oven. Williams-Sonoma’s three-tiered rack (save 15% on all tabletop items with code TABLETOP15) maximizes space so you can serve warm, fresh-from-the-oven fare come showtime.

HAVE A SLICE (OR TWO)


Horchow Turkey Cake Stand, $76

Put that pecan pie you slaved over on a pretty pedestal, such as this season-perfect turkey cakestand from Horchow (take an extra 30% off for Friends & Family), sure to spark conversation during the dessert course.

DRESS THE PART


BCBG Runway Adelaide dress, $314

Lastly, don’t forget to dress up—look perfectly polished while maximizing comfort in a fluid floor-length dress, such as this one by BCBG Runway (get free three-day shipping!).  Colorblocking and pleats keep the look chic, while the relaxed fit and light-as-air fabric feels like you’re wearing pajamas.

A New Look for Shopilly

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As the seasons change, so do we. Log into your account, and you’ll notice that we’ve given Shopilly a bit of a makeover to provide you with an even more visual, seamless shopping experience this holiday season. Take a look at some of the changes we’ve made:

Navigation

Now you can access Window Shop, Inbox, Brands and My Stuff from the top bar on any Shopilly page. The top bar is also where you can navigate to the Settings, provide us with feedback, read up on some FAQs or log out. Just look for your Shopilly ID on the right side of the bar and click on it to view your navigation options.

Include Your Friends
Can’t wait to tell someone when you find a great deal? Invite your friends to discover your best-kept shopping secret by clicking on “Invite Friends” in the top bar.

And, when you’re window-shopping and find a deal you like or you think a friend will like, you can easily share it via Facebook or Twitter. Just mouse over the deal to reveal the sharing buttons. How’s that for being a good friend?

Customized Editor’s Picks

That’s right, the Shopilly editors are hard at work hand-selecting deals for you. You’ll find the Editor’s Picks in Window Shop, next to My Brands and Other Brands. The picks are updated daily, so check back every day!

Link More Email Addresses
You told us that you love the email import feature so much that you want to be able to link more email addresses. Well, we’ve listened – introducing: the ability to link more email addresses to your Shopilly ID! Simply visit the Settings and click on Email Import to link additional email addresses.

Contact Us
Tell us, how did we do? We’d love to hear your feedback about these recent changes. And, as always, stay tuned for even more Shopilly updates and improvements.

Happy shopping!

SHOP IT: WINTER COATS

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Baby, it’s cold outside! In light of the Nor’easter blustering through New York City, not to mention snowstorm Brutus making his way west, it’s time — in most of the country — to bundle up in your warmest winter threads. And with all the pre-holiday specials going on, there’s no better time than now to invest in a chic winter jacket. After all, it’s the first thing people notice with your outfit, plus if you find the right one, you’re sure to keep it for many more seasons to come. Read on for our roundup of the season’s warmest, most winsome offerings.

BEST NYLON PUFFER
 
   

If you’re looking for a plush down-filled jacket that won’t make you feel like you’re wearing a sleeping bag, Victoria’s Secret’s knit collar coat (on sale for $126, use code FALL12 to receive $15 off) is cinched at the waist to flatter your figure, and comes with a built-in knit scarf to keep you extra cozy. Another great option is DKNY’s opera coat ($495) cut in a relaxed, robe-like silhouette and perfect to pair with leggings or skinny jeans. As for our favorite, most luxurious non-puffy puffer? Burberry Brit’s down trench coat ($995, use code NOVGV to score a free Neiman Marcus gift card), featuring belted cuffs, rain flaps and a chic double-breasted silhouette. (This one’s a keeper.)

BEST BRIGHTS
     
Perk up your look on even the coldest day with a cheerful pop of color. We love how Banana Republic’s sunny yellow jacket ($225, take 30% off with code BRSAVE30) instantly boosts our mood. Or go pretty in pink with J.Crew’s sweet coat ($325, take 25% off + free shipping using code OURTREAT), lined with special Thinsulate to keep you extra toasty. Asos’ darling cobalt blue design ($92.35), complete with a cute hood, is sure to wake up winter doldrums.

BEST (FAUX) FUR-TRIMMED
   

For the perfect day to dinner jacket, opt for luxurious faux fur flourishes, such as Victoria’s Secret’s cherry red topper ($131) which has a removable collar, or Rachel Zoe’s Trish peacoat ($404, get free shipping) which looks equally chic over office outfits and cocktail party ensembles. Or go all out in Kate Spade New York’s Allie coat ($898), crafted in season-perfect pumpkin with a generous plush trim.

BEST LIGHTWEIGHT

As for those of us living in the warmer parts of the country, there’s no real need for a  heavy-duty jacket, of course. But you can still bundle up on our chillier nights in Rachel Roy’s perfect throw-on-and-go sweater coat ($189) For something a bit more daring, try Via Spiga’s sleek black cape ($100, marked down from $170) to wear with skinny jeans and heels, or stick to something classic with BCBG’s khaki trench ($398, enjoy free 3-day shipping) to wear with just about everything you own.

Essentials for Hosting an Election Night Watch Party

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Once every four years, politics is granted the same amount of excitement as a Super Bowl – and for good reason, as presidential candidates duke it out in a winner-takes-all contest on the national stage.

Tomorrow night, the world will be watching as the results come pouring in for the 2012 presidential election. With early polls showing that this election could go to either party, you won’t want to miss out on all of the action. Gather your good friends and these essentials for an election night watch party:

  • Festive decorations: No watch party is complete without decorations like tissue patriotic bunting or mini American flags.
  • State result tracker: Don’t lose track of the voting results – note them on a whiteboard or mark them on a map in real-time.
  • Patriotic-themed food: Celebrate American democracy with some red, white and blue treats. Serve them on colored plates, like these Sur La Table Terracotta Solid Tapas Plates, and check out this PBS feature for patriotic food ideas.
  • Drinks: Whip up some festive cocktails like red cosmos and blue martinis to accompany your patriotic-themed food. And to help your guests party into the wee hours of the morning, good coffee is a necessity – especially if this election is as close as predicted. Bouchon Bakery House Blend Coffee is a good pick (available via Williams Sonoma).
  • Support apparel: Wear your support with pride – assuming that all of the guests at your party have the same views. You wouldn’t want your party to turn into (yet another) heated debate, after all! Amazon.com has plenty of options for Obama supporters, Romney supporters…and everyone in between.
         

Photo credits: williams-sonoma.com, amazon.com

Running Gear Fit for a Marathoner

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In six short days, 47,000 runners will gather at Ford Wadsworth, Staten Island, and prepare to run 26.2 miles through the five boroughs of New York City. The ING New York City Marathon is one of the largest marathons in the world, and it’s hard not to get caught up in the excitement as runners from all over the world gather to crank out the miles.

In the spirit of the marathon, let’s take a look at the latest gear for the Fall to Winter running season. Whether you’re an avid runner, casual runner or aspiring runner, here are five pieces that will keep you warm on those crisp morning runs:

  1. Lululemon Runder Under Pant, $92. These running tights are designed with a runner’s needs in mind. The waistband has two gel pockets for on-the-go fuel, flat seams provide relief from chafing, and reflective piping inside the ankle cuff keeps you visible on early morning or late night runs.
  2. Under Armour Men’s Coldgear Longsleeve Compression Crew, $49.99. Cold weather calls for layers, and this compression crew can serve as a solid base layer. The compression fit provides enhanced muscle support, and the dual-layer fabric features a cozy, brushed interior and a fast-drying exterior.
  3. The North Face Handheld Hydrator, $28. It’s easy to forget to hydrate properly when you can see your breath in the air, but dehydration is dangerous, even when you hardly break a sweat during your run. Carry this handheld water bottle with you on your runs — not only does it hold 20 ounces of water, but the convenient zip pocket can hold your keys, gels or emergency cash.
  4. Nike Lightweight Wool Running Hat, $22. Keep your noggin warm with this Dri-FIT hat, which does double duty by locking in heat but sicking away sweat. Additionally, reflective details help make you visible even in dim conditions.
  5. Smartwool PhD Running Ultra Light Micro Socks, $47 for a 3-pack (via Zappos.com). Runners agree that these Smartwool socks provide just the right amount of cushion for long runs, without feeling bulky. Although the socks are ultra light, the SmartWool performs well under all weather conditions, so you can tackle cold, wet runs and humid, sticky runs with the same pair.

Photo credits: shop.lululemon.com, thenorthface.com, zappos.com

A Look at Maison Martin Margiela for H&M

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It’s finally here…well not exactly, but today we got to take a look at the Marison Martin Margiela collaboration with H&M.  Here’s a glimpse at some of the amazing pieces.  In Stores Nov 13th.

You can see the entire lookbook here.  And pics of who wore what to the fabulous launch party here.

Don’t forget to sign-up for the Sweepstakes to Win a Trip to New York and go to an exclusive Maison Martin Margiela for H&M event on November 14th!  Click here for details!

Kate Spade Saturday

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Kate Spade, one of my favorite brands, will be launching a new line called Saturday. I’m so curious to see what this ‘Saturday’ is all about. I’m guessing it will be super chic, casual weekend garb and I can’t wait to see it.  Then I read the small print, it won’t be available until SPRING 2013!?  After a tiny pause, I signed up at Saturday.com to be in the know (6 months in advance!) realizing that using my Shopilly email makes this stuff a no brainer.

Halloween for Procrastinators

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Halloween is right around the corner, and if you’re anything like me, you’ve waited until the very last moment to scrounge up a costume. Luckily, all it takes is a little creativity and a good deal or two to whip up an affordable, Halloween party-worthy costume. Whatever your reason for procrastinating on your costume hunt, Shopilly has a solution for you:

  1. I don’t want to pay a lot for a flimsy costume I’ll only wear once. This is where the beauty of DIY comes in. You can pull together a great costume at minimal cost by assembling the pieces yourself, which also allows you to strategically purchase pieces that you’ll continue wearing and using after the festivities are over. You may even already have pieces in your closet that you can integrate into your costume. Let’s take Little Red Riding Hood as an example. Start by layering a Fleece Cape by American Apparel over Forever 21‘s Flared Chambray Shirtdress.
             Complete your look with a wicker basket (psst — Linens ‘n Things is offering 20% off selected items until 10/23 with the coupon code Halloween20). Your costume will be instantly recognizable, and after Halloween is over, you’ll have a trendy cape to keep you warm throughout the winter, a versatile shirtdress to add to your closet, and a wicker basket to use for decoration or organizational purposes.
  2. I can’t come up with an original/funny/witty costume idea. Stop being so hard on yourself! Halloween is all about having fun, so don’t stress out about having the wittiest costume at the party. Amazon.com is a reliable source for a variety of costumes, available in a wide range of prices to fit your budget. If you’re lusting after the “most original costume” award, search for “Halloween costumes” on Amazon.com and sort the search results by “New and Bestselling” to get an idea of the most popular costumes. Then avoid purchasing these costumes — or just laugh about it when you bump into another Flo the Progressive Insurance Girl at the party.
  3. I hate dressing up. Who says you have to go all-out on Halloween? Even a little creative face paint can be transformational. A quick web search for “Halloween makeup tutorials” returns a bevy of tutorial videos — one of my favorites is this zombie makeup tutorial. Once you’ve picked out a look, head over to Sephora to purchase the makeup you need to achieve the look. And just in time for Halloween, Sephora is giving you the opportunity to win a discount with its Spin To Win Friends & Family Sale!

Happy Halloween from Shopilly!

Photo credits: store.americanapparel.net, forever21.com, sephora.com