Economy of Style
A notebook on evolving trends, fashion sense and cents

These Top Beauty Products Make The Best Stocking Stuffers

Good things come in small packages! Am I right? Who doesn’t love opening up lots of tiny gifts? I especially like when those tiny gifts are practical and useful. And, what’s stocking-sized and more useful than beauty products? The beauty stocking stuffers in this gift guide are not only some of the top-rated beauty products of the year, they’re also staples in my personal beauty routine. I use them, I love them, and she will too.

Beauty Stocking Stuffers

beauty stocking stuffers

Monogram Stocking

1. Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara (waterproof version)

2. Kiss Pixie lashes | 3. Kiss lash glue | 4. Urban Decay Naked Cherry palette

5. Too Faced Born This Way concealer | 6. Fenty Beauty foundation

7. Urban Decay Vice lipstick (cherry) | 8. Fenty Beauty Stunna lip paint

9. Benefit Brow Contour Pro | 10. Pat McGrath liquid eyeliner

11. Charlotte Tilbury lipstick | 12. Urban Decay All Nighter Setting spray

13. Fenty Beauty Diamond Bomb

 

Bonus: Talking about top beauty products, enter to win the Entire NAKED CHERRY COLLECTION. For rules and to enter, click here. Read my review of the collection here.

A Guide To Holiday Shopping At The St. Louis Premium Outlets

This post is sponsored by the St. Louis Premium Outlets.

Last Week, I spent the day wrapping up my holiday shopping at the St. Louis Premium Outlets. This is my go-to outlet destination in St. Louis because it has over 90 designer and name brand stores, including some of my favorites like Kate Spade New York, J.Crew Factory, Michael Kors, and Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th.

Since I know this mall like the back of my hand, I’m sharing some of my top tips for maximizing your visits. And, since I found so many right-on-trend treasures on my last trip, I’m also sharing some of the top holiday finds (and deals) there right now.

What I’m Wearing from St. Louis Premium Outlets:

Free People burnout velvet top via Saks Off 5th, $44.99 (retail $98)

Michael Kors paperbag waist pants, $56 (retail $140)

Stuart Weitzman booties via Saks Off 5th, $143.99 (retail $575)

Earrings via J.Crew Factory, $19.80 (retail $49.50)

Total savings: $597.72

Guide to Holiday Shopping at the St. Louis Premium Outlets:

1. Join the Vip Shopper Club for FREE. Before you even visit the St. Louis Premium Outlets, join the free VIP Shopper Club. It’s literally your passport for deeper savings. Members of the club receive the latest news of year-round deals at the center. For example, from December 7 to 14, members will get early access to the Ultimate Holiday Outlet Sale. There will be gift guides with exclusive deals from an extensive list of retailers that won’t become available to everyone else until the 14th. First dibs to deals? I’m here for that.

2. Plan your visits. The St. Louis Premium Outlets, especially this time of year, gets busy. Savvy shoppers know where to go after all. Make your trips hassle-free by outlining the stores you’d like to visit and noting their locations. There are maps available at the center or you can explore the 3D interactive map online.

3. Check for events. There are fun events at the St. Louis Premium Outlets throughout the year. I saw Demi Lovato there last year. I’ve also attended a Teen Vogue runway event there. I hear that Santa and Mrs. Claus will be making special appearances on December 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 and 23 from 1-3pm.

St. Louis Premium Outlets

4. Grab those deals. The St. Louis Premium Outlets is one of my favorite places for finding designer deals. When I’m presented with a great shoppertunity, I grab it. For example, I’ve been wish-listing Stuart Weitzman footwear all year long. When I found a pair of Stuart Weitzman booties in my favorite color at Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th marked down from $575 to under $145, there was only one thing to do–Get ’em! So, I did.

I found my entire look at the St. Louis Premium Outlets and saved $600 by taking advantage of current deals there. Did I mention I saved $600? My earrings, part of larger set, are 60% off at J.Crew Factory (see more of my holiday finds from this store here). The fabulous paperbag waist pants are from Michael Kors and are 60% off. Just so you know, bags and accessories are 70% off at Michael Kors right now. My festive holiday top by Free People is clearance-priced (58% off) at Saks Off 5th.

Want to see even more fabulous holiday finds at the St. Louis Premium Outlets? I’m going to be re-sharing favorites in my Instagram Stories today.

3 Easy Ways Fashionistas Can Participate in #GivingTuesday

#GivingTuesday, celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, is a day to encourage giving and philanthropy. This movement started only 6 years ago but has grown immensely because of the power of social media. There are many ways to participate and many causes to get behind. For more information, visit GivingTuesday.org. To make it super easy for we fashion enthusiasts, I thought it would be cool to highlight a few fashion-related ways to give.

#GivingTuesday

Donate Clothing to Charity-based Thrift Stores

As a fashion blogger, I receive more clothing than I need, so I tend to cycle items out of my closet often. When I do that, I take my things to St. Vincent de Paul. Their thrift stores make donated goods available for free or at a low cost to its shoppers. And, the revenues raised support important programs, including rent, food, and utility assistance to people with low incomes. Unlike similar organizations, St. Vincent de Paul spends over 90% of its budget on programming.

Donate to a Coat Drive

That great coat we never wear could give the gift of warmth to someone who doesn’t have a coat this winter. Many organizations are making it easy by facilitating coat drives. Even retailers are getting involved. J.Crew stores across the country are hosting the My Crew Gives Warmth coat drive. Burlington stores are hosting the Warm Coats & Warm Hearts Drives. To locate coat drives near you or for help organizing one, visit One Warm Coat.

Donate to a Women’s Shelter

I donated my entire collection of nail polishes (most of which I had never used) as well as some polish removers and cotton balls to a shelter with teenage girls recently. They were so appreciative and held a spa day for the girls. I was in turn moved and encouraged to do more. Items we could easily take for granted, like feminine hygiene products, makeup, and bras are in high demand in many women’s shelters.

Related to #GivingTuesday: 4 Ways to Give Thoughtfully

3 Ways To Guarantee Your Holiday Shopping Is Smart And Hassle-Free

Black Friday. Cyber Monday. Buy Now. Anyone else feel overwhelmed by all the offers of must-have deals this time of year? You can’t escape them. Ads are everywhere, from email to television to social media. The bargains this time of year can certainly offer a huge financial opportunity, but they can also lead to financial mistakes. In attempt to approach this holiday season smartly and to make it stress-free, I’m doing 3 simple things. I’m sharing them today.

Turtleneck (also love this) | Jacket (similar) | Jeans | Shoes (30% off today) | Lip

Smart Holiday Shopping

Smart Holiday Shopping
1. Plan ahead

Make a list. At the beginning of the holiday season, I made a personal wish list of items. It includes merchandise that fills a specific need (or want in some cases) in my life or someone else’s. And, I’ve been sticking to it. Over the big holiday shopping weekend, I took advantage of 2 sales that made it possible for me to cross a couple items off that list at a discount. Furthermore, shopping with a strict shopping list prevented me from being lured into buying other stuff just because it was 60% off.

2. Comparison Shop In-Store And Online

The good thing about the shopping season is everyone is competing to get your dollars. So, retailers are willing to slash prices, match prices, and adjust prices more than ever. Comparison shopping ensures you’re getting the best prices. I’ve written about an app that could make this process easier by making sure you have the best available coupons/offers for your favorite retailer (read more here).

3. Strategize Shopping Trips

Aimlessly wandering through a mall or shopping district can be overwhelming and exhausting. So many stores, so many offers, so many people! Argh. These days, I try to go shopping with a strategy, for example, I’m going into Sephora to pick up a new brow pencil or I’m heading into J.Crew Factory to pick up the red City Coat. That’s it. Having a mission takes the stress out of shopping and keeps me focused.

Curious about what I shopped during the holiday weekend? I bought the Tory Burch Minnie Travel Flats in King Cobra that I’m wearing and some Tory Burch snake print flip flops. Both items are 30% off (sale ends today). I also bought my hubby a Samsonite hardside luggage set (this 20″ bag and this 24″ bag). The Thanksgiving sale prices were even better than they are right now.

How are you managing holiday shopping this season?

A Big Holiday Sale You Can Shop Right Now

There are so many giftables (for others or for yourself) at Tory Burch right now. From shoes with unique details to clothing with fabulous prints, the holiday collection at Tory Burch is stunning. Want to know what else? The holiday sale at Tory Burch has started early. Almost everything at the store is 30% off  (with a minimum purchase of $250) right now. Use the code THANKS. If there’s something you’ve had your eye on, this is the time to move. Here are a few items I’ve been online admiring.

Tory Burch Holiday Sale

Cap-toe ballet flats | Leopard print bag | Snakeskin bag | Suede booties

Logo charm studs | Candle set | Snake print travel flats

Shop more Tory Burch holiday sale favorites:
Check out my fashionista-approved holiday gift guide