JC Swift, Your Style Cultivator

Whether you are looking for a way to shine during Thanksgiving dinner, or stocking stuffers ideas- Bobbi Brown is the way to go. My friend at Bobbi Brown gave me insight into her favorite new products. For day to day glamour, try the “Tube Tint Trio”. I have my eye on the “Black Plum Deluxe Beauty Trunk”- such a wonderful way to stay organized!

Bobbi Brown Tube Tint Trio: $28

Bobbi Brown Plum Deluxe Trunk: $500

Image Credit: metmuseum.org

As the weather turns colder, museums offer us a warm environment to enjoy all kinds of landscapes. The Metropolitan Museum of Art currently features an exhibition by 1950′s photographer Robert Frank. Robert Frank’s work was initially criticized- but he soon became known as a master of street photography. ”Looking In: Robert Frank’s The Americans“ documents Frank’s 1955-56 road trip across the U.S., and has received a lot of attention from bloggers.

Other noteworthy NYC museums include the Museum of the City of New York, the Bronx Museum of the Arts and The Paley Center for Media.

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Looking good for both men and women starts with excellent grooming. A great site for male grooming is Men’s Health, offering an extensive list of grooming products and suggestions for pulling it all together. Beauty products for women are not as hard to come by- often it’s more about narrowing down one’s wish list. Beauty Brains is an excellent resource to help sort through all the hype. If you want products that work just as well for men and women, check out Malin + Getz as featured above.

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Image Credit: Band of Outsiders

This autumn it’s time to get back to work. I noticed a resurgence of jackets during Paris Fashion Week– notably menswear appropriated as women’s fashion.

You can reinvent an old staple by dressing up any black blazer, or try an oversized version like the one from Band of Outsiders for cool and confident style. Worn with a scarf, blazers exude Parisian chic.

Find your fall trends cheat sheet on Style.com and the Huffington Post.

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Image Credit: Ralph Lauren.com

Ralph Lauren has a great way to indulge one’s inner child while supporting a worthy cause. The “Paint Your Own Polo” kit lets children decorate their own polo shirts– kind of like tie dye with a modern twist. Made for ages six and up, the kit comes with paintbrushes, paint, stamps– and, of course, a classic Ralph Lauren polo. All proceeds from the $50 kit support the Pediatric Art Program at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. A great birthday party idea, or simply a creative medium that beats the living room wall! Find it on the Ralph Lauren website.

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Image Credit: Photobucket User Ickeicke

When you wake up to grey skies and the sound of rain…you can’t help but to feel a bit blue…Trekking into the city for your 9-5? I can’t think of anything worse than starting off the day with cold, wet feet. That’s why investing in a solid umbrella and rain boots is MUST. Lucky for us,  we’ve got lots of options to look good while splashing in puddles (or doing our best to avoid them)!

Our favorites are stylish, versatile, and will definitely last you for longer than one rainy season.

Boots:

Marc By Marc Jacobs Faux Lace-Up Rain Boots

Sperry Topsider Women’s Pelican Tall Boot Lug

Umbrellas:

Moschino auto black umbrella

Marc Jacobs Standard Miss Marc Umbrella

Lulu Guinness Icon Scatter print superslim umbrella

Moma store’s Sky Umbrella by Tibor Kalman

boot: Marc by Marc Jacobs

umbrella: Lulu Guinness

Thrifty fashion enthusiasts know that wardrobe mileage depends on keeping a few key classics on hand. This season, I’ have introduced a few new crucial pieces that have slowly become the cornerstone of most outfits I put together. An above-the-knee trench coat always looks smart (and you’’ll feel even smarter come winter if yours has a removable liner!) Banana Republic has both lightweight and wool versions. And when I’m feeling low-key, flats are a great way to keep things feminine and elegant. Buttons and buckles like the ones featured by Matiko spice up the delicate look of ballet flats.

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Image Credit: treehugger.com

When time is of the essence, a stylish watch is essential. Cell phones and PDAs may have replaced watches as the timepiece of choice, but they won’t complete an outfit like a classic watch can. Take a peek at Watchismo for a wide selection of both new and vintage time navigators. For a more refined selection, head over to Watchsonnet.com, featuring brands such as Tag Heuer and Luminox.

You might also catch a splash of color this fall on the wrists of those who are ahead of their time. Bright, oversized, and multifunctional are buzzwords when it comes to choosing a timepiece. Fossil and Spiegel both feature lightweight designs in bold primary colors. I love a look that breaks up fall’s earth-toned monotony without being seasonally irreverent.

X JC Swift for SPROUTINGEDGE.COM