Emerald City :: monochrome Thanksgiving outfit + craft

Let's talk turkey, Thanksgiving is a holiday of food, family, and comfort. The goal is to be comfy and relaxed while indulging in pie slice after pie slice. However, there's also a need for style. Think about it, Thanksgiving is a social holiday so chances are you'll be surrounded by others, which means you naturally want to look your best. This look was inspired by Thanksgiving with all of these factors in mind; it's a feel-good outfit that's polished and fashionable while allowing for much needed comfort, perfectly suitable for endless trips back to the kitchen for more.

A monochromatic look is striking in any color, but I chose emerald because of it's neutrality and magical gift of looking amazing on anyone. It's also just a fun color to wear in the fall because it contrasts the vibrant red and orange leaves in a beautiful way. 

 

To add some spice to my look, I chose flashy footwear; it'd be too easy (and boring) to wear nude or black pumps. Silver is a neutral of its own, and with a pointed python toe, these beauties are a complete fashion win. Plus, the metallic tone truly compliments a monochrome backdrop. 

Although my heels may be dramatic, this necklace is really the centerpiece of my look. It pulls all the other pieces of my outfit together and elegantly breaks up my sea of green. 

I have been all about this type of pant lately. Ankle pants are the new 'it' item to own and it's so easy to see why. They're beyond flattering and they hit at just the right point on your ankle. They look great cuffed (that's how I style them with booties), and most importantly, they highlight your fierce footwear!  

My H&M hat adds an essential element to this outfit. Without it I feel like something's missing; it's a great finishing touch! And my earrings make a statement without being over the top. They're the perfect companion to such a powerful necklace. 

How gorgeous is this fall floral arrangement? Forget the cornucopia, this is the ideal centerpiece for any Thanksgiving table. I love that it's unique and fresh, the flowers are 100% real and so is the pumpkin they're arranged in. Talk about creative and festive! My very talented roommate, Heather, made this beauty and below she shares her floral arranging tips and how you can make a totally unique centerpiece of your own (or even order an original from her). 

In Heather's own words: "Flower Arranging is all about using your own creativity and style to create a unique piece. I love creating arrangements for special occasions such as holidays, birthdays, or when my apartment needs something special. It may seem complicated and daunting, but with most things, the more you practice, the better you become and your eye becomes trained on what looks best. Below are some quick tips if you want to give flower arranging a try. It is a fun way to let your self be creative, and your friends and family will love them!"

Tip 1- Buying the Flowers: Flowers can be really expensive, so if you are a newcomer to flower arranging, try going to a grocery store to pick out a bouquet that has a variety of flowers. Whole Foods has beautiful seasonal bouquets that offer 5 or 6 different types of flowers. This way you are spending $10-15 on one bouquet, rather than a more expensive one from a specialized store. If you live by a farmers market, try searching there for flowers, usually they offer great prices for many different types.

Tip 2- Container: When creating an arrangement, I like to put my flowers in a fun container rather than just a vase, especially if you are giving it as a gift. As you can see from the pictures, I used pumpkins and squashes for a Thanksgiving table setting and décor. This is where you can put your own style into the creations. For the summer, I have used plastic margarita glasses, pineapples, and watering cans. Walk around a craft store (I go to Michaels often) and see what pops out at you, but don’t forget, it must be water resistant or else it will leak!

Tip 3- Floral Foam: This is the secret to flower arranging! Floral Foam is a green spongy foam that you place inside of your container. This foam is necessary as it prolongs the life of the flowers, and it holds the flowers in place.

 Here is how it works: I buy the foam (usually in a rectangle or ball shape) from Michaels, make sure it is Oasis Wet Floral Foam, not dry Floral Foam. I fill up a large bucket or bowl with cold water, and then I place the foam in the water. The foam will absorb the water like a sponge, and I let it sit for as long as a day (in a rush, 30 minutes to an hour will do the trick). Once soaked, I take it out, it will be heavy now, and I cut it with a knife to fit whatever container I am using. For the pumpkin, I used part of a rectangle block and placed it right into the pumpkin, and then cut smaller pieces of Floral Foam to fill in the gaps.

Tip 4- Arranging: Here is the fun part! When arranging, I always start from the middle of an arrangement and work my way out. I make the center flower the tallest and then decrease the height as I progress out. As I work on my arrangement, I constantly rotate it to make sure it looks good from every angle, especially if the arrangement is going to be on a table where it is visible from all sides. If you don’t like how a flower looks, the great thing is you can easily pull it out of the Floral Foam and place it somewhere else. I try to put different colored flowers next to each other as this makes the arrangement more vibrant. Near the end of an arrangement, I check to make sure no green Floral Foam is visible, and I usually add a little extra decoration, such as the scarecrow in the picture, or a lemon in the summertime, to put the finishing touch on it!

 Photos by Ryan Kathleen Greene 

[top: Ann Taylor // pants: Ann Taylor // heels: Ivanka Trump (I also love this pair) // hat: H&M (similar here) // purse: Michael Kors (super similar one here) // necklace: R.J. Graziano (I also like this one) // earrings: R.J. Graziano (identical ones here) // watch: Fossil // heart tag charm bracelet: Tiffany & Co. // amethyst bangle: David Yurman] 

As you can see, Heather is super talented. And yes, it is wonderful having her as a roommate because our apartment is often filled with gorgeous flowers! I've only shared her most recent fall/Thanksgiving designs here, but she creates a variety of arrangements for all occasions. If you like what you see, Heather offers her services to fellow New Yorkers. Email her at heatherjsandler@gmail.com for a unique centerpiece of your own. And trust me you guys, you want a unique centerpiece of your own ;)

Wishing everyone a fabulous Thanksgiving filled with food, family, and of course style. 

 SHOP ::