'All Hallowed Spirit'

Get in the Halloween spirit

“A French poodle,” I said. I gave my friend a dead-pan stare and continued, “I bought a bright pink wig and I’ll probably wear a pink leotard and tights with a dog collar.”

“Well, that’s original,” my friend replied with a furrowed brow.

By now, I was accustomed to the puzzled looks. Halloween has always been my favorite holiday and with the costumes (I am a fashion stylist, who doesn’t like dressing up?), pumpkin carving, haunted house visits, hayrides and decorations, I always managed to excessively plan my Halloween activities. Concepts for the Halloween costume might form as early as a year in advance.

I have my itinerary set this weekend with plans to scout Halloween stores for key costume accessories. (Actually, I plan on creating two Halloween costumes: one for both Friday and Saturday night0

To be checked off my list are also supplies for do-it-yourself Halloween decorating projects for a group of seniors at a local nursing home that I visit every Sunday. Each year, the seniors create their own crafts to decorate the main dining room for the annual Halloween party. This year is no exception.

Here are some ideas that I’ve selected for my seniors to do:

• Grab a set of inexpensive orange paper lanterns from the dollar or party store. Cut out the eyes, noses, mouths and stems out of construction paper. Have the seniors glue the cutouts on the lantern with glue dots to create a Jack-O’-Lantern. String some fish wire through the lantern (not the stem) and attach an ornament hook if you want to hang.

• Create an eerie environment by creating black flower bouquets from sheets of tissue paper. Bend an 18-inch-long piece of floral wire in half. Wrap double-sided tape around bent end five times. Hold a tip of the streamer, still attached to its roll, against the tip of the taped wire. Then wrap the streamer loosely around the wire up to five times, enough to create a bud. As you roll, pink the bottom edge of the streamer. Continue wrapping, but gather the rest of the streamer around the base of the flower base so petals appear to fan out. Cut and secure the flower with floral tape to finish.

*For more of my Halloween decorating tips, read my next post.

Halloween shopping tip:

Shop the Spooktacular Halloween Sale Now!

-S. Gonzalez

'Join the Club'

Club Monaco capsule collection for Shopbop

Have a hankering for tailored wool blazers, chiffon tank tops and shearling jackets? Join the club.

For a limited time only, Club Monaco is testing the e-commerce waters with a 30-piece fall and holiday capsule collection at Shopbop. Launched Thursday, the hand-picked collection includes faux fur jackets, pleated trousers, wool shorts and fedora hats.

As the perennial online shopper, I clicked on the Shopbop banner that read “Club Monaco 7 Looks” to see the collection for myself. A majority of the styles can be found at the physical store locations, much to my satisfication, seeing as Club Monaco does not have an e-commerce site of its own.

“What did you think of the online collection?” the Club Monaco store manager asked me. I found myself at the store Thursday in a panic, looking for a blouse to match my newly-bought Pencey skirt for an upcoming dinner party. Club Monaco, with its easy separates in modern cuts, sounded like the best stop for a solid quality knit top at an affordable price point.

Look 2

“I was hoping to see more apparel is the capsule collection,” I told the gamine manager, who was appropriately dressed in a white blouse and low-slung chinos from Club Monaco. Of course, it would not be smart business and merchandise planning to create a large collection that outperforms and outshines its physical store locations.

But here’s hoping the trial collection sells well and Club Monaco finally decides open its own e-commerce store. (It’s about time, guys, really.)

Look 3

Here are some of my favorite styles from the collection:

Look 1: For casual chic, a fedora hat and brogues are this season’s essential accessories. Paired here with a button-down shirt and shorts, this is a perfect fall look for those warmer October days. Slip into tights and a wool petticoat in case it gets chilly.

Look 2: Appear like you just rifled through your boyfriend’s wardrobe by combining gents tailoring with easy accessories. Seen here: a blazer teamed with a military green scarf, Converse sneakers and knee-high flannel socks.

Look 3: Besides taking a stab at the knee-high look, this plaid jacket with short sleeves looks both incredibly warm and stylish. Don’t be surprised if this fall must-have winds up in my closet to keep my recent buys from Club Monaco some company.

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of fashionologie.com

'Bag Lady'

Rebecca Minkoff

Everyone in fashion has seen the “It” bag: the sleek leather handbag spotted in a spectrum of colors perfect for the morning after a night of unspoken fun. “The Morning After Bag” has in fact been caught on the arm of various celebutantes, from Jessica Szohr to Rachel Bilson and Lindsay Lohan.

Yet little is known about Rebecca Minkoff and her eponymous line of handbags and apparel. Daily Candy takes a closer look at the life of Minkoff in an exclusive video interview.

Why we love her:

Playful, girly and with a slight edge, Rebecca Minkoff’s flair for style resonates with many women looking for quality apparel and accessories that are cool, yet not over-the-top. Even five years after the birth of “The Morning After Bag,” the iconic bag is still sold out in stores, now available in new fabrics and with interesting hardware.

How she started:

The California native has long been sewing and designing, eventually moving to New York after graduation. But Minkoff, who specialized in apparel, didn’t branch out into handbags until close friend and celebrity Jenna Elfman (“Darma and Greg”) asked her to design a handbag for her next film. Another good friend did a write-up on the bag, generating interest in the line.

"The Morning After Bag" version

What you will find:

A day-to-night handbag collection in colors from eye-popping to classic, in addition to a ready-to-wear collection launched back in 2009.

The coolest bag lady in town

Who’s got the bag:

Find a Rebecca Minkoff handbag worn by model Agyness Deyn, actresses Lauren Conrad, Keira Knightly, Reese Witherspoon. The enterprising designer has appeared on “Good Morning American” and “Fox Business News.” She was honored in 2009 by New York Moves Power Women for her entrepreneurial spirit and success in fashion.

What’s next:

Although not officially announced, Minkoff has openly said that in the future she would like to launch a shoe line. In addition to a shoe line, expanding her business overseas and opening her own store locations in international global markets are all eventual goals for the designer.

Where to find:

Shop Rebecca Minkoff bags and apparel at Bloomingdale’s, Shopbop, Searle, and Anthropologie among others.

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of rebeccaminkoff.com; bagbliss.com; the dailyobsession.net

'New World of Savings'

Christopher Columbus discovered the New World in 1492, and now you are about to discover all kinds of promotions at Décor Innovation.

From now until Oct. 19, enjoy buy one, get one free deals and up to 50 percent off on select merchandise like:

Crushed voile up close

Summer may have ended, but that doesn’t mean your window dressings have to change to drab and sad. Light, summery fabrics can be used in the home all season long with the right combination of colors and textiles. This voile set of curtains is sheer with a crushed effect, which pairs nicely with a set of solid blackout curtains. And now, buy one set and get the other free. Find whichever color suits your décor, whether it be a cool blue or a warm burgundy voile. This style is soft, sophisticated and season-less.

Embossed curtain texture

Update an entire room with half the effort. Embossed and dotted blackout curtains are now 50 percent off. These quality curtain styles will better insulate the home as temperatures being to drop and drone out outside noise thanks to its thickness. These curtains, with its tailored look, make a wonderful addition to a quiet home office or study where comfort is welcome. Have your pick in three different shades: beige, navy and burgundy.

Kids room with 84" blackout curtains

The kids are back in school and so has the need to stick to that curfew. This is no easy homework assignment for parents. Making sure your children get a good night’s rest is essential to their health and success in school. Well, now there is a way to make sure your children get quality sleep. Save 30 percent off a set of blackout curtains, available in bright solid colors like purple, pink and blue. The curtains will keep out outside noises, while also keeping the room warm. From shorter 84” curtains in a nursery to 108” curtains for large windows, Décor Innovation has what you need.

Discover a whole new world of savings at Décor Innovation. Until Oct. 29, know how Columbus must have felt when he realized that he hadn’t found a new route to India. He had found something way better.

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of decorinnovation.com

'Keeping abreast this month'

Everyone from NFL football players to 13-year-old bloggers are donning pink this month in honor of Breast Cancer Month. Whether it be wearing pink cleats on the field or fixing a large pink raffia bow on the top of your head, you too can show your commitment to the fight against cancer.

The international health campaign celebrates 25 years of raising awareness and raising funds for cancer research. This October, outfit yourself and home in as much pink and support the cause:

• Shoulder some money to support breast cancer research with an eco-friendly tote from Ralph Lauren. It is simplistic in its design, with only a pink polo player printed at the center of the bag. The organic shopper costs $10 at ralphlauren.com and 100 percent of the proceeds benefits Ralph Lauren’s Pink Pony Fund for Cancer and Prevention.

Simply Vera Vera Wang Umbrella

• Fight the rain and breast cancer with an all-over pink floral print umbrella (above) by Vera Wang. This is another pleasant item in which 100 percent of profit will go towards breast cancer research. The Simply Vera Vera Wang Umbrella is $5 at Kohl’s.

Charm bracelet by Jay Strongwater

• Know that your hairstyle not only looks good but has done its part to give back to the community thanks to a special Power of the Pink Iconic Hair Styler by Conair. The pink blow-dryer is an adorable home accessory that will be put to good use. Conair has promised to donate a minimum of $100,000 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

• Wear your commitment to breast cancer research on your sleeve with a classic gold charm bracelet (middle) by Jay Strongwater. Five percent of sales from the Jay Strongwater Breast Cancer Research Foundation Charm Bracelet, $95, goes towards the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Available at Saks Fifth Avenue.

Tory Burch rain boots

• Step up your style in a pair of logo Tory Burch boots (above) in a startling pink color combination. The shiny Limited Edition Rain Boot, $150, is part of Tory Burch’s pledge to donate 15 percent of its sales to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Shop Tory Burch online to find this crowd pleaser.

• Remind your guests of this very important month by incorporating pink accents in the home. Dress your windows in a crushed voile curtain in pink from Décor Innovation. The light fabric allows sunlight to filter into the room and its texture adds further appeal. The grommet curtain slides easily, unlike other curtains with nubby ruches that get caught along the curtain rod.

What do you plan to do this October for Breast Cancer Month?

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of stylecaster.com and decorinnovation.com