Stylish Standouts of '09

As we get closer to bidding adieu to 2009 and gear up to welcome 2010, we find ourselves reflecting on the past year...the good, the bad and the ugly. In terms of this year's trends in fashion, there are several we welcomed wholeheartedly, and a few that we tried desperately to forget (We just can't bring ourselves to warm up to Men's Skinny Jeans. Sorry.)

Luckily, there were plenty of fantastic fashion trends that we hope will stick around in the new year. Here are a few of our favs:

1. The Boyfriend Jean

2. Statement Jewelry

3. Military Jackets

4. Sequins (Preferably only at night though ladies...)

5. Exposed Zippers

6. The Jumpsuit (Although tricky...can be oh-so-chic)

Bring on the Booze!

It's no secret that we all tend to throw a few too many back around the holidays. Still trying to forget about your booze-fueled display at last year's office party huh? Well not to worry, because this year the team at 5s is arming you with tricks & tips to ensure you're just tipsy...not toppling over. During this year's festivities...focus on an old standby that never lets us down: Quality over quantity.Chances are you're not in college anymore....and even if you are, it's never cute to be the one at the party slinging back shots like your life depended on it! Rather, go for creative cocktails that combine good ingredients (Tip to avoiding a hangover ) that you can sip and savor. We've rounded up a few of our favorites courtesy of the Food Network, and of course....Martha. If you're hosting this year's get together, these are sure to impress. Going as a guest? Remember what we've talked about ;)



Pear & Cranberry Bellini

Ingredients:
1 cup pear nectar
1 cup cranberry juice cocktail
1 bottle Prosecco or other dry sparkling white wine



Directions:
In a small pitcher or large liquid measuring cup, combine pear nectar and cranberry juice cocktail. Pour 1/4 cup juice mixture into each of eight champagne glasses. Dividing evenly, top with Prosecco or other dry sparkling white wine.

Pear & Sparkling Cider Cocktail

Ingredients:
2 cups pear nectar, chilled
2 cups sparkling apple cider, chilled
2 cups seltzer, chilled
4 ounces (1/2 cup) bourbon whiskey, such as Knob Creek
1 Bosc pear, unpeeled, cored, and cut lengthwise into 8 wedges

Directions:
Stir together pear nectar, cider, seltzer, and whiskey in a pitcher. Divide pear wedges among glasses, and pour in cocktail. Serve immediately.

Poinsettia Cocktail


Ingredients:
1/4 cup vodka
1/4 cup Champagne
1/2 cup cranberry juice
Crushed ice
2 strips orange zest, each about 1/4-inch wide and 2 inches long

Directions:
Combine the vodka, Champagne and juice in a large-stemmed red wine glass. Add crushed ice and stir until the mixture is well chilled. Twist the orange strips over the glass, drop them in, and serve.

Cherry Gin-gria

Ingredients:
Ice cubes
2 ounces cherry syrup (recommended: Giammona)
2 ounces gin
5 to 6 ounces club soda
1 ounce red wine
Maraschino cherries
Fresh or frozen raspberries

Directions:
Fill a tall glass with ice cubes. Pour in the cherry syrup and the gin; stir to mix together. Lighten the drink with a generous splash of soda. Float a layer of red wine on top by pouring it over the back of a wide, flat spoon. (Don't worry if it doesn't float; it tastes great either way.) Drop a few maraschino cherries and raspberries into the glass. Drink.

The Twelve Gifts of Christmas

The countdown has begun, and whether you planned ahead this year and purchased all your gifts on Black Friday, or procrastinated (like we did) and are getting your gifts last minute, the thing on everyone's mind right now are gifts: what to give, who to give them to and what to get of course! No need to panic though, as the team at 5s have rounded up our Twelve Gifts of Christmas: A carefully selected list of gifts sure to please everyone in your life. From your boss to your boyfriend, there's something on here for everyone. Happy gifting!

For Your Boss: Stick to something classic and keep it professional. Personal items like candles or other home accents are better left chosen by those who know them best. Our suggestions: Luxury stationary like the ones pictured below from Neiman's,or a beautiful Carafe like this one from Crate & Barrel are safe bets:

1)

2)

For Your Friend: Here's where you can get more personal. You know their taste in clothes, food and decorating, so give a gift that shows you gave it some thought. Best bets: candles and home accessories. We chose Diptyque's Feu de Bois candle and ABC Carpet & Home baskets, perfect for stylishly storing anything from jewelry to makeup:

3)

4)

For Your In-laws: Again, you can give something more personal in this case. If you're spending the holidays at their home, remember they've probably put a lot of effort into making it special. Give a gift that shows you recognize that AND that they can use for next year's gathering! Our picks: A Le Creuset French Oven or these Monogram Coffee Cups from Anthropologie:

5)

6)

For the Man in your Life: Without doubt the most difficult gift to give...until now! What man wouldn't appreciate a classic barbershop shave kit courtesy of the Art of Shaving, or a membership to the Beer of the Month Club, which sends 12 different bottles of beer from around the world directly to your door!?

7)

8)

Beer of the Month (see above).

For the Foodie: They throw the best dinner parties, know all the best restaurants and are constantly convincing you to try new and daring cuisines. Give them a gift that will appeal to their culinary senses like these mason jars from Anthropologie filled with homemade chutney or Thomas Keller's new book Ad Hoc at Home:

9)

10)

For your Pet: Your furry friend deserves a special holiday treat as well, so why not spoil them a bit with Blueblood's insanely-chic pet beds and reversible carriers!

11)

12)

Wall Envy

It's no secret that wallpaper is back and better than ever. From luxury papers and abstract designs, to wall decals displaying whimsical motifs, interior designers and consumers alike are embracing this trend in a big way. That being said, we couldn't be more thrilled to be representing one of the leading purveyors in luxury wall coverings, Elli Popp. The London-based company has the most amazing selection of wallpaper designs, and has just expanded the line to include lamp shades, tea sets and fabrics suitable for soft furnishings, fashion and upholstery. Because we still rent (and can't bare the thought of ever leaving this paper behind!) we'll be using it to cover screens that will be used as dividers in the office! Consider Elli Popp your must-have accessory for stylish homes...or offices :) Check out a few of our favorite designs:

The New LBD

It's the holidays, and our calendars have without doubt become more jam-packed than usual with social fetes. While the festivites are a blast, it can be a daunting task coming up with a new and stylish look for every event, because we all know that you can't wear the same outfit twice and risk being photographed in it- the horror! One of our favorite sites to get clothing inspiration from is luxury online retailer Net-a-Porter. Although TOTALLY out of our price point at the moment, we get a certain rush browsing though page after page of stunning threads. We especially love that the LBD is no longer the staple for cocktail attire, but rather rainbow-colored hues, structured tailoring and shimmery fabrics have come into the mix, ensuring that you definitely won't get lost in the crowd! Obviously we instantly fell in love with the RM by Rouland Mouret tangerine cockail dress pictured above....after all, orange is our favorite color here at 5s. Here are a few more of our favorites:

RM by Roland Mouret
3.1 Phillip Lim

Stella McCartney

Tinsel Town

 Aluminum Christmas Trees

Now that Thanksgiving is behind me, I’ve moved right into Christmas-mode and have already started unwrapping my boxes of ornaments! This year, the big debate has been whether to get the classic Evergreen, or mix it up a bit with a retro-style aluminum tree? I have to admit, I used to think that any kind of fake tree (Christmas or otherwise) was tacky…but after flipping through this month’s Martha Stewart Magazine, I was amazed at how en vogue these vintage decorations have become! Oh Martha….if only we all had your touch. Inspired (but a bit deflated from my lack of creativity next to Martha’s) I began researching , and found that there are hundreds of amazingly chic options for decorating this faux-fir. Now that I'm a convert...I'll be purchasing this year's tree courtesy of Ebay, which has a plethora of nostalgic options! Here are a few of my favorite decorations for my new holiday look:

Picture Perfect

Now that the holidays are in full-swing, our calendars have become jam packed with cocktail parties, events and family gatherings. With these festivites though comes more makeup, less sleep and extra stress on your skin, so now is the time to resort to your arsenal of secret beauty weapons. Our latest must-have tool for perfect holiday primping: DiorSkin's Airflash- A spray foundation that gives a flawless finish instantly. Get ready for your close-up!

The End of an Era

As publicists, we've been paying very close attention to the change the media world is undergoing. Personally speaking, I can't tell you how many Autoreplies I've received from my regular contacts informing me that they are no longer with the publication, and I'm still grieving the loss of Gourmet & Domino. It seems that with every coming week, more and more of our favorite magazines are going under. That being said, it should come as no suprise that Oprah recently announced she'll be ending her show in 2011. Her announcement however, sent shockwaves through her peers and fans alike. From broadcasts to blogs, talk shows to Twitter, everyone was abuzz with the news that the Talk Show Queen will soon be stepping down after an impressive 25 year reign. As with many firms, securing coverage for a client within the Oprah empire is considered the holy grail, so the announcement hits especially close to home for us here at 5s. We can't help but wonder the fate of O Magazine, not to mention what's to come of her Book Club? What's important though is to keep things in perspective... as this change has introduced us to a new generation of talent making their voices heard. We've been fortunate enough to establish relationships with a new crop of editors and bloggers, and it's exciting to witness them cultivate their own following. Who knows...maybe the next "Oprah" is quietly making her mark?

Recipe Rehab

In a few days, I'll be closing the offices for the upcoming holiday. It just so happens that the entire team here at 5s are Boston-transplants, so we'll all be flying to our hometowns to spend some QT with our families. This year, the Thanksgiving dinner duties have been bestowed on yours truly, so I'll be finalizing my menu over the weekend. I'm sure I'm not alone in the belief that the "sides" are the absolute best part of Thanksgiving, so I've created an impressive lineup thus far: Scallopped Potatoes, Pearl Onions in a Balsamic Glaze and my famous Chipotle Mac & Cheese with Smoked Cheddar and Panko. So...when researching recipes for ways to jazz up an otherwise pretty basic turkey, you can imagine my delight when I came across this recipe courtesy of Bon Appetit: Salted Roast Turkey with Chipotle Glaze & Carmelized Onion Gravy- yum! Finally....a bird that can live up to my sides :) Enjoy!

The Art of Spending Wisely

An article in today’s Boston Globe discussing the pathetic state of the economy got us thinking: With our finances in the dump…is it really better to save or spend for overall moral? Globe Lifestyle editor Chris Muther discussed two schools of thought from opposing sides of the spectrum. The first was a group of people suffering from “Frugal Fatigue”- a fictional condition affecting those who...up until this point have spent wisely, only to become so sick of living on a shoe-string budget that they’ve essentially said f#@k it to financial responsibility and treated themselves with a frivolous luxury. The opposition being the ever-popular “Recessionistas” - those who relish the thought of scoring a deal or saving a buck without sacrificing their quality of life. Which side to choose?? Our humble opinion is why choose when you can be both!

Take your home for example. We’re all familiar with the phrase “Your Home is Your Sanctuary”…but creating that sanctuary can be pricey, so when every dollar counts…SPEND WISELY. The trick is to spend on pieces that you’ll always need, like a durable couch and save on stylish accessories that can always be updated with every increasing paycheck. A perfect example is the living room pictured above featured on ElleDecor.com. Although to-die-for, it without doubt cost a pretty penny, but if the bohemian vibe does it for you (as much as it did for us!) there’s no reason it can’t be recreated according to your budget. Save for a few months if that's what it takes and get the necessities: a couch, coffee table and rug. Once the basics are in place, you can start accessorizing…just be patient and research, research, research! It’s unbelievable what amazing products you can find with a little online scouring. No need to fret that you’ve blown your whole budget on the big stuff and can’t afford those fabulous Madeline Weinreib pillows, because now that you're armed with your new knowledge, you'd know that online organic retailer Fabricadbra (pictured below) offers a huge variety of pillows that will give you nearly the exact same look for literally a fraction of the price! The bonus: They’re affordable enough that you can buy a few and switch them out as your taste changes. Take a look for yourself!

The Gift That Keeps On Giving

Sixx Design

The weeks between November 26th and December 25th are simply the most magical of the year in my opinion. Nightfall begins earlier (we happen to be fans of the end of Daylight Savings Time here at 5s), holiday lights begin to pop up around the city and even the poker-faced residents of Boston seem to have an extra spring in their step. Everyone, it seems, gets their much-needed emotional booster shot during this time of year. Along with the festivities of Thanksgiving and Christmas to look forward to, my mother, sister and I share birthdays that fall within days of each other beginning on November 24th, so I’ve been thinking about what gifts to give (and receive!) lately. The latest item on my list: Coffee Table Books. Affordable, entertaining and mini-works of art, they can be displayed for years to come on obvious placements like the coffee table, or my personal favorite, grouped together and stacked high on the ground. I’m proud to say I’ve acquired quite a collection! Here are a few on my wish list this year: (hint hint)

Assouline 

Real Closets of New York

For all you Bravo fans out there...you'll be pleased to know that Jill Zarin, of RHofNY fame has recently become Closet Fetish's newest domestic diva. The ginger-haired celeb's closet will soon be adorned with the Beige couture shoe boxes, courtesy of our client Closet Fetish. Rather than shoes though, she'll be using the boxes to safeguard her clutch collection- genius! Pics of her closet to come!

New 5s Mascot

 

We are so pleased to welcome the newest addition to the 5s team, "Doyle", an eight week-old Cockapoo who sports a coat in our favorite colors: chocolate brown and white! You can find him underneath one of our desks Monday-Friday lounging on his bed of choice...an ABC Carpet & Home throw he's quickly made his own. If only we had such great taste at such a young age!