Ahhh, holiday shopping. It’s exciting, it’s stressful and it’s usually a pain in the…well, you know. I personally hate–really hate–crowds, so trying to navigate aggressive mall shoppers is not my cup of tea.

This year, maybe I’ll try doing all my holiday shopping online. That way I can avoid the pushing and shoving as I near Nordstrom, and I can bypass the evil fat-trap that is the local food court. (”But, it’s only one large ice cream, not my usual two!”)

Some things I’m loving for my fiance:

This chair is quite unique and modern. I could literally shop at uncommongoods.com for hours on end. The gift possibilities are endless, and I know THF (”the handsome fiance,” a nickname of his choosing) would really dig the chair. It’s on the pricier side, but would make a big impression.

THF likes a bargain as much as the next guy, but I swear to god, he would live in Target if he could. Target is on a level he can’t even comprehend: video games, DVD’s, clothes and food…one stop guy-shopping. He’s had his eye on this shirt for weeks. I love the unexpected skyline print on the front and back.

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Let’s start with the beginning, shall we?

I am a food stylist and photographer. This simply implies that I am addicted to collecting bowls, plates, spoons, forks, glasses, tablecloth, table mats of all kinds. I have tons of each, in all shapes and colors. My husband begs me to stop buying more, but how could I, really? My answer to him is that I need every single one of these accessories. Because I really do.

But perhaps I should be fair. Even before becoming a food stylist, I already had a weakness for tableware. I love to decorate dinner tables to make them look pretty. When you like to cook and hosts dinners as I do, it’s really fun to be able to have different tableware styles to choose from. Online shopping made a huge difference, helping me to find items that I would never have found otherwise. When Stylefeeder was created, I was finally able to organize my resources, get inspired by other members, and share with others. I fell in love with the idea right away. And I know that I am not alone.

Because I typically find good stuff, I do not think you will mind if I share my findings with you. I think that I will be able to introduce you to designers that, like me, you will enjoy. You do not need to be a food stylist to enjoy an amazing porcelain bowl, or a set of new glasses.

Not yet convinced? Then perhaps you can visit my food blog, La Tartine Gourmande, to get an idea of what I’m talking about, and how I make good use of every one of my purchases.

Via Toy Box from Portland, Oregon, understands the need for storage! Mothers are always asking for better storage options for all the toys but also want something that is stylish! As does this designer!! Here it is!

These 15 x 15 x 15 boxes are made in fun pastel and primary colors. The Geometric shapes are really what makes them stand out as something different. They are also so much easier for kids to grab toys out of than lifting a heavy storage box top. There are so many ways to use them, the options are endless. You can be as creative as your imagination will let you…. a nightstand, storage under their platform bed or tucked neatly along a living room wall where it blends in with the décor.

I especially like the fact you can mix door cubes with the geometric cubes, sometimes you just want the toys hidden! The above “6 pack” sells for $329; it’s a great deal and you can customize the shapes and colors to fit within your rooms color scheme. Very fun for you and the tiny tots who will fill them up quickly!

I love jewelry but I’m a total minimalist when it comes to wearing it. If I’m wearing a necklace, I generally don’t wear earrings and vice versa. I also have an irrational fear of wearing a matching earrings and necklace set…yikes! But, thanks to Amy Tavern, I don’t need psychotherapy in order to wear any of her pieces. If you visit her website, you will see for yourself that her collections are a brilliant example of studied, modern simplicity.

Every component in her work is handmade, from her hammered circles, to the tiny balls placed on those circles. No two pieces are truly alike so you are getting a true ‘original’ from the artist/metalsmith herself.

You can choose from five collections on her shop page: Signature, Preface, Layered, Egg and Bean and Steel and Gold (my ab-so-lute favorite)!

Her SIGNATURE collection is a combination of her most popular, original pieces. I think this necklace is so great for everyday, subtle yet unique:

Our very own handbag designer Lori Naon is offering a great discount to all StyleFeeders on her newly launched Hardware Handbags line.

Get the Shorty handbag for just $60 (normally priced at $90):

Or, choose the Shopper style for just $65 (normally priced at $95):

Hurry…Lori’s generous discount is only good through November 30th! To order, just visit Hardware Handbags and enter code HH3 at checkout.

This cocktail table from Neiman Marcus oozes glamour. You’ll see a lot of the mirrored look in interiors right now, a throw back to the time of the Golden Age of Hollywood. In a small room, this table could create such depth without having the typical mirror on the wall. The crisscross legs have a subtle wave to them, which gives the heavy top a bit of a feminine touch! I really like the detail of the mirrored tiles along the edge, it just adds to the movement and will reflect any surrounding fabric in a striking way.

In this room, I could see a beautiful ivory-colored sofa with black accent pillows, keeping it crisp and clean. Imagine a black murano glass chandelier above which reflects in the cocktail table; I love this option from Design Within Reach. Perfect, this table will definitely be the WOW piece in any room!

I mentioned in my last blog about the capsule collection by Hollywould for Target. Yes, Target.

Target has proven itself to be a veritable holygrail of cheap chic clothing, and I have to hold myself back from going shopping-cart-crazy more than once. Well, I must admit, sometimes it’s the fiance (i.e. Brandon) holding me back, saying, “Leave it! Walk away! Be strong!”

In times such as these, it’s important to have a back-up plan. Mine is to discourage Brandon’s presence by using a Target trip as an excuse to buy the most boring things possible. Toilet paper, dish soap, toothbrush, make-up, fashion magazines, pens & pencils…you do what you can to keep the male presence to a minimum.

But I digress.

The Hollywould for Target collection is one example where I’ll need to ignore Brandon’s conscience speaking in my ear.

For instance:

I put these glossy black heels on my StyleFeed and I haven’t been able to get them out of my head. A similar pair of heels from the actual Hollywould collection runs, oh, in the $500 range. These are $30.

This clutch is the perfect marriage of quirkiness and style, and naturally, would go great with the shoes.

As the holidays are coming up, I am feeling the need to stockpile party essentials: pretty heels, clutches, cocktail dresses, etc. Between myriad parties and a number of Christmas concerts coming up, I’ll need to streamline my holiday wardrobe to consist mostly of black items (it’s a requirement for concert attire).

Since the Hollywould for Target collection won’t be a permanent fixture, I would snap up these items as soon as possible, especially before the holiday shopping rush takes off.

What’s your favorite item from the new Hollywould collection?

Buying a coat this season just isn’t what it used to be. Thank God!

Circa 1995-2006, the routine was: enter store… feel force of pull to the racks laden with black wool… select shapeless style in the name of warmth and utility… hope for sale price… justify boring purchase with “It will go with everything!”… check out, go home, envy other people’s cool coats all season long.

Not this year. I’ve decided to forgo shapeless for a waist-cinching belt. I’ve decided to go for a 3/4 style so that the look is sophisticated, not like wearing the same wool peacoat I purchased in college or the long coats that make short people (like me!) look frumpy. I’m looking for color — maybe even pattern! And I’m willing to buy two — a conservative style as a classic investment piece, and then a moderate or cheap one “for fun.”

Here’s the catch — neither coat can be black, unless that black is in a pattern. That’s the whole point of this style update — break out! I’d like the investment piece to be neutral — after all, I do have to look professional and a bubble-gum pink wool coat likely won’t have me taken very seriously. But the “fun” piece can be as bold as I dare.

So right now starts the No-Frump Winter Coat Challenge. I’ve started adding a few contenders to my StyleFeed… let me know what you think.

Should I go for a to-die-for color?

Fun pattern and a belt?

Frilly, feminine details?

Hurry, people! It’s getting chilly!

OK, so here’s the thing: I am a handbag designer, albeit a self-taught one. My first career using my art and design background was in the textile industry selling fabrics to manufacturers in the active sport market like The North Face, Patagonia and REI to name a few.

It was only after the birth of our second baby that I was truly inspired to design the first HARDWARE bag. This bag had to feel hip, and fit my new lifestyle with two toddlers in tow. Add to the mix my textile background coupled with my love of industrial and post-modern design and the first HARDWARE handbag was born. I’m now focused on slowly building our brand, while still maintaining our ‘indie’ roots.

So, because I’m so busy juggling my family and business I do virtually all of my shopping online. I’m inspired to buy most all of my personal and home accessories from indie designers that I admire for their original point of view. My goal is to introduce you to some of these designers that I’ve known for awhile as well as those I’ve just discovered.

Because we live amongst a sea of knock-off designers and logo crazy fashionistas, I want to bring to you fresh, independent design that inspires you to buck the latest trend and find your own personal ‘indie’ style. And I’m sure you’ll be able to direct me to new designers as well!

This is what StyleFeeder is all about…finding that one product that you never knew existed, never knew you needed, but seems so right, you can’t believe no one ever thought of it before.

The most popular product on StyleFeeder in the past few weeks comes courtesy of StyleFeeder sebastyne. For those of us space-challenged urban dwellers that need to maximize every inch of space, these stairs with built-in storage make a world of sense. Too bad they’re not available online – they’re courtesy of a joinery company in Australia. Hopefully, some online retailers will jump on this great idea soon. At the very least, file the idea away for future use!