Let it Snow

All images by Emma Rizzo Photo

It's exactly one week until Christmas, so I thought it was high time to post at least one holiday outfit here on my blog. I've been posting more frequently on Instagram than on my blog lately, but I still love this space and think it's important to document things here... especially during one of my favorite times of the year!

This dress is an old one – I actually styled it five(!) years ago in this blog post. But it's probably my favorite dress that I've ever owned and I can finally fit into it again, which is a thrill. I convinced Emma to venture out to a Christmas tree farm with me to take some photos on a freezing-cold and icy day. She worked her magic like always, though!

Outfit Details

Dress: Bernie Dexter (other styles here)

Necklace: similar  ||  Hair flower: Stardust Dames

Shoes: Irregular Choice 

Things have been really busy this season, but they've been generally good. My life has changed a lot in the last year and I feel grateful to be where I am now. I'm looking forward to having a relaxing and special Christmas with my parents. We'll be doing our traditional hors-d'oeuvres-and-present-opening on Christmas Eve and we'll be seeing a movie and going out for Chinese on Christmas Day. What are your annual holiday traditions?

Make sure to follow me on Instagram so you don't miss any of my other holiday outfits that I don't end up posting here! And if I don't get a chance to update again before the 25th, have a very happy holiday!

The Soubrette Brunette's 2019 Holiday Gift Guides

Are you gearing up for the holidays? My little place is all decorated and most of my shopping is done. But I had such a great time putting together this gift guide for highly sensitive people last year that I decided I wanted to create a few more this season! If you're stuck on what to give your loved ones or you need one last present to stuff someone's stocking, take a look at these fun gift guides below!

Please note that this post contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links, I may receive a small commission that helps to run my blog. Thank you for supporting The Soubrette Brunette!

a.   "why you're my bestie" fill-in-the-blank book

b.   "miles apart but close at heart" custom print

c.   custom BFF pendants

d.   long-distance friendship lamps

e.   "life would succ without you" keychain

f.   "best trip ever" photo book

g.   homesick scented candle

h.   candy club subscription box

i.   best friend compass necklaces 

a.   "thoughts of dog" 2020 calendar

b.   personalized pet print

c.   cat mom ugly sweater ornament

d.   "girls and their cats" book

e.   we rate dogs game

f.   corgi succulent pot

g.   custom dog socks

h.   custom pet cross stitch

i.   "unlikely friendships" book

a.   astrological self-care book series

b.   astrology soap

c.   custom zodiac necklaces

d.   seasonal birth chart

e.   astrological glass jar candle

f.   "is mercury in retrograde?" pin

g.   personalized star sign notebook

h.   zodiac cat print

i.   astrology jewelry dish

a.   "the big activity book for anxious people"

b.   ban.do work it out water bottle

c.   letterboard iphone case

d.   "what do you meme?" game

e.   bob ross bobblehead

f.   "i adulted" stickers for grown-ups

g.   succulent weekly desk planner

h.   "mister rogers' neighborhood: a visual history"

i.   jonathan adler cbd canister

a.   "other word-ly" book

b.   "lettering and modern calligraphy" book

c.   anthropologie floral apron

d.   "the writer's toolbox"

e.   rifle paper co. recipe box

f.   upcycled record coasters

g.   "now playing: a hide-and-seek book for film buffs"

h.   literary insults chart

i.   "women in art" book

Did you find any inspiration from these guides? 

Happy Shopping!

BLACK FRIDAY FAVORITES 2019

Hi, everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I know the deals started early this year and you've probably begun shopping already... but I wanted to share a few of the things I'm hoping to purchase this Black Friday – as well as a TON of promo codes and deals you might want to use before you check out!

Please note that this post contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking on one of those links, I may receive a small commission that helps to run my blog. Thank you for supporting The Soubrette Brunette!

a   ||   b   ||   c   ||   d   ||   e

f   ||   g   ||   h   ||   i   ||   j

Black Friday 2019 Promos
Abode: 20% off with code LETSGETLIT
A Classic Paradise: 60% off two+ items with code BF60FINALSALE
Aerosoles: 40% off select styles
Anthropologie: 30% off everything + free shipping $150+
ASOS: 30% off with code BIG30
ban.do: 30% off everything with code THIRTYOFF
Bath and Body Works: buy 3, get 3 free sitewide
Betsey Johnson: 35% off everything with code WOW35
BonLook: up to 50% off select styles
Box Lunch: 30% off select styles
Cath Kidston: up to 40% off select lines with code BLACKFRIDAY19
Cheshire Vintage: $60 dress sale (select styles)
Chicwish: 25% off sitewide (excluding sale) with code BLK25
Chronicle Books: 35% off + free shipping with code GIVEBOOKS
Collectif: 40% off with code BF40
Colourpop Cosmetics: 30% off sitewide
Erstwilder: up to 40% off hundreds of items with code GOWILD40
Gal Meets Glam: 50% off select styles
Good After Nine: buy 2, get 25% off sitewide
Hop Skip and Flutter: 20% off sitewide
Irregular Choice: 20% off select styles
J.Crew: 40% off with code WHYWAIT
J.Crew Factory: 60% off everything
Joanie Clothing: 40% off everything
Kate Gabrielle: 25% off almost everything with code JINGLEBELLS (orders $15+)
Kate Spade: 40% off everything with code TGIBF
Kitten D'Amour: up to 70% off
KJP: 25% off sitewide with code COZYCABIN
Lipstick & Chrome/Kinks & Quirks: 20% off kitschy Christmas brooches with code BEJOLLY
Lulu's: 25-90% off sitewide with code FRIDAY25
Macy's: 20% and free shipping on orders $25+ with code BLKFRI
Madewell: 30% off your purchase with code GIFTWELL
Mane Message: 25% off with code THANKS
ModCloth: 40% off orders $200+, 30% off orders $100+, and 20% off everything
Modern Millie: 15% off sitewide with code HOLLYJOLLY
The Oblong Box Shop: 25% off sitewide on orders $50+
Old Navy: 50% off everything
Out of Print: buy one tee, get one free
The Pretty Dress Company: 25% off new arrivals
Red Dolly Swimwear: 50% off your order with code RDBLACKFRIDAY
Retro Glam: 25% off today with code BFRIYAY25 (20% off Nov 30-Dec 2) with code BFRIYAY20
Retrolicious: 30% off sidewide with code THANKFUL
Retrospecd: 30% off everything with code BIGBIGSALE
Rifle Paper Company: 30% off sitewide with code SAVE30
Sephora: up to 50% off select items
ShopDisney: up to 50% off sitewide with code AMAZING
Sirens Swimwear: up to 70% off select swimwear
Smak Parlour: 30% off everything + free hat with purchase
Sourpuss Clothing: 25% off everything with code BLACK
Steady Clothing: 25% off everything with code HOLIDAY2019
Target: up to 40% off with code TURKEY
Tatyana: 40% off everything with code SHOPBF
Too Faced: 30% off sitewide + free US shipping with code PINK30
Top Vintage: 20% off everything
Trashy Diva: 30% off everything (including sale) with code GOBBLEGOBBLE
Unique Vintage: 25% off everything with code BESTWEEK
Valfré: up to 90% off sitewide
Vendula London: 30% off select items
Vixen by Micheline Pitt: 30% off with code BACKTOBLACK

Are you buying gifts for others or treating yourself this Black Friday? I'm doing a little of both!

Happy Shopping!

BIG BIRTHDAY GIVEAWAY! [CLOSED]

Well, I'm officially another year older... and that means it's time for a giveaway! The first year of my 30s definitely wasn't easy, but how far I've come is certainly worth celebrating. Since I'm sure I'll be getting more than enough presents this year, I'm giving out a prize package to thank you for your ongoing support. Ready for the details? One (1) lucky winner will receive the following:

• Patsie Dress in Baby Blue (size XS-3X) from May 68
• "Happy Birthday" print skirt (size XS-3X) by Kate Gabrielle
• Simplicity Vintage tote bag and half apron
• Pusheen birthday cupcake plush
• Choice of one (1) Sephora #LipStories lipstick
• ban.do pink glittery tumbler
• Vintage Tea Party book
• bubblegum pink beret
  
  

Enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below. This giveaway is open worldwide and will run from now until 11:59 PM on November 1, 2019. You must leave a blog post comment (and complete all other mandatory entries) to be eligible to win. One (1) winner will receive all of the prizes listed above. Please note that any out-of-stock items will be substituted with comparable products. The winner will be contacted via email (so provide a valid email address!) and must respond within 48 hours of being contacted to claim their prizes and coordinate receipt. If no response has been received by that time, a new winner will be chosen. The winner will be announced via this widget after confirmation has been verified. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you so much for entering and for your continued support! Best of luck, friends!

An Apple a Day

Apples may not be my favorite fruit in the world, but I do love picking them! Sure, going to the apple orchard is a cliché fall activity – especially here in New York State (even Saturday Night Live aired a recent skit about it!). But that doesn't make me love it any less. I had the chance to go a couple of times this year and probably would go again if I got the chance... except now I have more apples than I know what to do with! The lengths I'll go to for fresh cider donuts and cider slushies...

I found this plaid vintage dress on Poshmark and knew it'd be perfect for this setting. While I certainly still love getting my hands on newly released items, it's getting to the point where I really need to watch my spending. As a result, I've been using Poshmark more – and restyling a lot of the great pieces I already have in my closet. One good thing about getting healthier is that you can go "shopping" in parts of your closet you'd abandoned for a while.

I can't believe we're already mid-way through October... and I haven't even started showing my Halloween-themed outfits yet! Plus, my birthday is coming up SOON (and not much planning has taken place there, either). Can fall just slow down a little bit?? What activities are on your to-do list for the rest of the fall?

Outfit Details

Vintage Dress: Poshmark (similar)

Cardigan: ModCloth  ||  Belt: similar

Boater hat: similar  ||  Shoes: available here

Have a great start to your week! (Mine's going to be a VERY busy one!)

Sunflower

All images by Emma Rizzo Photo

Last month, Emma and I drove out to Clifton Springs for our now-annual trip to see these incredible sunflower fields. We made the pilgrimage for the first time last year and we knew we had to come back again once August rolled around. The weather proved to be a bit tricky, but Emma came through (as always) with some stunning shots.

While we were traipsing through the fields, I couldn't help but think back to the last time we were there. It was a truly magical experience and we had a great day exploring the area. But that little escape (and others like it) was definitely necessary at the time. In retrospect, I can admit how sad and stressed I was then. It's hard to keep that in mind sometimes, particularly when my heart is hurting and I just want to view the past in a rosy light. But it's moments like these when things really come into focus and I can see that – in spite of all the darkness – the sun still shines... and maybe it's much brighter than it once was. I really do feel like a little sunflower looking towards the light.

Speaking of sunflowers... I know a lot of other people would love nothing more than to capture some special memories in a field like this. If you live in Rochester or the surrounding area, you're in luck: Emma will be having sunflower field mini-sessions a little later this month! If you're interested you can book your slot here – and don't dawdle, as sign-ups are limited and spots will go quickly!

Outfit Details

Arina Dress: Gal Meets Glam (similar here and here)

Boater hat: similar  ||  Flats: Jessica Simpson

Hope your day is a sunny one!