Gift Guide 2022: Parents & In-Laws

This gift guide is my most requested every single year - rather than taking that as everyone struggling to find something for parents and in-laws, I take it as those people wanting to find something perfect for them. For most of us, our parents have been the ones that provide what we need, so it’s fun to give that back to them in holiday gifts. I’ve added a ton of ideas below in several price points!

2022 Gift Guide: For Him

I personally love shopping for the men in my life, but I know it can be a challenging category for many holiday shoppers. Most of the time they don’t say they want anything and other times it’s hard because you want it to be something they actually use. My secret to success? Buy something they would buy themselves and something they wouldn’t. If he works in an office or more formal profession, a nice tie is a great choice. Maybe he has had his eye on something for his golf game or a book on one of his interests. There’s a ton of ideas below and they are all Kollin approved!

2022 Gift Guides: For Her

Hey, y’all! The holiday season is here and gift-giving is one of my favorite parts. Finding someone for everyone you need to can be challenging so I’ve created several gift guides to hopefully help make shopping a little easier this year. In the graphic below you can click directly on the item to shop it and view even more gifts below that. If there is anything you’re shopping for in particular please let me know as I would love to help!

2022 Gift Guides: Under $50

When it comes to gift giving the under $50 category is always the most popular amongst TCB readers, family and friends. Whether you’re shopping for a co-worker, your spouse, parents or best girlfriends, there are so many great items in this edit! A fun new gadget for your dad, something wellness related for your little sister, a skincare regimen to make your best friend feel pampered, or something personalized for your mom. There’s something for everyone in this expansive list! Just click the item below to shop it!

5 Outfit Ideas for Thanksgiving 2022

Hey, y’all! We are one week from Thanksgiving and I’m sharing a ton of outfit inspiration no matter your plans. Whether traveling to multiple meals, dressing down in your cozies, or dressing up in your LBD, there is something for everyone! We’re headed to Kentucky to spend time with family and eat all the food - with champagne of course - and can’t wait to see everyone!

Below you’ll see several graphics outlining some outfit inspiration and links to the exact items. I hope y’all find something you love or it gives you inspiration to pull from something you already have!

Casual Thanksgiving Outfit

When thinking about outfits to share, this first one is one that I think will be most common among us girlies. The classic denim, sweater, and boots combo always works and you can add some fun jewelry to make it your own! I love a knit sweater for the holidays since it’s not only chic but functional. Add an amazing crocodile bootie and you’ll be set for a comfortable, yet beautiful look!

Traveling Thanksgiving

Some of us have multiple Thanksgiving events to attend and maybe even travel that day. With that in mind, I put together a look below that is chic, but comfortable and functional for a day in the car or at the airport. These faux leather joggers are so cute and would easily take you from the airport to dinner with your family. Add a warm jacket, comfortable shoes and a big bag to carry everything you need for a busy day.

Formal Thanksgiving

I remember growing up we always made Thanksgiving with my grandmother an occasion. We would put our best dresses on with the little ruffle socks and bows. It made the holiday feel so special. While things have become more casual for us since then, I know that some families dine out at fancy events, go to the race track or just enjoy dressing up for the holidays. Below is my take on a fancy Thanksgiving dinner look.

Chic Thanksgiving

If I were to pick one of these looks, this next one is it. I love a classic, streamlined silhouette and this look is so chic. A great basic outfit like a bodysuit, your favorite denim and a beautiful ballet flat will make you feel confident, composed and comfortable no matter your plans. Add a fun jacket in a color with these beautiful statement earrings and you’ll be the talk of the party!

Cozy Thanksgiving

Whether you’re watching the parade, football or cooking all day in the kitchen, being comfortable on Thanksgiving is so important and I know some of us are just looking for a put together outfit that has absolutely no fuss. Go for a matching set, cozy shoes and understated accessories for a cozy, but elevated look.

I hope everyone has an amazing Thanksgiving filled with gratitude, great food, friends, family and love!

#BrieflyStyled 14 Days of Style Instagram Series

Briefly Styled is a series I started on Instagram in 2021 and focuses on styling a specific item or outfit for a specific occasion. For example, what to wear to an SEC football game, or how to style faux leather. What’s really fun about the series is that most of the examples are requests specifically from y’all and requests that a lot of women have in common.

You can check out all of the Briefly Styled videos here and see some of the videos from Instagram below. Be sure to follow me there for all the fun videos and styling content!

Styling the rebound of cargos

This was one of the more popular videos from the series and it was also one of my favorites. I loved the mix of feminine and masculine style. The more masculine blazer and cargo shorts were a great base to add feminine touches like the sparkly shoes and handbag. What do y’all think?

Styling the underrated jumpsuit

One of my favorite pieces to reach for when I don’t know what to wear is the jumpsuit. A jumpsuit is great for so many occasions and can easily be dressed up or down. They are such a fun option for weddings or more cocktail attire events. Check out how I styled it below!

styling an easy work outfit

I’m convinced that this outfit would look good on anyone! You can never go wrong with a classic denim, blazer and great accessories. I personally work in a casual setting so this outfit is great for me, but you could easily swap the denim for slacks or a dress and get the same great look!

There are tons more videos linked here in my Shop LTK where you can see the videos and shop the items in the video directly! I also included a lot of similar items at different price points depending on your budget and what you might be looking for. What other items or events do y’all want help shopping for? Let me know in the comments or over on Instagram (@amanda_navaa)!

What to Wear for Your Family Holiday Photos & Photoshoot tips

Hey, y’all! One of the most common questions in my DMs right now is “What do I wear to family photos?” or “How do I coordinate the whole family for photos?”

When it comes to any type of photography, there are some definite guidelines to follow to make your photos picture-perfect. First, think about the overall aesthetic and vibe of your shoot. Are you thinking of something more casual and natural or more formal and festive? Once you know the overall look of the photos you are going for, it’ll be easier to pick outfits.

Here are my easy guidelines for holiday photos:

  • Pick a color palette with multiple colors in the same family. For example, go for beige, white, and touches of black or navy. Or for something more colorful try emerald, navy, white, and maybe a touch of metallic. Another variable to consider is texture. Fabrics like corduroy, velvet, sequin (especially during golden hour), and faux fur work well for holiday photos and add depth to photos!

  • Once you have your palette, dress your family members in coordinating outfits - not matching ones. If someone wants to wear a white dress, have someone else in beige or the men of the group in navy pants or tops. Depending on how many people you have in your photos is how many combinations you’d need.

  • If you want a more vibrant outfit, stick the pattern on one or two people only and make sure not to overcrowd. colors and patterns or the photos will become busy, This will take away from the shoot and you always want the focal point to be your family and faces!

  • Consider making your atmosphere or shooting environment the theme vs. your outfits. There is elegance to a snowy outdoor scene and classic outfits, holiday decor, and a formal ensemble. Try incorporating holiday elements like trees, snow, decorated Christmas trees, etc., in the background and play off that environment’s natural color palette for your outfits.

  • Lastly, and most importantly, wear what you are comfortable in and what makes you feel like you. If you’re fidgeting with your outfit, uncomfortable with a part of it or simply don’t feel like yourself, then that will show in your photos. Wear something that you’ll look back in the photos and feel good about!

Outfit Inspiration for her

Below is a liked style guide for different types of pieces to wear and some explanation behind why I chose them. They are intentional a more neutral color palette as I wanted to focus more on the type of item rather than the specific item shown (although the exact ones would work too!)

If you click the image it will take you to everything linked in the graphic.

Outfit Inspiration for him

I’ve found that men are more visual when it comes to getting dressed and react when they are shown ideas and outfits that are already put together. Because of this, I added specific color palettes based on the out ideas below. I can attest to the shoe selection as my husband, Kollin, owns all three pairs and loves them.

If you click the image it will take you to everything linked in the graphic.

Once you have an idea of the color palette, coordinating items, and the environment you’re shooting in, looking for and finding items will be easy! Most of the time, you’ll already have them in your closet at home. I’ve also heard from mom friends to let your kids wear the outfit before the photoshoot so you can see if there will be any issues the day of or if you need to change something. That way, you don’t have to deal with it during the photoshoot!

Do y’all have any other tips for family photos? Where is everyone taking them this year? Writing this post is reminding me that I need to get on making our holiday cards ha. I hope everyone has a great weekend and Halloween!

The 2022 Fall Boot Edit

SHOP THE LOOK

Hey, y’all! Fall is one of my favorite times of year and fashion is so fun to incorporate into daily looks. One of the best categories of fall clothing is boots and booties! There are so many different vibes and styles of boots to choose from. Some major trends happening this season are western boots, color, metallics, and knee-high heeled boots. Check out the selections below and let me know if you have any favorites!

Brown Booties

A classic in every wardrobe, the neutral bootie complements almost any outfit and is a great staple to keep around. Pair them with jeans, a sweater, dresses, or even in the summer with shorts and skirts. You can’t go wrong with this bootie and the variety that it adds to your closet.

Western Boots

From the runway to Broadway in Nashville, western booties are very on trend and everywhere right now. Whether you go for short booties or tall white western boots, you can style them with anything. Perfect for concerts, brunch, or even the pumpkin patch, these western booties will be perfect for your next event. I recently received these VANELi suede boots and love the color for fall! Creative Brief readers can receive 10% off any order using code NAVA10!

BLACK BOOTIES

Another classic that is not only a great variety piece, but a chic option for most outfits, the black bootie is a fun one. I love a pointed toe and block heel or even a knee high and high heel. Black goes with anything and is a great option to have in your closet.

KNEE HIGH BOOTS

One of my favorite shoe choices as of late, the knee high boot is chic, eye-catching and streamlines your look. Try out a fun pattern of print like croc or snakeskin for something different!