SPLURGE OR STEAL: MCQUEEN VS. GERMAIN

MCQUEEN: $1500+

GERMAIN: $365

CHRISTMAS EVE

IT'S NOT EASY BEING A JEW ON CHRISTMAS EVE. IT'S EVEN HARDER TO NOT BE A JEWISH STEREOTYPE ON CHRISTMAS EVE. TONIGHT I WENT SHOPPING FOR MYSELF, WATCHED 2 (WORKING ON 3) MOVIES, AND ATE A FALAFEL AND HUMMUS PLATTER. YUP, IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS.

THIS MORNING WAS A VERY DIFFERENT STORY. DURING THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, NEW YORK SEEMS TO RADIATE A FEELING OF WARMTH AND LOVE. OUR CITY, WHICH HAS THE UNDESERVED REPUTATION OF BEING UNFRIENDLY, SUDDENLY SEEMS LIKE A DIFFERENT KIND OF TOWN. TODAY, IT WAS SOMEWHAT (SOMEWHAT..) OF A PLEASURE TO WAKE UP AND GET MY DAY STARTED. MARIAH CAREY'S "ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS" BLASTED THROUGH MY HEADPHONES AS I DRANK MY PEPPERMINT MOCHA. CHRISTMAS WAS SO CLOSE I COULD TASTE IT, AND IT TASTED LIKE MELTED THIN MINT GIRL SCOUT COOKIES.

FLASH FORWARD A FEW HOURS TO THE FALAFEL PLATTER AND HERE I SIT WAITING FOR THE HOLIDAYS TO BE DONE WITH AND FOR ALL OF MY FRIENDS TO RETURN FROM THEIR VACATIONS. IN THE MEANTIME, I WILL SPEND MY LONG WEEKEND WITH FAMILY, MY NEWLY ARRIVED RODARTE FOR TARGET PIECES, AND STYLE.COM.

FOR MORALE'S SAKE, I HAVE COMPOSED A BEAUTIFUL ARRAY OF HOLIDAY INSPIRED PIECES FROM THE UPCOMING SPRING 10 COLLECTIONS. ENJOY AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!

3.1 PHILLIP LIM

BALMAIN

BURBERRY

CHANEL

CHANEL

CHRISTIAN DIOR

EDDIE BORGO

EDDIE BORGO

ERICKSON BEAMON

FENDI

LOEWE

MISSONI

PRADA

PRADA

STELLA MCCARTNEY

TOM BINNS