Life’s a little different right now--but that doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing. These 15 items and lessons will help improve your home-centric life. You don’t have to be in quarantine to enjoy these.
Adding little touches of beauty and color into your every day life will help you to relax and enjoy the space around you no matter where you are right now.
Each of the items on the list are from amazing small businesses, local and abroad.
Read MoreThe holidays are an amazing and exciting time but lets face it—shopping for gifts can be totally stressful!
In the spirit of “More cheer - less stress” I’m sharing 5 of my favorite giftable items that are ‘Fashion and Function’ —because the only thing better than a gift that looks great is one that’s actually useful too! (Don’t you agree?)
You can click any of the images below for more details!
Ready to take a look? Lets go!
There’s at least one (or maybe 10) of your friends who can never seem to find their keys,phone, wallet..something! —Well here’s a quick fix for that: A Canvas organizer Pouch.
—Perfect for keeping all the lose items in a giant purse in check! It also doubles as a makeup bag or a pencil case too! (I recommend the medium size option for that.) Another great perk is that they’re also machine washable!
I personally use a ton of these when I’m out. I like to carry one for coupons and cards, one for my to-go cosmetics, and another for my art supplies, phone charger, wallet and keys. I toss them all in my bag and never have any trouble finding what I’m looking for!
The illustration featured here is for the year-round Fall lover! (You know, the “Pumpkin everything” girl/guy.) I tried to capture the warm tones of a New England park during Autumn and added in a few pets for fun.
If fall isn’t your friend’s favorite season, check out some of my other illustrated pouches here.
Always on their phone? Help them deck it out!
A super chic phone case is the most functional accessory!
This case is available in a bunch of different sizes and models. If you’re gifting someone who’s like me and drops their phone frequently the ‘Tough Case’ option is perfect! It provides maximum protection without looking like a utility box like some of the other heavy duty cases do. (I have one of these in the ‘Tough Case’ option myself and you should see how many drops its survived!) —If they never drop their phone there’s a light case option too!
A red satin gown with ostrich feathered shoulders is the perfect amount of extra. This illustration was inspired by traditional 5th avenue glam with the intent of reminding you (and everyone who sees it) to be your own fabulous self!
*If glam isn’t your thing and you’re looking for a phone case that’s a little more ‘street’, check out some of my other available designs.
Every time you walk into their home you’re hit with a fresh burst of room-envy. They don’t need their perfect space cluttered up so instead how about something that’s cute but also brings extra comfort to the room?
Decorative throw pillows are the perfect accent to any setting!
This illustration is inspired by my favorite yearly New York scene: Ice Skating on a winter’s day, a warm cup of cocoa in hand —in a cute outfit of course —while the Bryant Park Library, and the holiday market shops glow in the back ground.
Click here to see some other pillow options
Reusable tote bags are the prefect way to reduce plastic consumption while shopping. A great tote is perfect for a trip to the market, or even to Target (Drop all your purchases right into your tote and say ‘No’ to all those plastic bags).
They’re light weight and spacious and these totes come in multiple sizes . (My favorite is the 16” x 16” size because it fits quite a lot without being too big for every day use. I recommend using a zip pouch to keep things organized inside a tote! )
This illustration is of my favorite little, sometimes snow covered, bridge in Central Park and of a happy, stylish pair walking with their puppy in arm. (Perfect holiday movie scene, right?)
Do you have a coffee lover in your life? (I have at least ten! You probably do too!) A cute reusable travel mug is always a good gift option!
These stainless steel mugs come with a spill proof lid and double walled body to keep coffee hot (or iced tea cold!)
This black rose graphic is a illustration/photo manipulation I actually worked on for an anti-valentines day prompt but it’s become one of my best selling designs. I like to think it has an elegance about it that leaves the message behind it up to interpretation so that everyone can find their own meaning.
So There you have it! 5 Fun unique gift ideas for your friends with illustrations you won’t find anywhere else! Hopefully this guide was helpful! At the very least I hope I gave you some ideas! When you’re stuck on choosing the perfect gift, sometimes instead of wondering “What would they like” its better to think “What could they use?” —because everyone loves a useful gift!
(Not pictured in this guide but also included: Coasters, Serving Trays, Mugs, Cutting Boards, Clocks and more!)
Spring is a beautiful time to have a wedding (and a great season to attend one!). Spring 2020 is looking especially promising with it’s gorgeous selection of elegant new Bridal gowns from the top Bridal Designers.
With so many unique options, choosing the perfect dress can become quite the challenge. To help you out in your selection, I’m going to give you a run down of a handful of Spring 20 ‘s top Bridal Gown trends, straight from the New York runways of Bridal Fashion Week. Even if you’re not currently searching for that once-in-a-lifetime dress, you can still take away many of these key trend points that will carry over into wedding guest dresses and even Ready-to-Wear fashion for next Spring!
Ready? Here we go!
This first dress is a delicate romantic look from Oscar De La Renta. The bodice of the dress has a deep V neck with scalloped edges. It has a sashed waist for flattering definition and then it opens up into an A-Line skirt. My favorite part about the design of this dress is the balance between the embellished florals, sequins and beading, and the clean, un-decorated hem. Although the top of the dress is heavily garnished, it blends together well with the simplified bottom for an overall effect that is both light and airy. [Fun note: Brides.com cited this dress as being 280 hours of work!]
Elegant lace with a scalloped edge frames the deep V neckline of this Zuhair Murad gown. There’s a sashed waist which acts as a meeting point for the dress’ two moods. Sheer, ruffled tiers of tulle overlay an opulent lace column skirt.
This Anne Barge dress is the perfect statement gown. It’s off-the-shoulder volume sleeves blend into a floor-length cape. It’s embellished with a floral lace motif and scalloping along the hemline. This dramatic look is somewhat reminiscent of Lady Gaga’s Valentino gown from the 2019 Golden Globes.
With its high-neck lace overlay, and sheer lace sleeves, this Lela Rose dress is already quite unique from the others in this trend report. It’s embellished corsetted bodice extends over the hips for a controlled waistline and then relaxes into soft mini-pleats. That’s not even the best part—can you believe this dress actually has pockets?! I haven’t met a bride yet who didn’t wish her gown had pockets.
I included two Oscar De La Renta gowns in this report because they were both so different yet each beautifully designed. This second dress has a clean, classic, draped silhouette with a high slit and a long train. Again, the waist is defined but the cross over top and asymmetrical skirt give it a ‘mock wrap dress’ look. Although this gown lacks the typical bridal lace or beading, its precise drapery adds the perfect amount of interest for the Bride who wants effortless elegance.
This Vera Wang gown was my favorite to sketch. In fact, I loved Vera’s entire 2020 collection and suggest that you check it out on Vogue. This particular gown has a cream white top with an opaque dusty warm-grey tulle skirt. Vera Wang often strays from the traditional white bridal gown and this ethereal piece is no exception. The tulle skirt is draped and collected at the hip. A pink silk rose adorns it. The right strap if this dress is decorated with soft, grey layers of chiffon. The thin straps drop into a plunging V neck.
In case you gotten too caught up in all of the beautiful dresses, here’s a summary of the main Spring Bridal Trends covered in this report.
Deep, plunging V necks
A delicate balance of opposites:
Volume & Defined
Heavily decorated & Clean
Soft floral lace and beading
Sheer layers
Waist definition
Sashed, bowed, or belted
Cinched, seaming and corsetting
Do you have a favorite trend? Is there one you’d never wear? Which of these dresses would you try on? —and how much do you love dresses with pockets?!
I’d love to hear! Tell me in the comments or send me an email!
Also, check out my new custom Bridal collection - perfect for the bride-to-be that wants a unique, personalized wedding experience.
Deanna Kei is a NY based Wedding, Fashion and Beauty Illustrator. To commission illustrations for your special day please write to deannakei@gmail.com