Today I’m sharing a relaxing, festive holiday playlist full of my favorite festive tunes. I love playing these songs while I’m working to get me into the holiday spirit while still keeping things calm and focused. This playlist would also work well for a relaxing night at home. I hope you like it and happy holidays!
Watches 101 | A Crash Course In This Timeless Accessory
Today, I want to discuss one of my favorite accessories - the watch. I love watches and wear mine almost everyday so in this post and corresponding video below I’ll be touching on some of the style and construction points you can keep in mind when choosing and wearing a watch to help you find the perfect watch for you.
Before we hop into though, I want to thank JACY for sponsoring today’s video. JACY is a pretty new, independent watch brand based in Miami Florida and they’re the makers of the watch that I have and wear every day so when they reached out to me about partnering on a video to celebrate the launch of their new mesh bracelet straps for their watches, I jumped at the chance.
As 3rd generation watch makers, they know what it takes to make a beautiful product and I’ve been incredibly happy with my JACY watch. I’ll share a little more about their watches and new straps in just a bit, but for now, let’s hop into my watch tips.
3 THINGS TO CONSIDER
When choosing a watch, there are 3 main things to consider - the movement, size & design which includes color, metal etc. Let’s kick things off with movement.
MOVEMENT - When talking about watches, the movement refers to what makes a watch tick or keep time and they’re available with 1 of 3 main movement types - quartz, manual or automatic. Each of these have different qualities and pros and cons and also influence the price of the watch, but in short…
Quartz : A quartz movement uses a battery and doesn’t need winding like a mechanical watch. Quartz is the most accurate type of movement currently being produced and this is also the movement found in JACY watches. I really like it for the accuracy.
Manual: A manual movement, or what’s frequently referred to as a hand-wound movement, is the oldest type of watch movement and dates back to the 16th century. It requires daily winding and is the most traditional so it is usually found in traditional, and often expensive collectable watches.
Automatic: An automatic, or self-winding, movement is a mechanical movement that dates back to the beginning decades of the 20th century. It winds itself while being worn and doesn’t need daily winding. Unfortunately though, this movement can be inaccurate if not worn for some time.
SIZE - Unsurprisingly, you’re best bet when picking your perfect watch is to choose something in proportion to you and your stature etc. Generally speaking, you should look for a watch that’s in proportion to your wrist and the watch face should rest between your inner and outer wrist bones. For reference, my wrist is about 6.5 inches and my JACY watch face is 35mm
DESIGN/STYLE (COLOR, METAL, FINISH) - Design and style are of course, a matter of preference and you can find something to suit every taste under the sun nowadays. Personally, I love a versatile style leans toward a dress watch style over a more casual option so I gravitate towards a leather strap or mesh/metal strap. For maximum versatility you may want to look into a watch with interchangeable straps like the JACY watch. Each of their interchangeable straps are $65 and are a great way to change up the look of your watch. I’ve linked my favorites in the description box of the video down below along with a ton of amazing watches at various price points and with different style points so you can find the perfect one for you. You can also shop the round-up at the bottom of this post. We could easily spend months discussing watch style but for today’s post, let’s touch on some of the basics.
CASUAL VS FORMAL - Generally speaking, a fabric, cloth or silicone strap is casual and a leather strap (the darker the band, the more formal) or metal strap is more formal.
FIT - Watches should be snuggly worn just below your wrist bone (not on it and not below it). This ensures that your watch doesn't restrict your movement, plus it just looks better and is how watches were intended to be worn.
MIND YOUR METALS - I like to pick a metal that I wear a lot & generally speaking, I like the metal on my watch to match the hardware on my shoes, belt and handbag so if you wear both, you may want to consider a mixed metal watch. Another nice feature to look for if you want to mix and match your watch with other metals and accessories is diamonds. I find that the sparkle helps to blend everything together nicely and not let the different metals compete too aggressively. Each JACY watch features 1/3 carat of conflict free diamonds
FACE COLOR/STYLE - Much like picking a metal that you wear often, you should also pick a watch face that compliments your personal style. From stark white and minimal to elaborate and colored, theres something to suit everyone these days and I personally love the look of mother of pearl. My JACY watch features a genuine mother of pearl face and I love it because it catches the light so beautifully and picks up any color that I’m wearing.
SOME FAQ’s
Now I want to share two questions that I receive the most often and my take on them.
WHEN SHOULD NOT WEAR A WATCH? I personally, avoid wearing watches to very formal events like a black tie event or very formal wedding. Especially if your watch is too casual, it can dress down your overall look. Instead, I like to swap the watch for a delicate bracelet.
WHAT WRIST SHOULD YOU WEAR YOUR WATCH ON? This is of course personal preference, but a general rule for maximum comfort is to wear your wrist on your non-dominant hand. So for example, I’m right handed so I wear my watch on my left hand so that it doesn’t get in the way.
SHOP THE POST
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE
*This is a sponsored post but all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands and companies who support my channel & site.
Gift Guide | $100 +
Today’s gift guide is a collection of luxe items over $100. Each of these pieces are not only beautiful, but sure to last a lifetime. Whether you need a gift for a very special someone, or you’re perusing for something to add to your own wish list, each of these gifts are forever pieces that can be worn, used and loved for years to come. I personally own a few of these items myself and can attest to the impeccable quality and beautiful craftsmanship.
1. Chic Travel Set 2. Signet Ring 3. Modern Diamond Studs 4. Classic Diamond Necklace 5. Chic Perfume From A Modern Perfumer 6. The Hand Knit Sweater 7. The Timeless Tote Bag 8. Solid Gold Hoops 9. Forever Brush 10. Modern Pearls 11. Marble Tray 12. The Ultimate In Luxurious Skincare 13. Cozy Cashmere Scarf 14. Luxe Beauty Kit With Chic Packaging 15. The Investment Makeup Brushes 16. The Prettiest Silk Scarf
I love beauty gifts and they’re easily one of my favorite things to gift each year. I love the luxury and ritual behind a luxe indulgence and each of these gifts offer just that - and then some. Plus, if you need a gift for someone extra special and don’t know their size or fashion taste, you can’t go wrong with beauty.
As a fashion lover, I always appreciate a fashion gift and each of these beauties are not only luxurious but also timeless. I personally own and can attest to the quality of the delicate diamond necklace, and printed silk scarf (I have a different style but it’s gorgeous!).
If you need a gift for a new homeowner, or just someone that adores decor, I think you can’t go wrong with a hand selected antique or vintage piece. I personally love the idea of gifting an antique print or painting but I also think you can’t go wrong with a beautiful dish or two. Plus, the beauty of an antique or vintage find is that your gift will be 100% unique. Now, if you’re gift recipient isn’t an antique or vintage lover, you also can’t go wrong with a sleek marble tray or another modern piece that you can easily track down both online and in-person.
Fall Capsule Wardrobe OOTW No 2 | VIDEO
Today I'm sharing 7 recent outfits from my fall capsule wardrobe! I've listed everything in the description box of the video below and linked exact items when available. Since I've had many of my pieces for a few years, I've linked similar ones if I've found some. Thanks so much for watching xx Audrey
