What to Wear: In Your Concrete Jungle

The fashionable woman wears clothes. The clothes don't wear her. (Mary Quant)

In light of the reason fashionable favorites (and faux pas) as awards season begins, we thought we'd explore our wild side as 2012 gives us a new year to explore with our favorite kind of print: Animal!

Taking another tip from the beloved Ms. Nina Garcia, today's focus is on the necessity and future of animal print in 2012. While it makes the cut for Ms. Garcia's list of the most important pieces every woman should have in her closet, its certainly a daring choice for those who are not as likely to take fashion risks. However, as Nina says, "the truly fashionable are always daring and never dull. They are willing to run with the leopards, the cheetahs, the zebras" and willing we are. 

But how do we celebrate the concrete jungles we inhabit without making our fashion credibility extinct? Start small. Animal print accessories are bold and slightly dangerous while still looking chic.

We loved the examples we saw on Fashion Binge but we're sure you can be trusted with the mission of finding your own favorites as long as you follow the card-NINA-l rules as you shop:

• Buying a print with pedigree. This is the best way to avoid looking garish. There are items that you can save money on. This should not be one of them.
• Wear only one piece at a time. Any more than that and you will look like fashion roadkill.
• Keep everything else simple, even severe. Pair the print with neutral colors. If you keep everything else classic, the print will carry itself.
• Keep the colors muted. Less is more, but none gets you nowhere!

Michael Kors 2012.

Are you a fashion wild child? How do you rock animal print in the workplace? At a lounge? Send us pics! We'd love to see what you come up with!

And tell us all about your fashion predictions for 2012 on our Facebook page or on Twitter by following @COSMOpolitique. Can't wait to see you in your natural habitat!

Fashionably yours, COSMOpolitique

The Nice List: 11 D.I.Y. Holiday Gift Ideas!

At some point, holiday gifting can get a little carried away. From swearing to yourself that you'll start shopping earlier next year to your budget being less realistic than you'd hoped (and all of the holiday predicaments in between,) sometimes its nice to get a little creative and give a give that comes from the heart instead of hitting the outlet malls in search of any one "thing".

With that in mind, meet your holiday D.I.Y. gift guide! After scouring the web for the cutest gift ideas, we shared our top 11 favorites for every day left on the calendar until the big day!

1. Tote Bag with Iron-On Silhouette: Everyone from Mom to a "mom-to-be" can appreciate the convenience of a canvas tote. Personalize this gift with a monogram stencil as a classic way of making a practical gift glamorous!
2. Sewn Felt Slippers: This gift is essential for anyone on your list who enjoys the coziness of the season. Package with hot cocoa mix or tea lights and a matching coffee or tea mug for the gift of "A Cozy Night In"!
3. Dip-Dyed Candles: For friends who are finally moving out into the world, give candles to new homeowners or recent empty nesters. Nothing says home like a beautifully lit candle!
4. Cute Cork Coasters: After several weeks of holiday shopping and sprucing, a nice glass of wine sounds like the perfect treat. But where to put down your glass?! These coasters are the perfect gift for the wino's in your life (and can be gifted with inscriptions by writing little messages on the corks in a thin permanent marker)!
5. Braided Dupioni Silk Necklace: This was the first gift we saw where one would just not be enough! Whether you make an extra strand for yourself or give multiple strands to a friend for layering, this beautiful jewelry can spice up even the dreariest of winter outfits.
6. Rein-beers: First seen on LaurenConrad.com, this gift is perfect for any and all men on your list! We thought of decorating all but one bottle with brown or black pom-pom noses and making one with a red nose. If this is your first Christmas together, its a no-pressure gift that is clever and easy!
7. Needle-felted Handmade Pillows with Roving, Yarn and Felt Accents: Once we started thinking about who made our holiday lists this year, we jut wanted to give everyone one of these! Vary the shapes and trimmings and its very easy to make a whole set for the friend who just got a place of their own! 
8. Bath Fizzies: With any luck, it will start to feel like Christmas soon but with the cold weather comes cold hands and feet. Remind friends and family to relax this holiday season by a gift that pampers and pleases! 
9. Velvet Ribbon Belt: Martha Stewart's website says it all, "A gift so simple and luxurious, you might be tempted to make one for yourself!"
10. Patterned Sachets: This gift is essential for friends or family who like to travel. Help them keep a little bit of home with them wherever they may go (and some Christmas spirit too)!
11. Photograph Jewelry: Nothing is more personal than a picture of a loved one. We thought this gift was especially good for family members and friends who remember you when "you were just this big"!

We hope you have some fun making this beautiful gifts! Post any pictures or ideas you have used as d.i.y. gifts and we'll share them with the COSMO-politique community. 

Hope you're Christmas time is as festive as ours and happy holidays!