Marchesa is a line that exudes glamour and romance, and this season exceeded expectations.  I am not sure when I will have an opportunity to wear one of these frothy and divine creations (I do wish I could live at Downton Abbey, minus the war and plagues and plumbing….)

But in the meantime, here are my favorites from their show.  You will see a theme here, as I have included a photo of me on my wedding day in 2005 at the bottom of the post. Clearly, I love an avian reference.

Marchesa seems straight out of Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris… Have you seen it?  If not, do, for the costumes and period elements alone. Divine.

Holidays mean festive dress, parties with friends and family, being thankful, and, of course, mandatory office Secret Santa weeks. I always hope that the cool girl with interesting taste picks my name and yet so far that has not happened. I have received, however, numerous generic gifts including gift cards to stores I don’t frequent and other miscellany that I don’t end up using.

Because it can be tough to shop for people you know through work alone, or less well, here is a gift guide for items that are versatile, stylish, and under $25 per item. Enjoy…. And don’t forget to wrap your present!!

From top down:

DL Co Mini Apple Candle, $25. Available here.

Alessi Dozi Magnetic Paperclip Holder, $25. Available here. (Paperclips are the quills on it’s back! Cuteness!)

Anthropologie Rococo Bell Candle, $20. Available here.

Roost Horn Pencil Cup, $18. Available here.

West Elm Papier Mache Antlers, $19. Available here.

A friend’s boyfriend emailed me the other day and wanted to know what he could get for his lady this Christmas. He was thinking jewelry, and something “interesting” and not too expensive, but so that she knows he tried. Kind of hard.

I like unique pieces that are mid-range in price, or else less expensive pieces that are on trend (or trend-adjacent so I keep a sense of self while wearing them).

Here are some of my choice for a range of items I’d be happy to see in my stocking or under the tree this year (from the top down):

Anthropologie color-blocked strands necklace, $42. Available here.

DanniJo animal print cuff, $230. Available here.

Kenneth Jay Lane basketweave bracelet, $110. Available here. (this one is my favorite as it looks like one that is waaaayyy more expensive)

Topshop articulated fish pendant, $28. Availble here.

Pink Mascara wrap bracelet, $112. Available here.

I used to walk past Elyse Walker's storefront every day in LA on my way to our post office, and now that I am in NYC, I miss seeing what she loves and how she styles her outfits. Now I can get my fix of Elyse's taste online – Elyse has just launched her online store and it delivers what the actual store experience does: picks that Elsye loves and we think you will too. I caught up with Elyse recently to talk shopping, clothes and the internet:

What is your first fashion memory? Buying a black silk wrap-around, layered skirt from Charivari on Columbus Avenue in NYC in 1980. It was my first designer piece and although I got it for 75% off, it was still a fortune! I wore that skirt for years, all through high school and college. So it was worth every penny!

If you had to wear only one designer 24/7 who would it be? It would have to be Prada because their classic pieces can go from day to night. Their shoes are extremely comfortable. There is always a crazy fashion bag that I am obsessed with every season. I love their luggage for travel, and I am on a plane every single week. I love their pink perfume. Their cashmere is amazing, and I keep those pieces from year to year. And their techno stretch blouses are timeless, comfortable, flattering and easy to wear. They have also been a huge supporter of my business and really put me on the map when they decided to open Elyse Walker as an account on the West Coast. They are extremely selective as a company, and I have always felt honored to be one of the chosen.

Who has the coolest wardrobe of anyone you know? Mine! I scour the world to find the best, coolest, most amazing collections and then try to chose the best pieces from those collections. I rarely take the safe route and am not afraid to take risks. I find that the department stores tend to buy basic and often miss the most exciting pieces of a collection. I try not to. I know my customer drives or flies all the way out to the palisades because they will find pieces that other stores do not have.

Where are some of your other favorite places to shop? I LOVE to shop and have often been accused of never wearing clothes from my own store! I love MARKET on Avenue Montaigne in Paris. They have a great eclectic mix of designers. I love Barney’s shoe department. I love the Gucci store in Milan on Montenepoleon- make sure you go downstairs. Lately, I have been enjoying Intermix in SoHo on Prince St. And I love top shop for fun silly pieces and shoes that I may only wear once or twice.

Why did you decide to launch your site? All of my customers where asking me to. And my out-of-state/ship-on-approval clientele has really grown into a large part of my business. These deliveries allow us to send a box of goodies to your house and we get to style you without your input. So we really send you what we think will work best for you. And since you get to try on these head-to-toe looks in the privacy of your home, very often our client will take a chance on a look that we sent because no on else is there to judge them. So e-commerce is the obvious way to grow this side of the business. We are really working hard not to just take orders and sell pieces on-line, but to sell whole looks!

Elysewalker.com includes style tips from my staff and myself and will allow customers to not only follow fashion trends, but to also follow their favorite stylist from the store! As our site continues to grow, you will see more and more interaction with my team of buyers, editors, and fashion savvy sales associates. I do believe that this will be our distinguishing feature. Our followers will feel like they have their very own stylist, just like our in-store customers do.

What do you feel is unique about the site? Definitely our on-line magazine! I lauched EW magazine last November as It is a way for me and my team to share what is going on behind the scenes. It tells you what to keep, store and give away. It shows you what is hot even before it hits the sales floor. It offers exclusive merchandise as well as the basics. We include beauty tips, restaurant guides and even music recommendations. It is our way to keep our customers’ fingers on the pulse of what is happening in the fast-paced fashion world.

What do you love about Closet Couture? I love how Closet Couture allows you to see your whole wardrobe at once and build outfits with the pieces you have or have friends suggest outfits for you. It’s also a great tool because it allows you to see the holes in your wardrobe and what you need to buy to fill in the gaps and bring your wardrobe forward each season.

Visit www.elysewalker.com and tell us what you think!

CLOSET COUTURE brings you the expert that the celebrities turn to for closet 911 help, Melanie Charlton Fascitelli, President and Creative Director of CLOS-ETTE

By Emma Santangelo

Melanie, how did you come up with the idea behind Clos-ette?
About 10 years ago, a designer friend approached me to help her with her showroom and boutique as she needed to set it up for editors and buyers to visit. I went in and did the remodeling work, and then she hired us to work on her loft, because she loved the outcome so much. That’s basically where the idea behind Clos-ette came from.

Do you believe that an organized closet makes a fashionable woman?
I definitely do, I think organization can help us with our thoughts and as well as with our clothing. Just like in a store, it’s easier for you to shop when it everything is displayed well. It’s the same thing for your closet: when it’s set up appropriately, it helps. It really doesn’t even matter what the size of your wardrobe is, if things are untidy and discombobulated, it’s not going to work for you to get in there every day to figure out what you need and what you have and get yourself dressed.

How do you personally organize your closet? Do you arrange by color, clothing type, most-worn to least-worn, etc.?
Ideally, the way you organize matches up with your personality. Some people fall into the “outfit” category and some fall into the “separates” category. I’m a big category person, especially with my shoes.

If you are “Separates” you mix and match a lot of items in your wardrobe. I organize my items by color and by type. So all my shirts are together in one big section, with sub-categories: all my long sleeve shirts then all my sleeveless shirts are together, etc. Same thing for dresses, from cocktail to day, and so on. Everything is always organized from lightest to darkest.

But of course, some people work best with their clothing organized into complete outfits. I often times also create a hanging space that is a packing space for myself, I travel quite extensively, so I create a packing space to help myself visualize what I want to bring. At Clos-ette, we really tailor to the client and the way he or she likes to get dressed.

Here is how I would do it at home:
• Start by taking an overall inventory and editing. Weed out the things that you haven’t been wearing for awhile. The question that I always ask my clients is, “would I buy this now?” and “would I wear this now?” If you can’t afford a stylist to help you with your items, have a friend come over with a glass of wine and have them go through your closet with you. If you’re someone who doesn’t get rid of stuff easily, you’ll definitely need the extra help in deciding.
• Next do an inventory of all of the items you have left.
• Then, figure out what how it’s easiest to get dressed. You may have to go to through more than one organizing round so you can figure it out. And you’ll have to do more specifics, like evening wardrobe items, or types of pants (work, summer, weekend, etc.) Some people work better with categories like that.
• Get the same type of hanger for everything and then organize it all by category, then color. When everything is on the same hanger, it’s easier to visually comprehend what you have to work with.

What is the best way to handle shoes?
Shoes are a pain point when you’re limited with space, as they take up a lot of it. The best way to organize shoes is to sit them on a shelf that is slightly tilted forward so shoes are easier to see. One major thing: Don’t keep them in their boxes if you can. I’m not a fan of putting a photo of the shoe on the outside of boxes, especially if you’re limited on space. If you have limited space, it’s best to line the floor of your closet with shoes. Or you can go to the Container Store and buy a double layer shoe holder.

For accessories like hats, scarves and belts, how do you fit them into the overall organization of the closet?
If you come to us for design, we have many ways to architecturally construct storage areas. If you don’t have the money to hire us, I’d say that unused shallow wall-space is the best way to hang accessories. Get a level, get a hammer, and put up a bracket for items such as hats, scarves, belts, etc. And put a mirror next to the area so you can have your little accessories niche. For handbags, don’t scrunch them all in drawers. I like to put them on out on shelves, with some tissue paper balled into the shape of an egg inside them, almost like a shoe-form, to help them stand up and keep their shape

Jewelry – it's delicate, what's the best way to display but protect and store?
Check out the Clos-ette jewelry box and storage solutions in the photos above – pegboards are great, as you can see. And catch us on QVC next week – details below – where we will be selling our traveling jewelry case!

As seasons change, so do the clothes we wear. For those of us who don’t have room to keep all of our clothing in our closets at all times, are there some staple pieces that you recommend leaving in the closet year-round?
Your sweaters are a staple piece. You can use them year-round. If you have the space to leave them in your closet, definitely leave them.

What’s the coolest closet you’ve ever been in?
(Laughs) Well, Beyoncé and Jay-Z had amazing wardrobes. Who else, let’s see…Julianna Margulise, Liv Tyler, Phil Collins, Eva Longoria….. love them!

For more information and ideas about closet organizing, visit Clos-ette online or check out Melanie's book, Shop Your Closet, available on Amazon here.

***CATCH CLOS-ETTE ON QVC!!!*** We don't want you to miss out on our QVC debut! Tune in on June 2, 2010 at 9am EST on QVC for Clos-ette Too's initial launch. We will be selling our coveted traveling jewelry case on QVC's show, My Time with Mary Beth. Mark your calendars! If you miss it, the product will also be available on QVC.com.

Tis the season again – sample sales – and I mean the old fashioned kind where you actually show up at some random building and wind your way upstairs to a room filled with treasure, crossing the fingers that something is in your size. Polish those ninja skills, because here are two that we thought were particularly worth fighting for. And if you are not in NYC, perhaps dispatch someone with your sizes and budget limit to do a little shopping for you!

Pictured, above:

The grand jewelry statement has been going strong for a few seasons now, but as we shed the heavier dark clothing that is winter and transition to spring, we thought we'd look at some necklaces that might be perfect for lighter outfits while still staying on trend. I think a strong necklace looks great on any figure – if you are curvy, it can balance out, and if you have a more boyish figure, it can lend some drama without overwhelming.

Pair them with a smart boyfriend blazer and jeans for a look that goes from lunch to evening out. For work, add to a dress and cardigan combination or a suit for a little more punch to your everyday look.

Here are a couple of our favorites for spring – how would you wear them?

Cara Accessories Crystal Bib Necklace with Ribbon: $85, available here.

Mirit Weinstock Necklace (can double as a belt too): $164, available here.

Kate Spade Cortes Triple Paillette Necklace: $225, available here.

Peachoo and Krejberg Big Bead Necklace: $610, available here.

House of Lavande Unsigned Gold Dragon Pendant: $468, available here.

Forget peeking into the medicine cabinet at someone else's home…. we all know that the real action is a look into someone else's closet. That is one of the points of Closet Couture and now we have something even better – you can shop other people's closets! Underneath each item (click on the item in the closet so it's own page comes up) we are running similar items to purchase directly so you can get the look yourself. Covet that perfect coverup from season's ago? We show you similar ones you can buy now.

SO easy and fun! Get inspired and get the look for yourself! Don't miss the closets of some of our most stylish users, and for great inspiration, take a look at some of our stylist's closets.

Happy shopping!