Bead For Life Sustainable, Fair Trade Jewelry: All I Want For The Eighth Night Of Chanukkah!

For all of the coveting, overconsuming, and product worshiping I indulge in here on FashionBinge, it's nice to flex my Mastercard muscle and do some honest-to-goodness good once in a while. Which is why, for the last day of my Chanukkah gift guide, I'm taking a break from being totally self-indulgent and ostentatious (and from effusing joy over products WAY out of my 99% lifestyle) to share my passion for BeadforLife, which is a nonprofit organization based in Boulder and Uganda. BeadforLife educates, employs and builds a sustainable income for impoverished Ugandan women (many of them are war refugees) who create beads and beaded jewelry out of recycled paper. BeadforLife provides Ugandans aged 16 - 26 with vocational training as well as malaria and HIV treatment.




I was lucky enough to meet some of the heads of BeadforLife via my real job at MTV, and they're incredible women who make sure that members of the BeadforLife program receive training to create beads, make jewelry and then sell it at fair trade prices. The program's goal is for members to be independent of BeadforLife within 18 months by being able to support themselves within the Ugandan economy. BeadforLife provides entrepreneurial training, facilitates savings accounts, and makes business funds available -- truly incredible resource-building opportunities for women who might otherwise have none.

You can buy BeadforLife jewelry directly from their site. Many of the bracelets and necklaces cost less than most of us spend on a single trip to Starbucks, and they make excellent stocking stuffers and gifts -- gifts that keep giving.

+ Chanukkah Gift Guide Day 1: Charles Jourdan taupe heels from Ideeli! 
+ Chanukkah Gift Guide Day 2: Dr Martens black leather satchel!
+ Chanukkah Gift Guide Day 3: Banana Republic velvet sheath dress!
+ Chanukkah Gift Guide Day 4: Aritiza Black Silk Tunic!
+ Chanukkah Gift Guide Day 5: Marais Studded Suede Chukkah Boots!
+ Chanukkah Gift Guide Day 6: Funktional Nikki Rabbit Fur Coat (with guilt)!
+ Chanukkah Gift Guide Day 7: Amore Pacific Rejuvenating Moisture Creme! 

Amore Pacific Rejuvenating Moisture Bound Creme: All I Want For The Seventh Night Of Chanukkah

$150, Amore Pacific, Sephora

'Tis the season for giving, conscious consumption and excellent skin. All of which can be achieved by giving YOURSELF and your face the gift of Korean luxury skincare brand Amore Pacific's Moisture Bound Rejuvenating Creme. Yes, it's $150, which is kind of the opposite of conscious consumption, but at least you're being conscious of what you put on your face, right? Also, I'm conscious that it's WORTH all 15,000 pennies.

I've written about Sulwhasoo's intensely effective Concentrated Ginseng Creme for Naag, and while Sulwhasoo is made by Amore Pacific, Amore Pacific's moisturizer is $70 less and just as good. It's infused with ginseng and bamboo sap, which hydrates skin (which is perfect because if left to its own devices, my skin is the consistency of a Brillo pad) without any annoying oiliness, and I don't know if it's the amino acids, antioxidants or the one and a half Benjamins, but my skin absolutely glows.

$150, Amore Pacific, Sephora

And if you're still feeling give-y, check out Amore Pacific's Moisture Bound Rejuvenating Essentials gift set, which comes with a FULL-SIZED Moisture Bound Rejuvenating Creme, Rejuvenating Eye Treatment Gel, Natural Protector SPF 30 and Vitalizing Masque Rejuvenating Serum. 

+ Chanukkah Gift Guide Day 1: Charles Jourdan taupe heels from Ideeli! 
+ Chanukkah Gift Guide Day 2: Dr Martens black leather satchel!
+ Chanukkah Gift Guide Day 3: Banana Republic velvet sheath dress!
+ Chanukkah Gift Guide Day 4: Aritiza Black Silk Tunic!
+ Chanukkah Gift Guide Day 5: Marais Studded Suede Chukkah Boots!
+ Chanukkah Gift Guide Day 6: Funktional Nikki Rabbit Fur Coat (with guilt)!

Funktional Nikki Fur Jacket: All I Want For The Sixth Night Of Chanukkah

$568, Funktional, Barneys

I already have SO much innate Jewish guilt that I have some Chanukkah guilt gelt to spare on this stunning rabbit fur coat by ethereal-meets-wearable LA brand Funktional. It's absolutely stunning in is two-tone elegance. Um, I think the rabbits died peacefully in their sleep of old age. Okay, they didn't. Fur is terrible. I'm a bold-faced hypocrite. But at least it's warm?

+ Chanukkah Gift Guide Day 1: Charles Jourdan taupe heels from Ideeli! 
+ Chanukkah Gift Guide Day 2: Dr Martens black leather satchel!
+ Chanukkah Gift Guide Day 3: Banana Republic velvet sheath dress!
+ Chanukkah Gift Guide Day 4: Aritiza Black Silk Tunic!
+ Chanukkah Gift Guide Day 5: Marais Studded Suede Chukkah Boots!

Marais Studded Suede Chukkah Ankle Boots: All I Want For The Fifth Night Of Chanukkah

Well, we're just rolling through a week of everything I want for Chanukkah, with me posting my favorite stylish gift and you lovingly purchasing them for me! Because that's how it works!

So, for the fifth night of Chanukkah, I would most certainly like to unwrap Marais' winter-perfect black suede Chukkah heel boots... AVEC tiny little studs on the toe cap:

$160, Marais

These Rachel Comey lookalikes (haaaaaaaaay) would not only look but FEEL so right with my J. Crew khakis rolled up just so and a kinda-sorta tucked-in dress shirt or grey sweater. So MAKE THE MAGIC HAPPEN, CHANUKKAH! I'm a size 8.


+ Chanukkah Gift Guide Day 1: Charles Jourdan taupe heels from Ideeli! 
+ Chanukkah Gift Guide Day 2: Dr Martens black leather satchel!
+ Chanukkah Gift Guide Day 3: Banana Republic velvet sheath dress!
+ Chanukkah Gift Guide Day 4: Aritiza Black Silk Tunic!

Aritzia's Baye Black Tunic Dress: All I Want For The Fourth Night Of Chanukkah

$165, Aritzia

Before I get into my fourth-night-of-Chanukkah gift (for me!) pick, I need to say a word about Aritizia. Aritizia is a Canadian chain of moderately-priced boutiques, and the New York location opened this past June, and it's one of my favorite new "high street" shops. Half of the store feels like Madewell -- neat, conservative English major-inspired pleated skirts, flowy shirtwaist dresses, and demure blouses and in natural neutral hues -- and the other half is sportier basic tops, workout wear and hoodies. Like American Apparel minus the see-through. Oh, when I discovered Aritzia's TNA house brand longsleeve t-shirts (they're more like lightweight sweaters, and they feel like James Perse), it was like the culmination of a personal style vision quest: they're banded so they emphasize the waist, they're the perfect V-neck cut, and they're only $35. I bought five.




Anyway, Aritzia's sheer, flowy black tunic is getting bumped to the top of my Chanukkah list, namely because it's so versatile and because I don't own anything like this. Which actually makes it a need and not a want, right?

Also, if this dress came in the same box as this INCREDIBLY SICK fitted ikat jacket, I definitely would have no cause to utilize fake-surprise face. Double ikat? Oil that lasted eight days? Now THAT's what I call a Chanukkah miracle!

$160, Aritizia

+ Chanukkah Gift Guide Day 1: Charles Jourdan taupe heels from Ideeli! 
+ Chanukkah Gift Guide Day 2: Dr Martens black leather satchel!
+ Chanukkah Gift Guide Day 3: Banana Republic velvet sheath dress!

Banana Republic's Black Velvet Dress: All I Want For The Third Night Of Chanukkah

$98, Banana Republic
(Gifted by Banana Republic)

Something's happening. Something's different. I feel like Tony in "West Side Story" when he first meets Maria, only hopefully with a far less tragic ending. Basically, I've fallen in love with VELVET. My most hated, feared and loathed fabric, the one my parents warned me against. Banana Republic's black velvet sheath dress, from their excellent holiday collection, is the ONLY velvet dress I've ever loved. It may look kinda "meh"-ish on the hanger, but this thing comes ALIVE on the female form. It fits ABSOLUTELY perfectly -- forgiving in the places that need forgiveness, and snug enough in the places that call for snuggling. It's so versatile that I've worn it at least three times already this month, to a holiday party with black tights and my Charlotte Russe Miu Miu-"inspired" glitter heels, an evening event with burnt sienna tights and turquoise booties (MUCH cuter than it sounds) and a TV taping with Wolford Hero bondage tights, which were a generous gift from Tightsplease and belong on a wall because they're a work of fucking art.) You can also do that kinda '90s grunge-girl thing, but in a cleaner way. (Like, no slouchy knit hat, por favor!)




I've always kinda rolled my eyes at the hole "little black dress" cliche, but NOW THAT I'VE FOUND LOVE, I'm a believer, I want to spend the rest of my life with it.

I already got my own beloved velvet dress for Chanukkah (thank you, Banana Republic!), so get your own at 40% off with promo code BRSALE.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna slip it on and go attend the "rumble," then slip outside for my balcony scene.

Velvet! Say it loud and there's music playing! Say it soft, and it's almost like praying!

+ Chanukkah Gift Guide Day 1: Charles Jourdan taupe heels from Ideeli! 
+ Chanukkah Gift Guide Day 2: Dr Martens black leather satchel!

Dr. Martens Black Leather Satchel: All I Want For The Second Night Of Chanukkah

$190, Dr Martens

Just look at this gorgeous Doc Martens black leather satchel (it's extremely similar -- too similar, some might say -- to the Cambridge Satchel, speaking of, I haven't taken mine out of the plastic since it came because it's so lovely to look at) and TELL me it wouldn't look like the unstaged photo-documentary-style picture of perfection with a trench coat... and that it wouldn't look perfect wrapped up next to my menorah.

Check out my first night of Chanukkah pick, a sky-high pair of taupe Charles Jourdan stilettos that would look JUST SO much better with your red holiday dress than boring black pumps. Just sayin'.

Charles Jourdan Taupe Heels From Ideeli: All I Want For The First Day Of Chanukkah

Y'all, HURRY THE EFF UP. Chanukkah's just five days away, and there are EIGHT DAYS of it. Fortunately, I've compiled a list of the MANY many things I'd like to help you shop for me. Because I am just so thoughtful!

$79.99, Charles Jourdan, Ideeli.com

The first thing I'd like for Chanukkah are these EXCELLENT Charles Jourdan perforated taupe heels. They're from the chill bros at Ideeli, who were nice enough to invite me to their holiday preview, where I was informed that they have EXCELLENT holiday gifts. Um, like these Charles Jourdan heels... FOR ME! Also, hi. This French Connection sequined jacket? It's just $79.99. GET IN AT THE GROUND LEVEL.

PS: Don't belong to Ideeli? Not belonging SUCKS! Sign up (and be my almost-IRL friend)! here.