I cannot explain how excited and honored I am to be sharing these holiday party looks with you all! I dreamt about this party and these looks for a while and it was surreal to see everything come together so perfectly! This shoot was a labor of love; so many gracious friends contributed, and everything was styled and shot at Ballenger Farm, a favorite new-ish Airbnb riiiight down the road from my house!

Shop Nostalgia for all your Vintage Fashion Needs

All the vintage pieces came from Shop Nostalgia, a vintage clothing and antique shop right here in Purcellville, Virginia. Silas, the proprietor, has a an eye for collecting some of the most beautiful and diverse pieces. His dresses range from the 1910s to the 1990s. I’d guess that he has nearly 5000 pieces in his boutique, along with some exquisitely curated antique furniture, art, mirrors, and other finds. His prices are incredibly reasonable, and it’s fun to just get lost in his shop for a few hours. My assistant Meghan and I did just that for this shoot, and pulled a selection of nearly 50 dresses for all our ladies to try. It was really magical; each woman found a piece that uniquely expressed her style, and fit to a T.

Every single time I walk into Shop Nostalgia, I’m in awe over not only Silas’ collection of vintage fashion, but also his knowledge on the subject. He knows everything! I asked Silas for a little bit of info on each of our looks, and he oh-so-willingly obliged. If you are anywhere near Purcellville, I HIGHLY recommend checking out his shop for any holiday party looks you might need (or any vintage needs you may have in general). He’s got a vast collection of fur coats, business suits, casual dresses, cocktail dresses, jewelry, hats, purses, and so much more. Oh, and I hear he has extended holiday hours this month, and TWO FLASH SALES. Check out his instagram to learn more! Here’s a bit more about what we’re each wearing:

What Vintage Styles to Look For

Here’s a bit about what each of us are wearing, in order from the top, in case you want to recreate any of our looks (OH, and lots of these dresses are still available at Shop Nostalgia, so RUN OVER THERE if you’re interested)!

1. Rebecca: 1980s does 1950s, size M. A Carol Mignon piece, purple velvet with a glorious train. I felt like a queen, and have debated going back and buying this dress. It’s still for sale, though, so you should go buy it for your holiday parties.
2. Meghan: 1950s teal velvet, size M. This dress fit Meghan so incredibly well, it seemed like it had been made for her. Such a classic, June Cleaver silhouette.
3. Theresa: 1960s, size L.  A full length tunic dress with sheer sleeves and beaded neckline. Theresa paired this dress with sheer polka dot tights and red suede pumps and looked fabulous!
4. Mary: 1980s, size M/L. An Oleg Cassini beaded top with a dark blue velvet skirt. Mary looked regal in this incredible top and skirt combination, along with pearl drop earrings.
5. Maddie: Late 1970s, size S. A stunning pink princess dress with a ruffled neckline and full-tulle lined-skirt. We hoped Maddie would choose this dress, and she did. Paired with her auburn locks, she truly looked a princess!
6. Emma: 1960s, size S. A Malcolm Starr sequined cocktail dress. Paired with Emma’s stunning red hair, red lips, and ankle strap black velvet pumps. Emma rocked this dress.
7. Marina: 1980s, size S/M. A knee length cocktail dress with feather neckline. This dress wasn’t the dress Marina first selected off the rack, but when she slipped it on, everyone oooooh-ed and ahhhhh-ed. This was the one for her. She looked ready to holiday party!

Concihairge, At-Home Hair & Makeup

And now, our hair and makeup! I recently discovered a new-to-me in-home (or at work or hotel, etc) hair care company: Concihairge. I was introduced to Stephanie (the founder) and Meghan (the regional stylist for Loudoun County) when my friend Bonnie hosted a little hair party for my assistant and I. Our kids were playing together, we ate lunch together, and we had our hair done, all without a babysitter or leaving the house! It was incredible, and I started scheming ways we could work together!

Conciharige has stylists in Philly, DC, Arlington, Alexandria, and right here in LOUDOUN COUNTY. We’re so lucky to have them in Loudoun County! Conciharige is perfect for busy moms who never have time (or a babysitter) to get away for a little self care. They’re perfect for folks who can’t get away from the computer for long enough to get their hair done. You can literally nurse your baby or work at your desk while being pampered. They come to you, set up shop, do their thing, clean up, and when they leave you’d never know they were there! And they are truly artists who love their work. BONUS: Stephanie has generously offered 20% off all services from now until February 18, 2019, plus a small gift at the time of your appointment for all new clients in Virginia. Simply mention “A Daily Something” when you book!

For this holiday shoot, we worked with both Meghan Moody and Alysha Marie from Conciharige. Meghan expertly and impeccably styled our hair. After a quick chat with each of us about the vintage piece we were wearing, she whipped up stunning looks. And Alysha! She’s the brow, eyelash, and overall makeup (and hair, actually) QUEEN. The holiday looks she put together for each woman were pure perfection…she worked so well with everyone’s individual style and preferences. I could watch both Meghan and Alysha work for hours (and did)! They take such pride in what they do, and they are truly artists! I really can’t recommend them enough for all your holiday (and everyday) hair and makeup needs!

I asked Stephanie, the founder of Concihairge, with over 10 years experience working as a hair stylist before founding Conciharige, to give us some HOLIDAY HAIR AND MAKEUP TIPS AND TRICKS, and she said YES! So, here you go:

Holiday Hair Tips From Stephanie Cleck, Concihairge

1. Do the Markle. To fancy things up doesn’t mean it needs to be sleek and perfectly placed. Meghan Markle has shown the elegance of a messy bun to the world. Now let’s take it and make it our own. Pull hair back into a loose ponytail, wrap the tail around the ponytail holder and pin loosely with bobby pins. Once the bun is secured it’s time to messy it up a bit by pulling small hairs to frame the face.
2. Texture is your friend. For years women have wanted sleek straight hair however during the holiday season textured hair can be easier to style. Whether you’re wanting a cool braid or loose waves, having texture present will allow your style to stay put longer. Have naturally straight hair? No worries. Look for a texturizing spray or even hot tool to give you texture.
3. Hair extensions aren’t forever. Don’t have enough hair to get the look you want? Extensions don’t have to be long term, or expensive. Hit up your local beauty store and purchase a few clip in extensions that match your hair color. Prior to styling your hair clip in and style as needed. Or pin in and wrap around your Meghan Markle bun for extra thickness.

Holiday Makeup Tricks From Stephanie Cleck, Concihairge

1. Don’t be afraid of shimmer and shine. Add some sparkle to your eyes by adding some fun copper or other metallic shine to your lash line. First apply your eyeliner to the lash line, then add a metallic shade above the lash line for added dimension and shine.
2. Smokey eye is still hot. Just brighten up the color a bit. Look for mauves, plums, taupes, and golds rather than the original charcoal.
3. Lip color is in. The fastest way to turn your day time look into an evening look is to pull out the red. Red is the color of the season, and not just on your tree. Not sure if red is your color? It is, you just need to find out of you need a warm or cool toned red.
4. Lashes. Whether you opt for in-salon lash extensions or you’re able to glue them on yourself, lashes are huge this year. Have a practice session if you’re opting to do this at home or if you’re afraid of the glue check out the new magnetic options available.

Happy Holiday Partying! (And don’t miss the other two posts in this series at Ballenger Farm: DIY Holiday Mantel Garland, DIY Minimal Wreaths, and Dessert Buffet Styling Inspiration and A Simple, Scandinavian-Inspired Holiday Table & Party.

AND A HUGE THANK YOU to the contributors for this post:
Photography: Hilary Hyland
Hair and Makeup: Concihairge
Vintage Pieces: Shop Nostalgia
Wardrobe Stylist: Kelsey Bethune
Venue: Ballenger Farm
Best Assistant Ever: Meghan, who held the day together
AND OUR MODELS: Theresa, Mary, Emma, Maddie, Marina, and Meghan!