MERRY CHRISTMAS FRIENDS! "HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS!"

TALK FASHION TV 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

My heart felt wishes to all of you on this very special day. May your holidays be filled with warmth, love, and positivity.
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is one of my most favorite holiday songs and something I hold dear to my heart. Immortalized by the iconic Judy Garland it reminds us of life that reflects the bitter sweetness of golden moments.

Much love to you all

-Maya

HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS (Lyrics)
Music composed by Hugh Martin, lyrics by Ralph Blane
Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Let your heart be light
From now on,
our troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Make the Yule-tide gay,
From now on,
our troubles will be miles away.

Here we are as in olden days,
Happy golden days of yore.Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more.

Through the years
We all will be together,
If the Fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.
And have yourself A merry little Christmas now. 

HOLIDAY LOOKBOOK 2016! (Jingle all the Way!)

Late Night Gift Wrapping: Gift for My Niece!

Being an "Auntie" during Christmas time, is a wonderful thing!

My adorable niece is a little over one years old, and to my personal delight, my access into the world of baby-toddler fashion. 

To my surprise, fashion for these little people, called babies/toddlers, has evolved into a mega industry.      

Pretty much anything you can imagine in the adult world, has been created and styled into adorable "mini" perfection. With limitless variables of possible style combinations, fashion is alive among the younger generation!

For my little niece, who will be spending Christmas with me, I have styled for her a festive, casual "Christmas inspired" outfit. Her headband is a Christmas tree, which I hand sewn several little bells. In all honesty, the headpiece may annoy her, but I am secretly looking forward to putting it on her and hear her jingle all the way. 

xo,

Maya

Blogmas FAIL or Save?

Blogmas FAIL!?

 Like a holiday curse, as soon as Blogmas began, I was plagued with a horrible case of the flu, then bronchitis. Spending the last two weeks sipping digusting cough syrup, I have basically missed all the holiday festivities.

Basically, I have two choices. I could very easily throw in the towel and just let the holidays slide right on by. Or, I could try to save what I have left, by making the final week the best ever! 

Join me as I try to get as festive as I can, and celebrate the final countdown till Christmas!

Xo,

Maya 

Blogmas Day 5: My Favorite Holiday Concert Style!

"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year", is a popular holiday song sung by Andy Wlliams, and it has me questioning every year, why the holidays make me smile?

One very good reason, is performing in a series of Christmas concerts! Every year, I take part in the joyous celebration of performing Holiday classics, accompanied by singers. As a violinist, I have played in many different types of shows, but there is something very special about the holiday ones. The stage is lit up, decorated and adorned with fresh poinsettia. The feeling is fresh, cheerful, and heartfelt. There is nothing overly complicated or  manipulated. No need to think, just feel.

When you play in an orchestra, you are almost always required to wear head to toe, black. However, during the holidays I push the rules a bit, and add a tiny bit of color and crystals. The above outfit is my favorite holiday orchestra attire. It is the second year I have worn it, and I still love it.

The dress is by TADASHI and the neck and sleeves are embroidered with lace and hand sewn glass beads.The shoes are by Ferragamo and embellished with crystals. The red belt is from Accessorize, and the hair clips are made of crystals. 

Enjoy! 

xo, 

Maya

Blogmas Day 1: "Frosty the Snowman" Nail Tutorial!

Blogmas Day 1:

Holiday nails are the perfect way to jumpstart your mood and start feeling festive! Todays tutorial is so quick and easy, you will be amazed at how quickly you can start feeling festive. Inspired largely by "Frosty the Snowman", this is my take on a more mature way to mask a childlike spirit. 

All you will need is:

-black nail polish

-white nail polish

-frosted white, glitter nail polish

-nail dot making tool

Step 1:

Paint all your nails with a frosted clear nail lacquer. I used Sally Hansens, "Crystalline" 02. 

Step 2. 

Use your dotting tool or a tooth pick to paint little white dots all over the crystalized lacquer. 

Step 3.

Use your tooth pick of nail dotting tool to pain a small snowman on one finger. 

Voila!  You are finished. 

Enjoy!

xo,

Maya

Fall Daily: Designing with a Children's Toy?

It's always around this time of year, that knitting becomes a bit of an obsession of mine.There is something rather therapeutic about repetitive motions of needling soft yarn through my fingers while sipping a cup of hot tea. 

Currently, I discovered this children's toy that I purchased several years ago in Brussels. It creates a rope type effect, with selected yarn and currently my guilty pleasure. 

Ironically, my mom saw my toy and informed me that she also played with a similar toy when she was a child. It made me laugh, because here I thought it was new, and yet again, I have realized I was born in the wrong generation. 

Inspiring several accessories of my winter collection, here is one I recently finished. It is a black and gold, chain necklace adorned by two vintage pins, and currently my favorite. 

Currently I am working on this varying shade of moss green, and feeling rather inspired to adding some beading details. 

Will keep you posted!

xo,

Maya

Blogmas Day 21: Holiday Colors verses Winter Style

With Winter officially upon us for the third day, it has me thinking about the irony between the glamour and glitz of Christmas, verses the quiet, serene nature of Winter itself. 

Normally, I always receive my fashion cues from Nature. Whatever, the seasons are doing, regarding, textures, colors, and design, is what I go by. This sense of dressing with the movements of the Earth help me feel grounded to the Earth and in tune with the world as a part of me rather than where I live. 

However, December is the one month in in the entire year, I go against the hushed tones of a darkening Autumn, and silent Winter. I look at December as the sparkly exception to my golden fashion rule. 

Christmas is all about playful bold colors, glitz, and light. I find myself, being bold and desiring warm fiery tones, and adding sparkling glitzy accessories. It is a month of love, celebration, joy and hope. I believe it is a needed necessity for the bridge into the darkest season of the year. The entire act of adding Christmas lights, to a tree that has lost it's leaves and color, is a way we add hope and joy to  the finale of another year. 

However, this does not mean Winter is not beautiful in itself. In fact, it  is one of the most self reflecting, and  serenely beautiful. Winter style is more relaxed and toned down. I find myself craving mostly grays, black, white, and darker tones after the Holidays have passed. 

x,

Maya

Blogmas Day 15: 4 Gifts to Buy For Yourself

We all know "Christmas Times", is the most hectic and tiring time of the year. 

Between all the shopping, parties, get togethers, and the work that amasses at the end of another year, stress is at level 10. 

The chances of actually enjoying the holidays and experiencing a "warm, fuzzy, Christmas moment", is slim to none. Or is it?

For so long, I just watched the holidays rush by, adding stress upon more stress, and forgetting to take a moment for myself. The holiday was actually more work, than pleasure.  If you want to enjoy even a moment, of holiday spirit, gift yourself one of these 4 items and take a moment for yourself to enjoy it. Make yourself a hot cup of tea, snuggle in a warm blanket and watch your favorite Christmas movie. Give yourself at least 2 hrs, of "Me time". Enjoy the true spirit of the Holidays stress free. 

1. Snuggly soft, festive sweater

2. warm, fuzzy slippers

3. festive jewelry 

4. holiday socks

Blogmas Day 11: OOTD Visiting Santa

What's a girl to wear when visiting Santa? 

Firstly, comfort is always important. I had a rehearsal today, so I didn't bother with any jewelry. The dress is an ultra soft knit, and the whole look was easy and relaxed. 

My dress is actually a dress belonging to my mom. She wore it when she was a teenager and it was a gift from her younger brother. I find the whole story about the dress rather intriguing and mesmerized by amazing it still looks. The colors are not faded, and all the stitching is still perfect. 

The shoes were featured in a previous blogmas, and how I jazz up a pair of shoes. (FYI You cannot imagine how many people have stopped me to compliment the shoes. Definitely check out that post.)

The bag is from Nepal and was also featured in my Holiday Bag Collection. 

xo,

Maya

Holiday Candy!

Blogmas Day 5: Visiting Santa!

Blogmas Day 5: Visiting Santa! by maya-horikawa featuring Chanel

Chanel coat
1stdibs.com

Michael kors pants
marissacollections.com

Lip gloss
$4.91 - marksandspencer.com

Le Vernis
bloomingdales.com

Whether you believe or don't believe, visiting santa is no joking matter. To believers, Santa ranks higher than visiting the Queen, or even Mickey! What do you wear to see such a legend? First, on a practical matter, remember he lives in the North Pole and it is very cold. This time of year he will be very busy in the workshop,so dress comfortably in flat boots, and trousers. I have chosen rare flat CHANEL boots and Michael KORS lace pants. For my top, a fluffy, soft, white sweater turtle neck also by CHANEL. For my coat, I have chosen a vintage red, CHANEL trench, a magical antique belt, and peppermint CHANEL purse. For Nails, of course always go with red, and a candy cane lipgloss to show your Christmas spirit. Have fun,and remember to peak into the little windows and watch little elves crafting away! xoxo - Maya

*Twinkle Lights* Nails of the Day

Blogmas!

Dear Readers! The past couple of months have been a crazy ride for me. I would like to thank all of my followers, clients, readers who have been reading any of my articles or viewing my Lookbooks Keaton Row, Lucky Magazine Community, Pinterest, Bloglovin, Google + or wherever else you may be reading this. Joining in on the Christmas celebration and countdown to the most exciting month of the year, I will be attempting my very first Blogmas! I will be blogging everyday till christmas including DIY's, gift ideas, fashion lookbooks, and possibly some holiday OOTD! I hope you guys will join me on a very festive countdown to CHRISTMAS! xx - Maya