Christmas time is here! Well almost here. With the holiday festivities starting up we know its hard to figure out what to wear; especially when it comes to warmth and comfort. Well I think we might be able to help you out with that. We got the opportunity to speak with the ever so awesome Vlogger and Fashionista Hailey Bright! Hailey is an avid traveler, gamer, and sports fanatic. She's constantly tweeting, instagramming, and blogging about all the awesome stuff she does and finds. So we were thrilled when we got a chance to ask her some questions that we think might help some of you out when it comes to those last minute fashion decisions!  

      Story Leather (SL): What does “style” mean to you? Does it always change or do you have a style that you modify through the year to fit each situation? Hailey Bright: For me, style is a form of expression- just like art. I am constantly changing my style to express how I feel. Sometimes I feel girly so I wear glittery headbands & other days I feel goth so I rock ripped black tights & high waisted shorts. I would say the only staple rule I follow at all times is to keep it classy. (Laughing) Stay Classy San Diego! Who knew a quote from Anchorman would apply in fashion? Anyways, even when I wear something edgy or risqué, I always find a way to keep it tasteful. As far as things I’m into at the moment- I adore prep school inspired ties, bold tights, & crazy socks. This winter I’m all about funky, fun accessories. The bolder the better!   SL: Speaking of style, in a recent video post you were giving some helpful hints on how to dress for holiday parties, traveling, and keeping warm. Do you want to elaborate a bit more on that? For instance, we get a lot of questions about how to layer your clothing properly. On a side note, we loved the creativity of the video. Hailey: Of course! Layering in the winter is key.I think the biggest mistake most people make when layering clothes is trying to make them too matchy-matchy. For me it’s all about mixing contrasting prints & fabrics together to create a funky chic look. I love taking textured tights and layering fun socks on top- like polka dotted socks or glittery socks. Rocking that with a pair of plaid shoes and a flowing vintage mini gives you so many more fashion-forward options than sticking to a more standard look. Plus, like I mentioned in my latest YouTube video on Holiday Outfits, there’s so many great ways to wear this style. You can pair it with a plaid top that contrasts the plaid in the shoes & if you want to stay extra warm just add a baggy Japanese inspired sweater on top.The sweater is a nice layer because it’s warm during the day, and then you can take it off at night to reveal a sexy tank- making it perfect for a girl’s night out or fun date! Ultimately, layering is all about functionality- but throw is some flare and you’re good to go!     SL: We love how you give suggestions on how to shop on a budget; what are 3 items, clothing or accessories, you think every girl or guy should have that’s wallet friendly? Hailey: I am so addicted to shopping on a budget! It’s interesting to me that people spend a lot of money on clothes- because it’s completely unnecessary- especially if you’re a girl! I mean our trends change so much every season that it makes more sense to splurge on a few staple pieces & keep everything else relatively cheap. Three budget friendly items that I think everyone should own are a pair of perfectly fitted jeans, a unique coat that goes with everything, & a dress (or top for men) that makes you feel sexy & comfortable in your own skin! Everything else you can focus on secondarily, but when you have a pair of jeans that make you look skinny or a dress that makes you feel like you’re the prettiest girl in the room- you radiate a certain air of confidence that comes from your true inner beauty & that’s priceless!   SL: With a new year comes change and for some people it’s all about the new look they create for themselves. Are there some guidelines that might be helpful when choosing a new look? Hailey: For sure! When deciding on a new look I always start with putting together a style board. I cut out pictures from magazines (or download pictures) of outfits, hairstyles, looks, & accessories that inspire me. I put the pictures on my wall and create a board I can see every day because I find that being able to easily access the looks is part of what encourages me to try them. So – I highly recommend placing those images somewhere you will actually see them (hint: the inside of your closet door is a good place). Once you put the board together, look in your closet and see what items you can re-purpose, because there are plenty of things in your current line up that can work for your new look. Anything you don’t have, I recommend buying in a certain order.First, start at Goodwill & buy whatever you can. Then hit up local thrift stores like Crossroads Trading Company or Buffalo Exchange. After that, I’d recommend going to affordable boutiques and end your shopping trip at the mall. Luckily this time of year there are a lot of sales at the mall, so you should be able to score some great deals! I guarantee if you follow this shopping method- you will be able to buy an entire wardrobe for the same cost as 2 items from Bloomingdales!   SL: It’s also no mystery that you love traveling. With all the holiday traveling what are some travel items that you think everyone should have and what are some of your personal favorites? Hailey: (Laughing) You’re right! It’s no mystery how much I love traveling, since I’m constantly tweeting about it! I think everyone needs basic organizational & compact travel items. One of my personal favorites is the fold-up travel toothbrush. It’s small and easy to throw in any bag for a quick breath refresher. Also, I always travel with a pair of non-bulky tennis shoes, a zip-up hoodie that I can easily take off in the security line, & a lightweight laptop. For women, the item I recommend most is the Snapin Travel Jewelry Case. I bought one randomly at Bed, Bath, & Beyond a few months ago- and it was the best $20 I've spent in a long time! The Snapin Case is a small jewelry organizer that has many foldout compartments for necklaces, earrings, and such. It also has common room on the top and bottom for larger statement necklaces and bracelets. I like this organizer over other ones I've used because it’s made of a soft fabric so you can stuff it into any bag, which is key when traveling.It’s such a simple item- but has saved me space & hours of untangling jewelry!   SL: Our last question would be about your gamer side, we see you posting about “Assassin’s Creed” and “Call of Duty”, do you have any outfit ideas for our gamer girls and guys out there that will let them express themselves in a creative way? Hailey: Yes! I love buying handmade video game or movie related items from Etsy! I recently bought a Hunger Games Catching Fire Skirt that has Mockingjays on it. I've been wearing it for weeks! I also purchased a neat ring bracelet with the same symbol (which has a loop that goes around your finger and connects to a bracelet around your wrist). Items like this are great if you aren't super creative on your own- but want to own something that your friends won’t have. If you’re a more artsy person, I recommend hand painting a pair of converse with the Call of Duty logo or using a nail art pen to deck out your nails with the Assassin’s Creed symbol. Small things like this give any wardrobe a cool, geeky touch! SL: Thank you so much for taking some time out to help give some helpful holiday/everyday hints on fashion. Any last words before we head off for the Holidays? Hailey: Using fashion properly is like wearing makeup properly- it’s a tool to mold you into whatever you want to be. I have many outfits that cost less than $50 for the entire thing head to toe. It’s possible to spend very little money & create your own sense of style that is much cooler than the cookie cutter style you see everyone else wearing. I swear by Goodwill, thrift stores, & sales at shops like AEO & Hollister. They have literally become my best friends this year!!     We wanted to thank Hailey again for taking the time give us these awesome Fashion gems. To see all the other awesome stuff that Hailey does you can follow her on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, and Instagram. Hailey also has a Buzznet column where she compiles all this amazing stuff into one. From all of us at Story Leather we wanted to wish everyone a safe holiday season and to always keep telling us your stories. As Hailey said it, "Keep it classy". Find Jonathan on Google+