Fan-tastic playoff style

Charlotte residents, Panthers fans and the broken-hearts seeking vindication for Green Bay know Sunday needs no more hype; we’re excited enough on our own.

Steve Smith being well enough to play, Ric Flair acting a fool and the busy social schedule leading up to the game (FAN Friday, three-day pep rally at Epicentre, the Observer tailgate) I think you'd be hard pressed to find someone feeling less than festive.

Fan fashion will undoubtedly reach new levels this week, so whether it's a jersey or jewelry, eyeliner or full-blown body paint, I want to see what you wear to support the Panthers.

Gentlemen, this includes you.

Got pics of your favorite look from a previous Panthers tailgate? Photos of someone in your office embodying team spirit on FAN Friday? Whatever suits your style for tackling San Fran on game day, send me pictures  and I'll post them online before kickoff.

Michelle Wright lives more than two hours outside Charlotte, but a self-professed "monster" fan, she helped simplify the Panthers to-do list in a letter of encouragement she sent the team earlier this week:

"NFC South Champs? Done.. To do: Beat the 49ers."

Living so close to Raleigh, Wright said there are times when she's been the only person at the sports bar in Panther's gear. She owns a range of team paraphernalia, from snuggies and santa hats, to flasks and jewelry. Come Sunday, she'll be wearing her #89 Steve Smith jersey with black-and-teal sneakers.

But if sports gear isn't your thing...

I usually wouldn't encourage anyone to get lost in the black hole that is Polyvore. (It's a seemingly-innocent time suck that nearly rivals Pinterest, and you later realize you've been down the rabbit hole for hours.)

But in less than 10 minutes, I found a few examples of how easy it can be (for any age and apparently, weather scenario) to get your style right for Sunday.

Keep in mind: If you're headed to the stadium, you won't be able to bring the majority of the handbags after the security measures implemented this season. (Safety before style though, non?)

Switch out those snowflakes for the visage of Sir Purr and we're in business.

Or, keep it simple and follow one of the team's fave hashtags:

Need some beauty ideas?

Urban Decay has a Panther-ific eyeliner called Deep End, available locally at Sephora, among other retailers.

I was not previously familiar with the blog Makeup by Candie, but she gives a (moderately entertaining) YouTube tutorial on achieving "Carolina Panther" eyes, using mainly MAC cosmetics.

If you don't need much guidance on product selection or application technique, Charlotte-based makeup artist Lisa Her has a fast-paced video on Carolina-inspired "Catty Eyes."

For a Fan-tastic mani/pedi, it made sense to consult a CLT-centered source for the best colors in the Carolinas. Pistol Polish founder and creator L.T. Niosi Brady made a few playoff picks from her color lineup, available locally at The Boulevard at South End, or online at Pistol Polish.

"Run the World"

"'Big Bang' is perfect for Panther nail art "

"Pay Day"

Also in the Queen City, Alli - with The Daily Varnish - shows off a Pantherific "Fanicure" using Covergirl colors.

But no matter what you decide to wear on Sunday, have fun, be safe and go Panthers.

#KeepPounding

NYE: Synonymous with sparkle

What Halloween does for making skimpy outfits "acceptable" in public is what NYE does for sparkle and glitter. Party favors, decorations, outfits, hair and makeup...it's endless.

In my personal opinion, I don't know that there can such a thing as being "too"sparkly or "too much" glitter. Not on New Year's Eve.

There are a million subtle shimmer lotions and products suited for everyday use, but tonight feels like a "go big or go home" kind of scenario.

It doesn't matter how old you are or where you're at: NYE demands some festive glitz. No one is saying you've got to glitter it up a la Ke$ha, but even if you're home in your PJs, a little sparkle helps create a celebratory air.

(When it comes to putting the sparkly stuff on your actual  person, I suspect this goes without saying, but for the sake of safety first: Don't use craft glitter unless you want to end up in urgent care by morning with lacerated eyeballs and a raging skin rash.)

In a nod to the pending new year and the surrounding festivities, PopSugar Beauty shares two slightly more subtle ways to sparkle, courtesy of The Huffington Post.

Want to shop? Locally, it looks like Sally Beauty and Sephora both carry loose cosmetic glitter in an array of colors. (If you're at Sephora, they also carry Lit's Holographic glitter kits.)

Like the concept, but want to keep it super-simple? Urban Decay's "Heavy Metal" line of liquid sparkle eyeliner is vegan, cruelty-free and available in more than a half dozen colors.

So here's to a sparkling, happy and safe ushering-in of 2014 tonight. See you  next year.