Winter Romance

In partnership with Zappos, I styled these Paige Denim jeans and Freebird boots for the holidays!

I first styled these jeans and boots when all the leaves were just starting to change and blow away, an ode to fall. In the passing month, those changing leaves dried up and blew away, a threat of snow rolled in, the skies got darker and the air colder. Our home filled with light and warmth from a glowing Christmas tree and the gourds that sat on the counters all found a new home in the compost pile. Such is the changing of the seasons and the ushering in of the most magical time of year - the holidays. 

The holidays, for me, are the most anticipated time of the year. I store eleven months of anticipation, joy, and excitement and funnel them all into this glittering month that holds the promise, every day, of snowflakes and packages arriving on the doorstep. I start to bundle - romantic scarves piling higher, tall boots creeping up my knees, warm socks climbing up my jeans, and cable knit sweaters decorating every single day. I start racing home to pick up presents and scramble inside to wrap them among Christmas music and a faux fireplace crackling away on the TV. My joy for December is boundless. Like Buddy the Elf, I also let everyone know. 

I think, in the midst of all the joy of giving, I often get a bit wardrobe-lost. Last year I resorted to an old dress and old sweater for my Christmas party. I wore some heels that were experiencing a slow, PNW-rain disintegration. I was wearing the same, solo pair of velvet jeans from last year. And it usually makes me feel, amongst all the gorgeous lights and gifts, kind of frumpy. This year, I am so happy to have these dark Paige jeans from Zappos (they're seriously more than shoes, check them out) in my wardrobe - the absolute opposite of a frumpy jean. They've become a go-to for all holiday looks - a birthday party with friends sipping wine in candlelight, a late night happy hour complete with bubbly cava and red wine cocktails, a holiday brunch in the city. They're Paige, one of my most trusted jean brands, and the brand believes that the best story you can make and share is the one of your own life, and they're passionate about designing pieces that reflect and celebrate it. Welcome to my holiday season, jeans.

The boots? I am sure you're getting tired of them as the new guest poster on this blog (but can you? can you get tired of these boots?), but they've become another staple, from Zappos, that literally elevates my day. With the jeans, they've accompanied me to hushed wine bars with succulents hanging from the ceiling, to the store to shop for miniature Christmas trees for the stoop, to a dark restaurant with friends, safe from the cold. All of Freebird's collection of romantic, dark, and unique pieces are amazingly crafted (just like those jeans) and inspired by vintage Americana. 

How do you keep your style elevated in the holiday season when the cold creeps in? What carries you from work event to party and back into the cold to walk home amongst the stars?

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.