Winter-Must- Haves

This is your Festivity Style Guide reporting for duty! Today has been a bright and sunny day here at Festivity Boutique. Though the sun is out and shining, the air is still crisp, which is very appropriate for our first style topic, "Winter-Must-Haves." I am very excited about this subject because winter accessories are some of my favorites.

I spent a good portion of my life living on Miami Beach where winter was, as anyone north of Florida would describe it, non-existent. When I moved to Atlanta —yes, I know Atlanta isn’t the coldest city in the U.S., but it’s colder than Miami —I learned to embrace winter. And winter accessories! When winter comes around, there is nothing more exciting than a cute pair of boots, textured tights, a leather bomber jacket, and—the cherry on top of this fashion sundae—a scarf. Did I mention that all these items are on our Festivity list of “Winter-Must-Haves”? Well, they are!

I invite you to check out our list of “Winter-Must-Haves” and our favorite winter styles as I demonstrate them using our eclectic Festivity merchandise.

Must-Have Number 1: A Leather Bomber Jacket



9221 Brown Faux Leather Jacket $98
5950 Ark & Co Black Dress $76
8208 Black Knee High Boots $62
3997 Silver Braided Hoop Earring $30

Aww… The bomber jacket. No longer are leather jackets for pilots and greasers. A leather jacket adds instant toughness to any outfit. My favorite combination is this little black dress and bronze leather jacket. Together, the contrasting styles and colors create a harmonious bond between rugged and feminine. The metal detailing in the dress also provides a great transition between the two pieces. A leather jacket is an instantaneous way of changing the look of any dress. If you have a formal dress that you are dying to wear, throw on a leather jacket to create a more casual look.



9221 Brown Faux Leather Jacket $98
5432 Black Sleeveless Ruffle Shirt $76
7632 Miss Me Dark Crystal Boot Cut Jean $98
9718 Black Ballet Flats $28
1529 Gold Geometric Earring $20

Here is another great example of how to wear this year's bomber jacket. Create a more day-to-day look with your bomber by pairing it with jeans and a basic black top. Choosing a top with ruffles will give the outfit a softer feel. Avoid looking too rugged by choosing at least one ultra feminine piece to pair with your bomber.



Must-Have Number 2: A Fitted Blazer



7587 Black Boyfriend Blazer $115
5997 Black & White Ruffle Dress $76
97 Grey Beaded Necklace $35
8211 Black Peep Toe Bootie $52
3997 Sunburst Earring $30

Nothing is sexier than feminine menswear, in my eyes. The great thing about a fitted blazer is that you can wear it from the office straight to a party. This is a great piece for mixing and matching. In the ensemble above I have created a night look with a fitted black blazer. The blazer is a chic alternative to a wrap or cardigan. I love this combination of the manly, yet feminine, blazer with a girly party dress.



7587 Black Boyfriend Blazer $115
707 Black & Blue Collective Concepts Satin Top $58
7530 Rock Revival Black Patti Jean $158
9718 Black Ballet Flats $28
3997 Black Pave Rhinestone Earring $30

Here is another example of how to wear a fitted blazer. A blazer definitely dresses up any article of clothing. Pair it with a t-shirt and jeans and you have an MTV Awards worthy outfit. The great thing about the blazer in this ensemble is that you can wear the top and jeans for a more casual look and add the blazer as you head out for the evening. A fitted blazer adds clean lines and instant style making it a must-have.


Must-Have Number 3: Statement Earrings



(top row left to right)
3997 Black Pave Rhinestone Earring $30
3997 Sunburst Earring $30
3997 Silver Twisted Hoop Earring $30
1529 Indian Half Moon Earring $20
3997 Black and Gold Stone Earring $30
1529 Gold Geometric Earring $20

These are some of my favorite statement earrings at Festivity. The earrings range from $20-$30 dollars. The great thing about statement earrings is they add instant flair to any outfit with little effort.

Must-Have Number 4: Boots



(top row left to right)
Venetian Black Ruffle Boot $58
Black Tulip Boot $54
Venetian Brown Studded Boot $60

(bottom row left to right)
Black Rain kiss boot $62
Brown Tulip Boot $54
Brown Rain Kiss Boot $62

Boots! Boots! Boots! I have an addiction; in fact I think all my fellow employees have a boot addiction. Ever since boots started to dominate winter fashion, it seems that there is something to look forward to when dressing for the cold winter months. Boots are a winter staple and they seem to have a strong hold in winter fashion. Boots are an investment, so don't make rash decisions when opening your wallet. Here I have provided some of the many styles of boots available at Festivity, ranging from flat to ruffled. Boots pair well with a multitude of looks. One of my favorite looks, “The Riding Look” is created by tucking jeans into boots. I recommend using skinny jeans because it looks cleaner. If you don't have skinny jeans, role your jeans up a little and tuck them in the boot. Rolling them makes them more taught, so they don't look sloppy. I also love the combination of a feminine dress and a rustic looking boot. The beauty of boots is they can instantly change the way an outfit looks, and how you feel in it. Wear a boot with a heel to feel more feminine and dressy. A flat boot is more casual and practical to wear when standing for a long time. I wear heels when I blog and flats when I work. Boots are sure to dominate winter fashion for seasons to come, so I suggest start investing.

Must-Have Number 5: Waist Belt



1016 Ark and Co.Cream Dress $82
9081 Black Thick- Waisted Belt $18

The belted-waist-look has been popular for a couple of seasons now. The great thing about this retro inspired look is that it accentuates our feminine shape. Embrace your waist! This look is great for dresses that need detail, shape, color, or even a makeover. The important thing to remember when executing this look is finding the right width and length of belt. If you are thick in the waist area, a wider belt creates a more slimming look. For those who have a slimmer waist, a skinny belt is preferable. I recommend having both a brown and black belt in your closet. The right belt can be worn casual or dressy with high waisted skirts or trousers, tunics, or sweater dresses.

Must-Have Number 6: Textured Tights



1681 Music Legs style 7070 black tights $15

I absolutely love textured tights! Textured tights add dimension, depth, and instant allure to any outfit. The great thing about these tights is that they can be subtle and/or make a statement. Just like statement earrings, textured tights don't require a lot of effort to pull an outfit together. Textured tights are great with a sweater dress and boots or with an lbd for a night on the town. There are so many different patterns and colors that you can easily create different looks. If you are going for a bold look, choose a more obvious texture and pattern. However, be sure not to wear excessive patterns and textures unless you are headed to a Halloween party! For a subtle look, choose a pattern that is minimalistic and a dress or skirt that is simplistic. Textured tights are instant chic, however, use them wisely.

Must-Have Number 7: A Scarf

7589 Red Zipper Pea Coat $115
7912 Black Ruffle Scarf $22



Last but not least on our list is, scarves. Scarves are both functional and aesthetic. I have provided four different ways of wearing a scarf. In this first demonstration we have wrapped the scarf two times around the neck, useful for staying warm.



In this second demonstration the scarf is open. This is a useful way to wear a scarf if you want to add just a touch of color or if you are hot and don't want it wrapped around your neck.



This demonstration is a great way to wear long scarves. It keeps you warm and provides a full look. Fold your scarf in half, wrap it around your neck, then make a loop with one end and tuck the loose end into the loop.



This last look is simple and a good way to wear a scarf if you do not want too much fabric around your neck. Simply wrap the scarf around your neck and tie it in a loose simple knot.


I hope this fashion guide to “Winter-Must Haves” has inspired you to embrace our next winter surge. Be sure to read next week’s post on “How to Update your LBD,” so that you are prepared for a romantic night on the town this Valentine’s Day. Please feel free to make comments and suggestions on things you have seen and read in this post or things you would like to hear about.

“Fashions fade, style is eternal.”
Yves Saint Laurent quotes (French fashion designer, b.1940)

Signing Out,

Your Festivity Style Guide xoxo