Happy Holidays, everyone! It is really hard to believe it is mid-December already. I am still trying to desperately catch up to everything at home since being back from our September road trip and Thanksgiving trip to visit my sister. There is just never enough time to catch up to everything, it seems. I start to feel extremely frustrated, which also hinders my ability to enjoy the warm glow of the holidays.
Keeping up with personal traditions helps ground me and keep me focused. Again this year, Sean and I joined our friend Nigel in attending the Festival of Trees in Portland. It is usually the first holiday event we attend in December and can help set a festive tone. Continuing in the post, I review this cheery but casual ensemble and show you some of the holiday cheer from this year's festival.
-As part of the Kiyonna Blogger Brigade, I was gifted the skirt in this post. All opinions on the item are 100% my own.-
Knowing I wanted to wear something a bit Christmasy but casual, I was excited to style this red Shimmer Circle Skirt for the tree event. The fabric is a stretchy lace overlay with a subtle sheen that is definitely more noticeable in person than in photos. It is quite beautiful but not over the top. The lining is a thicker stretchy material that lends weight to the garment, but isn't so thick that the skirt feels uncomfortably warm. It hangs beautifully and sits on the body very well.
I ordered this skirt in a 2X because I saw that it was made similarly to the Matinee Lace Midi Skirt I wore back in May. The Matinee skirt had a looser knit band that wasn't very fitted to the body, which made me feel the need to wear it belted only. While the Shimmer Skirt has a similar wide band at the top, the actual construction of the band is more fitted to the body. The stretchy lining and lace that make up the band is not loose at all. This is great in terms of keeping the skirt in place, not needing a belt, etc. The 2X did fit me, but it is a little bit more tight in the tummy region than I had anticipated. This is because I ordered a size down. So with this skirt, feel confident in ordering your normal size. I still had an adequate amount of room in the hips, though I am wearing the band higher up my torso in an empire silhouette. (For reference, I am 5'9" and my measurements are 52/50/59. I normally wear a 24 - 3X in Kiyonna.)
Still, the skirt was comfortable and easy to wear. It is a versatile piece that can get you through any season. In keeping things a bit casual, I added my dark wash denim shirt. Rolling up the sleeves and tying the shirt at the waist give a more laid-back vibe. A big, chunky statement necklace, leggings, and ankle boots round out my look. I felt awesome in my three Cs - cute, comfortable, and confident!
As I stated earlier, the Festival of Trees is a yearly tradition. Many companies and individuals donate wreaths and trees decorated for the season or according to a certain theme they have chosen. It is so much fun to see how these items were decorated. I always come away with more crafting and decorating inspiration. Each year, these items are auctioned off to raise money for local charities and people in need.
Dark Wash Denim Shirt - Torrid
Jeweled Statement Necklace - Charming Charlie
Plaza Float Boot - Clarks via Amazon.com
Active Leggings - Lane Bryant
Along with the regular-sized trees, there are mini trees in a variety of themes and colors. The larger trees also come with prizes and presents in line with the theme for those that win the auctions. I love the little details of design in all the elements.
What festivities mark the start of the holidays for you? Do you have any traditions you would like to share? Do you have a favorite holiday outfit? I'd love to hear about you!
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