Dashing through the sand….

To wrap up 2018 in style, I checked two bags and darted off to the Caribbean. Christmas on the beach is a wonderful experience, full of sun and sand and endearing, silver tinsel trimming the palm trees. A little out of place, yes – but charming and seasonal all the same. This was the sentiment that inspired my holiday looks this year. Beachy, glamorous, and festive. On paper it shouldn’t work, but I can now tell you first hand that a fur jacket on the beach has never felt so right.

And a fur jacket doesn’t just work on its own in a coastal setting without some fluidity and movement to tie the whole look in with the scenery: enter the shimmering maxi skirt! You can see some of the beautiful movement from my photos, but the pictures don’t quite do it justice. The thigh-high slit and body-hugging drape add the right va-va-voom to show off my shape. It works for any season, and can easily be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. As you can see, I’ve dressed it up for the holidays with layers of chunky gold jewelry and a staple Wardrobe-Envy-Worthy clutch. I don’t go anywhere without a statement bag and sky-high shoes. These silver and gold stacked heels are perfectly on-brand for a holiday getaway, and they help this short girl pull off a floor-length maxi with grace and ease. A simple black camisole lets the jacket and skirt shine, and a thick belt accentuates my waist (that could easily get lost under these layers!)

It may seem like a lot to take in, but I’ve carefully concocted this outfit based on balance in textures and attention to details – all the way down to my thoughtfully finger-waved ponytail. A little extra zhuzh never hurt anyone, and I always say more is more when it comes to special occasions. They don’t come very often! So dress up, show off, and wear clothes that make you happy. Life is too short to not wear things that shine.