Red Velveteen Blazer + Bootcut Jeans

As much as I like wearing something new to a party, I especially love having a classic dressy piece in my closet that adds a festive flair to an outfit year after year. Do you have pieces like that in your closet? I’ve been wearing this deep red velveteen blazer for dressy and holiday outings for at least 8 years now, maybe more. So today I’m showing you how I recently paired it with a simple turtleneck and bootcut jeans for a festive but casual look.

I originally bought this dark red velveteen blazer to wear with my sheer leopard print blouse (seen in this post) and a pair of dressy brown slacks at a Christmas speaking event years ago. Since then I’ve worn it many times on the platform, paired with everything from black slacks to dresses to frayed blue jeans. This is a truly versatile classic, and well worth whatever price I paid for it almost a decade ago.

Because I tend to wear mostly skinny jeans or straight leg jeans, I ordered these barely bootcut jeans from Talbots specifically for those of you who prefer a wider leg opening. I was hoping they would be long enough for me to wear with heels, which is definitely my preferred shoe pairing for bootcut jeans. Unfortunately, they are not long enough. Keep in mind, I’m 5’8″, so if you’re even one inch shorter they would probably work beautifully with heels for you.

Bootcut jeans with heels create a very long, lean leg look, as long as the jeans almost hit the ground. You definitely do not want the hem of your bootcut jeans to be more than about 3/4″ above the ground, at the very most. When bootcut jeans are too short – hitting an inch or more above the ground, they actually cause your legs to look shorter. So just don’t do that.

While my red blazer is from many seasons ago, Talbots has a very similar one in stock right now. This year’s version of my velveteen blazer comes in classic red, black, carriage green and fall fuchsia – all very pretty and iconic. I noticed while writing this post that the red and black have the best size selection available, and I’d say these are the more classic choices anyhow. If you’re looking for a timeless piece that will elevate most any outfit year after year, this velveteen blazer would make a worthwhile investment to add to your wardrobe. And right now it’s 40% off with code FRIENDS40, so this is the time to invest!

I slipped the jacket off to show you the ribbed turtleneck I was wearing under it. Another classic wardrobe essential, this turtleneck keeps its shape well, feels comfortable and runs true to size. I’m wearing the ivory, but it’s available in eight equally beautiful and versatile shades.

Okay, back to the jeans just a minute. I provided you the dreaded “back view” because I wanted you to see that these jeans feature pockets of a nice size and placement in the back. In order not to make your rump appear larger than life, it’s best to choose jeans with fairly small pockets that do not extend fully across the width of the area. Large, wide pockets definitely broaden your rump! Always check the rear view of jeans or any pants before buying.

Also, these jeans have a high waist, which is truly the most flattering on most women. If you have a short torso, you’d simply not tuck your shirt in, as most of us don’t these days anyhow.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, these jeans are absolutely amazingly comfortable. Like I did not want to take them off! So if you’re looking for some bootcut jeans – and these are “barely bootcut” – you really should check these out. I returned them only because I want longer bootcut jeans that I can wear with heels. And unfortunately they do not have my size (6) in the long.

Plus, these jeans are 40% off with code FRIENDS40.

To accessorize this iconic look I wanted to play on the richness of the jacket with gold and garnet jewelry. I’m wearing the gold layering necklace, which is now only available in silver, but this garnet and gold double layer necklace would also look lovely. I love these poinsettia earrings. (But don’t bother buying this beautiful holiday starburst bracelet. It was way too big. Hung midway down my hand. And I don’t have thin wrists!) On my wrist I’m wearing the gold shimmer bangle, also available in silver.

I love adding a splash of leopard print whenever possible. And this denim, off white and deep red ensemble is the perfect backdrop for my leopard print foldover clutch. My nails are painted Not So Bora Bora-ing Pink in the OPI Iconic Infinite Shine Collection.

Actually, the plan had been to wear my leopard print block heels with this ensemble, but since that didn’t work I used my leopard print clutch. You can also wear flats with bootleg jeans, but it’s best if they have a pointy toe. That helps to elongate the leg just a tad at least. So I went with my gold driving moccasins. Evidently these gold flats are sold out, but the moccasins come in several other great shades, too.

Shop the Look Here:

Talbots is hosting their first ever Holiday Friends & Family sale, so everything is at least 40% off the prices you see listed here with code FRIENDS40.

I hope you enjoyed this post and perhaps got a little inspiration for a more casual but still elegant holiday look. I do highly recommend these high rise bootcut jeans, as long as you are either 5’7″ or below or you prefer to wear yours with flats. You can read more about how to pair your shoes with different cuts of jeans in this post. Oh, and you’ll learn all about proper lengths for different cuts of pants and jeans in this post.

Don’t Miss a Post!

You can subscribe here to receive a short email each time I post, that way you’ll never miss a thing. Plus, you’ll be registered for my monthly random drawing for a $25 gift card to a favorite retailer. I provide my subscribers with great freebies, too. I’d love to have you join the Dressed for My Day community.

Thank you so much for spending part of your day here.

Blessed for My Day

How do you recognize maturity when you see it? Grey hair and wrinkles? A serious nature? Or is there more to growing up? Yesterday in church we learned from Philippians 3:12-16 that spiritual maturity is marked by taking personal responsibility for growing in Christ-likeness. Responsibility. That’s a pretty good measure of maturity, I think.

We also learned that while none of us have arrived at full maturity or Christ-likeness yet, we should all be making progress in that direction. How do you gauge such progress? I often ask myself if I’ve been handling life’s ups and downs any differently than I did, say, a year ago. Am I any more patient with people? Do I hold my tongue a little more often and easily? Do I look out for others’ needs more consistently instead of just thinking of myself? Am I any more prone to sacrifice or give generously or behave selflessly than I used to?

As the new year approaches, let’s take some time to evaluate whether or not we are maturing any spiritually. And then let’s take the personal responsibility for moving in that direction even more.

Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. ~ Philippians 3:12-16