It’s getting to look a lot like Christmas everywhere you go. And the temps are feeling a lot like winter. At least the past few days when the thermometer dipped below freezing not twice but thrice. Time to bring out the heavy artillery – sweaters and boots and coats. But do we have to sacrifice style for warmth? Nope! Comfort and style can work together in tandem. It’s all in the details. And it’s never been a better time to brighten a gloomy day with pops of color. But how to wear bold colors? Aren’t bright colors reserved for summer? It’s all too easy to reach for a column of black once winter rolls into town. But if you paid attention to the runways this year, bright and bold colors are abundant. Yellows, blues, reds, pinks are all on prominent display. So let’s spice up a wintry day with a bold shade of purple.

Hello December! It’s good to see you again and all the festivities that come along with you. Winter officially arrives on Tuesday, December 21st, with Christmas hot on its heels a mere four days later. And we can’t forget about New Year’s Eve that begins on December 31st and ends at the stroke of midnight. Yes, it’s time to get it in gear and enjoy all you have to offer, from trimming our Christmas tree, hosting a cookie exchange, and inviting friends and family into our homes for hot chocolate or an espresso martini.

How to wear bold colors

Tomorrow I head to Atlanta for a little fun with my daughter-in-law. First up is the Dowtown Abbey exhibit, sure to please. Then it’s on to a little shopping spree, dinner with one of my kiddos who live in Atlanta and lunch the following day. So what to wear? What to pack for an overnight trip to the Big Peach? I’m going for broke and sporting a bold shade of purple. This cropped sweater from Banana Republic has mixed reviews based on the length of the sweater. But boxy and oversized is on trend this year, so I gave this sweater a go. And I like it. I really like it. To circumvent the cropped top being well cropped, I simply layered the sweater over an oversized white shirt. Proportions are also key when wearing a boxy top. So out came a slim pair of grey flannel pants (similar here, here, and here) from Ralph Lauren. Tailored trousers go perfectly with a relaxed sweater – structure and slouch paired together work. Grey suede boots (old, similar here, here, and here) keep my tootsies warm and add texture.

It’s coat season, so my trusty classic grey coat (old, similar here and here) is back in action. Don’t forget to pop a colorful plaid scarf over the top to add a little pizazz! Nothing brightens your day faster than bright, bold colors.

pants (similar here, here, and here) | shirt | sweater | boots (old, similar here, here, and here) | coat (old, similar here and here) | scarf | handbag

pants (similar here, here, and here) | shirt | sweater | boots (old, similar here, here, and here) | coat (old, similar here and here) | scarf | handbag

It’s Wednesday, ladies, time to put a smile on someone’s face including yours.

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About The Author

Beth Djalali

is the Founder and CEO of Style at a Certain Age. She writes Sundays-Fridays on all topics ranging from fashion, health, wellness, home design and more.

She’s 66, 5’8, and size 8.

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