A Month of Holiday Outfits: Inspiration - Saddleback Leather Co.

This post includes a review of Saddleback Leather Co. I was gifted the bag for a review of their product and appropriate links in the post. No money was exchanged for this review.

I decided to create this holiday outfit around a small bucket bag I was gifted by Saddleback Leather Co. I thought it would be the perfect piece to build an outfit around that might include some Christmas shopping or lunch with my hubby or a girlfriend. It also made me think about the idea that not everyone wants to look overly festive. Many women (and men) would rather not be known as the ugly Christmas sweater winners at their holiday work parties, and like a more understated, classic look revolving around winter shades and textures.

Let’s start with the bag, since that is the focus of this holiday outfit. Saddleback Leather Co. has a very interesting story, and you would be remiss if you didn’t hop on over to their website and read it. Click on the link here. I always enjoy hearing about how these companies get started, and what keeps them going. There motto is “They’ll Fight Over it When You’re Dead”.

Leather is expensive, there is no way around it, and quality leather goods are even more expensive, but leather is also beautiful, durable, long lasting, and it smells so good, especially when you first take it out of the package, or walk into a leather store!

This cute, mini bucket bag is the perfect size for those days when you just need a few items. I can easily fit my wallet, keys, a small notebook and a few other odds and ends like tissues, hand sanitizer, and lip gloss. This bag has a sturdy drawstring to cinch in the top, so things don’t spill out, a back pocket that would be perfect for your phone, and an adjustable strap that clips on with stout clips that won’t break or slip off. The only thing I would like added is a snap or magnet to keep the flap secure. Overall, this is a durable, stylish bag that works perfectly as a cross body type, keeping it close and keeping your hands free.

I chose my outfit based on the bag color. The website calls this color Chestnut, but to me it has a bit of a burgundy vibe. I chose my burgundy, corduroy, cropped vest that was a last holiday season purchase from Maurices.

I really like gray with burgundy, so I opted for this a.n.a. tunic button down from JC Penney that is a few years old.

To add just a tiny bit of holiday pizzazz I added this short Christmas colored neck scarf. This was a second hand find.

My skinny jeans are a thrifted Lane Bryant pair. Don’t judge me for wearing skinny jeans. I still love them best for tucking in to tall boots.

My SO suede boots were a hand-me-over from my oldest daughter.

I hope you enjoyed this outfit and this introduction to Saddleback Leather Co. In addition to the amazing bags they carry, that have other leather products as well. They are also involved in a ministry called Love 41. You can read more about that by clicking on the link. If you are looking for quality leather products that come with a 100 year warranty, for that special someone who has everything check out Saddleback.

Have a great week!

A Month of Holiday Outfits: Inspiration - Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

I thought it would be fun to style a few outfits around a few specific Christmas themed points of inspiration like movies, books, music or even colors. Today’s outfit revolves around a sweatshirt I found recently and couldn’t wait to style.

Home Alone is a series of movies revolving around Kevin McCallister played by Macaulay Culkin. Kevin has the misfortune of being left at home alone in the first movie while his family flies to France, not realizing he isn’t with them. While they are gone Kevin must defend his home agains two bumbling, but mean robbers who are trying to steal from all the homes left empty over the holidays. In the second movie, the family, once again, get separated from Kevin at the airport, where he unwittingly boards a flight for New York City instead of the proper flight to Florida. As in the first movie, chaos ensues when Kevin runs into the same two robbers, who have escaped from jail and are looking to steal from a unique toy store that is giving their profits to a local orphanage. I love both movies.

The quote on this sweatshirt was from an old black and white movie Kevin is watching in the hotel room he gets on his dad’s credit card. The movie wasn’t a real film, but was specifically created for the Home Alone 2 movie. Here is the scene containing the quote.

I think this is one of the funnier scenes from the movie and Tim Curry, does such a great job looking mortified and terrified.

I decided to pair the bright red Holiday Time sweatshirt with this Lu La Roe skirt that was gifted to me a number of years ago. I thought the bright red in the skirt went well with the bright red sweatshirt. I have a few of these pieces in my closet, but have not purchased any more. They no longer really suit my style, but I kept a few of the ones I liked, this skirt being one of them.

To keep this look more my style, I added the fuzzy, faux fur bomber. This No Boundaries jacket was a Christmas gift from my spouse a few years ago. It is a warm, classy piece and can either dress up or dress down a look.

I love the contrast of feminine and masculine, girly with and edge, so I also added my second hand Guess moto boots, and grabbed my sparkly Cosmopolitan clutch

I kept my accessories very simple with a silver cross necklace and a recently thrifted cross charm bracelet.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you like the Home Alone movies? Do you like to wear red and green at Christmas time?

I hope you enjoyed this post and that it gets you thinking differently about items in your own closet. What pieces could you put together to create a similar look, but still keep it true to your own style?

I’m including a few sweatshirts and long sleeve tees for some holiday inspiration. These are affiliate shopping links. All opinions are my own. Enjoy and have a great week.