‘Tis the season for tree trimming parties, holiday cocktails with the girls, and all kinds of other festivities that require looking cute and keeping warm. The freezing temps completely snuck up on me this year, so I’ve been desperately stocking my closet with cozy pieces I can layer — sweaters, vests, fuzzy socks, and tall boots. I’m super pumped to be partnering with Gap on its legendary Styld.by project this year that’s all about styling your Gap pieces with other items in your wardrobe to create a look that’s uniquely you. If you haven’t already, take a moment to get inspired by the other looks in the feed that are styled by bloggers and creatives from all around the world…
I topped a chunky fair isle turtleneck with this fur-trimmed down puffer vest to meet-up with my book club friends for a holiday cookie swap. You can’t really beat a winter afternoon spent with your favorite girls talking good books over homemade sweets, no? I love that this layered look is incredibly cozy without being overly bulky, and I can easily shed the vest once I’m indoors.
When wearing a long chunky sweater, I almost always balance the volume on top with a sleek pair of black leggings and over-the-knee boots to keep things streamlined. Plus it’s a look that lets me curl up on the couch and almost feel like I’m wearing pajamas, which is perfect for a cozy book club gathering. Are you guys in a book club? I’d love to hear about how often you meet, what you love about it, and if you’re currently reading anything fantastic…
And whether you’re in a book club or not, it’s always a good idea to host a cookie swap with your girl friends around the holidays. I included a really fun cookie swap gathering in my book with recipes, decor ideas, and the party game plan, but in a nutshell, here’s how mine works: each guest brings a big batch of their favorite homemade holiday cookies with recipe cards to pass around, and at the party, are given a “to-go” box in which they collect a sampling of everyone else’s signature treats. After a couple hours of mixing and mingling, the ladies leave with a box of two dozen or so different kinds of cookies to sample, and (if they’re feeling generous) share with family and friends! 
It’s a delicious, and slightly dangerous, way to kick off the holidays, and guests are guaranteed to discover a few new recipes that are destined to become family traditions.
*photos by Wynn Myers
