This is my last Boden post of the year and so you won’t be surprised to hear that I’m looking at Christmas. Like every retailer, Boden have condensed their partywear collection this year because, of course, there won’t be as many (if any) parties. However, as I’ve already said, there are those of us who are craving a reason to dress up and Christmas itself gives us all the excuses we need. If you follow my Instagram feed you’ll know that I have a little personal project going on which involves dressing in muted colours throughout November so that next month feels even more special. It really is proving to me the impact that clothes have on my state of mind. I’m longing for colour but it means that everything I wear from 1st December onwards will give me a lift. When we move into January I’ll instinctively head for restful but hopeful blush pinks and soft greys to match my pared down, new year state of mind. Controlling the micro-detail of things like this has really helped me to boost my mood this year. For today though with Christmas in mind, let me show you my Christmas 2020 Boden edit – and there’s 15% off at the moment if you use code 6T2C.
I don’t need any more dresses this year so I’ve stuck to trouser outfits, combining separates that will work for looks that aren’t Christmas specific. I really believe that if the promised vaccine comes true, next year is going to be a real party year as people release their pent up need for good times with the family and friends that they haven’t seen for so long. After a year spent in ‘at home’ clothes there will be joy in finery but of course it will be hard to buy in the shops in, say, April so I’m making sure I have a small arsenal now.
Christmas 2020 Boden edit – a high/low mix
I’m beginning with an option for people who like a more subtle approach to party chic. Black velvet trousers are a wardrobe classic that will work hard to elevate the things you already have in your wardrobe – blouses, cashmere, a simple silk shirt. They also work to anchor any embellishment on the upper half such as sequin tops or lace. These are a 7/8 length meaning that they work well to show off a party shoe or boot and on me they’re true to size.
Navy velvet blazer (true to size, also available in ruby red); Black velvet trousers (true to size, also available in forest green or pinky purple); Black and off white disrupted breton (true to size); Navy sequin shoes with black velvet bow (true to size, also available in pink – see below); Smoke and clear glass earrings (also available in green and pink)
You’ll see that I’ve boosted the black with the Parisian’s favourite colour combination – navy. Now I found this jacket hidden quite deep in the Boden site, I don’t know why they aren’t promoting it more because it’s a real wardrobe hero and cuts like this are hard to find. It has a vintage feel to it with the large lapels, the big covered buttons and the turned back, bracelet length cuffs. It’s a light, unstructured jacket so it feels less formal than velvet usually does, it’s almost like a cardigan and so it would be lovely to wear over a camisole. The length means it would sit well over a midi or wide leg trousers too – and it’s also available in a rich ruby red colour.
Navy velvet blazer (true to size, also available in ruby red); Black velvet trousers (true to size, also available in forest green or pinky purple); Black and off white disrupted breton (true to size)
And to make this whole look a little more casual I’ve added a breton rather than a sparkly top. I’ve been waiting for this one to come in for ages, I love the disrupted stripe which is a subtle play on the classic breton that I haven’t seen before. To finish the whole thing off, I’m wearing Boden’s party earrings in the smoke and clear glass finish. If you’re really not feeling like dressing up much for Christmas you could just add these to a jumper and jeans and you’re done – although I’d give you extra points for the sequinned shoes, which you saw me wearing in last month’s Boden edit too.
Navy velvet blazer (true to size, also available in ruby red); Black velvet trousers (true to size, also available in forest green or pinky purple); Black and off white disrupted breton (true to size); Smoke and clear glass earrings (also available in green and pink)
Christmas 2020 Boden edit – festive walk chic
I think there will be a lot of Christmas walks on the agenda this year, some serious ones that require waterproofs and walking boots, others just a gentle stroll out, hopefully to the local pub. We’ll be doing both but it’s the latter that I’ve dressed for here and as you can see, I’m twinning with Teddy who is proudly sporting his Christmas gift from Boden. And yes… it will have to be washed… a lot… but Mr MC does the laundry in our house so I’m not going to worry about that.
Boiled wool coat (true to size, also available in turquoise, navy and maroon); Fluffy grey cable knit jumper (true to size, also available in soft green); Brown mock croc boots (also available in black suede); Fairisle scarf; Fairisle dog jumper; Jeans past season
“Never work with children or animals”… and the boys and Ted give me equal trouble. I’m wearing the matching cosy (non itchy) fairisle scarf but you could go the whole hog and add the bobble hat too.
Boiled wool coat (true to size, also available in turquoise, navy and maroon); Fluffy grey cable knit jumper (true to size, also available in soft green); Brown mock croc boots (also available in black suede); Fairisle scarf; Fairisle dog jumper
He was happy when he had the spotlight to himself. So here you go Ted – your big moment!
Moving onto the rest of my outfit, I’ve been looking for an ivory coat for a few winters now but I haven’t been able to find a wearable one. I knew that if I went for a flat weave I’d never wear it because I’d be worried about picking up dirt.
Boiled wool coat (true to size, also available in turquoise, navy and maroon); Fluffy grey cable knit jumper (true to size, also available in soft green); Brown mock croc boots (also available in black suede); Fairisle scarf
This one is boiled wool and the texture will make it more durable – plus it’s a deeper, rice pudding colour rather than pale ivory.
Boiled wool coat (true to size, also available in turquoise, navy and maroon); Brown mock croc boots (also available in black suede); Fairisle scarf
The jumper has my favourite kind of winter neckline – the effect of a roll neck without the heat of a double fold. It’s supersoft and it doesn’t itch. From the pictures onsite I thought it was going to be very fitted so I sized up to a 14 for a looser look. As it happens I think my usual 12 would have had a better shape and been just right – it’s a really good cut for wearing with jeans. The ivory tipped cuffs make it a little more unusual than an ordinary grey jumper and you could fold them to add emphasis to a bracelet or watch.
Fluffy grey cable knit jumper (true to size, also available in soft green)
The boots are in a timeless shiny mid-brown mock croc which gives them a ‘go with anything’ benefit but with a more polished finish than standard buff brown. The low heel supports the arch of your foot and the western style dip at the front of the shin is a great leg-lengthening trick.
Brown mock croc boots (also available in black suede)
Christmas 2020 Boden edit – party (even if it’s just a kitchen disco)
I had to finish with a flourish so I’ve saved the jazziest outfit until last. This year I’ve gone from being the women who never wore pattern to not being able to get enough of it. As I said in Tuesday’s post, embellishment is everywhere; you see it in interiors and in style as a reaction to the low key lives we’ve had to live. When I put this outfit on it immediately made me wish wistfully for an after works drinks do… but they’ll come round again next year. In the meantime we had the joyful delivery of a disco ball for the kitchen this week. It was an early Christmas gift from Mr MC because I’d been having a bit of a moan about the fact that the only time I’ve danced this year has been while I’ve been cooking. So he declared that if Midlifechic can’t go to the disco, the disco will have to come to Midlifechic – I feel like I have my very own genie of the lamp! The boys have decided that it’s a definitive sign of our midlife crisis but I bet there will be an evening over Christmas where at least one of them will join in. And I will wear this – it’s another Christmas Eve / Christmas Day contender.
Embellished top (also available in ivory or navy without embellishment); Jacquard trousers; Sequin shoes (also available in navy)
The heavens opened as we took these photos and I had to take shelter so the picture above is a bit dark but you can really see the colours here. I find the combination of green and pink really refreshing for this time of year – they’re colours that are usually kept for spring. The fact that the blouse has a high neck means I’d be quite happy to wear it for a daytime event such as a trip to the panto (fingers crossed) – a lower cut neckline with this level of embellishment might have been a bit ‘de trop’. It will work with jeans too… or tucked into a midi-skirt or wide leg crops.
Embellished top (also available in ivory or navy without embellishment); Jacquard trousers; Sequin shoes (also available in navy)
I sized up to a 14 in the trousers because past experience has taught me that brocade can be a bit restrictive to wear as there isn’t any stretch. As it happens they’re true to size so a 12 would have been better. Bear in mind that they’re full length rather than 7/8. The blue sequin shoes would have pulled out the navy in the print but I couldn’t resist trying the pink ones to echo the contrast band at the bottom. I know people will say that they can’t do bare feet at Christmas but you really wouldn’t be wandering around outside in these shoes so I say they’ll be fine.
And so I hope you’ve enjoyed that Christmas 2020 Boden edit. As I said, it brings 2020 to a close in terms of my posts with them. In a year that has seen retailers significantly reducing their support of blogs I want to say a huge thank you to Boden. Without posts like this I wouldn’t be able to pay the Midlifechic bills and so the fact that they stand behind me and you then support them in return (which of course encourages them to keep coming back) really does make all the difference.
I’ll be moving on to my Christmas gift posts over the next two weeks. I’m trying to time them so that you can to make the most of the offers that retailers are hinting at so even if you’re raring to go, it might be worth holding off just a little bit longer. Have a lovely weekend… one more week of lockdown ticked off… not long to go now.
Disclosure: ‘Christmas 2020 Boden edit – outfit ideas’ was commissioned by Boden but as always I had full control of the outfits selected and the ensuing review. Once again please continue to support the brands who have stood by me this year and enabled me to keep on bringing you this blog.
Retail offers this weekend
Selfridges – Christmas Comes Early – 20% off here
Harvey Nichols – 15% off beauty here with code HNBEAUTY15 at checkout
Liberty – £50 off here when you spend £200 on clothing or accessories
Anthropologie – 25% off here – clothing and accessories – ENDS TONIGHT (Friday 13th November)
M&S – 30% off selected womenswear here including Autograph
Recent posts you may have missed
Christmas 2020 – how to make it feel special at home
Midlife lately – catching up after half term
The 4 coats you need for a lockdown winter
Celebrating a 50th birthday in Edinburgh between lockdowns
New autumn outfit updates – and midlife thoughts
AW20 Boden edit and midlife lately here
Easy ways to make your home cosy for Winter
Uniqlo denim – jeans review and try-on
Working from home – elevating the basics
How it feels when your child leaves for university – and new outfits
Capsule wardrobe refresher – preparing for AW2020
Outfit ideas for Autumn 2020 – what to wear next
Special places – and outfits – in Turkey
Travelling during Covid-19 – Kalkan, Turkey #1
Athleisure – how to style it when you’re over 40
Disclosure: as with the majority of blogs, products featured on Midlifechic sometimes (but not always) include affiliate links. This means that if you choose to make a purchase, you are helping to support the site because a small referral commission may be paid. This contributes towards hosting fees, software costs, site maintenance and other plug-ins. Midlifechic could not exist without these small payments, so every contribution makes a big difference.
