Angie's happy colour is tomato red. (Well, one of her happy colours, anyway).

And everybody knows that (one of) mine is blue.

So here's what I wore yesterday for a walk to campus and a long day of meetings with students. It also fits Angie's light blue and dark red ensemble.

• J. Crew cashmere oversized sweater (also not pilling yet after a year -- yay, J. Crew)
• Gap velvet "leggings"
• Burgundy plaid scarf
• Aquatalia boots
• Sparkly brooch that you can't really see
• Ruby studs & brighter lippie.

Outwear was my Vince Camuto colour block mixed media pea coat (still going strong 3 years in), hat, gloves, and the cranberry red muffler.

Why did it feel festive? Soft, luxe textures (cashmere, velvet). A bit of red (scarf, earrings, lips). The muffler has big sentimental associations - made by my deceased sister-in-law for me more than a decade ago and makes me remember her in a happier time.

As for the "leggings" -- they're actually almost identical to the BR side-zip pants, with a similar fit. (High five, Una, Greyscale, and Merwoman -- I think you said they were more like pants, too, and recommended them to me.) As with the BR side zip pants, I had to size up from my usual GAP/ BR size, but I will wear them more like ponte pants since that is how they feel to me. They are stretchy but definitely structured.

I got both blue and burgundy. The burgundy ones creep down on me a bit more than the blue. But both pair work much better on me than typical leggings.