Help me style cowboy boots for the holidays

Just when I thought my holiday party ensemble was squared away my husband threw me a curve ball. The theme of his company Christmas party is "boots, chaps, and cowboy hats." Doesn't scream for a cocktail dress, does it? Luckily, I do already own a pair of nice brown cowboy boots. But how to style them in a festive way that doesn't make me look like a Texas sorority girl or quirky southern bridesmaid from a pinterest board?

I could go full-on casual and wear jeans, the boots, and buy a plaid shirt of some sort. Probably the most cost-effective option, although I would need ideas to make it more festive.

Or, I could kick up the dressiness a notch and wear a sparkly sweater like Angie suggested in her last ensemble post.

I could even try a denim shirt dress or bright shift dress and tights.

What do you ladies think? Any other ideas?

Lands' End

Women's Denim Shirt Dress

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J.Crew

Double-zip shift dress

$138.00 $99.99

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Neiman Marcus

Rib-Trim Metallic Sweater

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9 years ago

kellygirl

Veteran

Fun theme! I'd prefer that over cocktail attire any day of the week but then again I am most comfortable in casual. If it were me, I'd wear a sparkly sweater or sweatshirt over plaid button down with skinnies tucked into boots. If you want to up the dressiness, you could swap out the bottoms for a pencil skirt. I'd also probably see if I could add some bling with a necklace or dangly earring.

thimblelina

(website)

Why not try the boots with a sparkly sweater like Angie suggested? You might be surprised & you would gain a bona fide holiday piece for different activities this season!

Oops! Repeated kelly... Great minds...

Janet

Ooh, this is right up my alley (says the girl who has been wearing cowboy boots for two weeks straight). I'd either go for the cowboy boots with slim dark jeans and a sparkly fluid top, as others have suggested, or maybe try the boots with a simple dress in a silhouette you like. In the past I've worn my tan cowboy boots with a simple wrap dress, and the effect is nice for casualizing the dress. I added a denim jacket for times when I needed a little more warmth (this was a spring or summer outfit), but that might also help lend a little western flair without looking all-out cowgirl. Just an idea...

shiny

Ooh, fun challenge!

I like the idea of cowboy boots with a cocktail dress that is on the shorter side - i.e., above the knee length.

If you need a topper I'd add a black coated denim jacket - more dressy than your usual denim jacket. Something like this:

http://www1.bloomingdales.com/.....m?ID=11348

Or short sparkly skirt, with a casual-luxe sweater - something like this:

http://www.loft.com/metallic-j.....catid=catl

or this...

http://bananarepublic.gap.com/.....=184438012

or this..

http://bananarepublic.gap.com/.....=183093002

Ooh this is cute:
http://bananarepublic.gap.com/.....=182727022

Meredith

kellygirl: Agreed, this is a fun theme and should be a nice change from the typical company party. I hadn't thought of layering the plaid under the sparkly sweater, but that's a great way of further acknowledging the theme while keeping things a bit dressy.

thimblelina, Janet: The hunt for a sparkly top is on. Janet, the wrap dress idea is another great thought. I do have a navy wrap, but it could be too summer. Will need to experiment.

Shiny, will respond when my battery charges!

crutcher

I would go for the shiny blingy outfit rather than a denim skirt/dress...The brown boots are so me...I have a pair of Mz Moos that I have to limit wear or I would wear them every day...Can't wait to hear how you solved this style dilemma...
The navy wrap dress sounds interesting...Maybe topped with a denim jacket...
Isn't this fun!.....

MuseumGal

I'd wear a nice a dress and the cowboy boots, actually.

shiny: I love that coated denim jacket. I do not actually own a denim jacket because they never feel like me, but I think something like that might work. The skirts are super cute, but because I am tall I think they might be too short. But it wouldn't hurt to pop into BR and try.

crutcher: Thanks for weighing in. Agreed the denim dress option is not the best. It would feel like a costume. I love my brown boots too, but do not wear them nearly as much as I should!

MuseumGal: I love to wear cowboy boots with dresses. So fun. I just want to make sure the dress isn't too nice in the even everyone else shows up in jeans.

Keep the suggestions coming, everyone. In the meantime, I'm ordering sparkly sweater and dress options and will try to check out the local B&M stores this week. I will report back with pictures!

Caro

Active Member

I think a shift dress or a clingy sweater dress could work nicely. Like a red or black dress that comes just to the knee, or a little above, and the boots. I wouldn't worry too much about looking goofy-- it is a theme party so it's not your fault! You can accessorize with some silver and turquoise jewelry to bring it together, if the dress isn't western-y. I don't know what kind of company he works for, but I feel like a denim shirt dress would be too casual (as would jeans and plaid?). Sounds like fun anyway!

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