When I was growing up, Christmas morning was a big deal. I would always be the first one up… if I got any sleep at all. I would wake my parents and my brother, and we would rush downstairs to see what Santa brought us.
My mom always did a mix of practical and frivolous gifts. The big unopened gifts under the tree were toys we really wanted, or any large item that made a nice presentation for Christmas tree pictures. She wrapped our other presents, and they usually included some practical big ticket items like winter clothes, coats, boots, and snowsuits.
Now that I’m an adult, I do the same for my kids, and when my mom asks me for my Christmas wish list, I give her a lot of the same types of ideas…like this Patagonia Down Sweater Full-Zip Hooded Jacket and these Sorel Joan Uptown Chelsea Boots from Backcountry.
Patagonia Down Sweater Full-Zip Hooded Jacket // prAna Milani V-Neck Sweater // Sorel Joan Uptown Chelsea Boots // Smartwool Liner Gloves // Maui Jim Starfish Polarized Sunglasses (option)
This lightweight down jacket is as practical as it is cute. It has a rain-repellent finish, and it’s a lot warmer than it looks, thanks to the 800-fill down. I also love the contoured fit and the attached hood that has a single-pull adjustable drawstring to keep out the wind.
The zipper pockets are perfect for stowing your stuff, and it runs true to size. (I’m wearing a small.) This jacket comes in several colors, including this pretty Rosehip.
Backcountry also has some great clothing items, like this grey prAna Milani V-Neck Sweater. The organic cotton and merino wool blend is lightweight and comfortable, and the waffle texture keeps it casual.
I always love to find a quality pair of winter boots under the Christmas tree, and these Sorel Chelsea Boots are a stylish take on a traditional waterproof boot. The molded rubber outsole gives good traction in wet and icy weather, and the pigskin lining and EVA footbed provide a comfortable fit. These boots run true to size; I’m wearing the 8.
Whenever I post outfits with skinny jeans and ankle boots, I get questions about socks. These Smartwool Cable Crew Socks are lightweight but super warm, and I chose a charcoal grey color to blend in with the boots and jeans to keep a long, lean leg line.
And don’t forget about the accessories. These Smartwool gloves make a great stocking stuffer. They’re touchscreen friendly, and they keep your hands toasty warm.
Sunglasses also make a great holiday gift. These Maui Jim Starfish Polarized Sunglasses are the perfect mix of style and function. Their super thin glass is lightweight and comfortable, and the PolarizedPlus2 lenses eliminate glare while boosting colors. I hear these are low inventory, so this pair is similar.
I also love the comfortable fit and the stylish cat eye tortoiseshell frames. They come in a protective carrying case along with a drawstring bag that doubles as a cleaning cloth.
If you need some practical and functional holiday gift ideas, Backcountry has quality gear & apparel for everyone on your list. You can also save 20% off one full-price item. The discount will appear in cart for all Expedition Perks members. In addition to that, you can use code JOLYNNE15 to save 15% off your first order (some exclusions apply, and the two offers can’t be combined).
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photos: Alison Cornell
22 Responses
Love that jacket color and it looks great on you.
Yes I’m mixed up too but knew today was Veterans day. Thanks for your service to all the Veterans.
And see, I forgot that too! 🤦🏻♀️
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this outfit on you. The color of the jacket is soooo pretty. I think the price on those boots is great. I just don’t think I’d get much use out of such a high heel/wedge. But, I love them.
PS I too thought today was Friday and I keep thinking Thanksgiving is sooner that it is. This week has gone slower for me too.
The jacket is super cute! You look great! I rarely need the warmth unless I’m headed up to the mountains but I might invest in that one as it looks like it could last me a long time. (I haven’t been skiing in 10 years, but we might head up to our local mountains for a few days over Christmas break.)
I totally feel mixed up on my days this week too! Since today is a holiday I met friends for Happy Hour last night and we all said it felt like a Friday. So it’s weird to go back to work for one day tomorrow. Our weather the next couple days is forecasted to be in the high 80s with the Santa Ana winds blowing (I love this time in the fall here cuz it’s still chilly in the morning, warm in the afternoon and then chilly again after 6:00pm). My boys just left to go surfing this morning. ☀️🌊
Have a wonderful day!
Your weather sounds amazing. It’s been a nice week here, but we are getting rain tomorrow. Boo.
Rat’s! The jacket in rose is already sold out in a small; love the color. The whole outfit looks great, love the gray sweater too.
I know, I was so bummed when I saw that it sold out. It was fully stocked when I picked it to feature.
Seems like the rose/mauve colors are really popular this year; been looking for that color or navy. Will keep checking s/b restocked hopefully.
Love the entire outfit! I think I need to get a seriously warm puffer like the one you show. I noticed you didn’t link the jeans. Are they sold out?
The jeans are right here: https://shopstyle.it/l/bAfvE
I love the rosehip color! So gorgeous. Unfortunately, Patagonia doesn’t fit me all that well, so I’ll have to admire from a distance.
I have had those boots in black for a few years. They are the most comfortable boots. I wore them all over Rome where I walked 8 to 10 miles per day. They are 4 or 5 years old, still look like new and I wear them multiple times per week.
That is great to hear!
I’ve been off all week as well. Exactly like you – past couple of weeks flew and this one has dragged on and feeling sluggish to boot! I have a Northface Thermoball that I love and have worn for at least 5 years. I’m struggling now because all of these styles are becoming too tight in the hips when zipped. If you come across a style that is better for pear shapes, please share. (I’m a little pearier than you. Ha!)
I love this whole outfit! I’m a big fan of Patagonia and Prana, as a general rule, and I love pink, gray and black together. Question about the Prana sweater. How do you feel about the neckline? On the website, it looks like a pretty dramatic v, and I worry it will be too low on me. But on you, it looks fine. Thoughts?
It’s not low at all. That’s what I like about it.
Hi! Suddenly I’m not getting your daily emails (the last two days.) Anyone else having that problem? I just found them in my junk mail. Not sure if you changed something?
Thank you!
Yes, I did switch newsletter providers. Hopefully if you move them to your inbox, your email host will know you want to read them. Make sure to mark not spam, and you can always add my email to your contacts. That often helps: [email protected].
Love the jacket too. The color looks fantastic on you. I also have found your emails in my junk folder for the last two days. It is strange since I’ve never had that happen before.
I’m sorry, I did switch newsletter providers. Hopefully if you move it to your inbox, your email host will know you want to read them. Make sure to mark not spam, and you can always add my email to your contacts. That often helps: [email protected].