Winter Comfort

This post features gifted items and is made in partnership with Elizabeth Suzann.

The chill of winter has settled in, and as a homebody and introvert, these hushed days fill me up. Each cold, grey day invites me to soften and slow down a little more than the last. When days are short and sunlight is scarce, I find myself with the opportunity to create my own warm fuzzies. I take comfort in small rituals — enjoying an extra mug of tea, putting on a soothing playlist, lighting candles at sunset to ease the transition from day to night, and reaching for the coziest clothes in my closet.

Soft folds, dynamic textures, and the contrast of earthy fiber paired with elegant silhouettes — some of my favorite clothes this time of year are from Elizabeth Suzann. When I wear an ES piece, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of appreciation for a garment that feels so luxurious on my skin AND for the way it was made, with respect for the planet + people.

Over the past few years, ES has worked to develop a fully traceable, climate-beneficial, domestic supply chain — from ranch to mill — for their custom wool/alpaca fabric.

Liz herself says it best: “It’s been several years since we offered cold weather garments. In 2017, we attempted to transition our wool supply chain to be fully traceable and 100% domestic, with animal welfare standards and production methods in line with our values. We worked a little too quickly, and weren’t able to pull it off. This year, we are incredibly proud to offer wool the right way. We started over with everything we learned, and the new material we’ve developed is traceable, domestic, and Climate Beneficial™.”

You can read more about their wool and sourcing process here.

Today, I’ve got 5 cozy winter looks in store for you, featuring a few Elizabeth Suzann pieces from their Signature Collection and Cold Weather Collection.

Look 1

Wearing: ES Florence Pants (fawn wool, size small, regular length), Sneakers, Sweater *ES items gifted

These wool Florence Pants have become an important part of my winter wardrobe. My jeans are going more or less unworn this winter, as I often find myself reaching for these woolies over jeans — they are so much warmer and softer.

After wearing them for the last two months, I can safely say I highly recommend these pants. Thanks to their elegant high-rise, wide-leg shape, the impression is chic, but the feeling is comfort. They are great for my work-from-home lifestyle (since they make me feel put together and “dressed” while still being super comfortable at home), but they would be ideal for an office setting too (since the look is all professional, but the feel is familiar and comfortable, like a favorite blanket).

That’s the beauty of Elizabeth Suzann pieces — they are made to be lived in. I can wear them to wallow on the couch for an evening, and then wear them out the next morning, as elegant and chic as anything. They blend style, comfort, and durability effortlessly, allowing them to serve as both at-home clothes and going-out clothes.

Look 2

Wearing: ES Florence Pant (charcoal wool, size small, regular length), ES Clyde Trench (charcoal wool, size extra small), similar Turtleneck, Bag, Mules *ES items gifted

Here’s another pair of the wool Florence Pants in charcoal this time. I love how sleek they look. Aaron and I went to a play the other night, and I wore this exact outfit (except I swapped the mules for heeled boots) and I can’t tell you how delightfully comfortable I felt. Feeling comfortable in my clothes helps me feel comfortable out in the world.

If you’ve got a furry friend, you’ll like this: The charcoal wool has a beautiful fleck/fuzziness to it, which means pet hair doesn’t show up much. Happy news for this dog mom.

As far as the itch factor goes, I did find the charcoal wool to feel more “textured” than the fawn wool — the fabric feels amazing and not itchy on my legs, but I do find the waistband to be a little itchy, so I simply tuck in an undershirt and it feels great.

Look 3

Wearing: ES Andy Trouser (moss silk, size small, regular length), ES Scarf (charcoal wool), similar sweater, Socks, Mules *ES items gifted

I’ve fallen in love with this moss color from Elizabeth Suzann. I held off trying it for quite a while, unsure if it would work with my skin tone, but now it’s my favorite neutral — as you can tell, I’m really into wearing it head to toe right now. But if you’re interested in trying the moss color in a smaller dose, I’d recommend starting with pants, like these Andys. It’s is a stunning neutral for pants.

If it’s extra chilly, I wear fleece lined leggings underneath my Andys, and I’d wear boots instead of socks and mules. But I’ve really gotten into socks and mules as of late. I like the comfort aesthetic.

This scarf is such a versatile object. It may seem simple, but like all ES pieces, you understand it once you feel it with your own hands. The delicate fraying on the edges, the light yet substantial weight of the fabric, and the generous size (that makes it easy to wear as a shawl or scarf) — all those little details come together to make it truly special.

Look 4

 

Wearing: ES Clyde Vest (fawn wool, size extra small), ES Andy Pant (ivory silk, size small, regular length), Crop Top, Mules *ES items gifted

Here’s another pair of Andys, in ivory silk this time. I originally got these pants for dressy holiday events — they were a hit over the holiday season! But I’m also loving them styled with a comfort aesthetic. I like to style them with an untucked crop top, to highlight the high rise and those stunning pleats.

And did you know that all Elizabeth Suzann silk is machine washable? No dry cleaning needed. It’s one of the things I love most about ES. Even though these white silk pants seem high maintenance, they are actually easy care.

(One quick note: The ivory Andys aren’t see through, but you do need to wear underwear that matches your skin tone.)

The Clyde Vest in wool has been a constant comfort to me over the winter. I’ll wear it as a house coat to keep me extra warm — it’s the best because it doesn’t feel bulky or restrict your movement if you’re cooking or doing little chores. Plus those deep pockets make it easy to keep daily items near — I usually have my phone, lip balm, and a pencil in my pocket.

If it’s really cold out, I use my Clyde Vest as a coat liner — I’ll layer it underneath my coat to keep my middle toasty. It’s a way to get the warmth of two coats, without the bulk.

Look 5

Wearing: ES Georgia Midi Dress (moss silk, size OS), Cardigan, Socks, Sneakers *ES items gifted

Deep in winter, once the thrill of cold weather dressing has worn off, there are times when you just don’t want to look layered. You want to wear something understated, and let the simplicity of the piece shine, instead of seeing a bunch of layers. When you don’t want the layered look, reach for a long, loose dress — and layer the warmth underneath. I’ll start with fleece lined leggings and a wool cami or long sleeve wool undershirt. Depending on the dress, I might put a long slip over all of that (one in silk or a light wool would provide a little extra warmth).

For this particular look with the Georgia Midi Dress, I finished with comfortable sneakers, wool socks, and a toasty warm oversized cardigan in the same color as the dress (to play into that simplicity).  If it was extra chilly, I’d wear tall boots and knee high wool socks for even more warmth.

With all those warm layers hidden safely underneath, the stunning simplicity of the dress take center stage.

• • •

And there you have it!

Now I’d love to hear from you: How do you add light and warmth to these winter days? Do you have any winter rituals to share? Do you have any Elizabeth Suzann pieces in your wardrobe? Which one is your favorite, and how do you style it for the winter?