I have to give credit where credit is due, Monica found this J Crew Factory Elephant Jacquard Mini Skirt first. But, as soon as I saw it, I knew it would also be coming home with me. (PSA—it’s 50% off!)

I loved the contrast of the bright gold on black, and have been a huge elephant fan my whole life ever since my Dad took me to the National Zoo’s Elephant House at age four. I loved that I was the same age as the youngest elephant there at the time. Did you know that elephants experience emotion similar to humans, and mourn the loss of their herd members?

Nat Geo facts aside, I’m excited to say today, I’ve teamed up with Monica to show you how to wear this beautiful number two different ways. 

Hopefully this is a helpful post in case a) you and your best friend also have similar taste, or b) you struggle with styling statement pieces like this one in multiple ways. I know I definitely tend to wear bold and bright pieces like this one the same way over and over—and over—again, so injecting new life into them by mixing up the way I style them really helps me get my money’s worth. 

Since I have so many holiday parties coming up I’ll need outfits for, I really wanted to make sure I could make this elephant skirt extra festive. After all, it’s hard to compete with the multitude of ugly Christmas sweaters that show up at these shindigs.

Luckily I’ve found a solution that doesn’t require a trip to Goodwill or to the back of your mother’s closet: Gracia Jewelry’s line of custom-made statement necklaces. Seriously, y’all, Cat designs some of the most beautiful statement necklaces that elevate any outfit. Handmade in Canada, they ship quickly enough that you can have them here for any event you have coming up or for any stylish ladies on your nice list.

I opted for her Red Drop Statement Necklace, and love how nicely it plays with the gold in the skirt. It’s a fun holiday outfit, without being too costume-like, and one that easily transitions from day to night.

If you’ve been a long-time reader, you was ecstatic when J Crew Factory made my favorite high-heel sandals in black. I wore them in nude on repeat all summer, and the heel is low enough that you can wear these bad boys all day. I loved pairing them with this skirt, because it meant I didn’t have to wear tights.

I abhor tights, and would rather suffer in the cold for a few minutes than wear them. However, I know it’s only a matter of time before I succumb to sweater tights and black booties to this skirt, similar to how Monica styled it, to make it work during the cold winter months.

But hey, at least I’ll have a tribe of elephants to cheer me up.

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Photos by Monica