Sexy Tough

Sponsored by Zappos -- Opinions by me

Remember last week when I told you guys that I bought an outfit to wear the fashion show that I attended, but that it didn't arrive on time so I had to wear something else? Well, I never have to worry about a package not arriving on time when I shop at Zappos. If I had shopped online at Zappos, then I would have their reliable promise of fast, free shipping. What took two weeks to arrive to me from that other site, would have taken closer to seven days from Zappos.

And I also recently encountered another online shopping issue on a different site. I ordered a pair of shorts, but they were too small so I wanted to return them. But the site was going to charge me to pay for return shipping, which ended up being 1/3 of the price of the shorts! This, of course, is something that I would not have worried about if I had shopped at Zappos since they offer free return shipping, world class customer service and a 365 day return policy as well.

Clearly, the moral of the story is that I should always go to Zappos first when shopping online for any occasion. When it comes to today's look, I did just that! You might have noticed that I've been wearing a lot of sneakers lately. With the sunny spring weather, I've opted for more outdoorsy footwear that's both chic and comfortable, which is exactly what I think this look represents. My new Killington Chukka shoes from Timberland provide a great way for me to hit the modern trail in a look that's both sexy and tough.

I've known about the Timberland brand for years and years, but I viewed them as a male-specific brand. But the Timberland Spring line is really providing some amazingly versatile options for women. My Killington Chukka shoes come in grey full grain (seen here), black grain and white grain. I recommend getting them half a size up so you can easily wear them with socks. And did I mention the inside mesh lining is made with 50% recycled plastic bottles?

So I wouldn't go hiking in this look, but I'd definitely go to a farmer's market or take a stroll downtown with the dogs in these Timberlands. And I specifically wanted to style them with a fitted dress to show that it's fun to mix hard and soft. Just because you're wearing a dress doesn't mean you have to wear high heels. And if you're wearing sneakers or boots, you're not required to pair them with camo pants. Have fun mixing things up! Plus, these Timberlands are thoughtfully crafted and made of eco-conscious materials to create feminine silhouettes. That's why you can still look on-trend and fashion-forward while getting all the performance benefits of a cushioned footbed, flexibility and breath-ability.

Are you sexy tough? Do you mix hard and soft pieces?

On the Muse: | Timberland Killington Chukka c/o Zappos | My Style Recipe Dress c/o Chicwish (extra 20% off select styles with code TRE20 until 5/31) | H&M woven scarf (similar) |

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