The holidays are in full swing, and your schedule is packed with festive activities. The neighbor’s annual soirée, your (and your spouse’s) office parties, a cookie exchange, holiday lunch with your girlfriends, and happy hour with your networking group. And then there’s the family fun – Christmas Eve at the in-laws, Hanukkah nights with the cousins, and the day that you’re entertaining 20 people at your place. That’s a lot to pack into the few weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, right?
And with a hectic social calendar, you may be fretting about what to wear. You’re probably spending time with some people that you only see once or twice a year and you want to make a good impression (especially at those work parties), and be comfortable at the same time. But the last thing that you have time for is shopping for new clothes, let alone putting a lot of energy into your outfits. The good news is that there are easy and chic outfit formulas that can get you through this time of year in true holiday style – and some of these might already be sitting in your closet. Check out 8 outfits that I’m loving for the season, and enjoy the holidays!
SWEATER & SEQUIN SKIRT
I love separates as a just-as-dressy option to the ubiquitous cocktail dress – and nothing is more festive than sequins! While an overall sequined dress may feel a little too ‘Vegas’ for your plans, a sequined skirt can hit just the right note of holiday cheer. To balance all that shine, add a cozy sweater as a simple (and unexpected) top. And the best part? You’ll wear the sweater all season long with jeans, and the skirt is a dressed up staple that you can pair with a silk tank and sandals in the summer.
WEAR THIS TO: Your best friend’s annual Christmas party.
Sequin skirt by Veronica Beard. Sweater and mules by Banana Republic. Earrings by Alexis Bittar. Bag by Ted Baker.
THE UN-JUMPSUIT
Many of my clients love a jumpsuit, for the obvious reasons – it’s pants when they don’t want to wear a dress, and it’s basically a ‘one and done’ outfit. But some clients balk at the mere idea of a jumpsuit, because of the inherent challenge of going to the bathroom. So, the way to get the look of a jumpsuit without any toilet drama is with a matching top and pants. And the benefits are twofold – a top and pants can be a much easier fit than a jumpsuit (especially if you’re a different size top and bottom), and it creates a long and lean silhouette with a continuous column of color (read this for more about a column of color). The fabric you choose is up to you – you can subtly shine in silk or satin, keep it low key in matte jersey or feel the season in velvet.
WEAR THIS TO: A much needed holiday date night.
Satin top and pants by Rebecca Taylor. Heels by Loeffler Randall. Jewelry by Alexis Bittar. Clutch by Nina.
SOLID DRESS & METALLIC ACCESSORIES
When time is precious and the party is just hours away, a dress is always an easy option. But instead of hiding in the background in black, how about pulling out that bold color that’s hiding in the back of your closet? And then, don’t even worry about your accessories – grab your go-with-everything metallic heels, an über-versatile metallic clutch and then pile on the jewels. This is the time of year when a lot of sparkle is just right. (Click here to read why I love metallic accessories at any time of year.)
WEAR THIS TO: Your holiday work party, when you don’t mind stealing the spotlight.
Dress by Veronica Beard. Heels by Malone Souliers. Clutch by Rebecca Minkoff. Jewelry by Kendra Scott.
EMBELLISHED TOP & WIDE LEG PANTS
When you’re the host of the party, you need an outfit that’s easy to move around in – but you still want to look just as festive and fashionable as your guests. So, here’s the solution – an embellished top and wide leg pants. The top does all the work for the outfit, whether you choose lace or sequins or beading – and the pants ensure that you can navigate from kitchen to dinner table and back. Just add a fancy flat, and you’re good to go!
WEAR THIS TO: The party at your place.
Top by Rebecca Taylor. Pants, flats and earrings by Banana Republic. Glasses by Warby Parker.
VELVET BLAZER & JEANS
Velvet is synonymous with holiday dressing, and nothing is more versatile than a velvet blazer. You can toss it over a cocktail dress just as easily as you can wear it with jeans – so why not wear it to a holiday lunch? A velvet blazer and silky blouse are a natural pairing, and combined with cropped jeans and booties, it’s the perfect outfit for when you know your friends are dressing up a bit, but you’re not sure how much. And if you love a velvet blazer, check out all the ways you can wear it here.
WEAR THIS TO: Your social group’s holiday brunch.
Velvet blazer by Alice & Olivia. Top, jeans, booties and earrings by Banana Republic.
SWEATER DRESS & BOOTS
A sweater dress is a fall and winter staple. Dress it up, dress it down, it can probably take you anywhere – click here to see what I mean (along with a few other versatile holiday styles). Which is why it’s the ideal item when more than one holiday gathering is on your agenda. Just add boots and you’re all set (and if you’re concerned about being cold, wear a long sleeve t-shirt and heavy tights as cozy under layers).
WEAR THIS TO: A day that starts with delivering gifts and ends with dinner - and you don’t have time to change.
Sweater dress and scarf by Banana Republic. Boots by Vince Camuto. Jewelry by Lizzie Fortunato.
FUR VEST & TURTLENECK
To beat the chill this season, channel your inner snow bunny with a faux-fur vest! The vest is essentially the ‘star’ of your outfit, so keep the rest of your look simple (if you want to create other outfits with a ‘star’ piece, read this). Pick any shade of neutral faux-fur and throw it over black layers – a slim turtleneck and coated black jeans that look a little like leather. It’s an outfit that’s just as easy as blue jeans and a puffy vest, but with a lot more winter wow.
WEAR THIS TO: Caroling (if it’s not too cold) or the caroling after-party.
Faux-fur vest by Velvet by Graham & Spencer. Turtleneck and jeans by Banana Republic. Booties by Vince Camuto. Necklace by Madewell.
COZY SWEATER & ELEVATED LEGGINGS
When your plans are less about drinks and dinner with adults and more about cookies and hot chocolate with the kids, nothing beats a cozy sweater. And this season, I’m loving ‘elevated leggings’ as what to wear with it. What are ‘elevated leggings’? They’re leggings in a luxurious fabric – like faux-suede or leather or velvet. They’re a bit more stylish than regular cotton leggings, which makes them just right for the season. Add knee-high boots and enjoy some casual downtime.
WEAR THIS TO: A cookie exchange that ends up with movies on the couch.
Sweater by Madewell. Leggings by Lyssé. Boots by Cole Haan. Jewelry by Tory Burch.
Do you know someone who deserves to feel better about how they look? Contact me to discuss a Gift of Style – a truly unique gift that they’ll remember forever. I can tailor a Gift of Style to their individual needs (closet audit, shopping & styling), so that they can start the new decade loving what they see in the mirror.