Whether you’re ready or not, the holiday season is here. And even if your gatherings are smaller than they’ve been in the past, you’re still probably doing more than you did last year. Which means you may have a full calendar – friends’ holiday parties, a work lunch, brunch with your girlfriends, family coming over, etc. And that’s all in the next two weeks!
And you may want to take the opportunity to dress up, but not too much. You want to feel festive and add a little glamour into your holiday style. But you definitely don’t want to make it complicated.
The good news is that you don’t need an entire dressy wardrobe to get through the holidays. You can feel stylish all season with just a handful of dressy items in your closet. And if you choose these items well, you can mix and match them with each other (and with the rest of your wardrobe).
Check out my list of the 5 dressy pieces that you need in your closet and how you can outfit them for different occasions. With just these 5 pieces, you’ll be ready for all of your holiday events. And you can also use these pieces for fancy (or not so fancy) occasions year round.
DRESSY BLANK SLATE DRESS
What’s a blank slate dress? It’s how I refer to a versatile dress that you can wear a bunch of different ways. Change out your third piece, switch up your accessories and you have a completely different outfit.
The secret to choosing a dressy blank slate dress is selecting one that’s not too complicated. Solids are easier - but a subtle print can work. Keep the details simple - but that doesn’t mean boring. Fabric choice is key - something with sheen or shine feels dressy enough, but is still wearable.
My favorite kind of dressy blank slate dress is a solid color in a luxurious fabric. It transcends occasions and seasons - and that’s exactly what you’re looking for from a dressy blank slate dress. If you love the idea of a blank slate dress, check out this one that I outfitted for work, date night and weekend errands.
A dressy blank slate dress is the ideal choice for a New Year’s Eve bash. Just add your go-to wrap, a pop color heel and an attention-getting necklace and you’re good to go.
The great thing about a dressy blank slate dress is that you can tone it down for a more subdued occasion. So, even if your year end plans are less about parties and more about nice dinners with friends, it still works. Simply throw on your favorite leather jacket, booties and fun jewelry.
Slip dress by Tibi. Pink heels by Christian Louboutin. Multicolor necklace by Lavish. Watch by Movado. Leather jacket by Alice + Olivia. Boots by Steve Madden. Gold & black necklace by All Saints. Bracelet by Karine Sultan.
DRESSY THIRD PIECE
If you’ve read my blog before (or follow me on social media), you know how much I love a third piece. A third piece – aka a jacket or blazer – is a true ‘outfit completer’. It pulls together your look like nothing else can and adds instant polish. And there’s no time this is truer than at the holidays.
Your dressy third piece definitely depends on your personal style. For you, it may be an embellished bomber. For someone else, it may be a drapey satin jacket. But my absolute favorite dressy third piece is a velvet blazer. It feels so right for the season and you can throw it over everything from a cocktail dress to a pretty blouse to a sweater and jeans. The highest priority is its versatility – it needs to work as part of a bunch of different outfits.
For a little inspiration, read this to see how you can wear a sequin jacket year round and this for more ways to wear a velvet blazer over the holidays.
A dressy third piece shifts the jumpsuit that you wore to the office into festive holiday territory. It’s as easy as that.
You can add some holiday glamour even when you’re just meeting friends for lunch. Throw a dressy third piece over jeans and a t-shirt and you’ve totally transformed your look.
Velvet blazer by Rag & Bone. Jumpsuit by Halogen. Silver & black earrings by Nordstrom. Black heels by Steven Madden. Silver clutch by Nina. White t-shirt by Alice + Olivia. Jeans by Frame. Snake print flats by Botkier. Silver earrings by Kate Spade. Navy bag by House of Want.
EMBELLISHED TOP
If you have nothing else dressy in your closet, the one piece you need is an embellished top. Wear it with black pants or a cute skirt or jeans, depending on the occasion. And again – what it looks like depends on your own taste and style.
Do you love sparkle and shine? Then go for sequins. Do you prefer something more subtle? Try a patterned satin or silky top. Do you love details? Go for ruffles or embroidery – or both!
And even when everyone else is wearing a cocktail dress, a sparkly, detailed top (paired with a dressy bottom) will fit in – and also let you stand out from the crowd. For other festive ideas that aren’t a dress, click here to see my ‘anti-dress’ outfit options.
Entertaining at home calls for something easy and wearable - which is why an embellished top is a great choice. With your favorite black bottom, mules and subtly eye-catching jewelry, you can feel stylish while you’re taking care of your guests.
To kick it up a notch, pair your embellished top with a pleated skirt. And then just pile on the shine.
Sequined top by Halogen. Faux leather joggers by Spanx. Mules by Steve Madden. Pleated skirt by Anne Klein. Gold heels by Vince Camuto. Cocktail ring by Kendra Scott.
FANCY PANTS (OR SKIRT)
If you’re into something a little more unique, wear your holiday glamour on your bottom half - with a dressy skirt or pants. And the same rules apply whether you’re looking at a dressy dress or top or bottom – fabric choice is key. If you’re adventurous and don’t mind the spotlight, a sequined skirt or pants are super fun. And if your style is a bit more low-key, then you can go with anything from flowy silk pants to a lace skirt to velvet jeans.
Remember – these 5 dressy pieces aren’t just for the holidays. You can wear many of them throughout the seasons. Check out how I outfitted a lace skirt, fun top and statement jacket for different warm weather occasions.
Work parties can be tricky, especially if you’re not sure how much everyone else is dressing up. So, it’s all about balance. A dressy bottom with a silky camisole and black blazer strike the perfect note.
If you’re lucky, you’ll get a few at home date nights during the holidays. You can make these feel festive and cozy with satin joggers and a cashmere cardigan - for when the evening starts with dinner for two and ends with movies on the couch.
Navy satin jogger pants by Frame. Camisole by NYC Cami. Black blazer by Halogen. Black heels by Calvin Klein. Drop earrings by Open Edit. Long necklace by Kendra Scott. Navy cardigan by The Cashmere Sale. Tank by Topshop. Short necklace by Sterling Forever. Silver Mules by 42 Gold.
DRESSY ACCESSORIES
What transforms an okay outfit into something amazing? Accessories. What can change up the same few pieces into multiple looks? Accessories. What expresses a ton of style personality (and isn’t dependent on size)? Accessories. Which is why they’re an important piece in your dressy holiday wardrobe. Because you can take a pretty basic outfit, add a few fun accessories and it’s suddenly transformed into a festive holiday look.
The thing I love most is that you don’t need a big accessory wardrobe. What I recommend to clients is one pair of dressy heels, a dressy bag and a few jewelry choices. And you can wear the exact same accessories to a New Year’s party or a summer wedding. If you want to know my favorite choices for dressy shoes and a bag, read this article.
Shift your trusty little black dress into party mode with dressy accessories. And a quick tip - if your dressy accessories work together, you can wear the exact same combination with a bunch of different outfits.
Just like I said - the exact same accessories that you wore with a dress can liven up an off the shoulder sweater and boyfriend jeans for a holiday girls night out!
Heels by Christian Louboutin. Clutch by Aldo. Necklace by John Hardy. Dress by Halogen. Sweater by The Cashmere Sale. Boyfriend jeans by AG.
Do you already have these 5 dressy pieces in your closet? Tell me about it in the comments!
If you’re still looking for a special holiday gift (for someone else or for yourself), I have a great idea - a Gift of Style. A Gift of Style is time with me to define your loved one’s style, clean out their closet, shop with intention and create outfits that they love. Click here to read about my services and contact me to schedule a no obligation Zoom call to chat about it.