Are fancy party invitations crowding your inbox? Are you having a hard time deciding which dressy holiday soiree to attend? Are you trying to figure out when to wear your long sequin gown vs. your satin one? Me either (especially the gown part!). I don’t have any fancy holiday occasions planned this year – and you may not have any on your calendar, either. But that doesn’t mean you can’t channel a festive, holiday style. You’ll just do it in a lower-key way.
The holidays are the perfect time to shine, whether your holiday events are dressy, casual – or somewhere in between. And when I say ‘shine’, I mean it literally. My favorite way to add holiday glamour to a casual look is with shine – and there’s a whole bunch of ways you can do it. You can play with shiny fabrics, you can sparkle in sequins, you can add fun accents (and so much more).
Check out how you can shine in your casual holiday style, via 25 different outfits I’ve created for clients - and there’s not a gown in sight!
SHINY FABRICS
The easiest way to shine over the holidays (or any time of year) is with shiny fabrics. You’re simply taking something you already love (like a jacket, top, skirt or dress) and kicking it up a notch. So it still feels like you, but with a little holiday sparkle.
Velvet is a great fabric choice for low-key shine. Because shine isn’t always shimmer and glimmer - fabrics that catch the light provide an ideal dose of casual holiday glamour.
I love the versatility of a velvet blazer all fall and winter long. It works with jeans, it works over a dress - and it works great with faux leather pants for a double dose of shiny fabrics in one outfit! Click here for 3 more velvet blazer outfits (plus a couple other versatile holiday styles).
And while we’re talking about velvet - it’s great in print (and color) too. So, it works with any style and is adaptable to so many occasions. Choose a dress for a big hit of velvet - or go for a top (or jacket) for something subtler.
If a sweater and jeans is your fall/winter go-to, a metallic sweater is the perfect way to crank up the holiday volume. It’s great for when you want just a hit of shine, but nothing overpowering. Check this out for more sweater and jeans outfits to take you through the next few months.
You know that silky, satiny skirt you wore with a t-shirt and sandals in the summer? It’s perfect with a sweater & boots right now. And it’s another subtle and sophisticated way to add shine.
You might not have thought of it - but leather also adds shine to your outfits. So, if you have a leather (or faux leather) skirt, wear it to your holiday work lunch. And if you have leather pants, read this for 5 fun ways to wear them.
How do you make a bomber jacket feel less sporty? Make it in a metallic fabric - and pair it with a pleated skirt and heels. It’s a great middle-of-the-road juxtaposition for when you know people are getting dressed up (but you’re not sure how much).
If you’re ready to commit to metallic fabric, a coat or jacket is a super fun option. And it’s an amazing choice if you’re going to an outdoor event (where people will see your coat more than what’s underneath).
SEQUINS
Yes, sequins are another type of shiny fabric – but I feel like they deserve their own category. And I think the easiest way to integrate sequins into your outfits is with a simple top. Because a sequin skirt or wide leg pants may feel like a bit much – but a sequin shirt can feel just right.
I showed this top to my client as a ‘just in case something comes up’ option. And even if nothing dressy comes up over the holidays, she can still wear it under a blazer to lunch with friends. Or with black pants for a holiday date night (check this out for more cold weather date night looks).
Same outfit formula, different client. This is what she’ll wear to her tech company casual holiday party - as a perfect mix of festive and chill for a leader in the organization.
This top isn’t technically sequins - but it’s sequin-adjacent. And I’m sharing it to show you that sequins work year round - so don’t think of them as just a holiday option. For example, here’s how you can wear a sequin jacket throughout the seasons.
SHINY EMBELLISHMENTS
If you’re not into all-over shine, add a touch of shine via accents and embellishments. Look for styles with sequin trims, sparkly details, rhinestone buttons, or anything else that adds a festive feeling.
A shiny trim still adds holiday flair - and it’s a way to feel festive if a completely shiny top is out of your style comfort zone. Just be sure to let the trim show (as opposed to covering it with a jacket or blazer).
The rhinestone details on this cardigan make it feel holiday-right - but they don’t undermine it’s versatility. For my client, I paired it with this striped top and pants, a dressy blouse and heels, and a little black dress.
If you don’t want to commit to a piece with permanent embellishment, add your own! A vintage pin adds fun (and unexpected) shine to a dress, sweater or coat. And if you’re handy with a needle and thread - change out the buttons on a jacket or cardigan to something festive (and then change them back once the season is over).
SHINY ACCESSORIES
Accessories are the best way to add a little holiday glitz to your outfits (without buying any new clothes!). And the best part is that you can wear the same accessories with completely different looks – so you get more bang for your style buck. Which means that metallics (and other shiny accessories) can easily be your holiday style strategy.
In this outfit, the necklace is the overt shine - and the velvet heels are the subtle shine. And while they add holiday glamour to this skirt look, they can crank up the volume on a simple sweater and jeans look, too! Click here for 3 summer outfits I completely updated with a quick change of accessories.
There’s already shine in this outfit with the sweater (the same sweater as earlier, two different clients have this one) - but the loafers are the real shine star. They’re a fun way to perk up a holiday look (and also a bunch of different looks year round).
Yes, you could say I’m a little metallic shoe obsessed. But they’re one of my favorite ways to add interest to an outfit - and they’re more versatile than you may think. Because they’re just a shiny neutral, so they go with almost everything. Read this for more about my obsession with metallic accessories.
This look may be a little over the top for you, but it’s perfect for my fashion-loving client. And I’m sharing it to show you that when you’re wearing different shiny accessories, they don’t need to be a perfect color match. The gold of the clutch and the gold of the shoes are different tones - but they work perfect together.
Don’t forget about jewelry as a way to add shimmer and sparkle to your casual looks. In essence, this outfit is a tank, long cardigan and jeans. And while there’s other shine going on, the necklace and bracelet totally elevate this into festive territory.
SOMETHING SPECIAL
I know I’ve shown you a bunch of ways to use shimmery fabrics and glittery accents to shine over the holidays. But what’s really important is that you feel like you’re shining – no matter what you’re wearing. So, now is the perfect time to grab something a little out of your ordinary. Something that you don’t wear too often. But still something that you feel comfortable in. Because you’ll shine the most when you feel special, comfortable and confident.
My client had this coat, but she barely wore it. But the fur collar makes it fun, unique and perfect for a holiday event where she’ll be spending time outside.
If you’re wary of playing with color at other times of the year, the holidays are the perfect time to do it. And don’t get stuck in only wearing red with green at the holidays - this magenta sweater feels just as festive with this green moto jacket. Click here for other ways to not get stuck in a ‘style box’ at the holidays.
If you’re always in a sweater and jeans throughout fall and winter, mix it up with a denim skirt. It’s a subtle shift that can easily put you in a festive mood. Because it’s not about what other people define as a ‘holiday’ outfit - it’s about what puts you in the holiday spirit.
This client loves dresses, but she really only wore them as a ‘one and done’ outfit in the summer. So, I introduced her to dresses that can take her right through the holidays. If dresses aren’t in your everyday rotation, they’re an ideal way to feel holiday-special.
Do you have a few things in your closet that you think, “when will I ever wear that?” Then the holidays are the perfect time to do it. So, if burgundy boots aren’t an everyday thing, there’s no better time than right now to grab them!
Even if your holiday occasions are super casual, you can still feel special and shine all season. Focus on colors or prints - or whatever makes you feel fun and festive.
Did you get a few ideas for your casual holiday style? Drop any thoughts or questions in the comment box below.
And if you’re looking to elevate and polish your style (not just at the holidays), read about the steps I’ve taken with over 350 clients. And click here to see what a few of them had to say.
If you want to chat about working together, contact me to get the process started (I’m currently accepting clients for my spring/summer waitlist). Because now is a great time to connect if you’re ready to make 2024 the year you finally feel better about your style.