‘Tis the season for celebrating, and from now through January 1, there will be plenty of mixing and mingling with friends and family. What better time to pull out all the stops when it comes to putting together the perfect party look? Whether attending the office holiday party, having Christmas cocktails with the girls, or going on a special “holi-date,” this is your time to shine!
Embrace the season’s sparkly sequins, go classic with rich reds, or embrace your whimsical side with all things merry and bright. One word of caution, however: Don’t do it all at once. Remember, you want to steal the spotlight, not blind everyone with it. Trends should be incorporated and interpreted in your own way, not infused into your look from head to toe.
“Tis the season to shine and sparkle, but only your tree should do both,” advises San Antonio style curator Sara Jessup. “Less is more.” We’ve wrapped up a few of our favorite seasonal soirée styles that will keep you looking “haute” for the holidays.
Sequins, silver, and sparkles – Oh my!
Holiday fashion trends are shining brighter than the tree at Rockefeller Center. Bejeweled tops, shiny metallic pants, and sparkly sequin skirts and dresses are having a big, brilliant moment for both day and nighttime gatherings. As much as we love to spread a little sparkle in our wake, sometimes more is just more. To avoid looking like a human disco ball or living Oscar statuette, pick one glitzy statement item and keep the rest simple.
A silver sequin skirt like this one from Zara’s women’s collection gets toned down when paired with a simple black turtleneck and a great pair of black booties. Or try a pair of metallic pants like this faux leather pair from Gap. Make them pop with a simple sweater and a statement necklace or earrings. A metallic top like this one from Banana Republic will reflect your good taste, especially when paired with a simple skirt or pants.
One more tip: just as poorly placed highlighter can exaggerate wrinkles, anything with sparkle will immediately draw the eye, so think about where you want people to look. Which brings us to…
Dare to bare – but do it sparingly.
A fun holiday party or girl’s night out lends itself to a little more daring dress code, but unless you want to be on the “naughty” list, you don’t have to show all your goodies all at once. Leave a little something to the imagination.
If you’ve got sculpted shoulders and toned triceps, assert your right to “bare arms” in a fun, sleeveless top, dress, or jumpsuit. We love this one-piece look from Mac Duggal with its party on top, business on the bottom, and super flattering sleeveless silhouette. It’s sophisticated enough for the office party but has enough sass for a girl’s night out.
Got great gams? Try a short dress with long sleeves like this simple, sexy number from Sam Edelman. We love how it grazes the body without hugging, and the feather detail on the sleeves makes us all flutter. Jessop recommends playing with proportion when taking the short route. “If you can rock something short, your heel doesn’t need to be sky high,” she advises. On the same note, if you’re working the sleeveless angle, you don’t need a plunging, cleavage-baring neckline. Pick one asset and work it.
Get Colorful
If you usually adhere to basic black, there’s no better time than the holidays to infuse some color into your life. This holiday season, the Barbiecore trend is still going strong, with pink popping up everywhere. We love this fun, festive, and feathered pink shirt from J. Crew for the way it works with everything from pants to skirts.
While playing it safe by pairing it with black is tempting, don’t be afraid to reach for red. Pink and red go together like holly and jolly, and it’s always a classic holiday choice. “This is a great time to play with wearing red,” says Jessop. “Even a red lip can look festive and won’t break the bank.” To choose the red lip shade that’s right for you, click here.
Go All Out with Outerwear
Nothing ruins a great party look faster than adding a bulky puffer coat over it. We know you want to keep warm – but get creative. Faux fur, like this Banana Republic Factory coat, is always fun, but there’s one item that Jessup says is a must for elevating your outfit for any occasion. “The tuxedo jacket or blazer is a closet staple I think everyone should have and play with.”
We like this DKNY version for its affordable price point and the fact that it does double duty as a cape. Very elegant! For more stylish coats that work with your favorite festive fashions, click here. There are no hard and fast rules to holiday fashion, so have fun with it! Wear whatever makes you feel festive, but remember to keep it appropriate for the occasion. In other words, don’t rock your sexiest self at the office party or family cookie exchange.
For everything else, we recommend taking a cue from Rudolph and letting yourself shine bright! Need more inspiration? Check out these must-haves and essentials.
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