Do you get a new holiday outfit every year? - YouLookFab Forum

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Do you get a new holiday outfit every year?

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

My husband’s company holiday party is rapidly approaching, and I’m thinking about what to wear. I’m usually all about functionality and repetition, figuring no one really takes note of what I’m wearing, but this annual party always throws me for a loop because...there are photos. They always run a projection of company pictures from the past year, including the previous holiday party.

Should I just get over myself and wear what I did last year? Should I wear what I did two years ago? LBD with a new accessory? What would/do you do?

(By the way, apologies for not being around and responding to your threads. I’ve been reading and admiring, but this time of year is insanity for me. Most of my annual income (and workload!) comes in during the next month and a half.)

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56 replies

Latest reply was from Bijou

always trying

Veteran

I attend several dressy functions during the year and many of the same people attend. several of the women like me do a rotation. I understand what you mean though by the photos. That makes a difference, as some will, no doubt, notice-there is that same old dress again. I have a friend who hates dressing up, hate shopping, and wears the same old ratty shorts, jeans and t's everywhere, with few exceptions. She has a red dress that she wore every year to her husbands annual Christmas party. That would not work with us fashion ladies! One thought would be to add a light weight sparkly little jacket over the dress. I have this one in the photo.

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Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

I think if you have something you absolutely love, can't wait to wear, and feel like a million bucks when you put it on, it doesn't matter if you wear it every year.

I am a habitual thrift/vintage/antique/consignment shopper, so over the years I've put together a handful of favorite holiday dresses, tops, and toppers that I (try to) keep carefully curated.

I usually add a piece or two over the course of the year as I find things, and remove something accordingly. I have a favorite dress that makes it out of the closet about once every year, and a beaded suit that I seem to wear every two years. I currently have about a dozen pieces in my holiday and special occasion capsule.

I always like to re-wear them, because my friends like to see them, and because these pieces feel like old friends, themselves. I try to style my hair differently, and wear different accessories, hosiery, or a new makeup look, so that it feels fresh and new.

I also have about a dozen more formal or costume period pieces that I mostly use for occasional cosplay or stage, but could be worn to a formal event. Two of my gowns, I have had for 20+ years, and am always glad to be able to bring them back out for a visit.

JAileen

Veteran

I have a capsule of holiday pieces. It includes black pants, black skirts, etc., various tops, and a few dresses. Many of the pieces are thrifted. If I get a new piece I see what works with it. A few years ago I thrifted a silver metallic jacket, and wore it over a black slinky dress, with knee high boots.

I like the idea of the LBD with a new accessory, or the outfit from two years ago. My husband wears the same thing every year, even the same holiday tie, and no one gives it another thought. So ridiculous.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

Too bad there are photos. There are two ways to go. One is to own it completely. If someone said something such as look, she's wearing the same thing again, respond proudly "I am. I just love it. I feel wonderful in it." If you can't own it wear something from an eeriest year. Or change up something. Or LBD with sparkle, luxe.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

What I've done in the past is have two or three outfits that I rotate so I'm not wearing them in back-to-back years.

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

About pictures: I think that yes, it is possible that people will recognize a dress or outfit you wore previously, but in my experience, I tend to focus on my own image in the photos, and not so much on what the other people in the picture have on. My guess is that most women are like this

Anonymous

Hi Jenn -- I have a mixed answer. I do get a new outfit if it is for family and friends because they see me often and it just feels right to show up in something new and exciting over the Holidays. Much more festive.

I am reluctant to get a new outfit if it is work related. I see them five days a week. I hate the idea of spending money on something I won't wear that often for what I consider a work-related function. I usually go to these things and spend as much time as I have to before making a graceful, but early, exit.

karen13

Veteran

I no longer have the work party thing and tend to wear my nicer clothes forever since they get so little use. But a significant weight loss has me at ground zero. I actually plan on wearing two outfits, but they are fairly casual and can probably be worn to non holiday nice dinners out and such in the future. I’m still looking for the perfect tops, shoes and bling.

Do you want something new? Do you have time to find something fab? The prior year photos might make me hesitate to wear last year’s, but two years ago is fair game if you like it.

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Tanya

Veteran

Well, I would certainly not wear last year's outfit because of the photos.
You can go couple of ways about it:
1) if you would like something new and can afford it at the moment, then go for it
2) if you would like something new, but don't want to spend lot of money, I would get some new eye catching accessory and make it a focal point with something like a LBD
3) just rewear something from 2 years ago

Good luck with your busy work period!

Staysfit

Veteran

I love that there are photos! I would definitely wear the exact thing each and every year from now until you no longer attend the parties. It will become your very trendy style, and you will be able to look back at the photos and see how you, as a person ha e changed. I would probably change my jewelry, and accessories, but that’s it.

I attend multiple work functions with DH who is a college prof. and department chair. Everyone repeats outfits, both within the same year and from previous years. I think it’s more trendy here to do this than not. It’s an environmentally sound practice.

Anonymous

All I can say is : I'm glad I don't have to worry about this stuff anymore or go to corporate holiday functions.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

No need for me anymore. Barely any reason to dress up these days as we no longer have company parties to attend, and the only gatherings we get invited to are quite casual. I do quite fine with pairing nice jeans with a silk or sparkly top.

minimalist

Veteran

What StaysFit said. That approach is its own form of luxury.

rachylou

Veteran

Well now, for MY company party I wear the same gold lame leggings every year. Admittedly there’s no company picture, but really I do it because it’s funny. The bakery people party like it’s 1999. They seriously dress, but not formally - rather Ready To Disco. You’d think they’d realise company parties are not supposed to be fun.

However, I still get a new Holiday outfit every year for my family. My fam is SNITTY, all-caps. They will say, ‘Oh, didn’t we see that dress in 1995, dear.’

It reminds me of this historical fiction book I once read. The awful, aged bone-head father decides to propose marriage to a stuck up old shrew. Hilariously, they think each other wonderful, while they are beyond irritating to everyone else. Which is not to say they act differently to each other. In the marriage negotiations, the old lady insists on a new dress every year. The old man says she should be grateful for just the offer of marriage. She says No. He’s outraged. His son tells him that’s why the old man likes the old woman so much, and the old man thumps his son, and says ‘You're right! You weakling!’ Lol. Then the old man goes and tells the old lady he’ll give her TWO new dresses every year at Christmas. Remember this is the dark ages, so she’ll be wearing one of these two dresses every day and that’s it... Lol.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

When you were considering the Sundance sundress, isn’t this one of the times you thought you’d wear it, and then you got a different one? Can’t you wear that one?

If I were to go to the same event every year, I’d probably want to tweak what I wore a bit. My mother has an entire 5’ closet rod full of special occasion dresses. I think it made sense to her each time she bought a new one for The Party not to repeat a look, but the end result is one I don’t think you want to replicate.

Not to threadjack, but if anyone has suggestions of where a couple decades’ worth of cocktail dresses could be donated (or sold as a lot), please let me know. Most of them probably would not appeal to high school students for prom.

rachylou

Veteran

Fashiontern - find the Vintage shop where you are. Where the artsy, punk and mod teens go... !! ... Used to love that when I was in school...

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I don't know what I would do Jenn. I love what Staysfit said. But in truth I suspect I would wear something different. I think I'd probably feel OK to wear something from 2 years ago. When people occasionally say "there are the (eg) cobalt boots again", I say "Yes, I thought I'd better get the wear out of them" and sometimes add "since I love them so much."

Jenni NZ

Veteran

BTW, I have missed you. Totally understand, thanks for the explanation. Am missing Sarah the White also.

approprio

(website)

Veteran

I always like having something with lurex or sequins on hand. You never know when you might need it and it's the kind of thing that typically comes up off-season in outlet or consignment shops for next to nothing. It's not like I have a closet full of it, but I'm not averse to a bit of daytime sparkle, so if I see something really good I might just buy it. This way I always know I can dress for a party and not get caught on the back foot.

I doubt I'd want to spend much money on single use, so festive outfits tend to be made of separates that do double duty. I almost never go to the kind of events that demand cocktail dresses though.

Echo

Veteran

Hmm, I tend to wear a lot of dresses and a lot of black, so it is relatively easy for me to wear a different topper or different accessories to make something look different. And I doubt anyone would be able to really tell one black dress from another unless it had a really special accent.

But I think different accessories and toppers are the way to go. I find that I can rewear nice cardigans, jackets or even sheer jackets in less dressy situations, so they work in more than just a holiday capsule for me. Even if a dress is a more distinctive color, a different topper or patterned hose or a statement necklace can give it a totally different look. I probably wouldn't wear exactly the same thing as last year, but two dresses and more accessories or toppers should be able to take you a good number of years.

Sal

Veteran

I have done a mixture. For our work do we do a mix of dinners out and sporting events so dressing is the least of my worries (more am I going to crash the glider midair or fall off my bike at the velodrome!!)...

I do love party wear and keep it a long time. It is my least minimal area of clothing!! So I usually have things dating back several years - for a cocktail/party/dressy night I probably have seven different dresses that "could" be worn - some are more appropriate than others for some occasions. One is 17 years old, one is nine years old, one seven, one four, two are two years old and a couple are new this year. (Two or three double for more casual do's as well). I also have one that is too tight that I can't quite get rid of.

I honestly would not hesitate to wear the same dress though - I would change the accessories and do my hair differently. But if you enjoy having a couple of options and see something that you like I think it is okay to have a new dress too.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Thank you all for the wise advice!

I went through my old photos to see what I wore in previous years. Photo 1 is last year. Photo 2 is two years ago. I don't have a photo from three years ago, but I'm sure that it was the LBD from Photo 1 with a different statement necklace. Four years ago was husband's first year with this company, and I wore a sweater dress, which was a misjudgment. I was quite underdressed.

fashiontern, while the full-length dress from Sundance would have worked, the floral tunic/dress I ended up with is too casual for this particular occasion. I did wear it for preview night of kiddo's play last week, though!

I'm leaning towards the LBD again, but I'm a little bored with it. I'm not a fan of toppers over sleeveless dresses, but I would like to add some sparkle. Still thinking on this.

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BrieN

Veteran

I would have no trouble wearing the same outfit to the same function a few years in a row, photo or no photo.

To me it signals that you are wise with your income and a saavy shopper-- you planed ahead and found a fabulous outfit and felt it was so spot on that you got to wear it many more times. I contrast that with the kind of shopper that runs out and buys something so-so and then the next year they have to buy again because they didn't like what they wore the year before and repeat.

Style Fan

Veteran

I love Staysfit's response. Jenn, you looked amazing in the black dress (pic #1). WOW!! is all I can say. I rarely go to those kinds of parties anymore but when I did I would buy a new outfit every year (back in the 1980s and 1990s). I didn't have YLF to help me out.
Now I wear the same outfit to weddings and it is lime green. If someone notices (how could they not!!) then great. I must look good to attract attention.

delurked

Veteran

I think you could definitely wear either of these again. Maybe different jewelry?

Sal

Veteran

I love the LBD. How about nude hose (or fishnets), your fringe down and your hair up?

Or just exactly the same!!

Over my sleeveless dresses I also struggle with jackets/toppers. I have a black bolero that works with a couple, or in winter I will now wear my faux fur coat....

I also have a silver cropped jacket which is quite 1980s but works from time to time....

jill58

Veteran

I do not buy a new holiday outfit every year and I would definitely wear that black dress again. Just add different jewelry. I too love Staysfit's response.

Joy

Veteran

I like the LBD maybe with some new sparkly bracelets or Christmas ornament earrings for fun. When we were going to fancy yearly holiday parties, I had a small capsule of black items with ways to change them up. A favorite was a long sheer cotton tunic in black with a paisley design print and beading. Most of what I had transcended seasons ( for the Hot December years) and was thrifted or a sale rack. Thus I did not care about cost per wear. Often shoes were new.

Sara L.

Veteran

Honesty, I would wear something different only because of the pictures of last year's event. If not, I would have no problem wearing the same thing with slightly different accessories. Like Approprio, I've found a few sparkly holiday items at thrift stores during the off season. I like the idea of adding a fancy topper to your dress to give it a different look from last year.

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