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Holiday dressing. Anyone thinking ahead?

nancylee

Veteran

I took a formal gown to be shortened today (for a black tie event in December), and it started me thinking ahead to holiday dressing. I've got my gown all set, but most of my holiday events will have a more casual dress code....and I'm wondering what to wear.

I own one burgundy sequin tank, one sparkly necklace, and some velvet slipper loafers. Beyond that my holiday sparkle cupboard is bare! I ordered this gold boucle jacket on a whim...it hasn't arrived yet, but it's pricey so I'll only keep it if it's a 10.

http://otteny.com/catalog/clot.....038;brand=

Does anyone have a go-to holiday outfit they rely on? What looks will be on-trend for holiday 2012? I'm all ears.

Dressing

29 replies

Latest reply was from Queen Mum

Aida

Veteran

If I had a party to go to, I probably WOULD think ahead. My "party" capsule is basically non-existant. I plan to live vicariously through all of your parties

EDIT: gorgeous jacket, I hope it works!

catgirl

Veteran

I was contemplating our annual cocktail party and what to wear to make up for the fact that our kitchen may be in a remodeling shambles.

Kathleen M

I wish I had holiday events to go to that required a gown! That would be glamorous! I do have a wedding to go but it's not that formal. For work events, I just wear a slightly dressier version of my usual business casual or a dress. For church, a dress that can keep me warm and heels I can walk in. For family stuff, I'm usually in dark jeans and a top that's somehow festive. But Christmas is always more of a pajama time for me!

I think you don't necessarily have to go for sparkle. Layering textures can also look dressed up and festive.

bj1111

Veteran

i'm reaching into the way back machine with a navy silk pant with bugle beads and sequins from 8 years ago for a semi-formal / black-tie optional party. haven't decided which jacket to wear. i have a white slim fit tweed, sparkly silver and tuxedo jackets in blue or black. must really try the options and decide.

i have other cocktail parties that may be more problematic.

Diana

Veteran

Honestly, I might repeat my outfits from last year . My new dressy black booties will make an appearance too.

Although I might have to go to the fiance's law firm holiday party this year, which may necessitate something dressier. Not sure what the dress code will be.

EmilyC15

I have the office party and a professional awards ceremony, and last week I had a professional conference gala dinner. So my outfit for all of these was a Talbots dress in "windsor green", to go with my red hair and green eyes. It's this dress:

http://www.talbots.com/online/.....veFacet%3D

I'm finding it very versatile to dress up and down, and the vivid jewel tone replaces sparkle/blinginess while still saying "special occasion."

Anonymous

No, never too soon. I already have Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's sorted out! I'll be in Paris for Thanksgiving and I'm just wearing a simple black dress, with studded booties and leopard clutch. Christmas is black skinnies, champagne sequined top and red clutch, New Year's is probably a cobalt blue dress I wore to a wedding earlier this year. We go to a catered event most years, for New Year's.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

What Zap said

I am contemplating my holiday look already too.

Jem

Veteran

I want to go to Zap's events in her outfits...

MsMary

Veteran

We're leaving the country on December 3 and won't be back until the 23rd, so I think we will miss most of the Christmas parties. Thanksgiving will be something casually festive (I'm hosting and cooking), Christmas day will probably be something like green pants, red boots, and sequin tank, and we generally stay in for New Year's.

We are going to a play the Saturday after Christmas so I'll have to think of something dressy/festive for that.

Anonymous

It seems like holiday events get more casual every year and one never knows what the weather will be here. I have a log red cotton cowel neck sweater sprinkled with tiny red sequins and a matching scarf for more warmth if needed. It can be worn with jeans or dressier trousers but great for casual parties.
I'm planning to wear my black tuxedo pants and jacket with red/white/black graphic print sequined shell during the holidays. I also plan to wear the velvet taupe jacket from Kat over a taupe sequined top. This can be paired with a black pencil skirt until I find a taupe skirt, or with winter white pants. In fact I may wear that comination for Thanksgiving.

Ariadne

Veteran

I've got two outfits in the wings: a cobalt jersey dress from Anthro (http://www.anthropologie.com/a.....;color=043) with textured tights, dressy black booties, a sparkly pewter belt and a jacket or black cardi with silk back; and this outfit, plus shoes of some sort:
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....kr-styling?

Ana

(website)

Veteran

It will probably just be the two of us for the upcoming holidays, so I'm not planning on anything too dressy. If I had the money and an occasion I might try something different, like this lace jumpsuit:

http://www.anthropologie.com/a.....870148.jsp

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

I think my go-to holiday outfit this year will be a much-loved red dress that's now too big. I haven't taken it to be altered yet, but that's on the list for the weekend. Here's how it looked on me last year before the weight loss.
I hope I have a formal event to attend some time, because I want to wear more of my long purple gown I acquired for the cruise earlier this year. The trouble is, thinking of my pretty dresses now has me coveting a short faux-fur jacket as winter-appropriate party outerwear. :p There's a faux-sable at Nordy's that I can't seem to get out of my head.

I admire your forethought, Nancy - thanks for getting me in gear too!

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CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Love the pale golden jacket. And love that it is Made in the USA! Looking forward to seeing it on you.

So far I only have Thanksgiving Dinner ahead of me and one very casual Christmas party. I don't have any special plans, although I might wear a skirt for Thanksgiving.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

My holidays involve no parties and lots of casual family events (for which I cook). So my "finery" will probably be limited, alas. (I love a chance to dress up).

I own only two sparkly items, both sequinned tanks, that I can potentially layer over a silk blouse. I might pull out my black suede skirt, which works well with these.

rae

(website)

Veteran

I usually don't party much, either. BUT, if one comes my way, I have my bodycon dress to wear with DH on my arm.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I have a dinner & a cocktail party but Christmas will be salads & seafood & the beach if it's warm enough. Oh & a wedding in early December.

Makrame

Veteran

Good question! I always love to see what other people plan to wear for holiday parties - we don't usually have a lot of holiday events to go to aside from a daytime work party (I usually just wear a red cardigan for that and call it a holiday outfit) and a fun New Years Eve party that we usually go to that is quite casual. I often get a new sweater for the New Years Eve party because the place is fairly cold (maybe I will find a cashmere sweater at after-Chritsmas sales?).

I don't usually go for sparkle but I ordered VC Liliana flats on sale at Piperlime. If they are comfortable, these would be great shoes for casual holiday parties - a bit of a sparkle and animal pattern and no heel, meaning they will work well for wearing in other people's houses. So I am thinking my go-to items this year might be the sparkly flats with black Gap Real skinny pants and various tops/sweaters.

nancylee

Veteran

Thanks everyone! It's been fun (and helpful) to read your responses. Hearing about others' fashion plans and go-to outfits inspires me to be more creative with my own looks.

Aida and CL, thanks for the thumbs up on the gold jacket. I'm hoping it works, too.

Una, if my kitchen was under construction I think I'd meet everyone at a restaurant!

Kathleen, I hear you on the pjs (at least for Christmas morning). And thanks for reminding me that holiday dressing doesn't have to involve sparkle.

BJ1111, Diana, Emily, Zap, MK, Joy, Zap, Ariadne, Michelle, Ana, Rae, Suz, Caro, Makrame, thanks for the links and ideas. Visuals help!

Emily, that Talbots dress is really eye-catching...I might have to give it a try (especially since it's on sale)

Michelle, I've been eyeing a faux fur stole, too.

Suz, that gold jacket I ordered was inspired by your friend's loaner jacket. I haven't been able to get it out of my mind.

Makrame, GAP really skinny trousers, fun flats, and various tops might be my casual holiday look this year, too.

Angie, I'm not surprised you've been thinking ahead! I'm looking forward to your post on holiday dressing.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Nancy, I KNOW!! I can't get that jacket out of my head, either. Yours looks like an amazing substitute. I really hope it works!

skitt

My husband got a save the date for his new company's holiday party and I got super excited because I will have an excuse to buy something new and actually have a reason to dress up! It'll be my first big event since deciding to work on my style and lose some weight, so it'll be so fun to shop for something! I want to wait a while longer just in case I keep losing weight, but I'm sure I'll be back asking for advice.

Mander

(website)

Veteran

I don't think we actually have any events to dress up for, but I have several possibilities if one comes up, including a new black dress, a sparkly shrug type cardigan, and a faux silk zebra top. I'm also looking at buying a metallic lace t-shirt type thing for more casual events.

Jjsloane

Veteran

I have an abundance of sparkles but no place to wear them. I've been concentrating on the kids' holiday outfits for our annual photo and family events, but haven't sorted myself yet. The days of office parties are gone here (budgets tight). I'll be hosting Thanksgiving and will wear something fun but not overly dressy as I'll be up to my elbows in Turkey and fixin's (with an apron of course)
I did just pick up a super steal Misook black and cream lace skirt at the Rack for $19 (seriously - originally $248) . I'll be posting K/R (though mostly for styling suggestions as I will not return this) later. It might be my going out on my Birthday outfit (which is the week of Thanksgiving this year)
I love hearing about all the other ideas and outfits.

Ariadne

Veteran

Honestly, I may not have any events to technically dress up for, but I'm going to wear my brocade skinnies for Christmas Eve church and Christmas Day at home anyway. That's why I got pants instead of a skirt--easier for sitting on the floor opening presents

Oh, wait, I have my 10th anniversary in December--that counts as an occasion to dress up for!

Sara L.

Veteran

It's never too soon! I bought a silver sweater dress last spring in anticipation of my office's Xmas party. I haven't thought about any other events, but we usually only have really casual family stuff to go to. If something unexpected comes up I'll either wear the same silver dress or I'm sure I can put something together from pieces I already have.

JulieJohn

Veteran

I am one of those with lots of events, not too dressy but kinda, which is even harder for me! Thank you, NancyLee, for getting me to think about this NOW instead of the night before! ha ha

I loved Kathleen M's suggestion that texture can give dressy interest, and I am taking that to heart. Suede, leather, chunky cables, tweeds, velvets! Now I'm excited!!!

nancylee

Veteran

Jeanne, what an amazing deal on that skirt! Wow.

Ariadne, I didn't get a chance to comment on your post the other day, but I LOVE those brocade skinnies.

Can't wait to start seeing some looks from everybody. Maybe, together, we can avoid last-minute event dressing!

Queen Mum

Veteran

I wasn't until I saw a red dress on my e-mail log in page from Macy's and then out of complete innocent curiosity clicked over.....
It would be great for Christmas Day with black boots.

http://www1.macys.com/shop/pro.....?ID=729023
http://www1.macys.com/shop/pro.....?ID=755984