I’ve been in countless closets and noticed that there are holiday pieces tucked away, only seeing the light of day for a day or two a year. You know the ones I’m referring to: those velvet tops saved for holiday parties but never worn, or that Christmas sweater that makes a single annual appearance. I don’t mean to be Ebenezer Christmas Clothes, as they’re undoubtedly fun, festive, and have their place, but they’re not always the most practical items in anyone’s wardrobe, especially if you have too many or aren’t wearing them. If you have some forgotten velvet garment or a sparkly sweater that’s decades old and rarely worn, perhaps we should chat.
My point is that there’s more than one way to dress festively without feeling obligated to buy something sparkly, velvet, or Christmas-themed. While I’m not discouraging such purchases, I want to offer another approach that could be more pragmatic. I’ve always considered myself too pragmatic for the fashion world; however, I’ve wondered if this has been my superpower all along. To me, it’s better to have clothes that serve multiple functions and can be styled for the holidays and beyond. My specialty is workwear, so the outfits I’ve assembled come from that perspective. Still, as you’ll see, many of these ensembles work well beyond holiday parties.
Of course, some holiday events may require specific dressy attire or follow a particular theme, which might necessitate purchasing something festive. Even so, if you’re on a budget or dislike the idea of items lacking longevity, try to avoid buying pieces so specific that they’re only relegated to the holiday season.
HOLIDAY LOOKS WITH PIECES FOR YEAR-ROUND WEAR
Here are five holiday looks I’ve strategically created using pieces that you can wear long after the holiday season. Look festive for the occasion and maximize the value of these items even after the celebrations are over.
OUTFIT #1
When combined, these pieces work well for an office holiday party or festive gathering among friends or family. When pulled apart they can all act as solid workhorse staples. I styled this basketweave belted jardigan from M.M. Lafleur with a pine green silk tank from Eileen Fisher, navy pants from Kobi Halperin, and burgundy kitten heel slingbacks from M.Gemi. To give the outfit a holiday finish using accessories, I added this holly berry brooch and garnet twisted hoop earrings, both from The Metropolitan Museum of Art Store.
OUTFIT #2
This red dress from Reiss looks particularly festive as a holiday look when paired with this green multi-strand necklace from Kenneth Jay Lane. Yet, when those pieces are styled separately like if the dress were styled with a basic blazer or the necklace was paired with something that wasn’t red, these pieces could be worn at any time. For this holiday outfit, I added these tall boots from Vince and this layered bracelet from Nordstrom.
OUTFIT #3
These plaid pants from Boden have a holiday feel but aren’t so holiday-specific that they can’t be worn beyond the celebrations. I styled them with a mossy-colored cashmere turtleneck from Neiman Marcus and finished the look with pops of rich burgundy with these loafers, a patent skinny belt, and drop earrings from Ann Taylor.
OUTFIT #4
In this look, I styled a red blazer from A.L.C., which could be styled in plenty of different ways, over a black jumpsuit from Nikki Lund, which could also be styled in plenty of different ways. I finished the outfit with a simple green pendant from Swarovski and black booties from Margaux.
OUTFIT #5
If you like the idea of embellished holiday sweaters but don’t like the fact that they can only be worn one month out of the year, how about choosing a sweater that is not so specifically embellished? Is it so imperative that your sweaters have presents, ornaments, or Christmas trees on them? I’m just saying. This sweater cable sweater from Essential Antwerp has been embellished with pearl details throughout to give it a festive appearance without being holiday-specific. The red knit flare pants from J.Crew add some holiday flare to the look, and I finished the outfit with gold booties from Boden and red faceted gemstone drop earrings.
MIX AND MATCH YOUR WAY TO GREAT HOLIDAY LOOKS
A great holiday look won’t necessarily require you to go out and buy a whole new holiday outfit for your upcoming office party or gathering with friends or family. With the right combination, your holiday look may be hanging right inside your own closet.
I have a party capsule with pieces I wear year round for dressy events. They can also work with day wear. Nothing red, but I have ordered a red pea coat I hope will work with all my casual and dressy looks. With my plaid scarf and red bobble hat, I’ll feel extra Chrstmassy.
Great topic, and ideas! Thanks, Bridgette!
I also have things that I’ve only worn a couple of times. Basically, it’s just a waste of money.