Fashion & Style

Ideas on what to wear to holiday parties and events, including dresses, skirts, jewelry, shoes and accessories for a formal, glamorous or festive look.

There are so many exciting holidays. Thanksgiving and Christmas are two of the most exciting times of the year. Be bold and bring out the sparkle and shine in your wardrobe. You’ll want to look stunning at a slew of holiday parties where you will want to look festive.

Dressing for holiday special events like parties and galas can be daunting. But, it doesn’t have to be. Learn how to make holiday dressing enjoyable, with hip dressing tips on what to wear.

The Glitz and Glamour

Think “old Hollywood” when dressing for the holidays. Bring back old time glamour and elegance. Choose dresses – either gowns or cocktail attire (depending on the formality of your event) that accentuate your figure. Now is the time to bring out your fur – stoles or little short jackets. Sequined bolero jackets or satin skirts would be the perfect wardrobe essential for holiday dressing. What to remember when wearing a bold piece like this is to accent it with a basic skirt (if wearing the sequined jacket and vice versa). You never want to go overboard with your fashion choices.

The Jewels

Dressing for the holidays calls for big and bold accent pieces. Look for elegant and modern cocktail rings, dangling earrings with unique design, necklaces that are bold and colorful and bracelets that call attention to your wrist. Don’t be afraid of color. And don’t be afraid to wear big. Just remember if you wear an oversized ring, go minimal somewhere else.

The Shoes

Let them sparkle. If you can’t afford those extremely expensive Manolo’s or Jimmy Choo’s (especially during gift giving holidays), be creative. Take a basic black slingback heel and add an appliquàto them. Get really creative by taking an old vintage pair of clip on earrings and clip then on the front of your shoes. It instantly adds drama and intrigue to your basic black shoes. Not to mention, you save a bundle on this hip trick.

The Bag

This should be festive as well. You also don’t need to spend big bucks on this. Scour the outlets or discount retailers for beaded bags in all different shapes and sizes. The more petite your handbag is (for holiday dressing), the better.

The Holiday Makeup

Go for bolder than your usual natural look. Try a smoky eye or a red lip. The thing to remember is if you go for more makeup on the eye, go for a more natural shade for your lips and vice versa. Don’t forget the flushed cheeks. Try a peach shade of blush on the apples of your cheeks.

Spending Habits

You don’t need to spend a fortune to look great at holiday parties. Mix vintage or flea market finds with designer labels. Many stores are always selling party dresses or party attire, so keep your eyes open year round for great deals on glamour wear.

When dressing for the holidays, remember it’s the time of year to shine. Be glamorous when attending your soirees. Take lots of photographs, so you may look back in retrospect and remember how great you really looked. And, most of all – enjoy those joyful holiday seasons. A great outfit can help.

Written by Melissa Maynard – 2002 Pagewise