Decked out for holidays
Stylish, festive designs for every type of event
December is one month when it pays to have a bunch of easy, not-too-fancy yet still festive outfits to choose from. Because throughout the holiday season, (and sometimes when you least expect it), you find yourself stopping by an open house shindig or heading to dinner with friends. Events that call for celebratory — but not over-the-top — dressing.
Here are some terrific, fun and style-savvy pieces that are out there right now (many of them are on sale, too, with discounts that change by the day over the holiday shopping season) to have in your wardrobe so you can pull them out for just such occasions.
Garnet Hill has all kinds of yummy cashmere sweaters perfect for December’s wintry nights, but my favorite is the Shirttail Cashmere
Sweater ($141 at garnethill.com). Dress it up or down — its funky and pretty inlay of gauze around the hem, silk lace trim with raw edges, and raglan sleeves look as nice with a simple pencil skirt as with leather leggings.
Some people just aren’t crazy about sweaters, in which case a fun blouse fits the bill perfectly — something like J. Crew’s Funnelneck Shirt in Stewart Tartan ($89 at jcrew.com). The classic holiday plaid gets a dash of panache, with jeweled buttons along the collar and the funnelneck design. So cute over black slim pants.
Rather go for a solid? Check out H&M’s Creped Blouse ($17.99 at hm.com) — a woven, viscose fabric with a gathered yoke at back. Its easy bit of glam gets punched up and holiday-perfect when you buy it in bright, bold red.
If you’re a big fan of layering, then add a little something decadent over any of those above tops, like the Sofia Velvet Blazer ($188 at sundancecatalog.com). I love it in the color boysenberry — a rich, jewel-toned dark pink. Or just toss it on over a streamlined little black dress, although it’s equally elegant over dark denim, thanks to details like the two-button front and button cuffs, plus pretty piping on the inside.
And as a cool alternative to any dressy dress, put on a jumpsuit. It’s got an element of surprise to it, as well as a little more attitude than your average frock, but still rises to the occasion. Diane Von Furstenberg’s Mick Slit Sleeve Jumpsuit
($698 at dvf.com) is a splurge, but a worthy one, with its flowy sleeves and sash-tie at the waist — all in a hot red hue. It’s fantastic for impromptu holiday cocktails with friends, a casual office party or a holiday date night.