What do I wear when I’m entertaining at home?

Despite the formality that comes with the holidays, says The Kit’s executive editor, don’t don a cocktail dress. Instead, upgrade your closet staples for a look that is polished but comfortable

We end up hosting a lot during the holidays, which I love, but I never know what to wear. I always feel like it’s appropriate to put on a dress, but a cocktail dress just doesn’t feel right — especially in my sock feet when I’m also trying to finish up dinner. What do you wear when the party is at your place? — Janet, Toronto

I love casual entertaining. It’s a chance to create a warm corner of the world for your loved ones to cosy up and indulge, escaping the stress and pressures of daily life for a few hours. Plus, I love that having people over chez moi means I don’t have to leave the house when temperatures plummet and I always get to have a third glass of wine without having to be the designated driver.

But entertaining during the holidays can also be a stressful and formal proposition. It often means sharing the table with a pulse-raising combination of farflung family members or negotiating a dizzying list of food allergies for your boss and colleagues. “I’m thinking of just serving air salad,” a colleague recently told me when faced with an exhaustive list of forbidden foods from guests.

Even if you have the menu down pat (bless you and your buttery ideas, Ina), deciding on an outfit feels unexpectedly difficult.

On this topic, there is no better expert to consult than Amy Smilovic, the creative genius behind Tibi, the New York brand favoured for its slouchy and cool breed of elegance. “Entertaining at home is something I think a lot about when I'm designing,” she explains. “If you're going to a cocktail party or a big event, nine times out of ten, you know what to buy: something black with a little sparkle. It's easy,” she says with a wave of her hand.

But hosting, she agrees, is a trickier proposition. “You're not going to wear a short flirty dress and high heels and then go clacking up to open your front door. It feels awkward to be dressed like that in your house.”

When Smilovic has guests over, she slips on a pair of velvet smoking slippers and keeps a few extra pairs on hand for guests, if they’re interested. It’s a gesture that’s welcoming and impossibly stylish. It’s now my goal for 2019.

So that’s our feet sorted — on to the rest.

The key to balancing elegance and comfort is to keep to one colour palette. It’s the simplest fashion rule of thumb: If you wear one tone from head-to-toe, you will immediately look pulled togeth- er. “If you're wearing all shades of cream and oyster, or all shades of grey, it tends to look a lot chicer than the person who is wearing a black pant with a white shirt and a cream sweater. She looks like she could be at a bake sale,” says Smilovic with a throaty laugh. “Dressing in a monochromatic way is good training wheels for looking effortless and refined at the same time.”

To keep your outfit from appearing utilitarian (even if you are wearing oversized oven mitts and preparing to pull a 23 lbs. turkey out of the oven), pair comfortable silhouettes with luxe textures like velvet, silk and cashmere. A classic sweater works perfectly with a slinky pair of silk pants, a simple tee looks elegant as soon as you top it with a satin tuxedo blazer. It’s a mix that nods to the festive season without feeling kitschy. And most importantly, you will be comfortable in your clothes, if not always with the small talk.

“That to me is the ultimate holiday dressing: When you are relaxed in what you're wearing, but you look fabulous and appropriate,” says Smilovic. “You don’t want to feel like a Christmas ornament when some woman walks in wearing a cosy grey sweater and a grey satin skirt with pockets in it and looks amazing.” Because after all, if nothing else, you deserve to feel good in your own home.