A question as old as time – WHAT WILL I WEAR FOR THE HOLIDAYS?
Okay, maybe not that old, but it’s still something that many of us wonder about!
It doesn’t have to be terribly complicated, if you can isolate a color that you’re happy to wear more than once, and you can assemble just 4 pieces of clothing…
My working thesis here is that you can start with just 1 skirt or pair of pants, which are in a fabric that immediately elevates the dressiness quotient of anything from a silk blouse to a sweatshirt. Add in a cardigan with some sort of festive flair, and then a couple of tops. (and yes, you might very well have some of these things already in your closet!)
The cardigan can be pulled on over a tee shirt and jeans to shift the entire look of what you’re wearing. Your 2 tops might be as simple as a tee shirt in the right color, or as fabulous as an ornate embroidered tunic.
As well as being useful to wear with your existing wardrobe, the 4 pieces on their own have some great potential:
headband – Tasha; bow flats – Vince Camuto; earrings – Oscar de la Renta; mules – 1.State; glitter clutch – Tory Burch
You don’t have to have long hair to wear a hair ornament or headband…
beaded bag – Sachin + Babi; mules – Kate Spade New York; earrings – Lilly Pulitzer; beaded flats – Badgley Mischka
Your colors don’t have to match to death – as long as they blend beautifully you’ll be fine…
If you’re manning the doors at an open house, 2 sweaters might not be excessive!
bracelet – Feather+Stone; pumps – L.K.Bennett; clutch – Whiting & Davis; earrings – Khiry; boots – Kelsi Dagger Brooklyn
necklace – Ashley Pittman; mules – Halston Heritage; necklace – Kendra Scott; ballet flats – Malden Lane; bag – LaPerla
I love looking at holiday clothes – would you like to see these in more colors?
love,
Janice
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Maja says
November 10, 2017 at 8:25 amYes please, give us more color options. Maja
Anonymous says
November 10, 2017 at 10:05 amYes please, maybe some silver grey options and berry reds. Sharon, U.K.
SusanG says
November 10, 2017 at 11:13 amAgreed, silver! It's my favourite holiday metallic. (The rest of the year, too!)
Christine Moon says
November 10, 2017 at 10:42 amI think you're clairvoyant, Janice!! How did you know that I struggle horribly with holiday appropriate wear? My holiday dressing sore spot is a smidgeon less dressy than this, but I can manage with a simple plan like this!! I would love to see some more colors – thank you!!! Chris from Indy.
Lynn Carroll says
November 10, 2017 at 11:40 amI also like red for the holidays- and silver,too!
Lena says
November 10, 2017 at 1:07 pmYes please, more colors!
Some great advice received a few years back about choosing items that you are most comfortable in everyday (your uniform) and then finding those same items in luxurious fabrics has made holiday dressing a breeze. Velvet jeans with a silk top, elegant trousers with a metallic turtleneck, LBD with a sparkly cardigan, pencil skirt with a lace top. Same concept with footwear and evening bag. And for occasions that call for just a hint of festive, a column of smart casual neutral pieces with one standout statement accessory. I use to dread deciding what to wear to parties and events – now it's as simple as grab and go!
Nancy/n.o.e says
November 10, 2017 at 7:10 pmyes to this! Velvet jeans + a silk top = my holiday go-to outfit. I have velvet jeans in black and in hot pink (my favorites). – nancyo
Katie C says
November 11, 2017 at 6:36 pmLena, this is life-changing advice! (Well, maybe not on a par with world peace, but still pretty valuable.) 😉 Between these tips from you and Janice (whom I will always think of as Vivienne, even though I know that's someone else), I am now excited to create holiday outfits. Wheee! 😀
Janice Riggs says
November 14, 2017 at 4:27 pmThat advice might have been here!
https://www.theviviennefiles.com/2015/11/expanding-your-comfort-zone-finding.html
I think I'm going to revisit this post again this year…
hugs,
Janice
Lena says
November 14, 2017 at 8:08 pmYup – the advice DID come from The Vivienne Files! 🙂 And that's the exact post – thank you for pointing it out. It was fun to go back and read the post again. And it would be fun to see your take on it for this holiday season!
Virginia says
November 10, 2017 at 1:10 pmI've seen several navy velvet tops around this year. Maybe something along those lines?
Kathy Donaldson says
November 10, 2017 at 1:24 pmHow about silver with burgundy and grey?
Beckie says
November 10, 2017 at 2:09 pmI'd love to see plum or a deep, rich purple
Throckmorzog says
November 10, 2017 at 2:59 pmYes, please. I'm all about the hunter green with silver accessories at the holiday times, but would enjoy inspiration from any colour you are struck by. Please consider a holiday capsule (or two or three!) that are more casual, too, as most of so many holiday gatherings are outdoors, involve cooking, or are family-style affairs rather than dressier occasions…but we still want to look polished and attractive. : )
Deb from Vancouver says
November 10, 2017 at 3:56 pmLove the gold ensemble!
Kimm says
November 10, 2017 at 5:29 pmYes, please! I'd love to see some green, purple and silver/pewter items, for more casual holiday get-togethers.
SimplyFy54 says
November 10, 2017 at 5:30 pmYes, how about dove (taupe-ish) grey with cranberry-colored accents?
Valkirria says
November 10, 2017 at 7:31 pmyes, please more colors for those of us who cannot wear black
Shrebee says
November 11, 2017 at 1:36 amI add my same vote for this request ! I adore posh fabrics ! They make me feel glamorous, whether or not anyone else thinks so !
Karen S. says
November 10, 2017 at 8:39 pmYes! I'd love to see these in more colors 🙂 … Love your blog (I enjoy the beautiful outfits/capsules that you put together and the lovely stories you give the characters with them)! Would you ever consider doing a more casual wardrobe based on the Start with Art Vernal Yellow piece? I loved that one!
Janice Riggs says
November 14, 2017 at 4:28 pmOn the list!
hugs,
Janice
Suzyn says
November 10, 2017 at 10:38 pmThank you, Ma'am! 🙂 Love that tunic!!!
Kay dancingbrushpainting.blogspot.com says
November 11, 2017 at 6:05 amMore colors? Yes, please!
And thank you for including the goldy brown in this first pass. ?
Duchesse says
November 11, 2017 at 1:56 pmI have done the neutral pants (or skirt) and "nice top that can be worn other times" thing more years than I can count. And I'm feeling, Enough. I wanted a look that's not so obviously practical. Then I flipped some price tags and chickened out. So, I split the difference and bought a a vintage embroidered silk kimono (hip length) by Emanuelle Khanh. Consignment and vintage shops are great places to look for a special piece.
Katieinga says
November 11, 2017 at 2:29 pmI have been collecting black velvet pieces from Eileen Fisher over the last two years and just bought the last Oscar dela Renta gold sweater in your post above to set it all off! Thank you!!!
Katieinga says
November 11, 2017 at 4:55 pmAnd now have bought the green pleated skirt just for fun!
Gail Finke says
November 12, 2017 at 10:30 pmI used to buy numerous "holiday" pieces that I never wore — because my holiday events are almost all family events, so anything too fancy or thin did not get worn. Four pieces is really about right, even with one being a "Christmas sweater" (not necessarily a tacky one, but one that is so holiday-themed it's only good for a few wearings a year). Last year I wore mine with a t-shirt (invisible under it) or with a turtleneck, and with jeans, nicer pants, and a skirt. Got me through family events, holiday at work, and office Christmas party, and I had worn it the year before as well. I liked it and it fit well, but two years was enough so I bought another one for this year — a little more goofy this time, as I have a really nice black sweater with vaguely snowflake-like white embroidery for anything fancier. Those two sweaters and a vintage wool kilt were my only holiday pieces and I no longer have all kinds of things I store only to never wear anyway! Well, I still have one lovely shirt that I might wear… someday… or maybe it will finally go to Goodwill after I don' wear it yet again, ha ha~
Janice Riggs says
November 14, 2017 at 4:30 pmSometimes it makes sense to hang onto something – it's all so very personal… If I hold onto something it vanishes into a storage bin, but another woman might have a different experience. It makes life interesting, eh?
hugs,
Janice