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Home » What do I Need to Wear for the Holidays?

What do I Need to Wear for the Holidays?

November 10, 2017

 

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…

Four Key Wardrobe pieces in navy for the winter holidays

navy silk top – Uniqlo; cardigan – Ted Baker; navy velour pants – Uniqlo; tunic – Andrea Bogosian

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:

2 outfits in navy for the December and January holidays

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…

2 outfits in navy for the December and January holidays

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…

Four Key Pieces for Thanksgiving, Hannukah, Christmas and New Years in bronze brown

tee shirt – Uniqlo; cardigan – Oscar de la Renta; skirt – Uniqlo; sweater – Uniqlo

If you’re manning the doors at an open house, 2 sweaters might not be excessive!

2 outfits for the December and January holidays in copper brown

bracelet – Feather+Stone; pumps – L.K.Bennett; clutch – Whiting & Davis; earrings – Khiry; boots – Kelsi Dagger Brooklyn

2 outfits for the December and January holidays in bronze brown

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

What do I Need to Wear for the Holidays?

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11.10.17 29 Comments

Tags: brown, cool weather, evening wear, navy
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Comments

  1. Maja says

    November 10, 2017 at 8:25 am

    Yes please, give us more color options. Maja

    Reply
  2. Anonymous says

    November 10, 2017 at 10:05 am

    Yes please, maybe some silver grey options and berry reds. Sharon, U.K.

    Reply
    • SusanG says

      November 10, 2017 at 11:13 am

      Agreed, silver! It's my favourite holiday metallic. (The rest of the year, too!)

      Reply
  3. Lena says

    November 10, 2017 at 1:07 pm

    Yes 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!

    Reply
    • Nancy/n.o.e says

      November 10, 2017 at 7:10 pm

      yes 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

      Reply
    • Katie C says

      November 11, 2017 at 6:36 pm

      Lena, 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! :-D

      Reply
    • Janice Riggs says

      November 14, 2017 at 4:27 pm

      That 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

      Reply
    • Lena says

      November 14, 2017 at 8:08 pm

      Yup – 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!

      Reply
  4. Virginia says

    November 10, 2017 at 1:10 pm

    I've seen several navy velvet tops around this year. Maybe something along those lines?

    Reply
  5. Beckie says

    November 10, 2017 at 2:09 pm

    I'd love to see plum or a deep, rich purple

    Reply
  6. Throckmorzog says

    November 10, 2017 at 2:59 pm

    Yes, 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. : )

    Reply
  7. Deb from Vancouver says

    November 10, 2017 at 3:56 pm

    Love the gold ensemble!

    Reply
  8. Christine Moon says

    November 10, 2017 at 10:42 am

    I 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.

    Reply
  9. Kimm says

    November 10, 2017 at 5:29 pm

    Yes, please! I'd love to see some green, purple and silver/pewter items, for more casual holiday get-togethers.

    Reply
  10. Lynn Carroll says

    November 10, 2017 at 11:40 am

    I also like red for the holidays- and silver,too!

    Reply
  11. Kathy Donaldson says

    November 10, 2017 at 1:24 pm

    How about silver with burgundy and grey?

    Reply
  12. Valkirria says

    November 10, 2017 at 7:31 pm

    yes, please more colors for those of us who cannot wear black

    Reply
    • Shrebee says

      November 11, 2017 at 1:36 am

      I add my same vote for this request ! I adore posh fabrics ! They make me feel glamorous, whether or not anyone else thinks so !

      Reply
  13. Suzyn says

    November 10, 2017 at 10:38 pm

    Thank you, Ma'am! :) Love that tunic!!!

    Reply
  14. SimplyFy54 says

    November 10, 2017 at 5:30 pm

    Yes, how about dove (taupe-ish) grey with cranberry-colored accents?

    Reply
  15. Karen S. says

    November 10, 2017 at 8:39 pm

    Yes! 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!

    Reply
    • Janice Riggs says

      November 14, 2017 at 4:28 pm

      On the list!
      hugs,
      Janice

      Reply
  16. Kay dancingbrushpainting.blogspot.com says

    November 11, 2017 at 6:05 am

    More colors? Yes, please!
    And thank you for including the goldy brown in this first pass. ?

    Reply
  17. Duchesse says

    November 11, 2017 at 1:56 pm

    I 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.

    Reply
  18. Katieinga says

    November 11, 2017 at 2:29 pm

    I 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!!!

    Reply
  19. Katieinga says

    November 11, 2017 at 4:55 pm

    And now have bought the green pleated skirt just for fun!

    Reply
  20. Gail Finke says

    November 12, 2017 at 10:30 pm

    I 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~

    Reply
    • Janice Riggs says

      November 14, 2017 at 4:30 pm

      Sometimes 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

      Reply
  21. NATALIE says

    August 10, 2020 at 2:21 am

    I love to dress elegantly on a regular basis. Dressing for holiday parties is no exception. Yet, I don’t keep a great deal but I do keep much more than I think most of you here would. I’m working on doing more with less but I will never be a minimal wardrobe lady. I just can not see me enjoying being so minimal. Where is the fun? But, I do see the benefit in a wardrobe of the best quality lady like/soft classic wardrobe that is made up of my neutrals and accent colors.

    Reply

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The Vivienne Files is a unique personal style blog with carefully-selected capsule wardrobes based on color palettes drawn from works of art, nature, and more. It helps women buy less clothing, and to love what they buy. Read more...
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