Dressing for parties during the holiday season is an endeavor full of unique opportunities and challenges. On the one hand, holiday parties are the perfect time to pull out fabrics, embellishments, and colors that you might not normally wear. Satin! Sequins! Red! On the other hand, determining the requisite formality of a given event — and picking an outfit to fit — can be a challenge.
A. and E. decided to have a little fun with a holiday party style workshop, trying out looks that would be appropriate at the holiday parties we’ll be (and dream about) attending.
Cocktails with colleagues:
Sources:
On A.:
- Plaid shirt: Old Navy little boys
- Ruffled black tank: Banana Republic Outlet
- Patent leather belt: Forever 21
- Pencil skirt: Banana Republic
- Teal pumps: Seychelles, via solestruck.com
On E.:
- Sequined tank: Target
- Beaded cardigan: Banana Republic
- Bermudas: thrifted, self-shortened Purple tights: Banana Republic
- Black pumps: Madden Girl, DSW
End Notes:
Going out on the town for a holiday cocktail with friends is a great excuse to slip a little extra pizazz into an outfit. A., for example, rarely wears red during the rest of the year. But even she can’t resist donning this cheerful red plaid flannel shirt (from the little boys’ department of Old Navy, no less!) and dressing it up with a black ruffled tank, pencil skirt, and teal pumps. E., meanwhile, pairs up the only two sparkly tops she owns — a beaded cardigan and a sequined tank — for some festive fabulousness. Purple tights beneath bermuda shorts keeps an otherwise monochrome outfit from being too dull.
Party with Professors:
Sources:
On E.:
- Ribbon tee: self-made
- Jacket: Forever 21
- Black ankle pants: Old Navy
- Ruffled pumps: AM, via DSW
On A.:
- Green ruffled blouse: Old Navy
- Black wrap sweater: Banana Republic
- Pencil skirt: Banana Republic
- Tights: Forever 21
- Pumps: DSW
- Brooch as necklace: Vintage Threadz on etsy.com
End Notes:
Party-ing with professors (or bosses, as the gainfully employed might do), calls for outfits that are festive while remaining tasteful. This is not the time for too-short skirts or too-low tops. That’s not to say you need to be stuffy, however! E. puts a fresh spin on a pantsuit, wearing pants in a trendier length and pairing an embellished top with a structured jacket. A.’s green and black ensemble would be perfectly appropriate in a classroom, but the bright color and ruffle make it a sweet choice for a holiday evening as well.
Dinner with Donors:
Sources:
On A.:
- Ruffled navy dress: JCrew
- Black patent belt: Forever 21
- Black clutch: grandmother’s
- Black tights: Forever 21
- Black pumps: Madden Girl, via DSW
On E.:
- Gray ruffled “shrug”: “Scrunchy” scarf from Nepali by TDM designs
- Black strapless dress: Ann Taylor
- Black tights: Target
- Black ruffled pumps: AM, via DSW
End Notes:
Alas, neither A. nor E. will be attending a holiday party that merits extra-fancy dress. But we can dream, right? Holiday parties that call for cocktail attire are the perfect time to pull out a bridesmaid dress that may be languishing in the back of your closet. E. wore this strapless dress as a bridesmaid last summer. To ground the floatier fabric for winter, she used a couple of safety pins and some ribbon to fashion a temporary shrug our of the soft cashmere “Scrunchy” scarf from Nepali by TDM Designs. Ruffles that help keep you warm and hide those pesky tan lines? Brilliant! In her chic navy dress (which she incidentally wore to S.’s wedding!), A. proves that rich jewel tones can be just as appropriate for evening as black. Black patent accessories add a little extra glamor to a dress that’s proven to be remarkably versatile through several seasons.
What will you be wearing to your holiday parties this year?
Oooohhh these are all fabulous A. & E.!! Thank you for this post!
E., could you further show us what you did to that scrunchy scarf to make it a shrug? I thought you just pinned it to your dress, but what did you do with the ribbon?
Here is what I wore so far to various holiday events:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wearabouts_town/sets/72157622902389609/
Happy Holidays!
Fabulous ladies! I love seeing you all kick it up a notch over the last few months and this post is a perfect example. Thankyou for being so stylish, so aware of the professional limitations and necessities, and for having such great photos! Merry Christmas!
sorry for the subject/verb disagreement. Put it down to being in the midst of chapter writing!
Awwww, you’re together in the shots! That touches my heart and I have no idea why. Maybe seeing real live [stylish] friends makes me happy?
You both look fabulous! I love that navy dress, A.!
We’ve done several posts on festive attire over at Fashionable Academics, including this one: http://fashionableacademics.blogspot.com/2009/12/channeling-my-inner-betty-draper.html, which shows what three of us wore to a holiday party at my home, and this one where thechemist-coture shows that academic style isn’t just for ladies: http://fashionableacademics.blogspot.com/2009/12/making-my-list-checking-it-twice.html.
Your first outfits are my favourite! This is such a great idea- love the coloured tights with walking shorts!
As an adolescent of the ’90s, I love the plaid flannel — I am definitely hitting the boys’ department for a shrunken fit shirt as soon as the holidays pass.
Love that A. & S. have been ransacking the little boys’ section. Makes me feel better for it!
I really adore all the outfits, especially the touches of trendiness without looking like you’re into Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers.
Great show ladies. I love the scar converted into a shrug. I will be trying that out tonight when I have a drinks party to attend.
I love the navy dress with black accessories. I’ve always been scared of the navy and black combo, but you’ve just proved how well it works! I look great in navy but find myself passing by navy dresses because I don’t know what color shoes to wear with them. Thanks!
The “dinner with donors” looks are probably my favorite! Beautiful dresses + accessories.
Your styling and posing is perfect! These pictures totally look like they are out of a holiday catalogue… Great looks!
I’ve been seriously inspired by the belts you ladies wear! For Christmas Eve dinner in Philly, I’m packing a merlot shawl-collared sweater dress and pairing it with a thin brown belt (with a cool little inlaid buckle). If there are belt loops, why not use them?
Thanks for all the ideas!
All your outfits are super stylish and you both look gorgeous in them. I’m glad to know I’m not the only person out there who dreams up outfits for events she won’t actually be attending. It’s good for the creativity, right? :)
Wow, these outfits are great! Thank you for the inspiration, and Happy Holidays!
Fab outfits! Especially the fancy dressed. I never would have guessed that was a bridesmaid’s dress.
What a great post! I know I pull my whole closet apart during holiday party season trying to put together something that looks good and is appropriate. All the outfits are excellent choices. The shrug is so glamorous!
These are lovely. Definitely inspirational for all the end-of-year drinks I’m having lately!
Really great advice, girls! My favorite outfits are the ones you chose for the party with professors.
Bravo! I love the notes on the party with professors. So true!
Love the little boys’ plaid shirt! So unexpected.
I wore a thrifted LBD with a huge beaded cuff to my office party and dark trouser jeans with chocolate brown velvet blazer to my friend’s house.
I am going to be running straight to the boys department next time I’m in Old Navy- I am loving that shirt!!
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