Glamorous Holiday Fashion
1A Mix of Textures
Why you'll love it Letting formal pieces mingle with casual ones gives you loads of wardrobe options—and a distinctive personal style.
How to wear it The greater the contrast in fabric, the more relaxed you'll look. Pair more similar items—switch out this sweater for a slimmer one, maybe even with metallic threads—and the effect is sleeker and dressier.
Sweater, Dodo + Angelika, $475. Skirt, Blugirl, $925. Necklace, Kenneth Jay Lane, $750. Purse, Chanel, $9,200. Tights, Falke, $65. Boots, Tecnica, $500
2Glacier-Blue Metallics
Why you'll love it Cool sapphire, silver and blue-gray sequins and silks attract attention but don't overpower.
How to wear it We gravitate toward dark shades during winter, but it's more fun to lighten up. Make blues and grays the centerpiece, then sprinkle in flashes of brilliance with accessories in winter white and ivory.
Dress, Unique Vintage, $88. Coat, Burberry, $1,495. Hat, Eugenia Kim, $188. Sunglasses, Carrera, $195. Scarf, Fraas, $45. Boots, Tecnica, $140
3Allover Sequins
Why you'll love it Most of us rarely just go for it. The holidays are your chance!
How to wear it Choose itsy-bitsy square sequins for delicate iridescence. To really grab the spotlight, go for big, round paillettes. "Sequins that lie flat against your body won't bunch or pull," says SELF fashion director Evyan Metzner. Save swingy clusters for the hem or sleeves, so they impart light where you want it instead of volume where you don't.
Dress, Blugirl, $1,480. Earmuffs, Hat Attack, $42. Tights, Falke, $65
4Luxurious Layers
Why you'll love it With a few clever extras, you can buy one dress but look brand-new at every bash.
How to wear it A sleeveless style maximizes options, letting you layer on top and bottom: It's a jumper with a turtleneck underneath, a sheath when accented by a blazer, a skirt if you pull on an oversize sweater.
Dress, Rachel Roy, $1,495. Turtleneck, Uniqlo, $20. Hat, Op, $8. Goggles, Anon, $115. Bracelets, Chamak by Priya Kakkar, $105 each. Boots, Muks The Original Mukluk, $360
5Party-Ready Pants
Why you'll love it They combine I-feel-like-me comfort with I-feel-like-a-million sparkles.
How to wear it A close cut traces your shape so you look dressy. Slip on ankle-high boots: They hit at the right place to make legs appear a mile long.
Pants, Richard Chai Love, $850. Coat, MaxMara, $990. Shirt, Stella McCartney, $625. Headband, Jennifer Ouellette, $70. Gloves, Hat Attack, $44. Boots, Nakiuk, $395
6A Shot of Shimmer
Why you'll love it Not every occasion calls for movie-star glamour. But every day is a chance to feel special.
How to wear it Limit your look to one, maybe two, bits of bling. For day, knits with glittery threads catch the light softly. After dark, heighten the drama with embellished accessories, like a jazzy belt or headband.
Coat, Blugirl, $1,475. Sweater, Rebecca Taylor, $245. Skirt, WD.NY, $74. Sunglasses, Oliver Peoples, $280. Belt, Untamed Petals, $215. Boots, Reiss, $375
7Suit Up!
Why you'll love it It's a suit for the holidays. And it's not just any skirt suit—it's a sexy skirt suit.
How to wear it Pick a complementary color if you want to layer or add accessories. And because the skirt is short, try and find ways to cover up—like a to-the-knee boot or socks, or even tights.
Marc Jacobs jacket, $2,900, and skirt, $595; 212.343.1490. Hat Attack hat, $78. Muks shoes, $340. Uniqlo sweater. Sequin bracelets.
8Dress to Impress
Why you'll love it It's a new use of brocade mixed with a more classic, ladylike shape. And we love mixing something more prim and proper with something sparkly.
How to wear it This dress will take you from the New Year's Eve bash to a fundraiser. The more conservative, classic shape gives it staying power in your closet. And because of its neutral tone, you can add color with accessories or pop on a little black jacket.
Marc by Marc Jacobs dress, $728, and sweater, $498; 212-924-0026.Fogal tights, $43; 212-355-3254. Untamed Petals belt. Brunello Cucinelli boots.
9Birds of a Feather
Why you'll love it This is a great way to wear a statement piece without looking like the trend is wearing you. Mix something a bit crazy like feathers with something you probably already own—like a long, knit cardigan.
How to wear it Feel free to layer, but try to stay within the same tone. Rather than boring black tights, try nude or grey ones, or go for icy blue like we did.
Jenny Packham dress, $3,000. Mai t-shirt sweater, $245. Express cardigan, $70. Fogal tights, $56; 212-355-3254. Melissa + Vivienne Westwood shoes, $190. Chamak bracelets. Sequin bracelets.
10Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Why you'll love it This is the go-to "life of the party" dress! It's mixing sequins—already a standout texture (and they jingle when you shimmy, too!)—with a bright unique color.
How to wear it Depends on how much you want to stand out! On a cold day, we mixed it with warm, neutral accessories—furry boots, a chunky sweater. Going someplace warm? You can also pair it with sexy, strappy sandals or heels.
Isaac Mizrahi dress, $3,600; 212-288-8111. Roxy goggles, $ 150. Plastic Island sweater, $198. Colin Stuart boots.
SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.
