Holiday Wardrobe Must-Haves

Forget spring, screw fashion week, and don’t even think about casual shorts-and-bathing suit friendly summer. The holiday time is truly the season when your closet matters most.

Think about it this way: is there any other moment in the year where you’ll jet from party to party to see every single person you know — and their mothers? Nope.

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Since the holidays naturally require tons of heavy planning and last minute shopping panic attacks, make things a little easier on yourself by being fashionably prepared for all of that inevitable party and dinner hopping. And to be honest, it certainly doesn’t hurt to impress old friends with your stellar new sense of style.

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Avoid the “I have nothing to wear as you stare at a closet full of clothes syndrome” by streamlining your holiday style repertoire to a few very chic options.

From the all-eyes-on-you party dress to conversation starting coats and actually comfortable heels to dance the night away in, alleviate your ‘tis-the-season outfit dilemmas by stocking up on a few of these holiday wardrobe essentials.

Chunky Heels

Yes, you may love an excuse to strut your stuff in those painfully (literally) fabulous stilettos that live a lonely life in the party portion of your closet, but then again your feet may not be able to last the sartorial sacrifice.

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Instead, opt for platform heels or chunky pumps that will provide support and comfort for those holiday get downs. Have fun and go for a metallic block heel or bright red hue for a functional yet flirty way to accessorize your stems.

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Faux-Fur Cover Up

Take any ensemble up a few notches by covering up with a glamorous faux fur coat or vest. Instead of donning the all white iteration of the one your grandma used to wear for holiday window-shopping, opt for a dark gray, burgundy, or pastel faux fur for a more modern approach.

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Easily pair a faux fur over a simple blouse and skinny jeans or add drama to an already indulgent party dress. Either way, you can’t go wrong with this cold weather statement piece.

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Cocktail Ring

Chunky, bold, and fabulous, cocktail rings are the perfect holiday attention-grabbing accessories. Considering how much you use your hands this season (serving food, unwrapping presents, grabbing drinks, etc. …) rings are a great way to pack a huge punch of style in just one small piece of jewelry and are a great alternative to the much overplayed statement necklace.

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Whenever you want to add an extra “oomph” to your overall look, a great cocktail ring will do just that for you. The best part about most of these fun baubles is that they tend to range on the cheaper side of the price spectrum so you can load up on a few different styles to pair with a variety of holiday looks.

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Velvet Blazer

Make the transition from work to play that much easier by rocking an office appropriate yet stylish velvet blazer over a simple sheath or little black dress.

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The tuxedo blazer is a timeless piece that will never go out of style, but this season steps up the tuxedo luxe factor by offering the classic item in plushy velvet fabrics and rich jewel tones.

Try a sapphire blue or emerald green blazer over a pair of jeans, a simple tee and a bold necklace and you’ll be looking fancy in no time.

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Embellished Party Dress

The holiday season is one of the few sacred times of the year when it is more than acceptable to don the flashiest, most sparkly dress that you can find. Whether it’s a gala or your grandma’s dinner party, don’t be afraid to pull out the big (embellished) guns in a glamorous way.

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Sequins, metallic, intricate beading, or jeweled ornamentation: this is the perfect time to wear that embellished frock that you’ve been too reluctant to wear out on the town.

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Quirky Sweater

So the “ugly sweater” party is one of those inevitable holiday events that you will more than likely have to attend. Just because the invitation calls for “ugly” does not mean that you have to take instructions so literally.

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Stand out of the tacky crowd and be the only party guest able to shamelessly continue party hopping without having to stop at home for a change of clothes by rocking a playful (not silly) winter sweatshirt.

Go for flirty fringe or a fun pattern instead of the typical snowflake covered Rudolph the red nosed reindeer and you’ll have a cozy item that you will be able to wear for more than one three-hour event.

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