2014 Holiday Party Outfit Inspiration

For those of us who love bright colors, fun fabrics, and lots of layers – holiday party outfits are a dream come true. If sequins and novelty sweaters (sometimes called ugly holiday sweaters) don’t come naturally to you, then glean some inspiration from these très chic street style mavericks.

Lesson 1: RED. Red is festive, vibrant, and looks good on everyone. Even if you don’t have a red dress intended for the holiday season, winterize it with simple black tights, cute boots, and a chunky sweater. Pair a red shirt or sweater with red pants or a skirt. Keep in mind, the reds do NOT have to match. Slightly varied tones will add some depth to your outfit. Unless your reds match (as they do in the top picture) wear your all-red outfit with high-shine shoes – either metallic or sequin. 

Be sure and put on some lipstick so that your face isn’t washed out by the bright red ensemble. If your outfit is textured (lace, patterned, etc.) keep jewelry minimal. If not, the more jewelry the better. Mix metals, and add some gems to the mix as well. Keep hair pulled back out of your face and away from the onslaught of jewelry.

Lesson 2: WINTER WHITES. This is one of my favorite looks for holiday parties. Just as with the red outfit, the whites do not need to match. In fact, it almost looks better when ivory, cream, beige and all other variations are thrown into the mix. Winter whites allows you to play up your makeup, hair color, and above all, shoes.

With a winter whites outfit, I suggest wearing your brightest pair of shoes – whether it’s a stiletto, mule or oxford. Another fun shoe idea is to wear something totally unexpected. If you’re dressed in a flouncy, white lace getup, put on your favorite pair of motorcycle boots to balance out the femininity.

Lesson 3: TEXTURE. All good outfits require some degree of texture variation, but this is especially true with holiday ensembles. This suggestion applies to the other two as well. If you’re dressed completely in white, add some interest to your look with a faux-fur coat. When it comes to faux-fur, natural colors such as cream and chestnut are the more classic choice, but colorful fur is by far more youthful.

If wearing a satin skirt, or a fur collar is child’s play to you, then attempt mixing two textures. Below is a festive combo of slinky, silk top, and a dramatic feathered skirt. When you combine such opulent textures, it’s important to keep the rest of the look – accessories and beauty – very simple so you look as chic as possible.

Shop the looks here.