Women's Guide to Holiday Dressing

Each year you vow to be more organized when the holidays come around, so this is your chance to get a jump on dressing for Christmas,  Kwanzaa,  Hanukkah  or any of the wintertime holidays that you celebrate. Rather than showing up for events in your tired work clothes or a frumpy candy cane sweater,  have a few stylish outfits ready this year. Plan ahead and start shopping now so your outfits will be the last item of concern this year.

Top Picks

Here are the basics you should have in your winter wardrobe.

Black Dress  Every woman needs one! Look for classic shapes and versatile fabric (wool,  crepe,  silk,  and rayon  are seasonless). How to wear: For less dressy events, try sheer hosiery  and low-key jewelry.  To dress up, add black stockings,  dramatic jewelry and high heels.	Cashmere Sweater  V-necks  are sexy, crew necks  more conservative, and sweater sets  ideal (sleeveless shells can be sexy, but when you add a cardigan  the set becomes demure). How to wear: Pair with dressy pants or a skirt. Always go with a color that flatters your skin and hair. Pearls look great with cashmere.	Dress Slacks  A classic dress pant  should fit well and have some drape to the fabric. Wool  and satin pants  should be lined. How to wear: Black  and charcoal  are very versatile colors and ivory  will work well in warm climates. For evening, add sparkle with a sexy top and strappy sandals.  For more conservative events, pair with a cashmere sweater set and flats.	Velvet  Look for 100% cotton velvet in festive colors; jewel tones are great for the holidays. Velvet can help to deliver quality construction and proper fit. How to wear: A velvet blazer  can be paired with tuxedo pants  for a dressy event or mixed with denim  for a funky look. Velvet slippers  look great with jeans and a cashmere sweater. Velvet wraps  and evening bags  can accessorize your black dress.	Shimmer  When dressing with shimmer, opt for a timeless color like black, silver or gold. Also think about evening shoes  and pick a pair that will leave your feet happy after hours of dancing. How to wear: Less is more. Be careful not to add shimmer to something low-cut and revealing. One piece of shimmer per outfit! For example, pair a gold top  with solid black trousers.

Outerwear

When traveling to your holiday destination, you've got to be dressed appropriately. There are plenty of ways to make sure that you are warm and looking stylish at the same time.

Winter Coat  Every woman needs one that will compliment her stylish attire. Consider a pea coat  or a hooded jacket  that has a form fitting cut and will keep you warm. How to wear: Choose jackets the same way that you would pick out a sweater --not too bulky, but big enough so that you can layer extra clothes underneath. Also, check that the sleeves aren't too long (completely covering your hands is probably too much) and that the length doesn't overwhelm your figure.	Winter Boots  If there's snow on the ground, you will definitely want these! Trying to trudge through piled up snow and ice in your high heels could potentially be dangerous. How to Wear: Bring a change of shoes for your destination so that you won't feel bulky and uncomfortable all night. Make sure that your boots are waterproof and cut high enough so that they won't let snow into your socks  or pants.	Accessories  A hat,  gloves  and scarf  are all great for keeping out the cold and complimenting your coat or wintertime ensemble. Pick up a  few different styles so you can mix and match! How to Wear: Having varying colors is fine, but don't go too crazy! A red scarf  paired with a purple jacket  and yellow gloves  might be a little bit too much. Try to match a few of your accessories so that you have a pulled together but diverse look. Don't want to mess up your hair? Try earmuffs.  They keep out the wind and cold and go on like a headband.

The Baubles

Finding great jewelry to go with your winter look is almost as exciting as getting gifts. There's no need to spend a fortune, either, since costume jewelry  looks pretty close to the real thing without being tacky, and will hold up for long periods of time. 

Necklaces  Think about your favorite wintery colors like red  and green  (although not mixed together), shiny white,  dark purple,  gold  and silver.  Now look at which colors compliment each other and plan accordingly. Consider chunky necklaces  that can be layered together or a thin pendant necklace  that will look good on its own. How to Wear: Match jewelry with the cut of your sweater or dress. If your top has a lower neck, then the space might be good for a fashionable silver necklace or multiple large necklaces. Keep in mind that a turtleneck sweater  might look overwhelmed with lots of necklaces.	Bracelets  Consider classic jewelry to match your ensemble such as a sterling silver bracelet  or a gold watch.  If you want to wear bigger jewelry, think about gemstones  or pretty silver bangle bracelets.  How to Wear: Wearing bracelets can get tricky with long sleeves; try putting larger bracelets over sweater sleeves and see how you like the look.	Earrings   No need to get giant Santa Claus or reindeer earrings this year! Little silver bells or golden angels can be stylish and still keep you in the holiday mood. Also, pretty chain earrings  or silver posts  can be a nice touch. Don't forget about black! Black earrings  go with just about any outfit and are perfect for complimenting winter colors. How to Wear: Planning on wearing your hair up or down? If you are wearing it up, some pretty dangly earrings  might complement your outfit nicely. Just make sure you don't clash!

Related Guides

• Style Resources for Women
• Winter Style Guide
• Christmas
• Snow Boots
• Gift Guides

External Links

• About.com: This holiday guide lists 5 tops to pair with jeans or black pants.
• Essortment.com: An article on dressing for the holidays.