Womens Guide to Holiday Dressing Buying Guide, Stores, and Prices
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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 holiday sweater , have a few stylish outfits ready this season. Plan ahead and start shopping now so your outfits will be the last item of concern on your list.

The Basics

Here are the basics you should have in your winter wardrobe--don't get caught with nothing to wear. Be prepared by keeping some of these items in your wardrobe.

Black Dress 

Every woman needs one! Look for classic shapes and versatile fabrics (wool ,crepe ,silk , and rayon  are always classic).

How to wear:

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 nice slacks or a skirt. Always go with a color that flatters your skin and hair. Pearls look great with this delicate fabric.

Dress Slacks 

A classic dress pant  should fit well and have some drape to the fabric. Wool  and satin pants  should always be lined.

How to wear:

  • Black  and charcoal  are very versatile neutrals. For evening, add sparkle with an eye-catching top and strappy heels.
  • 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.

How to wear:

Shimmer 

When dressing with shimmer, opt for a timeless color like black, silver or gold and leave the sparkle to one article of clothing at a time.

How to wear:

  • Less is more. To add some pizazz to a black ensemble, go with an elegant silver  or gold clutch purse  and understated heels.

Accessories

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 stylish at the same time.

Winter Coat 

Every woman needs one that will go with her snazzy attire. Consider a warm wool peacoat  or a hooded jacket  that has a form-fitting cut.

How to wear:

  • Choose jackets in the same way that you would pick out a sweater --they shouldn't be too bulky, but must be big enough so you can layer 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.

Boots

If there's snow on the ground, you will definitely want to make sure you have some cute boots  to wear! Trying to trudge through piled-up snow and ice in your high heels could be dangerous. A sexy pair of knee-high boots  will look fabulous with your skirt, but just watch out for that muck.

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 tall and waterproof  so that they won't let the elements in!

Accessories

A hat ,gloves  and scarf  are all great for keeping out the cold and complementing your coat or wintertime ensemble. Pick up a few different styles so you can mix and match. Don't forget that a scarf can become an accessory to your outfit too!

How to Wear:

  • Having varying colors is fine, but don't go too crazy! 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 .

The Baubles

Finding great accessories 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 ones go together 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 chain or multiple large necklaces.

Bracelets 

Consider classic jewelry to match your ensemble: maybe a sterling silver bracelet  or a gold watch . If you want to wear bigger pieces, you could try gemstones  or pretty silver bangle bracelets .

How to Wear:

  • Wearing bracelets can get tricky with long sleeves; try putting larger ones over top of your sweater sleeves and then see how you like the look.

Earrings 

Pretty chain earrings  or silver posts  can be a nice touch to any holiday ensemble. And don't forget about black earrings --these go with almost everything and can perfectly accentuate those special winter colors.

How to Wear:

  • Planning on wearing your hair up or down? If you are wearing it up, some pretty dangle earrings  might tie your outfit together nicely. Just make sure you don't clash!

Holiday Fashion Mistakes

We've all made some serious faux pas in the past, so let's keep the fashion police at bay this year.

  • Tone down the glitz. Yes, we all like wearing beading and shiny metallic outfits for the holidays, but don't overdo it. Embellishments should be on parts of the body you want to call attention to.
  • Keep yourself properly covered. Leave something to the imagination this holiday. There is a fine line between sexy and sleazy--learn where that line is and don't cross it.
  • Don't overcomplicate things. You probably have enough things to stress over this season, so don't complicate your outfit. If you're stumped, that little black dress I mentioned earlier will always look fabulous.
  • Leave the bright red and green outfits for your kids. Yes, a little festivity is nice, but let's not get carried away with it. The key is tasteful, not tacky.
  • Don't get caught over- or underdressing. It can be tricky trying to decipher those invitations. Here's some help:
    • Black Tie/Formal/Black Tie Optional: You can wear a cocktail dress, a long evening dress, or dressy evening separates.
    • Semi-Formal: No long dresses required. You can wear a cocktail/short dress or a dressy suit.
    • Business Formal: Tailored dresses or dress suits.
    • Cocktail Attire: Short, yet elegant dresses.
    • Informal: Often mistaken for casual, but you should dress the same as semi-formal.
    • Festive Attire: The same as semi-formal, but they're letting you know it's okay to wear beads and sparkles.
    • Casual: If it says "dressy casual," go with dress pants and a nice top. If it says just casual, anything goes.

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