Lifestyles

What to Wear: Holiday Lookbook 2013

The holidays are quickly approaching, and you are probably wondering what to wear. Parties and gatherings call for a more sophisticated look, unless your family has decided to spend the night in their favorite pajamas. However, if you are trying to dress to impress for the special occasion, here are some tips on what to wear.

You can never go wrong with a little sparkle. Whether it be for Christmas or New Year’s Eve, play up the holiday twinkle with your own outfit.

Pair a sequined top with a black skirt for a fun, yet sophisticated look. If you want more bling, find a dress covered in glitter, like the See Me Sequin Bodycon dress from tobi.com. Long or three quarter length sleeves are perfect for winter, and you can wear the dress with opaque black tights and solid pumps.

Junior marketing major Ariel Shilling said, “I plan on wearing a sparkly dress on New Year’s Eve. I feel like the holiday is the perfect opportunity to wear sparkle without looking too over the top. I’ll pair it with solid color heels and keep it dressy by curling my hair.”

You can also wear a pair of  black dress pants with a sequined top. One with an illusion neckline, like The Other Sequin Girl Silver Sequin Halter from lulus.com, would be the perfect match.

Lace is another classic staple. It is more subdued than sequins, but still screams holiday cheer. The Epiphany Lace dress from saboskirt.com is priced right and comes in both black and white. It offers a uniquely designed top and short length, so you don’t have to worry about looking like you are wearing a table cloth.

You can also wear a lace skirt, like the Eyelet Lace Bodycon skirt from Forever21. White is perfect for the snowy winter weather, and can be worn with any solid colored top. Top it off with a fur vest or blazer and chunky necklace to complete the layered look. 

Another texture perfect for winter is velvet. H&M has a strapless dress that comes in burgundy or black velvet. Throw a leather jacket, like Mossimo’s Faux Leather Jacket from Target, over the dress to keep you warm upon arrival.

Who says you can’t wear animal print for the holidays? Cheetah print is a popular trend, and can make a statement without being too over-the-top. Wear a lightweight cheetah print blouse with a black pencil skirt and tights. A chunky shoe like the Lace-up Platform Bootie from Charlotte Russe would complete the look.

If you are a fashion daredevil, try a jumpsuit. The Jena Jumpsuit from tobi.com is strapless and simple with a pretty filigree design at the top. Plus, it tapers off at the ankle so you can wear it with a heel like the red Rhinestone T-Strap from Charlotte Russe.

Senior graphic design major Tara Esposito said, “I’m always up for trying new styles in fashion. I’m not sure if I’ll be adventurous enough by the time Christmas comes, but I would definitely try out a jumpsuit. I like wearing rompers, and it’s basically the same concept but with pants. I like the idea of a jumpsuit because it seems comfortable, but it can still be dressed up with heels and jewelry if you’re going out for the holidays.”

New Year’s Eve is a great opportunity to push the fashion boundaries. Ring in the new year with a daring outfit, but still make sure it is tasteful. Charlotte Russe has high-waisted denim that comes in an array of colors, from black to burgundy and gray. Dress the jeans up with a glittery cropped top, like the Show Stoppin’ Crop Toppin’ shirt from tobi.com. If you like the velvet look, lulus.com has the Haymaker Magenta Velvet Bustier Top, which can serve as a great pop of color. These tops can also be worn with a high-waisted skirt for a dressier evening look.

Since the weather outside may be frightful during the holidays, complete any outfit with a blazer. H&M’s Dinner Jacket Blazer comes in black or white and is under $40.

Add some bangle bracelets and earrings to make the look dressier. The store Icing has tons of options in costume jewelry for reasonable prices. Their Glitter Stone Rectangles and Ovals Statement Necklace comes in all the jewel tone colors, like purple, deep blue, wine and deep green. Any of these would be the perfect compliment to any black dress, skirt or jumpsuit.

Senior criminal justice major Casey McCabe said, “I love costume jewelry because it always comes in handy when I’m going out and need something to make my outfit dressier. A good necklace can immediately take a plain black shirt and make it look way more interesting. Plus, costume jewelry is cheap, which is a plus.”

Don’t be afraid to play with color with your outfit choice. Black, white, and gray are classic but metallic silver and gold will add pop. Jewel tones are deep, yet still eye-catching. You can mix these different colors up in one look, or stick to one color scheme.

If you are going with all black, make your outfit pop with a sparkly shoe like Aldo’s Valik in gold.

If you choose to wear jewel tones, keep the shoes simple.  Jessica Simpson’s Waleo Platform Pump in nude patent matches with everything, and is simple, yet still makes a statement. Balancing your outfit is the most important thing to do when figuring out what to wear.

The holidays are upon us, which means you may want to dress up to celebrate. With a little color, glitter, velvet or lace, you can create a unique look that will be sure to impress. Be adventurous, but keep in mind the balance and sophistication of your holiday wear.

PHOTO TAKEN from tobi.com