feature image via lookbook.nu
Holigay time means good food, good friends, and hopefully bearable family, along with approximately a million and one parties of differing fanciness levels. I’m going to take you through a few different outfits so that you’re gonna be the best dressed queer at every party you attend!
The holigay season is a special one, full of both the best and worst parts of life — homophobic family members and beautiful friends, delicious food and awful stomach aches, and parties of all shapes and sizes. Nothing beats getting dressed for a fancy pants party and getting to pull out that super cute dress or suit you’ve been hiding in the back of your closet all year, but we all know that things aren’t always that easy. Work parties offer a completely different challenge than straight up fancy pants soirees; same goes for family get togethers on Christmas day versus New Year’s day hangover brunches with friends.
The outfits below are meant to give you some ideas that you can use for any number of parties this holigay season. Mix and match ideas to find what makes you feel the best about yourself. You’re probably gonna be rubbing elbows and shaking hands with a lot of strangers this season, so make sure you have your game face on and are wearing the clothes that make you feel as confident as possible!
Work’s Annual Holiday Party
Work holiday parties are always semi-terrifying. You’re getting super drunk (if that’s your thing!) with a bunch of people whom you have never seen outside of the office before. Hopefully you get to bring your super cute girlfriend with you to cut down on the terror factor. But if you’re flying solo, you can always count on style to be your wingwoman. If you work at a white collar office like mine, you’ll want to wear something that makes you feel slightly glamorous without going full on vixen. This gold sequin pencil skirt is gonna do just the trick; it’s a step above normal office wear, but it isn’t too much so that you’ll feel out of place. Pair it with cute heels, opaque tights, and a smart blazer and you are gonna look and feel like the awesomest girl at the party (without worrying that your boss is secretly judging you)!
East Lion Corp./Qupid Enthrall in a Day’s Work Heel in Black // Asos Premium Blazer with Longline Lapel // Dorothy Perkins Tall rose gold sequin skirt // Plush Fleece-Lined Full Foot Tights // Kling Protocol Blouse // Nordstrom Bar Pendant Necklace
Casual Christmas Day Family Get Together
So you’ve got to head over to your homophobic uncle’s house for the annual extended family get together that takes place every Christmas? Congratulations! Let’s make sure you are by far the most fashionable person there so that you can at least concentrate on that small victory when you overhear your aunt make another subtly homophobic comment at your expense (oh, is that just me?). I am a huge fan of these leather high tops, especially when paired with smart chinos and a heather grey top. Smartly casual is the name of the game — feeling comfy, looking good, but not looking like you tried too hard to beat everyone at the fashion game.
Nixon Mellor Black Watch // Neiman Marcus Crocodile-Embossed Belt // Everlane The Twill Snap Backpack // Diesel Black Leather Exposure Sneakers // J.Crew Broken-in chino // H&M Hooded Sweater
Fancy Pants New Year’s Eve Soiree
This is your time to shine (both literally and figuratively)! Pull out your fanciest dress and your chicest shoes and you are ready to go. I love this vest shift dress, especially when it’s paired with patterned tights and black booties. A black and gold color scheme makes any outfit look extra fancy, but feel free to incorporate color too! This is the perfect chance to wear that bright red dress you’ve been dreaming about all year; just pair it with tights and you’ll instantly feel more secure about your outfit. Just promise me you’ll wear whatever makes you confident and you are definitely gonna be getting your mack on at midnight, if that’s your thing!
Forever 21 Longline Duster Coat // Spanx Tight-End Stunning Rose Floral-Print Tights // Vince Camuto Amori // Tai Set of Two Arrow & Leaf Cuff Bracelets // Madewell Wide Glider Ring // Jules Smith Designs Lexi Stackable Midi Rings // Kate Spade Sedgwick Place Lacey Zip Wallet // Cameo ‘Run Alone’ Vest Shift Dress
New Year’s Day Recovery Brunch
So you are hungover as shit. Congratulations, sounds like you had a grade-A New Year’s Eve! Now it’s time to pick up the pieces and get together with your closest friends to regale each other with ridiculous stories over brunch. You’re going to wanna look smart but also wear clothes that are so darn cozy that you can almost pretend you’re still in your pajamas. This flannel button up and knit cardigan are going to have everyone looking at you enviously through the hurt. Now go forth and enjoy your New Year’s day mimosas; you’ve earned them!
Timberland 6″ Wedge // H&M Knit Cardigan // Tallia Slim-Fit Trench Coat // Timex Originals Classic Round 42mm // J.Crew Factory Factory classic button-down shirt // Levi’s Jeans 501
The holigay season can be awesome if you’re ready for it. Plan your party schedule and corresponding party outfits in advance and you’ll having nothing left but to look forward to killing it all season with your spot on fashion choices!
I love every suggestion you made. I would rock all those outfits.
Great suggestions! Does anyone have any experience with Everlane?
Ooh, I want that backpack!
Also love the hoodie, flannel button-down, and cardigan. If I could bundle in warm winter stuff all year I could.
And on that note – can we talk about flannel for a second? I have noticed that some (cheap) clothing stores have been marketing something as flannel that IS NOT. I am referring to shirts made of flimsy, lightweight, plaid-printed material of springtime. The purpose of flannel is durability and WARMTH, and it must be sufficiently thick. You cannot simply make a soft cotton material with a plaid print and call it flannel, because this is a lie. /rant. (Sorry. It’s been on my mind.)
(I can’t tell from the picture what kind of material the J Crew sweater is made of, but I will give it the benefit of the doubt.)
Im liking the casual wear.
I actually have a solid black Calvin Kline suit I plan to rock the shit out of.