Easy Holiday Party Outfits!

Why not sparkle just as brightly as the holiday lights in festive pieces made for celebrating the season? Whether you’re more about subtle shine or glamorous glitter, there’s a gorgeous party look waiting for you here. But there’s no need to pack away these pieces come January 2—you’ll find plenty of ways to wear them post-holidays.

The Peplum-and-Pants Combo

The beauty of these pieces: They manage to be chic, sophisticated, and understated all at once. Shift tailored black trousers into office-party mode by pairing them with a subtly embellished peplum top: Just add a blazer during working hours. If you want to turn up the glamour even higher, go with metallic sandals and jewelry. For a polished Saturday-night look year-round, try the top with dark skinny jeans and heels.

The Not-So-Basic Black Dress

An LBD has to be one of the best wardrobe investments a woman can make, a count-on-it companion for years to come. What makes this one stand out: Though its body is all about minimalist fluidity, the illusion netting up top adds a sexy note while still keeping the effect demure.

The Shimmery Shift

With its intricate sequined pattern, this dress is a full-on dazzler, yet it offers slip-on-and-go simplicity and a shape that’s easy to wear. Its utterly basic silhouette ensures that it will never go out of style.

The Slouchy Sweater and Pants

High comfort meets high style in an eye-catching ensemble that inverts the go-to jeans/dressy top formula. Here, the sweater is all sink-into-it cozy, while the sequined tuxedo pants add luxe structure. For more formal occasions, pair the pants with a sheer black blouse and a camisole. And, yes, the sweater makes a natural mate for jeans.

The Swingy Skirt

A full cut is almost universally flattering, which means most anyone can give this skirt a twirl. What’s more, it’s surprisingly versatile. Try it with a blazer at the office (supposing you don’t work in a corporate setting). A tuxedo-type jacket is another option for work or a night out; just dress up or down with your top. For a laid-back daytime look, go with a sweater, opaque tights, and booties.

4 ways to wear your puffer vest

TO THE OFFICE
Got a chilly workplace? Belt your puffer vest over a metallic knit sweater for extra warmth. A pencil skirt, a pair of black tights and cool cut-out booties add a professional-yet-stylish spin.

TO THE GYM

Head out to the gym or for an outdoor run in an insulated ensemble with moisture-wicking fabrics in complementary jeweled tones. Keep things interesting with neon-colored kicks.

TO A CASUAL GET-TOGETHER

Offset the puffer vest's sporty aesthetic with a luxe touch. Leave the fur jacket and puffer vest open for glimpses of the blue hue and the playful stripes underneath.

TO AN EVENING EVENT

Elevate your puffer vest by layering it between a polished black-and-white ensemble and a coral coat for an unexpected rush of color.

Winter Must Have

The Fair Isle Cardigan

My favorite can't-live-without winter layer lends a fun, retro vibe to cold-weather ensembles.

Style Crash Course: How to take any item from day to night

Get double the wear out of everything in your closet (yes, even super-casual graphic tees and your fanciest sky-high strappy heels) with these tips.

THE WHITE BUTTON-DOWN

The quintessential 9-to-5 shirt can extend its working hours by getting tucked into a formal skirt and worn with sleeves unrolled and buttoned at the wrist. Jessica Alba chooses a sequin maxi, but it pairs just as well with a sparkly mini.

THE MOTO-JACKET

If you restrict your leather jacket to jeans, skirts and the occasional dress, you're missing out on one of the best ways to wear it--with a gown. The closet staple looks killer with black-tie attire and way cooler than an expected blazer (Miranda Kerr demonstrates).

STRAPPY JEWEL-ENCRUSTED SANDALS

If you take out your pair just for weddings, it's time to open your eyes to their versatility. While you shouldn't don them for interviews and Sunday fundays, they work when the sun's up, as long as the rest of the outfit is casual, but polished. (Sandra Bullock's heels with skinnies, a tee and a blazer)

THE STRUCTURED BLAZER

What you wear it with (pants vs. a silk dress) has much to do with how you wear it. Olivia Palermo styles it as a cape, which how women signal in the wild that they're fashionistas.

THE GRAPHIC TEE

You know how you keep yours in your gym drawer with your running shorts and yoga pants? Take it out next time you have a date. It dials down the uptight vibe of a black shirt and pumps. (Just be sure to tuck it in completely as opposed to doing the half-tuck Olivia Wilde demonstrates at left)

RED JEANS

It's all about changing up the accessories. Hilary Duff ditches the casual beaded necklace for delicate gold jewelry, replaces her tote with a clutch and puts on heels instead of booties. And of course, tucking in the top instantly makes any look more polished.

CHUNKY BLACK BOOTIES

We knew these kicks played well with skinnies, but Ashley Tisdale convinces me to try them with party dresses and fancy separates. The key is to pick a hemline on the higher side so your legs don't look stocky.

How to wear jeans to work

GET A BOYFRIEND BLAZER

Before you slip on a pair of weekday jeans, consider your workplace and what is appropriate—if you are a banker or a lawyer, you might be limited to twill trousers even on Casual Friday! But if you work in a more casual profession, try upgrading a sleek pair of jeans with a structured blazer. For a classic look, pair a navy blue jacket (like Emma Stone's number) with dark denim or a bright yellow design (like Emily Van Camp’s) with a lighter or acid-washed pair. Think suit and match light colors with light and dark with dark.

EMBRACE SEQUINS

A bit of shimmer is an instant outfit upgrade. If you're a risk-taker (and your office is fashion-forward), try a bolder sequined piece, like Olivia Palermo's eye-popping blazer. For a more understated look, try a shimmery top a la Carrie Underwood.

THROW ON A CARDIGANPrinted sweaters lend charm to a pair of jeans. Look for crafty details that will dress up denim, like Miley Cyrus's semi-sheer style or Emma Roberts's bold zig-zag print.

BUY A SILK BLOUSE

A sweet silk blouse will give your jeans a feminine feel—look for tops with pretty patterns or intricate necklines. If your workplace is more formal, skip distressed denim and go for a crisp pair of dark-wash jeans like Rose Byrne's and Jessica Biel's.

TRY A LITTLE LEATHER JACKET

A cropped leather jacket gives a jeans-and-a-T-shirt look a luxurious spin. Just skip the heavy motorcycle jacket in favor of a cropped fit, like Pippa Middleton's quilted look and Nicole Richie's simple structured style. Add a feminine touch with accessories like a great pair of heels and a fun bag.

LOOK FOR A CHIC BUTTON-DOWN

A crisp button-down shirt is a no-fail piece for the office. For a streamlined appearance, tuck a light-hued blouse into matching skinny jeans like Zoe Saldana, then take it to the next level with chic booties and bold eyeglasses. Or, if your workplace is more laid-back, try a simpler version, like Taylor Swift, and add a pop of color with burgundy flats.

Stylish Fall Fashions for 2013: Cozy Layers

Cooler weather calls for a cooler way of dressing. Try these stylish, multilayered strategies for bundling (without bulking) up.

What Lies Beneath

A grown-up take on the schoolgirl standard: Slip a billowy blouse under a sleeveless dress, pinafore-style. A dramatic coat and a bold necklace keep the look far from uniform.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turn Up the Heat

If you want to insulate a ladylike (read: drafty) dress, sandwich a cozy, long cardigan between it and a tweed coat. The most elongated silhouette happens when all the pieces hit around the knee. But if your coat is a bit shorter than your dress, don’t sweat it—the look is all the more interesting.

 

Polar Opposites

Hard meets soft when a rugged leather vest tops a pleated sweater-dress and a toasty scarf. Over-the-knee boots and tights make a midthigh hemline warmer and more discreet.

 

 

Chills and Thrills

Sequins, sparkle, and…goose bumps? Now you don’t have to freeze when you get all dressed up. A glam shearling vest, a glitter-flecked wool skirt, and shiny boots ensure that you’ll stay warm—and fabulous.

 

 

 

Shearling Delight

One dynamic overcoat—complete with a plush collar and unexpected gray sleeves—channels a layered look without adding inches to your frame. The snug knit and a slim leather skirt up the sleek quotient.

 

 

The Long and Short of It

A lesson in proportions: Let a slinky tunic hang a few inches below a chunky, hip-length shell for an artsy, boho air. Complete the look with cropped pants suspended above a pair of booties—just enough to reveal a sexy sliver of skin.

Cure for the Common Cold

Comfortable, casual looks won’t fall flat when you add surprising dimensions: an untucked shirttail, an under-the-collar necklace, a fur trimmed coat.

 

 

 

How to Layer Clothes

How to dress for the cold? The key is a warm layering strategy, whether you’re dressing for work, the weekend, or exercising.

Layering in the summer is simple: basically, a lightweight cardigan you can throw on (or take off) as needed, when the AC blows too vigorously. But depending on the climate where you live, the fall and, especially, winter may call for a more complex strategy, dressing for comfort in settings that can range from an icy driveway to a heat-blasted office building.

To regulate your body temperature all day, dress in soft, thin layers that you can easily add and remove. As a rule, a three-layer system works best, whether you’re dressing for a conference or a 5K run. The base layer wicks, or draws, moisture away from the skin; the second layer traps warm air, insulates, and absorbs perspiration passed through the base layer. And the third, outer, layer of clothing releases moisture into the air while blocking wind and rain. Besides eliminating bulk, multiple thin layers outperform one thick layer in several ways: trapping air (an excellent insulator) between the layers, letting perspiration move through more efficiently, and allowing freedom of movement.

Whatever situation you’re dressing for, if your goal is to keep warm, never wear cotton underwear or socks. Cotton loses much of its insulating ability when wet. Instead, wear underpants made of polypropylene, CoolMax, or Capilene, and socks made from Dri-Fit, wool, or cashmere.

• For work: Wool and silk are two of nature’s most effective insulators. Wool adds lightweight warmth and draws moisture from the skin. Silk is the strongest, smoothest natural fiber and also wicks moisture. Together they offer luxury and classic style—just right for the office. Look for silk tights (they’re porous, and they trap heat) and light wool sweaters (the thinner they are, the more smoothly they will drape).

• For the weekend: Casual weekend wear usually means jeans or sweats. But in cold weather, cotton is the kiss of death. It soaks up moisture and stays damp for hours. Instead, wear soft synthetics close to the body and add a sweater and a wind- and rain-resistant coat. A merino wool sweater will keep you cozy; top it with a light, water-resistant quilted jacket.

• For exercise: When dressing in layers for outdoor exercise, three points are crucial: First, every layer, including the outermost one, must breathe, so sweat doesn’t get trapped. Second, the outer layer has to be wind- and rain-resistant. And, third, don’t overdress. You should feel chilly during the first leg of a run or bike ride, then warm up gradually. Try a long-sleeve shirt and thermal tights that feel soft and dry against the skin, even when you’re perspiring. On mild winter days, protect against the elements with a windbreaker. When the temperature falls between 40 degrees and 55 degrees, wear a fleece vest as a second layer. It draws moisture from the base layer and won't restrict arm movement. If the temperature drops below 40, wear a long-sleeve fleece jacket as a second layer. Look for one with a hood, since a great deal of body heat is lost through the head. The lower the temperature, the thicker the outer layer should be. 

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Trend to Try: The Wide Leg Pant

wild for wide: 4 ways to wear fall's high-volume pant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Modern Work Clothes for Women

Your office wardrobe doesn’t necessarily have to be all-business. These pieces will add a little flair to your workday.

Corporate Structure

Conservative dress code? You can cover up without keeping your fashion sense under wraps. Figure flattering but not curve flaunting, this sleeved shift is a stylishly understated choice, thanks to a silky pleat down the front. Add a hint of color with a burgundy bag and complementary heels.

Creative License

If you’re thinking out of the box in an artistic field, you can extend that flair to your wardrobe. This hourglass silhouette gets an extra dash of originality with an explosively fun print. Set off more fireworks with glints of gold jewelry and black tights paired with (surprise) nude shoes.

Client Focus

If your daily duties have you hopping from desk to dinner (with a business lunch in between), streamline your schedule with a dress that’s as multitasking as you are. The combo of nonwrinkling fabric and sleek color blocking ensures that you’ll look put-together no matter what. Stick to black tights, classic heels, and simple jewelry for the utmost versatility.

Power Player

Big meeting? Important presentation? It’s all in the details. In this case, the notched neckline and the flutter cap sleeves add a little élan to an otherwise workhorse sheath. A bold cuff, a structured bag, and leopard-print pumps complete the take-charge look.

Business Casual

A more relaxed office doesn’t mean five days of forgettable khakis and twinsets. You’ll make a greater impression with a clean-lined (yet not too buttoned-up) dress that still looks sharp when you swap the ladylike satchel and heels for a crossbody bag and flats.