What to Wear to a Festive Holiday Party

The Christmas season is upon us — hard to believe with no snow on the ground and mild temperatures outside! But soon people will be scrambling to get their shopping finished (or started) and attending parties and dinners with friends, family, and co workers.

Often what should be a fun and festive month, for many women, turns into "I have a closet full of "NOTHING TO WEAR", or what is the "right" thing to wear. Some parties are easy to figure out, especially if formal or cocktail attire is requested. Dresses or dressier separates usually fit the bill perfectly. However when the party is more low key, and less structured it requires a bit more thought. You definitely don't want to be overdressed or underdressed, but you do want to be comfortable and you want to feel like yourself, only SPARKLIER.

We've put together a few looks for inspiration and maybe all it will take is a new top, new footwear or a new pair of pants to pull your outfit together. We always try to encourage women to think about their clothing pieces a bit more thoughtfully, as a little imagination can re-invent an item that used to only be worn "one way", with predictable results.

This outfit pairs a simple black sleeveless blouse with a Sparkly silver cropped jacket. We've added a plaid skinny pant to "festivize" the look even more. The two tone grey and black pumps are the perfect match, however a great black pump or dressier bootie would work as well.

Nothing says "Christmas" any better than a beautiful red plaid. This sophisticated blouse from Joseph Ribkoff is perfect for a seasonal party. The dark skinny jeans from Fidelity, are super stretchy and higher waisted (no muffin top). This statement necklace is the perfect compliment to finish off the outfit.

How cute is this outfit? Our snowflake tunic paired with a simple high-waisted bamboo legging is perfect for a holiday house party. We've added a bright red necklace and booties from Fergalicious to tie it all together. TIP: Make sure to contact your hosts ahead of time to see if they allow footwear in their home. If they do, bring clean shoes with you. If they don't, a pair of soft sole dressier ballet flats is the next best thing.

Turn a shorter dress into a tunic for the winter months. This red mixed dress with leather look detail from Piccadilly is a great base for this festive outfit. We’ve added an open faux leather trim sweater over top to make it slightly more fun and casual. Again, high waisted bamboo leggings keep the tummy area smooth. A pair of higher shafted boots would also work well with this outfit, either with or without a heel.

SYMPLI has done it again with this "cold shoulder" red top (also comes in black)! Cut outs are a huge trend right now and this piece is cut to perfection and fits like a dream. Showing a bit of skin is very sexy, yet understated and classy. We've paired it with a higher waisted black skinny "Gwen" jean, for a dressier appeal. Chokers are also on trend, and very flattering if you want to show off your neck!

We love animal print at the Sandbox, and this tunic from Joseph Ribkoff is a WINNER. It is fitted at the hips and a bit more blousy in the tummy area, leaving plenty of room for hors d'oeuvres. We've paired it with cutout leggings from Sympli for added impact. A statement necklace and earrings complement the look and booties or pumps would be the best footwear. Cocktails anyone?

For those ladies that never wear anything but BLACK, this fringe top from Joseph Ribkoff is for YOU. Fringes are also very fun and festive and are definitely popular this season. Again the open arm is very sassy and the built in under-piece means no layering necessary. Skinny blue jeans adds a bit of contrast for a less formal look, however a narrow black pant would dress it up. Open back western feel slides from Chinese laundry are cute and comfy. Pumps or boots would also be an option. Sparkly Star earrings are whimsical and cute, especially at this time of year.

This cozy red sweater dress from Frank Lyman is a great choice for a holiday office party. Not too dressy, yet still very appropriate, especially if you're always cold. We've kept Chelsea's legs bare for a younger feel, however tights may make it more work-worthy. The faux fur vest is a great touch, and high shaft boots are the perfect pairing for a sweater dress. A splash of red and gold jewelry shine this look up even more!

We hope these looks inspire you to create your very own holiday style and if you're still stuck, you always have us! Bring in pieces that you want to re- invent, or try something totally new. Tis the season!

Check out Chelsea rocking these looks and more in MOTION in our video, "Holiday Wear 2016".