The holidays are a time of simultaneous joy and chaos. As the mom of a toddler, I’m excited to be celebrating this year, seeing the magic of the season through his young and innocent eyes. On the other hand, the side of the holidays reserved for the adults, like festive work events and boozy New Year’s parties, can be understandably stressful.
If you haven’t updated your closet in a few winters, or you’re simply feeling like giving your wardrobe a glittery upgrade just in time for the Christmas rush, I’ve got you covered. Between all the traveling I’ve been doing this December, I found time to put together some budget-friendly yet fashionable—and sustainable—outfits with my favorite brands: Missguided, Zodiac Shoes, and Zenni.
Read on to see how I combined my personal faves from each of these brands’ holiday collections to create unique yet timeless looks for every imaginable occasion. Side note: If you’re coming here from Instagram, on December 13th, I appeared alongside some of Los Angeles’ most fashion-forward influencers on KTLA to show off these styles in action. If you haven’t seen the segment yet, you can watch it below!
For the holiday work party… I paired the sleek high-neck midaxi long-sleeve dress in wine with the Ilsa Sandal for a classy yet casual and laidback look. The slightly more conservative neckline of the dress makes it work-appropriate, while the cheeky sandals add a sensual edge to the look. Plus, I added a pair of blingy emerald square glasses—super ‘60s chic with a touch of modernity.
2. For the girls’ wine night… I thought there was no dress more suited to the occasion than the ultra-sexy red satin cami cowl minidress. Gather your closest girlfriends, pour the pinot noir, and take some photos for the ‘gram. The bold and bright shade of this dress is universally flattering and is guaranteed to make you look and feel confident. Dress it up or down with the super versatile Ilsa sandal in black—the chunky heel adds a youthful vibe. Accessorize with these exquisite oval glasses.
3. For the glamorous NYE house party… I swear by this luxurious champagne satin minidress with a pleat bust corset. The soft blush pink is an excellent alternative to the typical shades you’re bound to see everywhere on the last night of 2021. You can, however, easily elevate this look from demure to directorial by adding a touch of masculine edge: these gunmetal grey Dacey leather block heel booties are the ideal complement.
4. For the holiday haze dive bar hang… I’ll be rocking this low-cut black diamante trim cut out shrug minidress, if only for the comfort and functionality! The fact that it’s a super flattering and sexy fit is only a bonus. For maximum “wow” factor, add some simplistic silver jewelry and pull on these badass Roxie Chelsea boots that look like something out of a dystopian cyberpunk movie.
5. For the last-minute business trip… I’ll be packing this wine-colored drape front long-sleeved satin dress, just in case I need to jazz it up for a few post-meeting drinks. The color is quintessentially festive while the fabric is comfortable enough to keep you warm on the patio on an LA night or beneath a peacoat on the streets of New York. On that note, it’s always easy to get from point A to point B in a solid pair of walkable boots, like these impressively tall Ronson block heels. Comfort from coast to coast.
