Holiday Style, Simplified: 5 Looks That Don’t Require a New Personality
Real outfits, repeatable formulas, effortless ease.
If the holidays make you overthink what to wear, you’re not alone. Most of the stress comes from the belief that holiday dressing requires buying something sparkly, bold, or wildly outside your normal life.
It doesn’t.
Holiday style works best when it’s grounded in who you already are, your real wardrobe, with one thoughtful twist. A color. A texture. A subtle shine. A single piece that cues “festive,” without forcing you into a version of yourself that only exists for 48 hours in December.
Below are five looks I styled using that exact philosophy. Each one is a blend of everyday pieces with a deliberate holiday accent. They’re shoppable, yes, but more importantly, they’re adaptable with items you probably already own.
You’ll see a flat lay for each look, but what I want you to take away is the formula behind it: the choices, the balance, the simplicity.
Look 1: Modern Classics with a Holiday Twist
Where to wear it: office parties, dinners, holiday cocktails
This is holiday dressing without a single stitch of cliché. The combination of cream, burgundy, and red is rich, intentional, and quietly festive.
Skirt: HUNTER BELL Atlyn Skirt
Sweater: Cloud Chalet Cardigan
Bag: The Camren Mini Bag
Shoes: Milk Glass Heeled Mule
Why it works:
You get color dimension without noise, cream softens the boldness of the red heel, burgundy anchors the look, and the brown bag keeps it grounded. It looks elevated, but not fussy.
How to recreate it:
If you already have a holiday skirt, metallic, satin, plaid, deep red, add in a printed sweater or a soft neutral knit. Cream, grey, camel. The trick is contrast: a festive bottom paired with a familiar, quiet top. The red shoe is optional; any refined heel in your wardrobe will work.
This is the look for someone who wants to feel festive without feeling “dressed up.”
Look 2: The Advent Color Story
Where to wear it: evening gatherings, upscale dinners, office-to-holiday transitions
Bag: GANNI Lulu Wallet on Chain Velvet Moire
Heels: Fern Satin Mae Heels
Dress: Helmut Lang Twisted Shirt Dress
Why it works:
The shirt dress is timeless, year-round, low effort, always polished. Layering on deep emerald and saturated purple creates that elegant, Advent-inspired color story. Festive without being literal.
How to recreate it:
Start with a simple dress in your closet. I like to opt for navy, charcoal, brown, deep neutrals that aren’t black as they often soften a look and mix with pops of colors more seamlessly. Then add one jewel-toned accessory. It instantly shifts into holiday without sacrificing your personal style.
Look 3: Quiet Playfulness for Casual Gatherings
Where to wear it: cookie exchanges, tree-trimming nights, casual parties, “festive but comfortable” events
Shoes: Embroidered Velvet Smoking Slippers
Pants: Cosmo Pant with Embellished Side Stripe
Sweater: Embellished Fair Isle Sweater
Bag: The Mylie Shoulder Bag
Why it works:
It delivers personality without leaning on sequins. The interest lives in the edges, embroidery on the shoe, a subtle stripe on the pant, the texture of the knit, the playful bag. It feels intentional but approachable.
How to recreate it:
Ground everything in a tonal family, they don’t have to match exactly, but close enough. Then pick two places to add detail: maybe a fun shoe + a textured knit. Or a patterned sweater + a metallic bag. That’s all you need for casual holiday gatherings.
This is the perfect look when you want to be festive but stay comfortable.
Look 4: The Modern Tartan Moment
Where to wear it: family gatherings, daytime holiday events, casual dinners
Jacket: Bridgette Lady Jacket in Stewart Tartan
Jeans: Kasey Embellished Wide-Leg Jean
Heels: Tony Bianco Aroma Pump
Bag: The Mini Pouch in Suede
Why it works:
Tartan is inherently festive, but pairing it with wide-leg denim keeps it modern and wearable. This is holiday tradition, refined. Balanced. Updated.
How to recreate it:
Start with a printed jacket (tartan, boucle, plaid) and keep everything underneath streamlined. Wide leg denim or trousers work. Then add one sleek heel to pull it all together.
It’s classic holiday energy, executed for real life.
Look 5: The Green Statement (Year-Round Power Color)
Where to wear it: festive dinners, friend gatherings, low-key nights out
Jeans: FRAME Le Slim Palazzo in Truffle Coated
Cardigan: Delilah Cropped Green Cardigan
Heels: Emma Kitten Heel in Gold
Bag: Molten Gold Bullet Minaudière
Why it works:
Green is the easiest holiday color to integrate without feeling costume-y. The coated denim adds structure and shine, while the gold accessories give you just enough polish.
How to recreate it:
Take any rich green sweater, forest, emerald, olive, and pair it with your best denim or trousers. Add a metallic shoe or bag and you’re set.
It’s festive, but also something you’d wear in January, March, and September.
The Bottom Line
Holiday dressing isn’t about being the most festive person in the room. It’s about making small, strategic choices that reflect who you already are, your taste, your lifestyle, your reality.
If you recreate any of these looks from your closet (or shop a piece or two), I’d love to see what you come up with. Reply back or DM me anytime.
Happy Holiday Dressing!
xx,
