Beyond the Reindeer Sweater: Women's Holiday Wardrobe

For years, I had a mental block when it came to holidays and my wardrobe. October would come around, and shortly after Halloween I would be in a mall, running frantically from one store to another. I wouldn't be shopping for gifts: instead I would be shopping at the last minute for something to wear to an event taking place within the next 48 hours. I would do this, on a regular basis, for the next three months. Then, instead of preparing myself so that it didn't happen again the following year, some sort of amnesia would come over me as soon as Valentine's Day came around and I would once again convince myself that my wardrobe was complete.

I love shopping, and I love clothes, and like a lot of women I know, I shop year round. But the bulk of my clothing budget is spent on nice-but-casual clothes, with an occasional splurge purchase (a statement bag) or investment piece (a $500 statement bag). I was a firm believer in the adage, dress for the life you have, not for the life you want to have. So, I would pass the "Special Occasion" section of the department stores without so much as a look back. The few times that I did buy something, I never felt good about my purchases, because I was inevitably settling on an outfit just to have something to wear that night.

So, every year, the holidays would come, and I would be stuck with nothing to wear. I think my mental block came from the fact that most of the events I would attend were not big formals. The invitation did not come engraved and in a cream envelope, imploring me to start planning ahead. Instead, it came via email, or through a phone conversation. And the casual nature of the invitation, and the casual nature of the event itself would lull me into thinking that I already had everything I needed in my closet.

One of my New Year's resolutions every year is to "be more organized". So three years ago, in January, I was painstakingly inputting birthdays, special occasions and appointments on my PDA. In one of the few forward thinking moments of my life, I wrote, on October 15, "plan outfits for holidays". So when I saw that item nearly a year later, I dutifully took out a sheet of paper, and wrote down, "Office party." Then, "Christmas Day brunch". Then, "New Year's Eve". And before I knew it, I had a list of ten events. These included plans to go to a four star hotel for holiday brunch, attending "The Nutcracker" ballet, going to a formal church service, or the office cocktail party. Celebrations that required something beyond nice jeans-and-a-sweater, but not as much as a "Special Occasion" dress.

Through trial-and-error, I learned two key things. The first is, buy separates! Who has the time or money to buy ten different outfits each year? The next is, buy clothes that fit, and that fit you Right Now. Remember, you are going to wear these clothes really soon. If they don't fit when you need them, or are so tight that your relatives can see the outline of your bra---you've just wasted your money, and you'll still have nothing to wear. So don't buy something "a little" small, just because it's on sale, or because you absolutely know that it will fit once you aren't so bloated. If you are going to err, err on the side of buying something "a little" bigger. Unless you are incredibly self-disciplined, most of us gain a pound or two (or five) during the holidays.

Another suggestion to save money: shop your closet. Obviously, if you had the perfect outfits in your closet already, you wouldn't be reading this article. What I mean is, look through the items in the back of your closet. Inevitably you'll probably have the dress you wore to a wedding this summer, the pants suit you wore to a job interview, the ensemble you wore to a holiday party two years ago. I don't know about you, but I feel so relieved anytime I can recycle an outfit I have only worn once or twice. What I've also found is that holiday dressing, which is a "one-off" situation lends itself particularly well to these clothes. And don't forget the accessories. All those big, flashy, or ethnic pieces you bought, but somehow haven't gotten around to wearing? Perfect for this time of year.

The first thing on your list should be an LDD. Most of us already have an LBD, or Little Black Dress. What you're looking for is a Little Dark Dress. Meaning, a dress in a dark color, preferably navy or chocolate brown. This gives you the flexibility of a black dress, without having to look like everyone else. Look for a dress that is simple (no stripes, bows or extreme low cuts) and classic (a sheath or A-line style). When buying a dress like this, you know you have the right one when you look at it and think, "this dress is too plain and too boring." Remember, this dress is supposed to be the blank palette around which you build everything else around. With high heels, big earring and a beaded clutch purse, you're ready for the office cocktail party. With flats and opaque tights, you can go to a formal daytime event like a church service.

A coat in a metallic color, long enough to cover the LDD. Metallics are very big right now, and appropriate for the season. Think of this as your flashy, "entrance" coat. You'll look appropriately festive, but the fact that you can remove it means you won't feel overdressed later around the dinner table. Wear it with all the outfits.

Velvet pants, also in a dark color. I found a pair last summer, deeply discounted, from the outlet store of a high end line. They were dark burgundy, and I probably never would have bought them except I already had a pair in black that I had worn constantly during the holidays. Beautifully cut, and made from heavy fabric, they looked every inch the three figures they cost originally. Fortunately, I got them for $39.99, and I think anyone who finds velvet pants during the summer can have them for a bargain, too. Now, with a fabric as unconstructed as velvet, it's important to get pants that are cut close to the body. You are looking for a pair that look like boot cut, or "slim" jeans. (The name is misleading; you can find slim styles in any size.) Avoid the loose, flowy styles; the ones that look like palazzo pants. They can make the thinnest woman look sloppy and heavy.

Black wool pants. My favorite come from the "Express" line because of their flattering fit. You are looking for a pair that you can wear out dancing, not a pair straight from the set of "The Sound of Music". These are the pants you'll reach for when it's just too cold or too wet outside to wear anything else. Because you can wear these pants for most of the year, it's worth it to spend a little more money and time to find the perfect pair.

Tops. This is where you can add the color, pattern and interest to your outfit. You'll need at least three of these styles, but regardless of your choices, fabric is very important. Silk, satin, and flat jersey knits work well. Summery cottons do not. The first top is a tunic style. For the young, you can wear the ones that look like mini-dresses in a bright Pucci-esque print. Other tunic options include the embellished tops that Michael Kors or Tory Burch were showing last year. Wear with the velvet pants to brunch, or a party at your friend's house.

The second top to have on hand is a camisole, or tank style. Once again, the fabric (silk or satin), in a rich color makes the difference. These are not the cotton camisoles and tanks you wore to the beach last summer. The tops can be worn on their own for New Year, or whenever a sexy outfit would be appropriate. Underneath a sheer blouse as a layering piece, the effect is stylish but conservative, perfect for a dinner out.

Finally, a turtleneck in a thin, flat knit cut close to the body. Pair a black turtleneck with the wool pants and the metallic coat, and you are ready for lunch in the city, or the annual performance at your child's school.

Other pieces that go well with these basics are the ones you may already have in your closet. I have a pashmina shawl that I paid an absurd amount for, years ago, when they first became popular. I have rarely found a way to wear it in a way that doesn't make me look like someone's "grammy", but surprisingly, it pairs well with my LDD. I also have a vintage cardigan, which I wear over the camisole or tank for a funky thrift-shop vibe.

Shoes can also have a big impact on the outfit. A flat ballet style paired with the velvet pants and cardigan is perfect for when I expect friends to drop by. Boots with the wool pants is what I wear when I'm dropping off gifts to friends. The same boots with the dress and opaque tights makes a fun and comfortable girls night out ensemble.

There are enough pressures during this time of year without adding what-to-wear to the list. With a basic foundation, you can spend hours in front of your closet (or in the mall) trying on new combinations whenever you have the time. But at least you'll know that when you only have fifteen minutes to pull yourself together, you can still look terrific.