Who else is ready to get decked OUT in the next few weeks? The holiday season madness has already hit our house, and it seems like more evenings than not, we have some event or party to hit up. Honestly, I didn’t realize I had that much going on in my life until I looked at this week’s calendar and my eyes damn near rolled back in my head. What was I thinking, scheduling all these things? Ah yes: good people and fun clothes, that’s what my poor choices usually come down to.
It can feel like a grind at times – all these commitments, running from place to place. When I feel myself wanting to complain, I try and remember that busyness is a privilege. I’m healthy enough to do all that running around and my life is full enough that my brain has the luxury of choosing what to lose it’s sh*t over. “What are you going to get angsty over next?” I tell myself in these moments, “I’d hate for you to run out of reasons to stress the hell out.” To which I often openly laugh, regardless of setting, which in turn makes me question my sanity. I usually conclude that “sanity” is relative, I refuse to worry about it or anything else, and go along my merry way.
The Point of the Exercise
Which brings me to the point of all this – let’s try to have fun this season, yes? Plan on little moments to catch your breath, to talk to someone you love, to show up for someone who needs your support (including YOU). The holidays can be really rough on everyone, but no matter your circumstances, it doesn’t hurt to allow joy in every now and again. Even if it’s fleeting.
With that, let’s get to it: the 2019 Holiday Lookbook, Part I. I divided this year’s lookbook into parts, each reflecting a different mood: festive casual, fancypants, and hoochie night on the town.
Festive Casual
Ah, that sneaky dress code that I often translate to mean that the host wants you to look good, but doesn’t want to ask you to go out of your way. For some reason, this sentiment often backfires and we’re left going way out of our way to provide the right amount of flair without going overboard. These are the events where you stand in between a pile of inside-out clothes on the floor and your mirror, looking at yourself in your Spanx and wondering how you ever allowed yourself to spend 45 minutes looking for the right amount of flair.
The benefit of the “festive casual” code, however irritating it may be on the surface, is that all you really need is a fun top, well-fitting pants (could be slacks, could be jeans, you do you), and heels. Maybe some fun earrings. And maybe grab a clutch. It doesn’t even have to be an especially interesting one.
Seriously. That’s it. It’s that easy. I did a version of this last weekend for a fun ladies’ cocktail night after work and put it on my IG Stories. All I did was change my top and shoes, slapped on earrings, concealer, and lipstick, and ran over to the party. It was a CINCH.
The Deets
If you want to layer on the jewelry, go for it – especially if your top is on the basic and/or neutral side, like mine here. I layered on simple pieces for rings and bracelets, and left these amazing shell earrings finish things off with some pizzazz.
[Question – which came first, pizza or pizzazz? Are these words related? Any linguists out there?]
For hair – another hidden bonus of that annoying “festive casual” yada yada: do whatever you want. Really. Up, down, braided, curly, straight – trust me, you can pull it off.
A lot of the versatility of this dress code, at least in my interpretation, comes down to the top + jeans combo. The jeans – or even slacks, although to a lesser extent – anchor the look in a less formal space. They are so everyday, so effortless, and so familiar that they ground whatever other craziness you have going on. That even goes for makeup! Have fun with it, keep it simple, or do none at all. That’s the beauty of the statement top and pants outfit, right?
Where to Find That Festive Casual Top
There is a WORLD of fun tops out there at all different price points. In my opinion, these are the best places to look online:
From Anywhere
US
Brazil
I’m also taking suggestions – know anywhere to get good party tops?
A special thanks to Allyson Kardel for providing her home for these photos! As an aside, her house has been a part of my life longer than any other building! This includes houses I’ve lived in and schools I’ve attended, since our families have been friends since I was a baby. Sweet, right?
love,
Stig
PS. You can check out last year’s lookbook here!
