Holiday chic and everyday staple: Metallics, velvet and bling can add juice to your wardrobe

By Marci Laehr Tenuta
Journal Times

Monday, December 31, 2007 4:40 PM CST

Did you sparkle for Santa in a metallic sweater? Are you planning to bling in the New Year with a shimmery tank or dress?

Do you plan on wearing your holiday looks after the holidays are over?

It might seem a difficult challenge to incorporate those silver sequined ballet flats, a ruby red sweater or velvet jacket into your regular wardrobe. But that’s because your thinking of them together as a holiday look.

Holiday fashion can be every day fashion, experts say. You just have to know how to wear it.

Pair it perfect

Breaking up holiday ensembles and pairing the pieces with other wardrobe staples is how you get the most wear out of them, said Laura McDowell, fashion spokeswoman for TJ Maxx. Worn together, a velvet pantsuit is the perfect holiday look. “All together it’s extremely dressy,” she said.

But you don’t have to wait for another special occasion to wear it, she said. Wear the jacket with a pair of jeans, or the bottoms with a white blouse. Suddenly, you have great looks for the office or a less formal event.

“It depends on how you break up the outfit,” she said.

For example, a pretty satin blouse is a great look for the holidays. “Pairing it with a black skirt and wearing it to the office, it just looks like a fashionable piece,” McDowell said.

The same is true for most of the holiday season’s trendy looks. A black velvet jacket is not just a good holiday piece, it’s a great staple for anyone to have in their closet, said Heidi Frank, spokeswoman for Boston Store.

“It can class up a simple white blouse, or you can wear it with plain black trousers to dress it down a bit,” she said. “It shouldn’t be restricted to holiday wardrobe.”

Everyday sparkle

“Shine and metallics are the new black for the holiday season and they are not worn just for evening anymore,” said Macy’s trend expert Laura Schara. “So, don’t be afraid to wear a metallic skirt, dress, or shell to the office. When your ready to head to that holiday party, just take off your suit coat, and switch your shoes and handbag to something more evening appropriate.”

Anything metallic can work this entire season, Frank said.

“Metallics are still really hot, and not just accessories. A sweater that has metallic threading can be worn throughout the winter. With a simple pair of dark wash trouser jeans, that would be great for weekend. With classic trousers, you could even wear it into the workplace.”

Embellished flats that women love to wear to parties because they’re comfortable and fancy can also add sparkle to weekend wear. “If you pair them with denim and a classic blouse, they can be worn well after the holiday season,” Frank said.

The same is true of knit wraps.

“Even if it has some embellishment, a wrap can also be worn after the holidays,” Frank said. “There’s no reason you can’t wear it again.”

Very versatile silhouettes

“The good news about fashion this season is the silhouettes,” McDowell said. Many of them allow you to transition from work to parties to every day very easily.

For example, she said, a very long satin tunic top can be work over black pants to the office or on it’s own with heels and jewelry to a party.

Frank said as long as the season’s popular mini dresses aren’t blatantly holiday wear, they could definitely be paired with skinny black pants and heels for the work place.

Accessories set the tone

“Accessories are the easiest and most affordable way to update your look,” Schara said. “For New Years, take a LBD, that’s little black dress, and add some shine with a metallic clutch, some bold bangles and earrings. You can easily use that same dress for a casual event and just keep your accessories simple, and less bold.”

And if you do dress up a little black dress or simple blouse and pants with accessories, you don’t have to save those fancy pieces for the next special occasion.

“The borders are blurring between special occasion and regular wear,” Frank said. “If you have a beaded clutch or a smaller metallic clutch, you could take it to a holiday party, but there’s no reason you can’t pull it out again and use it for a cocktail party this spring.”

Fabulous fashion traditions

Cashmere has long been a wonderful holiday tradition not only for its warmth and luxury, but because it always looks appropriate. “Every one loves a great cashmere sweater,” McDowell said.

And there’s good reason. Whether in cream, red or ice blue, a cashmere sweater and a skirt is great for a holiday occasion. With trousers, the same sweater is wonderful for the office. And with jeans, a cashmere sweater makes for a comfy and stylish weekend look.

The same is true for cardigans. “Cardigans are hot again,” Frank said.

In a festive color, a sweet cardigan is a comfortable and stylish holiday look that carries over into an every day staple.

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