STYLE GURU STYLE: Party Pieces

With the holiday season now in full swing, it’s time to start preparing for the upcoming parties and gatherings with friends and family. Picking out the perfect outfit can be hard for any occasion, but it is especially difficult during the holiday season when everyone is on their A-game—sequins, metallics, luxe fabrics and accessories galore—but you don’t have to add lots of shine to have a chic look for your next event.

A.L.C.’s fall 2016 ready-to-wear collection provided inspiration for this minimal but stylish holiday look. Their collection had a laid back, California vibe that was easy to recreate with some simple layering and a pop of color here and there.

Most of the inspiration from this look came from the first look in the collection—a black shearling jacket layered over a gray, ribbed turtleneck sweater. I don’t own pieces like this, so I instead switched out the top for a gray ribbed turtleneck dress. Wearing a dress instead of a basic sweater elevates your look, and choosing one in a soft ribbed fabric won’t leave you feeling uncomfortable during your time spent with others.

I swapped the shearling jacket (which I’m dying to get my hands on) for a cropped faux leather jacket. I decided to zip and buckle my jacket since I wasn’t using any accessories. The zips on the jacket plus the buckle added enough visual interest to this minimal outfit, but the addition of some simple silver earrings would look great as well.

Since my outfit was very monochromatic, I added a pop of color with some burgundy booties. These have been my favorite booties this season and will continue to be during this festive time. A bootie like this is great for many different occasions and looks—I love wearing them like this or with a simple sweater and pair of jeans for a casual day look.

Holiday dressing doesn’t need to be difficult or overly glam. Simple monochromatic pieces layered together and a pop of color can create a look that your friends will want to steal for their next party.

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