What to Wear: Evening Christmas Party

1. J.Crew's Heidi dress in Monterey Pine Silk Chiffon; 2. Modcloth's I Want Candytuft Coat; 3. Vero Moda's Cardigan Fiona White; 4. Karen Millen's Satin and Suede Clutch; 5. Elizabeth Showers' White Topaz Deco Drop Earrings; 6.Coast London's Gimlet Shoe

When I was a kid our family gathered each Christmas with about five other families for a festive holiday party. Everyone would bring some kind of delicious casserole or salad or dessert and of course Christmas cookies and fudge and eggnog to share. All of the kids would build gingerbread houses and many of us were in piano lessons, so we'd plunk out a few Christmas tunes as we huddled around the piano in our red and green sweaters and jingle bell earrings. It was cozy and more on the casual side, but we still picked out our outfits carefully and gathered for a special evening of friends-who-are-like-family. Since I do not currently have kids of my own, this could be a fun time in my life to dress up a bit more, gather with friends, enjoy some holiday cocktails and a night on the town.