Puttin' on the Ritz

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Dress, shoes, bracelets (in stores): c/o Sears

We used to always get dressed up for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner at my parent's house, whether someone was coming over or not. It felt fancy and formal to bring out the crystal, the china, spend a day polishing everything, and then sit down to eat in our ironed, special occasion clothes. Now that I am in the workforce, slacks and skirts with pretty blouses don't seem very formal anymore. They feel mundane, and holiday-attire should be anything but mundane. 

When your closet is full of work dresses and skirts, last-minute holiday parties may need to rely on old staples rather than brand new party dresses that can only be worn once a season (we're not all Blair Waldorf, unfortunately). An easy way to punch up classic wardrobe pieces (like a peplum dress, or a pencil skirt, or even a simple black sheath dress) is to add a bit of glitz, glam, and sparkle. 

I consider myself a subtle accessorizer - I just started discovering how to wear statement necklaces and I have never been one to layer necklaces or know how to fashionably mix scarves and jackets, belts, and bracelets. I have to rely on pieces that speak for themselves and don't need any additional styling help. And that's where these sparkly pewter ballet flats from Sears come in (they need no additional styling to sparkle), or a pre-made stack of silver bracelet bangles to punch up a simple dress. An easy sparkly belt or coat with a hint of shimmer will also do the trick - making any every-day outfit immediately holiday-ready.

For more inspiration on making a holiday look sparkle, check out the following Pinterest board and my ShopYourWay catalog of some glitzy items you can add to your wardrobe!