I have always loved New Year’s Eve. It is always a bit of a balancing act. Getting excited, planning a fun and festive outfit, picking out champagne and snacks, but also not getting TOO excited (whenever I get too excited I wound up getting let down?). I find that my favorite New Year’s celebrations have been house parties. Casual and fun with my closest pals. Last year’s NYE ended up being not so great. My brother-in-law slipped and fell (in the most innocent way — slipping on one of my niece’s puzzles) and ended up in the ER. So things can only get better. This year I will be in LA with my guy. We haven’t made any special plans yet, but I’m looking forward to it. Just being together is enough for me!

Anyway: personal anecdotes aside, let’s talk about outfits! Here is a fun little round-up of what I’d wear on New Year’s Eve… depending on the situation and locale, of course! It’s the most festive night of the year… what are you planning on doing/wearing?!

What To Wear On New Years Eve: 9 New Year’s Eve Outfit Ideas

If You’re Staying Home…

I have to be honest, I kinda love the idea of staying home on New Year’s Eve. Good champagne, takeout, a cozy fire? Yes please. For a New Year’s Eve at home I would recommend fancy pajamas like these from Sleeper. I have them in pale green and just love them. I have to be honest; I’ve never actually slept in them (I feel like they’re too fancy/worry about wrecking the feathers) but they are PJ party perfection.

Heading to a fancy dinner

I will always love getting dressed up and going to a fancy dinner. That would probably be my ideal. Fancy dinner with my boyfriend and maybe a few other friends, home and in pajamas and ready to watch the ball drop. I love this Zimmermann wrap dress but a velvet dress could also be gorgeous.

Snow-bound!

I love the idea of a snowy New Year’s Eve! Mostly for the warm boozy beverages after skiing. I would wear a thick, warm pant, a fun sweater, chic boots, and silver accessories. This ‘fit makes me crave cold weather and a big cup of mulled wine!

Casual-ish in Denim

I also like the idea of wearing denim! A great pair of jeans plus a fun top is another winning combo. This Ulla Johnson gold top is one of my favorite special tops, and it looks great with jeans. Add some fun accessories and a sky high heel and you are ready to go!

At the beach!

I have never had a beachy New Year’s eve but would love that someday. If I were on the beach, it would be a really special kaftan, fun earrings, flat sandals, and easy accessories.

Let’s review a few older New Year’s Eve Outfit Ideas just for fun!

From 2018! A Rixo sequin dress (I still have and love this and have seen them pop up on The RealReal with a vintage fur stoll, Manolo Blahnik Pumps, and Kendra Scott Earrings.

From 2017: A sequin dress. This one is from Vince Camuto. Pumps are Anna Sui x INC!

From 2016! A jumpsuit and lace-up heels; both from LOFT.

The post What to Wear on New Year’s Eve:  9 New Year’s Eve Outfit Ideas. appeared first on The Stripe.

Earlier in the season, I had two big guides for what to wear to all of your holiday parties. First, a guide to the best holiday accessories, and then literally… a guide of what to wear to every sort of holiday gathering (from office party to cocktail party to black tie). There have been so many good releases since then that I thought I’d pull together just one more style round-up, with EVEN more holiday party inspiration. I hope you enjoy. We will be tackling New Year’s Eve next!

Wanted to start with a few things I’m personally obsessing over. First of all, don’t sleep on this J.Crew evening jacket. (I mean, be sensible and get it while it is on sale; I bought mine for half off during Cyber Monday), but it’s perfect. With denim, a mini dress, a longer dress, truly.. this looks great over absolutely everything.

Even More Holiday Style!

Disclosure: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. I only feature things I truly love here. Thanks for your support.

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The holiday season is almost here! I am so excited for all of the parties and gatherings… and with that, the best part: figuring out what to wear. Planning your outfits for different parties can feel overwhelming and even take away from the fun of the season, so today I wanted to share a big roundup of outfits for all kinds of holiday parties. And in case you missed it, on Tuesday I shared my big accessories guide.

What To Wear To All Your Holiday Parties!

Casual Holiday Party Outfits

For a more casual holiday party, I would go with a fun top, jeans (or slim fitting black pants), and a great pair of heels. I also think that this evening jacket is so elegant and chic.

Can you wear jeans to a holiday party?

YES! You absolutely can wear jeans to a holiday party, though I think it of course depends on the occasion. I would do a straight cut pair of denim with any of the tops below (or the velvet blazer that I showed under the office party outfit ideas) Just add a great pair of heels (lots of ideas in this post!)

Office Holiday Party Outfits

For an office party, I’d keep things really streamlined and simple. A shift dress in black (or red like this one, if you’re feeling festive). Tailored pants, a camisole, and a fun cardigan. I love the idea of doing a velvet suit too. Stick to a deeper hue to keep things professional, how dreamy is this Veronica Beard blazer and trouser set? It’s a splurge so I linked to a great J.Crew option too!

Creative Holiday Party Outfits

I love the idea of having a little bit of fun here. A feathered heel, a sequin jogger… now is the time to break out a statement piece (or two!). I cannot get over this sequin fringe skirt… what a brilliant idea. With the sequin pants and skirts I love the idea of pairing them with a tonal sweater or top in a fuzzy material. Something like this fuzzy sweater from Toteme (bought this last year and it’s still a fav… LOVE!). Speaking of fuzzy: how fun are these sandals?! I love them and now they come in so many good colors (partial to the chartreuse!)

Cocktail Party Outfits

You know I LOVE a cocktail dress! There are so many wonderful options out there right now. Velvet dresses are especially great this time of year. They feel a little extra special and festive.. and, they’re warm, to boot. If I need to stay warm, velvet is the answer. I especially love this black velvet dress!

When you’re the one hostessing

When you’re the one planning the party, you get to decide on the dress code! I personally want to be as comfortable as possible here, and love the idea of a dramatic kaftan. This solid black kaftan is (for me) a wardrobe staple. I’ve been buying a lot more black dresses this year and this is a classic. It’s easy and elegant and you can dress it up or down! On the splurgier side, I love everything Taller Marmo is doing. The fringe! The feathers! It’s beyond. I own this yellow fringe dress from them and while I do feel a bit like big bird (hey, it’s not for everyone!), it is so much fun to wear.

Also on the kaftan front, Teggy French has a little shop of kaftans – I haven’t personally bought one (yet) but they look like the perfect hostess gown. My personal fav from her shop is the gold shimmer fabric. And on the very affordable front, I think this Amazon kaftan could be great. It’s basically a canvas for amazing accessories. Just be sure to wear a slip (I have and love this one) as the fabric is probably not the greatest quality.

Formal Holiday Party Outfits

I live for a formal holiday party and sadly I don’t think I have any coming up this year! Here are a few dresses I would be snapping up if I had a fancier party to attend.

When you want to stay warm

Here in Charleston, the velvet blazer or evening coat from above would be the perfect topper. But if I were back in New York I would probably do a simple camel coat or a teddy coat like this one, and add black tights (these are my favorite) under my dress. I really like how black tights look with platform sandals. You could have a little more fun though, below are some party perfect toppers!

Disclosure: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. I only feature things I truly love here. Thanks for your support.

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Dressing for holiday parties is my favorite as I can be my most sparkly, extra self. Accessories are my favorite way to do that. Sure, sparkle and sequins and feathers are amazing on clothes, but they can be so memorable. Accessories are a lot more versatile.

A Giant Guide to the Best Holiday Accessories

I am giving you a lot of options here but truly, you don’t need much. All you need is a few special signature items to take you through the season in style. I’ve rounded up the best jewelry (and a few hair accessories), my favorite special occasion shoes, and the prettiest little clutches and bags. I’ve also been sure to include some affordable options within each collage – those are all flagged as such! Sparkle on, friends… tis the season!

The Best Holiday Accessories

Best Holiday Jewelry

Let’s start with jewelry… my favorite! On the higher end, you can’t beat Dorsey for basics like a tennis necklace and vintage inspired earrings. And Jennifer Behr’s jewels are pricy but exquisite. Costume jewelry you will have and own forever. For something more affordable, BaubleBar is doing a phenomenal job this year, their Party Wear page is packed with beautiful bejeweled goodness, for mostly under $50. Zara has some great stuff too.

Women’s Holiday Shoes

This roundup makes me so happy as it is just SO fun and festive. I will be wearing my Sarah Flint shoes (featured here) quite a bit, but I also love a gold sandal (I laugh as four pairs below are gold…). Any of the below are fabulous but I have and love these. For such a tall shoe, they’re incredibly comfortable! Also: I found them after scheduling this post, but these Amazon platforms are beautiful – they remind me a lot of my black Stuart Weitzman pair!

And on the more affordable front, wanted to flag a few pairs!

All three of these pairs are from Target and so well priced!

Best Holiday Bags!

Feathers and crystals and rhinestones and pearls and glitter and GREEN. There are so many beautiful bags… in particular, I especially love this serpent bag (I have it and LOVE) and the chartreuse feathers (crazy in the best way!).

Disclosure: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. I only feature things I truly love here. Thanks for your support.

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It is finally, finally (officially) here: my shoe collaboration with Sarah Flint. On Sunday I walked you through the behind the scenes and the inspiration that went into creating the shoe. Today, I wanted to share a few of the ways I like to wear it!

Sarah Flint has more of a luxury price point so it was important to me that the shoe feel really special and elegant but also versatile.. something you could wear with a lot of different outfits and to a lot of different situations (work, a party, a casual dinner). It was important to me to create something that could pair well with party dresses but also dress up a pair of jeans. It took a bit (with tweaks to the fabric and the piping) but we got there. I am so thrilled with how they turned out. It really is my perfect special shoe. I will be sharing lots of ways to style it throughout the next few months but today I wanted to share three favorite looks!

Grace x Sarah Flint

It is also worth noting that my code SARAHFLINTxGRACEATWOOD is still live through the end of the year and will get you $50 off your first pair of shoes.

The most obvious way to style these shoes (at least to me) is with a great black dress or kaftan. This kaftan is one of my favorites. Add a few gold necklaces and you are ready to go. I love this look for a holiday party or event. It’s easy and elegant without a lot of effort. Comfortable, too!

But like I said, the shoe is also great with denim! I see them pairing so well with a pair of cropped straight leg jeans and my Classic Six button down (or any great white shirt). In the instance above I paired them with a pair of black jeans from Frame (these are really, really old) and a Gucci cardigan (from last year).

On that note: don’t be afraid of wearing these with something patterned.

I think they would look really great with a striped tee (ideally in the same color family) or something in a slightly larger scale pattern. Pattern mixing can be a little bit tricky but if you pair something with a smaller scale pattern (like these shoes) with a pattern slightly larger in scale, it works! I will try to show you more examples of this on Instagram and in the coming weeks.

I hope you love them as much as I do! It was such an honor to get to team up with Sarah. I have been a customer for years – truly, the best (most comfortable, high quality, beautiful) shoes. Again, you can shop them here! They are a limited edition so once they are gone, they’re gone for good.

Last but not least, (and probably least relevant for this current moment), I love these with creams and whites. I still wear white during the fall and holidays but wanted to show this look as these are not just a fall and holiday shoe. They’ll be equally at home with lighter colors and a little white dress next spring and summer.

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Faux Fur Coats I Love!

I love the drama that comes with a good faux fur coat (ideally styled over a sequin dress, maybe one of these!?). For maximum holiday movie star/old Hollywood glam, nothing is better! Today I am rounding up several favorites… each are pretty spectacular if you ask me! I had to include the iconic (and expensive) Max Mara teddy coat but the rest of them are pretty reasonable. (And this one is under $100!)

I personally got this amazing faux fur + tinsel coat from Anthropologie but by the time I had shot it, it had pretty much sold out! It is TOO GOOD – cannot recommend it enough. The tinsel is subtle, but noticeable… especially in the right light. I found it in a size medium here and a medium or large here – I find it pretty true to size; I’m in the medium for reference. My second favorite in the roundup is this one from Guess. I just love that more shaggy type of faux fur.

shop the post: one // two // three // four // five // six // seven // eight // nine // ten // eleven // twelve // thirteen // fourteen

Disclosure: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. I only feature things I truly love here. Thanks for your support.

photography by Laura Saur.

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I am so excited about today’s post as it’s something I feel very lucky to be a part of… and also something I think you will really love. Every year, my friends Kristin, Jillian, and Chassity do this *enormous* Charleston giveaway – like, everything you could possibly dream of for the perfect weekend in Charleston. I’ve followed the three of them for a long time and have seen this (and thought it was brilliant and such a fun way to support the local businesses here!) and this year they asked me to be a part of it. SO – if you have been dying to visit Charleston (OR – if you live here and are maybe craving a staycation), you absolutely must enter!

Epic Charleston Getaway Giveaway

You can enter using the widget below but in the meantime let’s talk about the incredible prize! (And just in case it isn’t clear – there’s one winner and one giant prize!). Drumroll please…

First of all, Zero George (one of the best luxury boutique hotels here in Charleston and also where we took these photos, is giving the winner a two night stay (pending availability). Zero George is such an incredibly special spot – the rooms are really beautiful and the perfect mix of luxurious but cozy (and very Charleston).

outfit details: (Dress + Earrings both gifted by Beau & Ro), Margaux heels

Shopping {a $2,625 Value!)

Beau and Ro is giving the winner a $1,000 gift card! Beau & Ro has become one of my favorite places to shop in Charleston – the owner, Sara Rossi, has an amazing eye and stocks some of my absolute favorite brands. (She also has her own line, which I LOVE).

Hampden Clothing is another one of my absolute favorite spots to shop and giving the winner a $500 gift card. Also owned by an incredible woman, Stacey Smallwood, it’s been featured in countless news outlets as one of the best boutiques in the country. Stacey has her pulse on the fashion world and Hampden stocks some of the best brands.

Croghan’s is Charleston’s BEST fine jewelry shop and is giving the winner $500 to spend!

Madison Matthews has the prettiest block print dresses and is giving the winner a $250 gift card.

The Tiny Tassel is another favorite (with the cutest clothes and such fun earrings, not to mention GIFTS) and is giving the winner a $100 gift card.

LAKE Pajamas is giving the winner a $175 gift card + in-store champagne shopping experience.

Amanda Lindroth has the most beautiful home + tabletop decor items and is providing a $100 gift card.

Food & Drink

Graft Wine Bar is the cutest little spot for wine (whether you pick up a bottle or sit at the wine bar). They are giving the winner $75.

Lenoir is Vivian Howard’s latest venture and is providing a $200 gift card.

Chasing Sage (I haven’t been yet but am dying to go!) is also providing a $200 gift card.

Basic Kitchen is one of my FAVS (the beet marg! the salmon bowl!) is providing a $100 gift card.

Experiences

Candlefish is giving a $110 gift card, which can be used for a candle making class for two OR on a combo of workshops and candles.

The Gaillard Center is providing a $100 gift card + VIP experience with a parking pass and 2 drink vouchers.

Walk & Talk Tours is giving walking tour passes for 2 people

HART is providing a $200 gift card for a custom charm jewelry making experience in studio!

Baseline Studios is giving a one week unlimited fitness pass for two.

Anne Rhett is giving you a mini photography session. Anne is incredibly talented and took all of these photos!

To enter, just use the widget below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

photography by Anne Rhett.

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I wanted to round up a few of (what I think are) the best holiday dresses. You know that I absolutely love getting dressed up. Be it holiday parties or New Years Eve… sequins, leopard, or something a little less flashy: I have a lot of fun options! (And also: if you are thinking about what to wear them with, be sure to check out my giant guide to the best holiday accessories. And if you want outfit ideas that aren’t dresses, read this post!)

The dress I am most excited about is this one from Saloni – the Camille dress. I snagged it during a flash sale for 40% off and love it so much. The best party dress. The white is pretty much sold out now but they still have several other colors and lengths! It’s great with bare legs here in Charleston but I’m planning to pack it for New York and wear it with black tights, high heels, and a big coat. Again it’s just about sold out in white but I found it in a bunch of other colors (and lengths) and stuck them in my instagram shop. I find that Saloni runs pretty true to size and take my usual designer size. (Wearing a US 8 / UK 12!)

outfit details: Saloni Dress // Sarah Flint Heels // Amazon Sunglasses

17 Standout Holiday Dresses

collage details: one // two (have this, worn in this reel, size down!)// three (have this, worn in this post!)// four // five (have this, runs TTS) // six // seven // eight // nine // ten // eleven // twelve // thirteen // fourteen // fifteen // sixteen // seventeen // eighteen

Disclosure: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. I only feature things I truly love here. Thanks for your support.

photography by Laura Saur.

The post 17 Standout Holiday Dresses. appeared first on The Stripe.

I wear a lot of dresses. And this holiday season I am going to be sharing some really good dresses with you… I have a lot of parties coming up and will be wearing a lot of dresses. But what about those days when you don’t want to wear a dress? Maybe it’s cold. Maybe you just want to be comfortable. Or maybe you just want something a little different! Today I am sharing some more casual party looks with you.

Holiday Style: Not a Dress

I bought this metallic top at a vintage store on my trip to Vienna. The second I saw it hanging on the rack I knew it was coming home with me. It’s Stella McCartney, a few sizes too big, and in perfect condition – I think I got it for $80? That is obviously not helpful to you but more to share a fun find. And to say that if you’re looking for a slouchier top, don’t be afraid to go up a few sizes. I legitimately thought this was a tunic until I read the label.

And you can never go wrong with leather leggings. A quick word about the Commando leggings (pictured above) vs. the Spanx ones as this always comes up (and I have both!). Right now I personally prefer the Commando as they look more like real leather leggings. The Spanx ones look more like shiny fabric (and I like the look of those too but if I were going to choose a fav it would be the Commando ones!). They are the exact same price (and look pretty identical on the website) but I think they’re pretty different looking in real life.

outfit details: vintage Stella McCartney top (lots of similar ones in the collage below!) // Commando faux leather leggings // Sarah Flint Pumps // Retrouvai Ring // Jennifer Behr Earrings

collage details: one // two // three // four // five // six // seven // eight // nine // ten // eleven // twelve // thirteen // fourteen // fifteen // sixteen

outfit details: Crosby Top // AGOLDE Jeans (old) // Jennifer Behr Bow // Sarah Flint Heels

This wouldn’t work for EVERY party as it’s definitely a lot more casual… but for something more simple and sweet, try a fun shoe (more fun shoes in this blog post), a pretty top, and a bow in your hair.

I also needed to share this tuxedo set from Theory (jacket + pants).

I have the pants and LOVE them – the fit is perfect and they make your legs look so long. The jacket would be good paired with just about anything and the pants would be amazing with any top (even a simple white tee!) for a party.

And when in doubt, pair a tuxedo blazer (mine is old Club Monaco but the one I showed above is even better) with a beaded or sequined top (mine is old Rixo) with jeans (old AGOLDE). And of course my most favorite sandals!

Disclosure: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. I only feature things I truly love here. Thanks for your support.

Top photos by Clay Austin.

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If you are looking for the perfect SPARKLY holiday dress, look no further than the ones that my friend Jenn Lake designed with Sail to Sable! They are truly, the most perfect, happiest, (and maybe the most important part) easiest to wear sequin dresses. Last year, Jenn kindly sent me the Charlotte dress in silver (below!). It immediately became one of my favorite party dresses. It’s really comfortable – all while being ultra festive and sparkly, swingy, and just plain fun to wear.

This one sold out FAST (for good reason, it’s amazing!) so they brought it back this year! This year, they built on that success, releasing a gold Anne dress at a pretty midi length. I can’t decide which one I like more. I’m definitely more of a gold than silver person, but both silhouettes are just so fun and I tend to prefer shorter silhouettes.

Two Very Good Sequin Dresses

I said this last year but I think what I love about these dresses is that it is SO hard to find a comfortable sequin dress. They either scratch you (even my more expensive designer sequin dresses do this!), the sequins stick together and you wind up with pulls, or… (the worst offender in my opinion), they are tight! I cannot and will not do tight sequined anything. Good for you if you can, but I am 40 and feel my best when I’m wearing something on the looser side.

These are sequin dresses that are actually comfortable. Finally! Not itchy or scratchy. Plus the flowy silhouette means you can still eat a big dinner and/or lots of champagne and be comfy all night long. If you cannot tell by my gushing, I absolutely LOVE them both!

I’m wearing a size medium in both. I could probably have done with a small (I’d say Sail to Sable generally runs larger) but I like the looser fit, especially with anything shiny or sequined!

Outfit Details: Jennifer Lake x Sail to Sable Dress (gifted) // Amazon Feather Purse (this is SO good and only $25!) // Sarah Flint Heels // Brent Neale Bubble Pendant

Outfit Details: Jennifer Lake x Sail to Sable Dress (gifted from last year but they reissued it!) // Loeffler Randall Sandals (old, the style is called Coco!) // Jennifer Behr Earrings

gold dress photos by Sarah Weisbrod, Silver dress photos by Clay Austin.

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