‘Tis the Season for Festive Fashion ✨
Holiday dressing ideas to spark joy.
After the pandemic, a new style term emerged: Dopamine dressing. Dawnn Karen, a fashion psychologist and author of Dress Your Best Life, coined the phrase, summing up clothing choices that boost one’s mood. There is no one-size-fits-all prescription here. For some, it can be a bold color; for others, it’s an interesting texture.
For yours truly, at this moment, dopamine dressing is all about festive fashion. I am usually a “Wait until after Thanksgiving!” girlie, but not this year. My long-held desire for holiday dressing has kicked up several notches. So grab a glass of bubbly and cue Mariah Carey — because it is time! Like
reminded us, joy is healing. And I get a lot of joy from a sparkly mini dress.Below, eight looks to consider when planning your holiday attire, plus two sets of pajamas. Most of these outfits rely on one new(er) piece styled with what was already in my closet. I cranked up the holiday music and had so much fun putting these together.
Not sure where you might wear this kind of festive attire? Someone once told me she bought clothes she loved as a way of manifesting opportunities and occasions. Her fashion mantra: “Stay ready.” I’m adopting that this season. 🎁
The SMT community on Substack is open to paid subscribers and is a wonderful corner of the internet. Highly recommend checking it out!
But first…
🎉 Hill House is having its annual sale right now, offering 30% off the entire site. I have — and love — so many Nap Dresses (the navy Ellie is such a classic). Make sure you check out the rest of the assortment! The Diana sweater is one of my fall staples and the Pia top is perfect for a wintery night out. Plus, their PJs are a dream, especially the new Cypress set. Use code EVERYTHING30 — and don’t delay, these faves tend to sell out.
***My thanks to Hill House for sponsoring this highlight of their annual sale, and to you for shopping with brands that support So Many Thoughts.***
‘Tis the Season for Festive Fashion
Please note: I use affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting So Many Thoughts.
Let’s spark some joy, shall we? I have divided the following into five categories: Casual, cocktail, work, evening and pajamas. To be sure, these are loose suggestions at best. Many holiday pieces featured here are wonderfully versatile, allowing for dressing up or down as you see fit.
Casual
Try: Statement trousers
Yes, yes, I know. The 2010s J.Crew catalog called and would like its look back. 🙃 This elder millennial would argue the combo of bold pants and a chambray shirt is a time-tested classic. And these trousers were too fun not to try! (They have some stretch but I sized up, to a 6, because I didn’t want to risk too-tight tartan.) Swap the statement necklace for a bold earring to bring it up to date (these red gems are by a Kate-favored brand). Throw on a velvet blazer for a more formal look or swap the heels for a pair of bright white sneakers for something more casual.
PS: Check out the entire J.Crew Factory holiday assortment, it’s very good (and on sale).
Try: Cozy cardigan
When precipitation is not a problem, I love a winter pastel look. Again, I find the unexpected — bright when the season skews dark — to be a source of joy. This dream of a sweater in HRH blue from Hill House was a must for my closet. The white tortoise shell buttons are a soft touch, hence why I went with the silver Mary Janes (though loafers would work well, too). The slightly cropped hem of the cardigan called out for some white wide-leg jeans — these are the same ones I’ve been singing the praises of all summer.
Cocktail
Try: Sparkly pleats
First thought: THANK GOODNESS FOR TIGHTS. To be honest, this style is shorter than I expected. I almost wasn’t sure I should even try it on! A pair of opaque black tights nudged me there and — WOW — this is what dopamine dressing is all about. The high hem makes it very fun, a whole sparkly, flirty vibe. My patent leather Mary Janes matched the moment (a heel would have been too much IMO).
Note: This dress and the next are low in stock on the Hill House site — but keep checking and add your name to the waitlist. I’ve been watching and sizes have definitely opened up.
Try: Shimmery tartan
This was another dress I was eyeing online, wondering what it would look like in real life. When it arrived, the first thing that jumped out to me was the fabric. So many winter prints come in heavy material. This is light, swishy and delightfully shimmery. The puff sleeve is a nice alternative to the expected pleats. And this neckline had me reaching back into my headband stash! Pointy toed flats grounded the look and these perfectly sized gold earrings accented it all quite nicely (a new fave in my rotation).
Office
Try: Glittery skirt
I would say I am more of a dress person than a skirt girl. However! I think they make a lot of sense for the more festive-cautious. It’s less fabric, and therefore less of a statement, than either a dress or even trousers. I love the coziness of a knit skirt or the sleek vibe of a satin style. Finish it off with tights and booties, and you’re good to go. This silver skirt is from Target comes with a matching crop top. It would work just as well with a long-sleeve turtleneck, a bodysuit or a blazer, too.
Try: Velvet suit
What’s our theme? Joy. What’s better than a velvet suit in deep emerald green? Nothing! The way this made me squeal a little when I tried it on. It has all the business feel but could not be more festive. And I love that the hue makes it a season-long classic, working well into February. The tank I had on hand skewed the look more evening, but you could easily swap in a white button up or a turtleneck. What’s more, the suit can be separated. Try the blazer with jeans or the trousers with a sweater. (Not into green? It comes in black and pink, too.)
Evening
Try: Voluminous brocade
Go big or stay home! The Matilda style from Hill House is such a great next Nap Dress for the Ellie lovers. (Fit tip: Size up. I’m an extra small in the Ellie and a small in the Matilda). The empire waist is as comfortable as they come, particularly for a night out. And again, a moment for the brand’s fabric — chef’s kiss. This brocade feels so luxe, with the gold offering just the right amount of shine. I love the print name, too: “Moody bird.”
Try: Chocolate sequins
A rich, deep brown is THEE color of the season, and I have been eyeing it for weeks. Well! What a place to start. This dress from Banana Republic is my new obsession. Can you tell in this picture how much I love it? The style comes in champagne and black, too, but the brown is magical because it is so unexpected. (The brand must have thought so, too. They used this fabric in many styles, including a strapless dress, mini dress, midi skirt, and trousers.) This season-free color has evergreen potential, suitable for a multitude of settings. And trust me when I say the dress feels so much more expensive than it is. Given the shoulder-to-ankle sequins, I styled it rather simply, with gold platform heels and small hoops (my favorite everyday earring).
Pajamas
Try: Printed long johns
Back to reality! And the comfy vibe of holiday loungewear. Our family has worn Hanna Andersson pajamas on Christmas morning for as long as Matt and I have been parents. I reliably search eBay every October to round out our collection of the discontinued stripe pattern. This year, in need of a new set for our assortment (particularly in parent size) I came across these trees. A classic! And on sale, so I snapped them up for us all.
Try: Cozy flannel
Last Christmas, I stumbled upon some flannel pajamas for our kids. They are a tactile bunch and fell instantly for the coziness factor, wearing them out over the course of the winter. This year, I wanted in on the warmth, too, so I searched for a family set. Old Navy delivered! These are so soft and cozy, and the price is just right (super important when buying five at a time).
Confession time: I kept that chocolate sequin dress on for a solid 15 extra minutes after I took pictures, just enjoying the feeling of those sparkles. Dopamine dressing is a very real thing!
My kids had thoughts, too. Click below for their unfiltered takes. 🙃
💭 Now it’s your turn! What are you thoughts on holiday dressing? Is there a festive piece in your closet that makes you especially happy? I would love to hear about it in the comments. (If you have any questions on the above, including sizing or fit, I am happy to answer those, too.)
As we pivot to gift giving, I will leave you with two holiday discount codes:
The lovely folks at ChappyWrap have extended my discount code! Use ✨Elizabeth15✨ for 15% off. Their cozy blankets make the perfect gift and the holiday assortment is divine.
Rifle Paper Co. offered up one, too! ✨EHolmes25✨ gets you 25% off. The brand’s holiday decor is so good (my favorite is the Nutcracker motif). It’s also my go-to for teacher and host/hostess gifts, especially the notebooks and candles.
I never would have thought to pair the tartan pants with a denim top but it works so well!! I love a velvet blazer to dress up an outfit or anything with a bold color this time of year! So fun and festive!
Enjoying your holiday looks! J.Crew has been my go to for holiday fashion for more than a decade. Their tartan selections never disappoint!