Isn’t it fun to see the general public pick up the Ugly Holiday Sweaters theme and have fun with it? Over the past weeks I have seen Ugly Sweater parties, cards and Facebook groups. So nice to see humanity come together in a spirit of joy and mirth, and donning garishly gay apparel!
So you know by now that a Reindeer Sweater is not professionally appropriate clergy garb unless you’re heading to the children’s event to read stories and sing “Frosty the Snowman” with the kids. And you’re kind of tired of black and bling, but you’re looking for a way to spruce up for the season that doesn’t involve red and green (a color combination that PeaceBang loves on fir trees but tends to think is too LOUD a combo on mere humans).
Here are some ideas:
Charcoal grey suit with a tie in a shade of light grass green. Dignified!
Pink. Advent candle pink for every boy and girl! Soft, candlelight pink is a beautiful seasonal color.
Faux fur!! So fabulous and one of my favorite ways to feel fancy and luxe.
A great winter white suit can take you through the whole season. If you wear clericals, pair your suit with beautiful black boots. Gals can wear knee-high boots with a skirt.
Try to swagger around like a runway model. It will keep people entertained.
Faux fur AND winter white! Very Winter Witch, C.S. Lewis-style.
French cuffs are a simple, easy and instant way to up your look for holiday events. Great-looking cufflinks will make you feel like Pastor Clark Gable, all swankified. How nice to get a little swanky for Jesus at Advent.
How about a fitted velvet blazer in navy or wine? Velvet is wonderful in small amounts — you probably don’t want to do a whole velvet dress or suit, as that can be awfully heavy and drapery-like (remember Carol Burnett swanning down the stairs in the green velvet Bob Mackie gown with the curtain rod through her shoulders? “Ah saw this in the windah and I just HAD to have it!”), but a velvet jacket is a great holiday staple.
If you don’t wear clericals, one good frilled blouse paired with a simple black suit can take you lots of places: afternoon events, visits, tea parties, community celebrations. Just make sure the cut of your suit is sharp and modern or you’ll wind up looking like the Queen of England. Carry a smart clutch bag and make sure your hair is done. Fancy blouses and flompy hair are not a good match.
Jewel tones: sapphire blue with black, emerald green, garnet red. Just not all together at one time.
Remember that brocade is heavy and very aging. If you wear a brocade garment, keep the other elements of your look tailored. And have you considered wearing dressy jeans and a scoop T-shirt with that black and gold jacket with the ornate buttons? Try it! Mix and match styles and see what you get!
Too much fuss makes anyone look like the Dowager Empress. Choose one eye-catching accessory (or wear a set, like chains or bangles) and resist the temptation to stick decor on yourself head to toe. If you’re wearing a feather in your hat, don’t wear a big brooch and scarlet lipstick and a jeweled belt. It all just gets deranged after awhile, darling.
It’s a magical time of year, so have fun! Try something with a bit more drama! Get out of your ho-hum footwear and into a more snappy shoe, boys. Get your hair cut in an actual style. Try a bow tie if you’ve never done so before. Add some sparkle somewhere. Wear white after labor day. A white wool dress with brown boots and a denim jacket. Wear a simple black dress but weave a bit of gold ribbon into your braid.
Wear a cloak. Smile bigger.
Put your candles in the window and shine on, babies. The weary world needs you to shine the light that we claim is coming!
Ooh, I sort of did this without knowing it. Last night,I stepped it up for our madrigal play/concert at church. I wore a black pencil skirt, my splurge dress boots – Ralph Lauren with flat heels and a gold buckle, a cream jacket with a satiny black trim, a black, long-sleeved knit top, and a big, silk, hot pink scarf. My hair & earrings could have been a tad spiffier, but I looked festive.Which was helpful, because I wasn’t exactly feeling festive right then.
very good post – always a problem looking festive without looking like a decorated tree – what do you think of pants now?
– I seem to see more and more skirts of all kinds – can one still be stylish in a black pant suit appropriately accessorized? [Oh, indeed! Try a beautiful collar in a sapphire blue and a pair of gorgeous gold earrings. Keep the focus up near the face and then add a great shoe in a metallic, maybe. Or find a French cuff shirt to go with your suit. Or wear a gorgeous white blouse with a frill at the neck, do your hair up in a chignon secured with a blingy comb in the back. Hair and make-up and nails are a huge factor here. I don’t know why women bother to put on fancy garments and leave everything else blah. It’s like decorating the Christmas tree with fleece socks. A mismatch. – PB]
Hmmmm, that photo of the model wearing the crossover whatever-it-is with the knit sleeves turned up today on another blog I read, Mason-Dixon Knitting (http://www.masondixonknitting.com/). A joyful read even if you aren’t a knitter — these women are funny!