Before I came to live in the United States the word “holiday” meant time off, or a trip away from home. Americans call that a vacation. To them the “holidays” refers to the time period from Thanksgiving Day in late November through to New Year’s Day. It’s a time of holiday parties at work, at school, and with family and friends. People need outfits for these occasions, which can be casual, dressy or formal.

Whether it’s a formal do, a casual holiday bash with friends, a ballet, an evening at a ski lodge, or an intimate date with a loved one, it’s fun to look festive for the holidays. Here are some items that have been winners on clients recently, and that caught my eye. Price points vary and so does the level of quality. The items are versatile because some can be worn to the office, to holiday parties and events, or to other occasions.

• Club Monaco Linnzie Cashmere Sweater: I love an item where "the party is on the back". Gorgeous quality, and a narrow fit. Fluid yet streamlined. Not for long hair unless you tie it up.
• Club Monaco Raesey Pant: Cropped wides are fun in a pattern, and easy to pair with a short black top. These look as great with pointy flats and can be worn year round. NOT good on a short rise. Good on a curvy bottom half.
• Sejour Pocket Cardigan: Wear red year round if you like the colour. Cherry red is versatile, and can be matched with all sorts of oranges and burgundies, as well as obvious neutrals. Good on Team Tall.
• Calvin Klein Sleeveless Cowl-Neck Top: A traditionally flattering top for a larger bust and/or shorter neck. Excellent on a curvy figure. Good for layering too. Easy to launder.
• Club Monaco Tinashe Sweater: A beautiful item that works on a range of body types. Nice quality and ALL the colours are fab. Comes in navy and red. It's a clever design. The welt can be ruched to camouflage midsection lumpage and bumpage. The sleeves are tapered at the wrist so that you can eat soup, and get on with it. The cold shoulder is strategically positioned so that you can wear a bra.
• INC International Concepts Embroidered Illusion Top, Created for Macy's: A good item for Team Long Torso & Long Neck. Best on an hourglass or rectangular body type. Comes in a copper pattern.
• FRAME Cheetah Classic Velvet Blazer: A modern classic with a high longevity factor. Impeccable quality.
• Club Monaco Neriek Top: A great top to wear with all sorts of skirts. No need to tuck. Best on a small and regular size bust.
• Club Monaco Darlana Top: A wonderful top for a curvier figure. It's counter-intuitive when one sees the belted waist, but the silhouette works as well for an apple shape as it does for an hourglass or pear. The silhouette camouflages muffin top. You have to be able to fill it out on the shoulders and/or bust. Do not get this top when you have narrow shoulders and a smaller bust (like me).
• Club Monaco Lenoria Coat: Gorgeous Dressy Coat Fabness. EXCELLENT length, and the faux fur can be removed. Works on a range of body types.
• Club Monaco Ambyrena Cashmere Sweater: Add neck bling to this darling and you're set. Gorgeous on those with grey or greying hair. Best on a longer neck.
• Karen Kane Taylor Sparkle A-Line Dress: Comfortable and easy party frock. Nice length and tailored in the right places. Great with tall boots too.
• Club Monaco Orsalla Sweater Skirt: A fab skirt for a straighter and curvier bottom half. MUST be worn with tucked or semi-tucked tops.
• Club Monaco Rahma Feather Skirt: Festive with an untucked cropped pullover, or welted top. It's BLUE, not black. Even better.
• Chelsea28 Tiered Lace Midi Skirt: Romantic Gothic Fabness. Read the rave reviews.
• Eileen Fisher Merino Wool Sweater Dress: An easy sweater dress to wear with tall boots or booties. Works on an assortment of body types.
• Vince Camuto Velvet Drape Collar Jacket: A great jacket to layer over sleeveless dresses, and to wear with pencil skirts.
• City Chic Sequin Wrap Front Dress: Great for Team Hourglass. Alluring, yet adequately covered. Lots of rave reviews.
• REBEL WILSON X ANGELS Sequin Mesh Pencil Skirt: An interesting patterned sequin skirt at a flattering length. A slam dunk matched with a black top. Warning: you need to be okay with the texture of sequins. Do the sit-down test.
• Karen Kane Asymmetrical Metallic Top: An easy and comfy top to combine with black skinnies, festive footwear and bag, and some bling.
• Foxcroft Penelope Stripe Cardigan: A subtle stripe can make a stunning statement over a column of black. The kimono sleeves add a pretty touch. You can absolutely layer long sleeves under them.
• Madewell Fleece Coat: The photo does NOT do this fabulous piece justice. It's beautifully made and cocooned in the most streamlined way. It's WOW, and casually chic.
• Club Monaco Rotheo Sweater: For Team Fire Engine Red. Best on a long neck and smaller bust. The Edwardian sleeves are fabulous.
• Kate Spade New York mini small square stud earrings: Festive studs to make you smile. Lots of shiny options.
• Lafayette 148 New York Tory Finesse Crepe Dress: An exquisite dress. Impeccable quality. Great length, fab pockets, and no need too suck in the midsection when you wear it. It glides over the body and drapes like a dream. Beautiful sleeve treatment. Needs bling and fun shoes.
• Tibi Ruffled Crepe Knit Midi Dress: An Avant-Garde frock for Team Tall & Regular Height.
• FRAME Persian Classic Blazer: BEAUTIFULLY made, tailored and lightweight. Looks like tapestry, but it's velvet. UNIQUE.
• KARINE SULTAN Jade Tassel Y-Necklace: A quality costume necklace that amps up most outfits. Comes in silver, and works on petites, and a larger bust.
• Veronica Beard Carolyn Tux Stripe Baby Boot Jeans: Fun cropped flares for inverted triangles and rectangles. Not good on a short rise. Best on narrow thighs.
• Tibi Windowpane Corset Peplum Top: Great top for a curvy top half. Can work on a larger bust. Comes in gold in stores.
• Veronica Beard Cella Metallic Floral Print Midi Skirt: Super cute flouncy skirt that works on a range of body types. Make it pretty, or toughen it up with a black or denim support act.
• ECI Embroidered Velvet Shift Dress: I haven't seen this dress in person yet, but I adore the placement of the embroidery, both on the front AND back. You can have a meal and dance in this dress without feeling constricted. Fun over cropped black flares too.
• RALPH LAUREN Lauren Ralph Lauren Ruched Crushed Velvet Sheath Dress: Works best on a smaller bust and curvier bottom half. Great for pear shapes. A classic.
• Lucky Brand Off the Shoulder Sweater: Foxy Fabness. Shoulders are a gorgeous part of the body - show them off. You can though, wear the style as a regular symmetrical pullover.
• Halogen Asymmetrical Velvet Tunic: A great top for curvy hourglasses and pear shapes. Plenty of room around the hips and thighs. Works well on a larger bust. Available in four colours. An easy throw-on-and-go over black pants.
• Karen Kane Velvet Burnout Asymmetrical Top: A lightweight tunic with subtle sparkle. Works on a range of body types. Works well on a larger bust. And easy throw-on-and-go over black pants.
• Gap Limited edition band jacket: Super cute Sergeant Pepper military jacket. The reverse of black with red trim is just as fab. Tailored.
• Gap Sherpa biker jacket: Fashion Forward Oversized Fabness. You need to fill this out with broad shoulders and/or height for it to look best.
• J.Crew Silk twill top in bold paisley: A beautiful fluid paisley blouse for Team Cool Colours. Silky and lightweight. Not good on a large bust.
• J.Crew Perfect shirt in Stewart plaid: I bought this classic plaid shirt because it's dressier than a regular flannel plaid shirt, and quite a bit more structured. It's gorgeous and I'm wearing it on Christmas day. Best on a straighter body type with a small to regular size bust.

Visit the collection page to see the items alongside my descriptions.

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