For some of us the holidays are a hectic and sometimes stressful time of year. There are so many parties, celebrations, get-togethers and evenings out and about! Dressing up to attend any and all of these events can be a little challenging on many levels. Carving out time in our busy schedules and trying to fit it all in can leave even the most hardy holiday partier wondering what to wear to which occasion! Keeping your wardrobe simple, chic and festive throughout the endless parade of soirees shouldn’t be that hard at all. If you stick to a few of my simple tricks, you’ll always look party perfect in no time.  

The easiest way to doll up any fashion look is to find the perfect top. When out shopping at the Goodwill Store & Donation Center in my neighborhood, I came across three fabulous examples of easy-to-wear tops with pretty details that would work for any merry gathering at this time of year. But, before we get to the particulars, you need to know how you can pair them with things you may already have in your wardrobe. This could be your favorite pair of skinny jeans, skirt, or even a sheath dress. These items should be in neutral or other complementary colors so that our toppers really take center stage. A good variety of mixers, in this case bottoms or bottom layering pieces, is always the way to start a great pulled-together look in no time. Now that you know what you have, let’s map out the three tops and what they could work with!

First up is this Tracy Reese (a designer I have seen at New York Fashion Week) with a Target collaboration jewel-toned sequin top. The fleur de lis design is a classic for sure, and the v-neck is flattering on anyone. Given the t-shirt styling of this top, which features a solid, royal-blue back contrasting the beige-and-sequin design front, I think the appropriate bottom here would be jeans. That’s just me. Of course, you could wear this with a skirt or dress slacks too, but it really does depend on the structure and flow of the top. Some chandelier earrings and maybe a big-cuff bracelet, or giant ring are all you need to whisk away the hours with friends and relatives in a fashionably chic way!  By the way, this top was just $6.99 at Goodwill!

Next, we have this one-shouldered Grecian-inspired top from Forever 21. With its pleating and contrasting black-jeweled neckline, it suggests elegance without really trying. Classic black and white is actually quite easy to pull off. With this one I would go with a black or white bottom. Of course, putting whites and off whites together can be tricky, so I would suggest a black pencil skirt, or high-waisted black slacks of some kind that have a little structure. The structure of the slacks or skirt will create a good balance to the flowy nature of the top and allow the off-the- shoulder design to take center stage! Once again, some cool earrings and some stacked bracelets on the bare arm side would create not only a sense of style, but balance as well. This top was only $3.99 at Goodwill!

Last but not least, let’s go bohemian with this vintage, bronze-metallic knit top that features a scalloped and fringed hem. To my eye this seems earthy and fun, so it could be worn with a skirt that has some volume and movement. I could also see this worn more hippie-like with jeans and boots and lots of layered necklaces. For comfort and modesty, a camisole, or even a scoop neck t-shirt, could be worn under this gem. I scored this for only $3.99 at Goodwill!

By no means are these the only looks YOU should go for, but instead I want you to see the possibilities that our stores offer you every day of the year, not only when you have somewhere special to go. Look for statement tops with great details like these all year round, and add them into your wardrobe with abandon. After all, at these prices you can afford to experiment with your style!  

Knowing that your purchase supports our job training programs makes YOU: 1) A hero to those who benefit from them; and 2) A committed fashionista! Now go and take your party dressing all the way to the TOP! (Literally!)