How to Warmly (and Chicly) Do Cocktail Attire This Holiday Season Inline
Photo: (Clockwise from left) Courtesy of avenue32.com; Courtesy of farfetch.com; Courtesy of selfridges.com1/16Chioma Nnadi, Replica Hermes Bag Reviews.com Fashion News Director
“I’ve always loved the idea of wearing something super masculine with something super feminine, and once the temperature drops, cocktail dressing lends itself to that. I remember one year, after the Met Ball, going out in a floor-length dress with a varsity jacket thrown over my shoulders, and I’m thinking of reviving that look. The proportions of a varsity actually work really well when you have something long and floaty underneath (possibly a slip! Or something bias cut), plus you’re covered from your neck down to your toes. I’ve been investing in a ton of tights lately, too—sparkly! lacy! fishnet!—and they instantly up the festive factor of a party look and keep you that little warmer, too.”
Galvan midnight silk long slip dress, $1,375, avenue32.com; Adidas Originals Varsity reversible jacket, $490, farfetch.com; Wolford Clair floral-lace tights, $42, selfridiges.com
Photo: (From left) Courtesy of matchesfashion.com; Courtesy of Thakoon2/16Nicole Phelps, Director, Replica Hermes Bag Reviews Runway
“I’m not much of a dress wearer, even when it’s warm outside. For holiday parties, I like to pair cropped, high-waisted tuxedo pants with a treasured curly lamb’s fur sweater from Thakoon. This will be my third winter wearing it, and I’m still getting compliments. If he ever makes another one, I will snap it right up.”
Saint Laurent tapered-leg tuxedo trousers, $990, matchesfashion.com; Thakoon brown striped fur sweater, price upon request, for information: thakoon.com
Photo: (All) Courtesy of net-a-porter.com3/16Jorden Bickham, Replica Hermes Bag Reviews.com Executive Fashion Editor
“Fur, fine jewelry, and leave the rest up to your imagination.”
Fred Leighton Collection 18-karat gold and sterling silver diamond drop earrings, $18,800, net-a-porter.com; Stella McCartney faux fur coat, $2,445, net-a-porter.com
Photo: (All) Courtesy of Barneys4/16Chloe Malle, Vogue Social Editor
“Tights! Nude stockings have a tendency to look too dowdy. I prefer sheer black stockings, but opaque black are also fine. Ideally, stockings should not be worn with open-toe sandals, but you can definitely get away with it if the sandal is also black. A satin Manolo BB pump is the ideal winter evening shoe!”
Manolo Blahnik BB pumps, $595, barneys.com; Wolford individual 10 tights, $47, barneys.com
Photo: (Clockwise from left) Courtesy of net-a-porter.com; Courtesy of stylebop.com; Courtesy of matchesfashion.com; Courtesy of asos.com; Courtesy of harrods.com5/16Alessandra Codinha, Replica Hermes Bag Reviews.com Fashion News Editor
“Winter cocktail dressing is actually my favorite season for cocktail dressing because there’s something so openly festive about it: tights and heels and big, fabulous warm coats and as much sparkle as you can handle, to make up for the chilly temperatures. Heels, of course, can be tricky, with slick frozen sidewalks, but I have been really leaning into the cocktail boot and am now in love with my black heeled Timberland pair, which have the most subtle shearling lining, are so comfortable, and look a little Victoriana-meets–punk rock with the right dress.
“It’s hard to transition summer dresses into winter, as they’re often too bare and don’t look great with tights. For me, holiday party season requires the following:
1. Anything short and sparkly is heaven with thick black tights (Wolford!);
2. A black Le Smoking (I am open to this in jewel-toned velvet, too) for when it’s too cold for tights but you still want to look chic;
3. Major jewelry (earrings, necklaces, gold collars—’tis the season to pile it on);
4. A fabulous coat (who are we kidding? Several fabulous coats) because you can’t put a price on arriving in style—or making a dramatic exit. And besides, schlumpy parkas are just depressing.”
Gucci belted shearling coat, $9,500, net-a-porter.com; Kenneth Jay Lane gold-plated drop earrings, $89, stylebop.com; Lanvin striped-sequin sleeveless dress, $2,590, matchesfashion.com; Timberland Glancy black 6-inch heeled boots, $143, asos.com; Wolford cashmere silk tights, $229, harrods.com
Photo: (Clockwise from left) Courtesy of matchesfashion.com; Courtesy of Derek-rose.com; Courtesy of YSL6/16Kelly Connor, Replica Hermes Bag Reviews.com Market Editor
“Oh, if only I could call this coat mine! I would throw it over my slip dresses or satin pajamas with a smoking slipper and life would be so easy . . . !”
Adam Lippes long rabbit-fur coat, $22,800, matchesfashion.com; Derek Rose Bailey pure silk navy pajamas, $625, derek-rose.com; Saint Laurent signature evening slippers in black velvet, price upon request, for information: ysl.com
Photo: (From left) Courtesy of matchesfashion.com; Courtesy of farfetch.com7/16Laird Borrelli-Persson, Replica Hermes Bag Reviews.com Archive Editor
“To me, the LBD is seasonless. For winter parties I add a festive embroidered wool scarf.”
Dolce & Gabbana open-back long-sleeved midi dress, $2,635, matchesfashion.com; Valentino x Celia Birtwell floral print sheer scarf, $775, farfetch.com
Photo: (From left) Courtesy of mytheresa.com; Courtesy of avenue32.com8/16Brooke Danielson, Replica Hermes Bag Reviews.com Accessories Editor
“I always wear a long evening coat. Must be knee-length or longer. Often I layer a thick fur vest under the coat, which adds a festive—and warm—flair. Open-toe is fine, so long as I’m hopping from my Uber into the event space.”
Givenchy fur gilet, $3,095, mytheresa.com; Derek Lam oatmeal wool shawl lapel coat, $2,620, avenue32.com
Photo: (From left) Courtesy of matchesfashion.com; Courtesy of APC9/16Lauren Mechling, Vogue Senior Editor
“I was burned at my office holiday party a few years ago when a colleague gave my lightweight Band of Outsiders dress a once-over and said, “You’re not looking very festive.” I have a long-sleeved navy waffle-knit dress from A.P.C. that’s cozier than flannel pajamas. So now I wear it to winter parties with one of my 1960s Italian gemstone necklaces. They are festive—blindingly so.”
Pippa Small multistone and yellow-gold necklace, $11,951, matchesfashion.com; A.P.C. Chantal dress, $154, apc.fr
Photo: (From left) Courtesy of matchesfashion.com; Courtesy of carmelinashoes.com10/16Patricia Garcia, Replica Hermes Bag Reviews.com Culture Writer
“Cocktail dressing can be tricky during the winter in New York. Even though the weather can be brutal, the truth is, you’re never going to go out to a party wearing snow boots. I usually try to pair a long-sleeved dress with stylish and practical shoes, like these Carmelina ankle boots, which have a snow-proof lug sole but also provide a festive pop of color.”
Tomas Maier button-through velvet dress, $1,445, matchesfashion.com; Carmelina Carmen ankle boots in metallic burgundy patent leather, $330, carmelinashoes.com
Photo: (Clockwise from top left) Courtesy of matchesfashion.com; Courtesy of matchesfashion.com; Courtesy of mytheresa.com11/16Emily Rosser, Replica Hermes Bag Reviews.com Photo Editor
“I’m all about the LBS—little black suit.”
The Row Bori double-breasted wool-blend jacket, $4,250, matchesfashion.com; The Row Locu wool-blend cropped trousers, $1,990, matchesfashion.com; Converse Chuck Taylor All Star high-top sneakers, $92, mytheresa.com
Photo: Courtesy of stylebop.com12/16Monica Kim, Replica Hermes Bag Reviews.com Beauty Writer
“A robe coat is the ultimate cold-weather piece. You’re out there, wearing a literal robe (preferably fur-lined!)—what could be warmer? When embellished with fur accents or tricked out with rich embroidery, it can even look regal—think Rihanna at this year’s Met Gala. Wear it over a slip dress—or better yet, wear it as your dress. Your friends need never know (how cozy you are).”
MSGM textured coat, $1,035, stylebop.com
Photo: (From left) Courtesy of intermixonline.com; Courtesy of farfetch.com13/16Steff Yotka, Replica Hermes Bag Reviews.com Fashion News Writer
“I’m a big fan of the sleeveless turtleneck dress. It works well for layering with sweaters and coats, but isn’t too stuffy that you’ll overheat indoors.”
Autumn Cashmere sleeveless turtleneck dress, $368, intermixonline.com; Cushnie et Ochs band collar sheath dress, $2,750, farfetch.com
Photo: (Clockwise from top left) Courtesy of uniqlo.com; Courtesy of matchesfashion.com; Courtesy of harrods.com; Courtesy of Tory Burch; Courtesy of nordstromrack.com14/16Sophia Li, Replica Hermes Bag Reviews.com Photo Producer
“The most functional and beloved garments in my wardrobe during the winter are turtlenecks. (The ribbed turtlenecks from Uniqlo are my go-to—I basically have one in every color.) For holiday parties, the formula goes as follows: turtleneck + slip dress + long wool coat topped off with a pair of sturdy yet chic leather-heeled booties (you know, like a cocktail boot! Currently lusting after the Tory Burch Bond booties) and statement earrings. Fellow holiday partygoers, be not afraid of arctic blasts.”
Uniqlo Heattech turtleneck long-sleeve T-shirt, $20, uniqlo.com; Equipment Racquel silk slip dress, $399, matchesfashion.com; Stella McCartney Paula wool Melton coat, $2,173, harrods.com; Tory Burch Bond booties, $225, toryburch.com; Kenneth Cole New York striped double drop earrings, $24, nordstromrack.com
Photo: (Clockwise from left) Courtesy of g-lab.com; Courtesy of Barneys; Courtesy of Stuart Weitzman15/16Sophie Schulte-Hillen, Replica Hermes Bag Reviews.com Contributing Editor
“I love Wolford leggings because they can pass for tights and still fit under slim pants. And I wear Stuart Weitzman 5050s a lot because they’re excellent windbreakers on a chilly day. I do try to get away with wool coats, but when it’s a puffy parka or death, I wear my G-Lab Montana coat. It’s the sleekest, warmest—and fitted!—down coat that’s tricked out with everything from magnetic pockets to built-in wrist warmers. It’s the only way to survive the Stalingrad winters we have in Berlin without looking like a jerk.”
G-Lab Montana II wax touch coat with fur, $805, g-lab.com; Wolford velvet forming leggings, $150, barneys.com; Stuart Weitzman The 5050 boots, $655, stuartweitzman.com
Photo: (Clockwise from top left) Courtesy of dylanlex.com; Courtesy of net-a-porter.com; Courtesy of net-a-porter.com; Courtesy of net-a-porter.com16/16Emily Farra, Replica Hermes Bag Reviews.com Fashion News Associate
“I’m obsessed with giant earrings right now, and I recently added a Dylanlex pair to my collectsion. They look heavy at first, but they’re unbelievably light! And they’re glitzy enough to make any outfit holiday-ready, which is perfect since I hate feeling too dressed up. I’d let them shine against something cozy and laid-back, like a sleeveless sweater, silk pajama pants, and sparkly mid-heel pumps.”
Dylanlex Luca earrings, $250, dylanlex.com; The Row Leona merino wool and cashmere-blend turtleneck sweater, $690, net-a-porter.com; Carine Gilson silk-satin pajama pants, $690, net-a-porter.com; Rochas crystal-embellished satin pumps, $1,050, net-a-porter.com
