Recession-Proof Holiday Style

With the current economic situation continuing to restrain spending, I don’t foresee that many companies will throw the kinds of extravagant holiday parties of years gone by. But you may receive invitations to holiday parties, and don’t RSVP that you won’t be attending just because it is going to be a dressy event and you feel that you have nothing to wear. You can still add a little holiday flair to your outfits while being cost and value conscious and not going over the top with shopping. This article will help you recession-proof your wardrobe by adding a few choice items that can give your personal or professional wardrobe a boost of holiday glamour.

Classic Holiday Looks for Men
Classic Items for the Dressier Event
French cuff shirts worn with cuff links are more formal than traditional barrel cuff dress shirts. A great way to dress up the ordinary formal suit.
Fine cotton weave dress shirts exude a more formal message than open-weave broadcloth dress shirts. Leave your jacket open so that everyone can see the elegant fabric of your shirt!
Invest in a black wool or cashmere sport coat – a valuable item that never goes out of style that you can wear to evening networking and entertaining events.
A leather wristwatch strap is a must-have evening accessory for men, and is more warm and elegant for evening than a large metal watch bracelet.
Add a new silk tie in a rich jewel tones like ruby, amethyst, or emerald as a quick way to add a burst of color and a bit of additional charisma.

Classic Items for the Casual Event
If you go in for a more trendy style, consider a velvet sport coat to add evening allure. They look very modern when paired with a striped dress shirt and dark denim.
The cashmere V-neck sweater, vest, or cardigan layers up in cozy, comfy style with a dress trouser or dark denim.

Classic Holiday Looks for Women
Classic-trend Items for the Dressier Event
Add a jeweled statement necklace or cuff bracelet to your ensemble for a little holiday bling. They are big this season – I personally invested in a few to give me a variety of sparkle at a nominal price to wear throughout the holidays.
Try a new bold-colored shoe, handbag, or silk blouse to add a pop of color like purple, red, or forest green. These items can easily be added to style-up a traditional suit or dress trousers.
Buy one lace skirt or blouse and pair it with an item you love that is already in your wardrobe. Investing in just one item is easy but impactful for the budget conscious.
Invest in a silk sheath dress or cocktail dress in a great new color – venture out from the typical black and find another dark neutral tone that looks great on you.

Classic-trend Items for the Casual Event
A modern dressy cardigan, belted with a sassy belt and worn with a great skirt and suede boots is a chic classic-casual style for party attire.
Experiment by adding one piece of texture to your everyday work attire – such as an animal print, suede, or a leather jacket or shoes. Texture adds visual interest and is fun to wear with slightly more casual pieces outside the office.
A sweater dress – if you have the figure for it – worn with dark opaque hose and boots can be a very edgy look. Be sure to remember to leave about two inches between the top of your boots and the hem of your dress.

Regardless of what party you attend this season, be sure to show up in style. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to look festive. Just incorporating a few of these modern trend ideas allows any professional to buy an item or two that will have them looking polished for dressy or casual events. Remember – people are always observing and forming impressions of you, so purchasing a few items to enhance your holiday style is always a wise investment.