Holiday Looks

Hello, hello, hello, today I am bringing you a guest post written by Sara Upton.  So grab a cuppa and let Sara show you what's trending this holiday season. 

Sara Upton is a freelance writer based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota with a passion for fashion, technology, and fitness. When it comes to fashion, Sara likes to highlight the trendiest and hottest looks of the season. When Sara isn't writing, she's researching the best ways to keep fit and creating her own workout routines.

It's the holiday season, otherwise known as the shopping season. You likely have a long shopping list of gifts to pick up for your loved ones, and, if you're anything like me, you probably need to pick up a thing or two for yourself while you're at it. A new holiday outfit perhaps?

Don't waste your time trying to clean last year's wine stains and makeup smears off of your old outfit. Between the office holiday party and awkward reunions with family and friends you're going to want a new outfit that makes you feel beautiful and confident.

Give yourself the gift of some of the latest fashions for the holiday. And this year, there's nothing more trendy than red and black lace. If you're going to a more conservative event, black lace can add an interesting twist to a classic little black dress, or LBD. But if you really want to stand out at your friends' Christmas bash, amp up the holiday spirit with a red lace dress instead. Not only is it festive, it's also a romantic and daring look year-round. Stay cool with a mid-thigh cut, and long, breathable sleeves.

And of course you need a new purse to go with your new dress. If your dress is lace, your purse shouldn't be, and vice versa. With a black or red lace dress, try a simple leather (or faux leather) clutch in the alternate colour—a red dress pairs with a black clutch, and a black dress pairs with a red clutch. Then you can still incorporate a pop of the season's "in" colours, without overdoing it.

Better still, achieve another accessory trend for the season, and make it a box-clutch. The sharp edges of a box-clutch beautifully complement the soft, feminine curves of lace. Finish the ensemble with a gorgeous pair of pumps. Velvet is really in right now, but it doesn't pair well with most lace pieces. Instead, stick to leather, cutout heels. Not only will it pair better with your box-clutch, the perforations or cutouts will keep your feet feeling fresh in the heat.

Leather cutouts with kitten heels are popular shoes on the red carpet. You can also wear them long after the holidays end—which makes them a smart investment for those of you needing a quality excuse for adding another pair to your collection.

The holidays can be a little crazy. So just take a breath, find something you feel confident in, and enjoy the rest of 2016 in style.