What to wear this holiday season

From Thanksgiving gatherings to office parties, these recommendations will keep you stylishly prepared for any occasion.

I’m back at the SNL office from my recent trip to LA, which we’ll recap in the coming days. Until then, we have some clothes to discuss. The holiday season is slowly creeping, and that means it’s the perfect time to get a fit off thanks to Thanksgiving, staff parties, or the family Christmas dinners that are all around the corner — this is a great time to show folks your style game, especially if you’re someone who has a more casual approach to fashion.

It’s fun to get dressed up, especially if you’re someone who takes a more casual approach to their wardrobe regularly. So, if you’re in the market to make a grown-up statement at the next holiday dinner, you’ve come to the right place.

In today’s newsletter, I wanted to look at what styles you should consider when building that ideal holiday fit, brands you should keep your eyes on when doing your own holiday shopping, leather footwear that doesn’t break the bank, a shoe style I’m obsessed with right now, and building some fits for inspiration that you can use yourself.

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STYLES TO CONSIDER

Different events call for different outfits. Because of that, it’s difficult to give specific recommendations — you have to consider if it’s more a casual or more formal gathering, which will affect what you should and shouldn’t wear. There are styles however that can work in all sorts of situations, and because of their versatility, they may be an easier choice to build a fit with that will work for multiple functions.

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If you’re actually lost and don’t know what to wear, then I suggest keeping it simple yet elegant with a good-quality knit as your base. Easy to layer with a nice shirt underneath, or keep it light with just a nice tee. Whatever it is, you can’t go wrong with a nice sweater, a crispy crewneck or even a cardigan. If you’re going with a tee and a sweater, make sure you have the right collar ratio. What I mean by that, and this is just a personal style note that I consider, is how does the tee underneath sit with the collar of the sweater? You don’t want a loose tee peeking through a nice sweater, which will end up giving it that bacon look that nobody wants.

For sweaters, I’m looking at brands like Norse Projects, which offer high-quality knits that are light and are priced at a very reasonable price. Our Legacy should be an obvious choice if you have the cash. They have it all. A Kind of Guise offers heavier options that come in various colors. They are a bit more expensive, but you’re investing in a sweater that will last for life. Noah always has some sort of fun patterned options if you’re looking to go a bit louder this holiday season.

Shop the looks

Any collared item will be a great choice for a top if you’re not too keen on the sweater options. Quarter zips, long-sleeved polos, and, of course, a classic button-down are all on the table. It really just depends on what kind of look you want to go with. If you want to keep it casual but still want to feel a bit put together, then consider a nice unbuttoned shirt with a tee. Depending on the circumstances, this is where you can have some fun by pairing a nice shirt with some sort of graphic tee — it depends on your execution though!

Shirts are great because they can work in any setting and are easy to style in various ways, as well as underneath knits and sweaters — this is where you can have fun with your fit. Mix and match those patterns and colors. Go with a wilder button-down if you have it, whether it’s patterned or just a louder color and layer that with a simple sweater overtop. The collar of the shirt will be just enough to add a little bit of zest to your fit. It’s all about experimenting.