Hello, loves!
Well, typical Southern California, we skipped fall and headed straight on in to winter! Mark and I just returned from the East coast, visiting family, and I thought we would be coming back to moderate temps and sunshine! The temps are actually about the same, but it just feels so much colder here today. With all of the festive events coming up, I wanted to share a couple of tips on how to dress for holiday parties without freezing, because of course we all want to look cute (and/or sexy), but also don’t want to be distracted by how cold we are!

First and foremost, consider outerwear. I flash to any of the wintery episodes of Gossip Girl for inspiration. Some of their coats and jackets were more bedazzled than the dresses underneath! I love this idea, because some places you’ll end up will require you actually keep your outerwear on, so why not treat everyone to some extra glitz? Another idea is to add a lovely cluster of brooches to the lapel of a simpler coat to give it a sparkle boost. If the climate is more moderate, opt for a cape, like I did here, to create interesting lines and still show off some of your outfit underneath.

Your bottom half.. No, I’m not suggesting wearing pants for all of your holiday festivities, but a nice pair of thick, opaque tights under a dress or skirt can really help shield you from the bitter cold. If you’re rocking a solid colored dress, consider patterned tights for an unexpected take.

For footwear, heels are lovely, and I still prefer them because they make me feel more “dressed-up”, but a classic pair of heeled knee-high boots or sleek ankle booties are another great way to add warmth and coverage. Just make sure you don’t wear a pair that’s scuffed/too plain or it makes the overall look much more casual. And please, for the love of everything, no UGGS.

Lastly, I love a pashmina or fringe scarf for keeping the heat in around your neck and shoulders. It’s something you can keep on after taking your jacket off that doesn’t look too bundled up, and I LOVE a bold pair of dangly earrings against an artfully folded scarf.

Check out how I’ve styled the gorgeous Vivian Sheath Dress from London Times, and see what other lovely new dresses they’re offering for this holiday party season.

Dress c/o London Times
Shot by Holli Zenko Photography

This post is sponsored by London Times. Items contained in this post were provided to me for reviewing purposes. This post also contains affiliate links and clicking on them or purchasing items through them may provide me with a small commission. This is part of what helps keep Dressed for Time going.