6 Festive Trends That'll Earn Compliments at Every Holiday Event on Your Calendar
It's the most festive time of the year, and wouldn't it be a shame not to take full advantage of that? The holiday season is the perfect occasion to wear the most fun, special trends of the season, so don't let it pass you by without doing just that. This winter, there are a handful of trends practically made for holiday occasions, all of which will help you to stand out among a sea of black velvet dresses. (And don't worry—they're all appropriate to wear long after the holidays have passed.)
Before you find yourself panic shopping for a last-minute party invite, I suggest adding a few things to your winter wardrobe now so that you're ready for whatever festive event may arise. And I'm here to help with that. I've rounded up six of the most festive trends of winter 2024 and found some of the best pieces to represent each. Read on to start planning and shopping for your compliment-worthy holiday season wardrobe.
Not all festive trends are cold-weather-friendly, but one that undoubtedly is would be faux fur. Fur coats and accessories make even the most basic of outfits look special (even sweats, as London-based influencer Lucy Williams displayed above). A black coat is always great to have on hand during the holiday season, but I have my eye on chocolate brown or leopard print (more on that below) faux fur this season, which I'll be pairing with jeans, miniskirts, and everything else.
The holidays are not the time for the old "less is more" adage. It's the season of more is more, if you ask me, and a great way to achieve an all-out festive look is with accessories. Whether you opt for a sparkly statement ring such as the Bvlgari treasure below, a trend-forward hat, or a designer hair accessory (to name a few options), you'll certainly look the holiday-season part. And nothing is as much of a compliment magnet as a cool accessory. Conversation starter, found.
Sequins during the holidays are a no-brainer to say the least, but this year they're more popular than ever. Designers are finding more unique, sophisticated ways than ever to use sequins, so gone are the days when all there was were silver disco ball–adjacent pieces. And if you don't want to go full sparkle, there are plenty of bags, shoes, and other sequined accessories on the market to choose from.
As I'm sure you're aware, burgundy is *the* color of the season. While I'll never tire of classic red, burgundy is a bit more unexpected of a choice during the holidays, and is equally festive. I love burgundy head to toe, which has been a popular way of wearing it among influencers this season, but since it's an exceptionally versatile color, you can pair it with a wide variety of neutrals and non-neutral hues. But if you really want to embrace the season, go with forest green or metallic silver or gold.
Leopard print may not typically be the most obvious choice for holiday occasions, but this year is different. It's turned out to be one of F/W 24's most popular trends, and it comes in the form of a wide variety of festive pieces from satin pants to standout accessories to bold outerwear. This holiday season, I'll be wearing it in small doses. A leopard-print miniskirt paired with a black turtleneck, sheer tights, and black pumps or knee boots is my idea of the perfect holiday party outfit.
If you want to instantly dress up any outfit, all you have to do is add a dose of satin. Even jeans are holiday-party appropriate when paired with, say, a satin top. As the influencers pictured above prove, ivory satin is particularly popular this season, but no colors are excluded from the trend. Whether you opt for a soft pastel, a bold hue, or basic black, if it's made of satin, it'll look luxurious.
Allyson is a senior editor for Who What Wear. She joined the company in 2014 as co-founder Katherine Power's executive assistant and over the years has written hundreds of stories for Who What Wear. Prior to her career in fashion, Allyson worked in the entertainment industry at companies such as Sony Pictures Television. Allyson is now based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She holds a BFA in theater. Her path to fashion may not have been linear, but based on the number of fashion magazines she collected as a child and young adult, it was meant to be.
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