The One Accessory I'm Wearing to Every Holiday Party This Year

Besides my birthday, holiday events are easily my favorite occasion to dress up for. There's something about their festive nature that makes pulling out all the stops for my party attire that much more fun. My friend and fellow Who What Wear editor Lauren Eggertsen and I have been discussing the outfits we plan to wear to each event this season, messaging each other links to items we can't live without almost daily. She's much more ahead of the game than I am and has already planned out three fully accessorized looks to wear. According to her, it's all about finishing off your outfit with elevated jewelry, and this year she's got her eye one particularly stunning Roberto Coin piece. "It might not seem like a lot, but the addition of statement jewelry will always read polished and party-ready," she says. See (and shop!) the holiday looks she can't wait to wear below.

Dress Code: Black Tie Optional

I personally start with what kind of mood I'm in when deciding what to wear to an event, but Lauren disagrees. "Making sure you are dressed in accordance with the dress code while also showing off your personality is key. It’s not every day you can get all dressed up, so make the most of it," she says. For a more formal event (like her friend's fancy company holiday party she always scores a plus-one to) or one that's simply fun to dress up for (the NYC Ballet), Lauren's preference is typically a long silk or satin dress.

The best part of this specific dress is the low neckline, which is perfect for showing off a statement necklace. Here she wears the Venetian Princess Necklace layered to show off both the larger and smaller flower pendants. "I wanted to make the most of the open neckline," Lauren says of her styling choice. A special beaded bag and more gold jewelry complete her fancy party look.

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Dress Code: Smart Casual

Lauren's next ensemble has you covered for those seasonal events that fall directly after work hours. "I would wear this look to an after-work press dinner or to drinks somewhere festive with friends during the holidays," she says. The top is a bit more fun than your everyday blazer, especially paired with white trousers and a bag in a bright shade.

Lauren tells me she won't invest in jewelry unless it's timeless, well-made, and versatile. This necklace decidedly ticks off all three requirements, especially when it comes to versatility—you can hardly tell it's even the same piece after she removes the longer chain. "The fabric of this blazer top doesn't work with a major jewelry moment, so I styled the necklace as a delicate choker this time. It is subtle yet still very prominent," Lauren says of how she chose to wear the Roberto Coin necklace.

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Dress Code: Business Chic

Every year Who What Wear throws a festive holiday event, and Lauren has her outfit all planned out. (Can I copy it?) The velvet turtleneck paired under the modern suiting separates feels festive yet appropriate for a party where your boss is in attendance. "The fun thing here is that I can take the blazer off after work and the whole outfit instantly transforms."

Since I see Lauren at least Monday through Friday, I know that she almost exclusively wears gold jewelry, so I'm not surprised to see she reversed the black diamond necklace for this last look. This way of styling the piece feels the most suitable for everyday wear or for a shiny pop against a colored top as seen here. Also notable? "Pendants are definitely trending right now, and there is no better way to show them off than via a fitted turtleneck." I'll be trying this out ASAP.

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