"Tis is the season," and brands know it. Sequins time, my friends. "The prosperity of the 1950s brought the concept of leisure to the mainstream. It was no longer just the wealthy who had the time and money to take vacations, and since air travel became less exclusive, more people ventured abroad. The upper class had mastered the art of dressing for travel and leisure long ago, and now, the middle class embraced the idea. Responding to a burgeoning market, the fashion industry produced a new category of clothing known as resort wear" (source: Fashion: The Definitive Visual Guide by DK). Also known as cruise, holiday, or travel collections, these inter-season collections are now part of the calendar.

Please don't allow yourself to be tempted by the sirens of resort wear. Your closet has sequin gems, ugly sweaters (although I discovered the tradition likely originated from the Cosby Show, oops), and other holiday ornaments begging to be worn. The holidays are around the corner; here in the US, they start the day of Halloween, and it is a perfect occasion for me to begin bringing some of the festivities into my outfits by tapping into what I have in my closet. There is no need to be literal and match the Christmas tree; our dear friends with garlands in lieu of scarves are not the look we are going for.

When I think of holiday attire, I am looking for practicality. I host most of the time, which means a lot of time spent in the kitchen. I will be standing a lot = my feet will hurt. I will have a hot oven open in my face = sweat, and my makeup will smudge (waterproof makeup, please). Oily sauces will splatter me = destroying my silky top. There is no need for a jacket because a) I will be hot for sure, perimenopause is around the corner, and b) we won't venture outside the dining table area, so a holiday outfit must weather all of that, make me feel good, and sexy do I dare while I serve dishes. 

Let's start with what I wore for Thanksgiving dinner: a cashmere top from COS; the open back brings some sexiness, and the culottes are from Nili Lotan - these are incredibly easy to wear. You can add points to the wow factor by pairing them with boots, which I did here with the gold Balenciaga. This look is super comfortable and practical, and, say, partey!

Next is a full inspiration from last year from Grace Tibi; I made it 2023 by adding red tights; they are from Swedish Stockings. This look is the ultimate "resort wear."
I packed it to warm destinations paired with metallic mules and wore it around the Thanksgiving table. I am very fond of these shearling shoes from Bottega Veneta. It was an impulse purchase, but I am killing the cost per wear. From time to time, Ray, the most fantastic shoemaker, who also has a thing for red soles, cleans them and, voilà, brand new.

Another Tibi vibe outfit with my shearling darlings, this silky dress has some drama. The deep wine tights from Falke add a festive flair, perfect for holiday gatherings or celebrating wine enthusiasts :) I managed to snag the dress on sale a few years back. The likelihood of Tibi fans wearing it for the holidays is very high. The dress screams Christmas tree, although it can be worn all year long. 

Finally, nothing says more about holidays than Rabanne—metallic. I am a devoted fan of Rabanne. It is my way of saying I am bringing festivities but one rhinestone at a time; I love this second-skin effect top. That's my jam; I could have waited for sales. I didn't, but I am honoring the cost per wear. The same goes for the boots I bought in 2019; they remain a staple of my wardrobe. It's still a staple at Rabanne, probably with a 20% inflation. Investing in shoes is a sound investment these days…

Enjoy the holidays, dear readers. The days are dark, but sometimes a sequin can change everything.

With love from Fannie

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