Little Black Holiday Look

The holidays are known for festive hues of red, green, gold, and silver. However, it is also a great time to experiment with a classic Little Black Dress. The LBD is known for being timeless and versatile. But how do you create holiday cheer with such a dark shade? Take your Little Black Holiday Look to the next level, with texture!

Thankfully, you can spice up any monochromatic outfit with a little texture by combining different fabrics. When implementing texture, you add intrigue to an outfit and create focal points based on placement. For example, the lead elements in this outfit are feathers, sparkles, and vegan leather.

Due to feathers hitting the runway this season, I pulled my favorite vintage Betsey Johnson LBD out of the closet. This eyelash feather dress gets a warm makeover by layering a sparkly sweater over top (try this one from
White House Black Market)
. To define the waistline, I tucked the sweater into an accent belt (similar). Festively, the sparkles in the top add a layer of holiday cheer and the gold buckle accents with a little shine.

Sadly, almost every great holiday outfit ends up getting covered with a coat. To keep the intrigue, I added a third texture, accessorizing with vegan leather, as shown in this knot clutch and gloves. You can also accomplish a similar look with satin, like this clutch, which is trending right now!

For a little drama, I added a set of Pretty Little Thing hoops to match the belt, a hat, and over-the-knee boots (similar at Lulu’s). As with every LBD, this outfit is versatile, working well for the holiday or NYE!

Want to see other looks that play with texture? Check out my blogs on this SPARKLY outfit or this RED VELVET ensemble. Take that black holiday look to the next level and Enjoy the holiday season!

TRY A SIMILAR LOOK: Cynthia Rowley Skirt, Ann Taylor Sparkle Top, Knot Clutch, Decorative Belt, Steve Madden Over the Knee Boots.

Plaid is Trending

Redhead Erin of She's Red Haute posing and wearing Ann Taylor's Fall 2019 Fall Plaid Collection in a park

Plaid is the Fashion Week’s newest, yet most revisited prints on the runway. This motif exudes a feeling of comfort, usually crafted in warm fabrics which are perfect for Fall. Thankfully, there are now far more edgy ways to wear plaid than resorting to the classic flannel shirt and jeans. Here are a few on-trend ways integrate this pattern into your wardrobe:

Runway models side by side wearing plaid.

GET THE INSPO: This motif can be incorporated in many different ways to compliment your unique style. You can pair a dress with a similarly patterned coat, wear a two piece which teams together, or sport a fashionable midi with a laid back tee. These inspirational styles have been spotted at shows such as Max Mara (left), Maryling (center), and Trussardi (right).

Redhead, She's red haute in a park in the fall wearing plaid

DETERMINE THE COLORS: When searching for a plaid outfit keep your hues in mind. Both neutrals and monochromatic tones are currently being spotted at on the runway, so the options are endless. Luckily, redheads can easily choose the classic Autumnal neutrals, as they match perfectly with our copper locks. I recommend finding plaids with 3 complimentary colors, to create intrigue without the print being too busy for the eye. This look by Ann Taylor, coordinates cinnamon tones, with black and white.

Redhead, She's red haute in a park in the fall wearing Ann Taylor plaid

DOUBLE UP THE PRINT: To really make a statement, pair the print with its twin coat or blazer. The designers at Ann Taylor have created a range of complimentary pieces in their new limited edition Modern Plaid Collection! I paired their retro-inspired mock neck shift dress (similar here) with their beautiful Modern Plaid Trench (similar by Club Monaco), to create a dramatic look suitable for any stylish city. If you can’t find patterns that match, I suggest combining smaller and larger plaid pieces together.

Nasty Gal cognac bag with plaid jacket

ACCESSORIZE LIKE A PRO: Let the print do the talking and accessorize with solid colored pieces. My recommendation is to choose a color within the lattice, like how this cognac handbag from Nasty Gal brings out the hazel hue. Additionally, this black ASOS Design knot headband plays-up the retro vibe and keeps the focal point on the print, as seen below.

Redhead in the park in the fall wearing plaid and sunglasses

The most important aspect of pairing plaids is to make sure it makes you feel confident! This classic design truly makes a statement and will highlight the powerful woman you are!

GET THE LOOK: Modern Plaid Shift Dress, Modern Plaid Coat, Nasty Gal WANT a Day in the Life Bag, ASOS Design Knot Headband