The 3-2-1 Holiday Capsule Wardrobe Plan: Go-To Holiday outfits you can rely on

As the holiday season arrives in full force, you may be planning or attending many occasions where you’ll want to dress with a little holiday flair. Here’s a guide to creating a small capsule of go-to holiday outfits that won’t let you down!

Three: Not more than three holiday colors.

For example, decided whether you’ll go with red, green, and gold — or red, green, and silver — depending on your seasonal color identity. If you want to exude a  “warm” feeling with your wardrobe, choose a warmer red and green, along with gold (rather than silver). If you prefer more intense color for winter, choose a bolder red, an emerald green, and silver.

If you are shopping online or in stores, you’ll be bombarded with ways to add holiday sparkle to the colors you’re already wearing. Unless you’re planning to invest in pieces you’ll wear every holiday season from now on, don’t buy a holiday top or dress in every color and design. Stick to two or three.

Two: Choose one or two design silhouettes that will be flattering to your body type.

Here are guides to creating an attractive and stylish wardrobe for your unique body type:

• If you’re more of a Pear: Pair longer jackets and blazers with pants or skirts that don’t have pockets. If you want to wear short jackets or cardigans, wear them with full skirts or pants. For dresses, try sweetheart necklines and empire waists.
• If you’re more of an Apple: Wear long tops that are straight, or open jackets to elongate the body. Pair a short jacket or cardigan with a full dress to provide extra belly coverage.
• If you’re more of a Rectangle: Dresses that pull in at the waist are great for this type. Wrap dresses, v-neck dresses, or empire waists will work, and for pants, choose straight but not skinny legs.
• If you’re more of an Inverted Triangle: Swing jackets, and v-neck tops and dresses will draw the eye away from your shoulders and create balance. Keep skirt lengths short to show off your legs!
• If you’re more of an Hourglass: Many silhouettes will work for the hourglass figure, but the tip to keep in mind is to look for clothes with a defined waist. Or add belts to help accent it.
• If you have a fuller figure, create the same silhouette, but let the fabric skim the body and avoid cinching the belts tight. Let them sit somewhat loosely on the waist. For any body type, if you’re full-figured, you’ll want to go for a gentler fit. It’s a mistake to wear the smallest size you can fit into – unless you want to draw attention to any figure flaws that a “too tight” outfit will actually make more obvious!

One: With your accessories, choose one statement piece that will work with several holiday outfits.

A scarf, a necklace, or ring that will really stand out can turn a holiday outfit into a work of art. Again, unless you are choosing earrings, bracelets, or other jewelry that you plan to wear every year, resist the temptation to buy all the cute pieces of jewelry you see! A few good pieces and one statement piece you love will be more than enough.

Creating a Larger Holiday Capsule Wardrobe

If you have a larger budget and this season is your favorite, you may want to create a larger capsule so that you can wear a holiday outfit every day.

It’s possible to create a month of outfits with less than ten pieces if you’re willing to wear the outfits twice. Include neutrals you already have as pants and skirts, and buy a few tops — and maybe one dress that can be worn as a top in the holiday colors you’ve chosen.

One final note: Try to resist obsessing about what to wear to the holiday parties! Keep these guidelines in mind and you’ll have no reason to worry. Don’t let the mistake you bought last year fuel your anxiety this year!

Let yourself enjoy the season! The truth is that by the time the New Year rings in, most people will have forgotten what you wore. As long as you feel good about what you’re wearing, that feeling is what people will take with them as they leave your presence!

Have a wonderful holiday season!

Jeanine Byers Hoag is a certified color analyst and the author of The Capsule Wardrobe Book: Signature Style Essentials for Plus-Size Fashionistas. She also has created a free seasonal color analysis quiz which you can find at her blog, http://www.seasonalcoloranalysis.net.