12 Dos and Don’ts of Holiday Style

Even if you’re heading to a casual holiday party—like the cast of ABC Family’s Switched at Birth, who were spotted at the network’s ice skating get-together—don’t forget to have fun with seasonal accessories, like Santa hats! We also love Constance Marie’s and Kate LeClerc’s red jeans—an easy, on-trend way to get into the holiday spirit.

Have some spare sparkle left over from tree decorating? Take a tip from designer Betsey Johnson and put it on.

Just because you can’t see your underwear in the mirror at home doesn’t mean it won’t show up in flash photos later on. When in doubt, err on the side of matte nude lingerie—or match your underlayer to your outerlayer. If all else fails, wear a slip or a camisole.

Going straight from work to a cocktail party? No need to presto-change-o in the ladies’ room. Check out Emily Blunt’s sophisticated tuxedo-inspired look—a crisp white shirt under a sleek black suit will take you seamlessly through to evening.

One of this year’s biggest trends in eveningwear is top-to-toe lace—and Melissa McCarthy scores major style points in this gorgeous three-quarter-sleeve number. Look for black lace dresses in a whole range of silhouettes—long-sleeve, sleeveless, high-waisted, drop-waisted, stretchy, short and long—there’s something to flatter nearly every figure this season.

Menswear-inspired tailoring is so in this year—but that’s no reason to take a classic tailcoat and give it butt-wings. Yes, we said butt-wings. Also, probably best to lay off those super-shiny red lizard-skin leggings altogether.

There are only a handful of occasions in a lifetime that call for glittering floor-length princess gowns—like this gorgeous Marchesa creation Jennifer Hudson wore to perform at Disney World’s Christmas Day Parade. Besides weddings, your prom, formals and the rare black-tie gala, the holidays are a good opportunity to dress to the nines.

Holiday photographs last forever—and what might seem cute and sexy when you’re getting dressed in the privacy of your own home might turn out to be a little too revealing in pictures later on. Make sure to double-check necklines and hems before leaving the house. To be extra safe, take a quick snapshot of yourself with a digital camera—sometimes a change of perspective is all you need.

This year, instead of putting pressure on yourself—and your wallet—to find the ideal holiday party dress, consider restyling clothes you already own. This winter is all about understated elegance—which means pairing simple day dresses with little tailored jackets for totally on-trend evening looks. Check out Kristin Cavallari’s chic minimalist outfit—if you wanted to, it’d be easy to dress this up with a beautiful statement necklace and a pair of sky-high booties or stilettos.

OK, Kat Dennings’ and Beth Behrs’ super-Christmas looks might be a little bit over-the-top, but if you can’t embrace extreme-theme-dressing during the holidays, then, well, when can you?