It's that time of the year, when your mind's mostly on gift shopping and joining in the festivities, while you also have to tend to your professional obligations. This means the occasional desk to dinner riddle that calls for versatile dressing you can rock both at the office and the after-hour holiday party. For those of us who have a long commute, going home to change before the party is out of question. And hauling a whole other outfit with us feels like yet another step that would complicate the morning routine. And you have to think about the logistics of changing in restrooms that are not always equipped for that purpose. That's when going for an outfit that can easily transition between a corporate setting and a party is key. A busy-mom-proof way to achieve this is to go for a simple base with just the right amount of pizzazz to not clash with the work dress code, yet snazzy enough for a night time outing.
I started with a pair of bright red slim barrel pants in a gilded Kente material. Red is the perfect color for those who feel more adventurous than going for the typical black party look. To balance the bright red hue, I opted for an oxblood pairing with a ribbed merino sweater, a wide belt, and pointed dress boots. These pieces in this distinctive contrast create the perfect base for layering.
Similar silver metallic pants | other pants | other pants | other pants | similar boots | other boots
For the office, I simply layered my sweater with an oxblood-colored blazer with gold buttons to coordinate with the gilted pattern of the pants. I finished the look with my burgundy leather handbag because it fits everything I need for a day at work, including my laptop. This outfit is simple yet packs a bold punch that is sure to make a bold impression without looking over the top.
To transition to the after-work feats, I just swapped the burgundy blazer with a jeweled-tone red fur jacket. Fur is always going to bring a touch of glam, and with this outfit, the red fur makes for an elegant tonal look. I also swapped the larger bag with a smaller metallic gold chain bag (similar gold bag, other similar gold bag) to dial up the occasionwear vibe. I kept the boots, but one option would be to go for party pumps such as satin heels or velvet heels.
Similar fur jacket | other similar fur jacket
As you can see, going from desk to party is as simple as wearing a good, classic base and layering it intentionally to match the mood. Whether it's a blazer or cardigan for work, or a fur jacket or sequin blazer for after-work, starting your look with versatile pieces will set you up for maximum style on the go.
