5 Simple Holiday Party Outfits

The holidays are quickly approaching and that means PARTIES! I personally don’t have a ton of parties to go to (I’d rather have a snuggly night in with close friends and family haha) but soo many of you have asked for holiday outfit ideas, so I thought I’d get a little creative this season and come up with a few for you using pieces in my closet I already own.

Outfit #1

This first look is more a business casual outfit that I can see myself wearing to a more corporate company party. If you’ve got any of these closet staples in your wardrobe, you can pull together this look! I’m wearing a simple black shift dress and an oversized blazer on top. Since its winter, I’ve paired it with some sheer tights and heeled boots to complete the look. I accessorized with minimal gold jewelry to add some sparkle to the whole outfit.

Blazer: Vetta Capsule
Dress: old from NIQUE
Boots: Dear Frances

Jewelry: Mejuri

Outfit #2:

This is probably my most festive outfit since I’m sporting a very bold wine red blouse from OhSevenDays. This outfit features a multi-way wrap blouse that I’ve tucked into a pair of black trousers, completed with the same pair of heeled boots. The blouse is clearly the star of this outfit simply because it’s such a bold colour. But what draws me to it are the beautiful, billowy sleeves! (P.S. I have a discount code for OhSevenDays if you’re interested - O7DWINTER19)

This is fairly similar to what I’d wear on a daily basis, a shirt tucked into high-waisted bottoms, but for the holidays I like that it’s “fancied up” a touch! For accessories, I’m wearing the same minimal gold chain necklace to emphasize the nice neckline of the wrap top.

Blouse: OhSevenDays (O7DWINTER19 for 10% off)
Trousers: Vetta Capsule
Boots: Dear Frances

Outfit #3:

Playing with the "faux jumpsuit” idea in this outfit. I think you can never go wrong with an all-black look for any occasion. It’s simple, chic and comfortable to wear and I’m all about hassle-free outfits. I made a faux jumpsuit by tucking in a black ribbed turtleneck into a pair of trousers. For a warmer climate, I added a pop of colour by pairing this look with my olive mules. But if you’re in the cold tundra like me, then a pair of boots is probably your best bet for this outfit!

Turtleneck: old
Trousers: Vetta Capsule

Mules: Fortress of Inca
Boots: Dear Frances

Outfit #4:

I’m playing with the little sweater tuck trick I’ve been seeing on the internet lately — thanks to Jess With Less for this tip! I cropped this knit over a black pleated dress and finished the look off with some tights to keep warm and yes, the same boots. I went a little more dressy with the accessories and decided to pair this outfit with pearl hoop earrings from Mejuri. I’m not usually into dresses unless it’s for a wedding or fancy occasion, but I like that this outfit still has a bit of me peeking through in the neutral colour palette.

Sweater + dress: old
Boots: Dear Frances
Earrings: Mejuri

Outfit #5:

Last but not least, I have a classic 90s-inspired outfit for ya! This one involves a simple summer slip dress layered on top of a fitted turtleneck. It really does the trick for styling a summer staple in the winter while staying warm! If you have a slip with a more festive colour, that’d be perfect for the holidays. I only have this in my wardrobe, so I decided to use what I have! I completed the look with some heeled boots again because it’s cold haha!

Turtleneck + Dress: old
Boots: Dear Frances

Rings: Mejuri

Alright, those are all outfits I have for you! I hope these wintery holiday outfits give you a bit of inspiration this season to experiment with pieces currently in your wardrobe. Let me know if you decide to recreate any of these looks!

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This post is not sponsored but contains some gifted items and affiliate links. If you decide to shop through the links above, I make a small commission that helps support this blog and my Instagram. I only share products and brands I love and support. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting Candice Tay!

Everlane Re:Down Sleeping Bag Puffer

a review

The signs are here — snow covered trees, frozen fingers, and seeing cold puffs of air as I breathe out. Winter is here, and in my opinion it came way too early this year. I barely even had time to prepare for hibernation! Does anyone else feel the same way (unless you live in a sunny place, then if so, just know how jealous I am of your weather)?

Although fall was cut short, the plus side is that I get to start cozying up in all of my winter gear. Everlane’s Re:Down puffer came just in time and I’ve had some solid time to test out this coat. If you’re in the market for a sturdy winter coat this year, read on for my thoughts and to see how I’ve styled it!

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Partnership Disclosure: This blog post was produced in partnership with Everlane and contains some gifted items. As always, all opinions are my own.

The Run Down

The Everlane Re:Down Sleeping Bag Puffer is the kind of coat you want to live in during the winter. It’s super warm, lightweight and nearly covers you from head to toe. It’s quite accurately named after a sleeping bag and I honestly don’t mind that sleeping bags are “in” right now. I mean, who doesn’t want to wake up and feel like they’re going straight back to bed while wearing this coat?

You may be wondering, “what is this Re:Down business”? Everlane’s Re:Down® fill is made from recycled down comforters and pillows — I think that’s pretty darn awesome. Down-filled comforters and pillows are collected from bins across Europe and then sorted for quality and cleaned in hot water to sterilize it at 275°F. Lab specialists inspect the down to ensure that it is high quality and that it meets IDFL standards.

The Material

Outer Shell: 100% Recycled Polyester, Fill: 100% Recycled Down and Feathers

The material of the coat very lightweight and airy, especially for its length. It has a bit of sheen to the finish but it's not too shiny. What’s great about the material is that it’s also water-resistant which is an important factor to consider in a winter coat. I’ve worn it in light snowy weather and also in temperatures just above freezing when the snow starts to get a bit slushy, and the water just slides right off. The shell fabric is also bluesign-approved, which means that the whole manufacturing process of the material is carefully and sustainably produced to meet this third party standard. Read more about it here.

Since it is a down-filled coat, it’s great for the Toronto winter and is recommended for 10 to 30°F or -1 to -12°C temperatures. When it gets to be like -30°C here I’ll be layering up a bit more for extra warmth.

The Fit & Details (The juicy part)

Sizes offered: XXS - XL
Colours: Black, Ochre, Bone

My size and colour: XS in Black

Bag: Everlane Form Bag
Jeans: Everlane 90s Cheeky Straight Jean
Boots: Dear Frances Town Boots

Overall, this coat has an oversized fit without being too overwhelming. It is the perfect oversized fit with just enough room to fit layers or chunky knits underneath without your armpits feeling cramped. Although it is an oversized fit, there isn’t too much excess material which makes it uncomfortable to wear purses on top. I’ve styled it here with my form bag, a relatively large purse, and it still wears nicely as a crossbody. I prefer winter coats to be longer because it’s so much warmer when the bottom half of my body is covered as well. The length of this particular coat hits me just below the knee giving me tons of coverage to brace the cold winds. I’m wearing the coat in a size XS and for reference I’m 5’5” (I typically wear size XS or S in Everlane pieces).

You all know how important a good hood is on a winter jacket. This one does not disappoint! It’s very well insulated and even has a drawstring at the back to tighten the hood if necessary to keep out strong winds. A sturdy, long zipper seals the coat from top to bottom and is concealed by a flap with hidden button-snap closures. The zipper also goes high enough to cover the neck and part of my face. This is an excellent feature on the coat and offers great protection when it’s very windy. Since this is a relatively long coat, the zipper can also zip upwards from the bottom allowing me to move and walk around freely.

We can’t forget about the pockets! I love simple details like good pockets and windproof sleeve cuffs. The pockets are nice and deep and also have a button-snap closure to prevent small items from falling out.

The Final Verdict

Considering long puffer coats like this usually run from $350 - $1000 CAD plus, this coat is quite reasonably priced. I particularly love the sustainability highlights of this coat from the recycled down to the bluesign-approved outer shell. I think Everlane has made great strides towards providing recycled and eco-conscious products at a more affordable price. I will be testing it out more this winter during Toronto’s deep freeze days, but overall I’m really impressed with the quality, warmth, and style of this coat.

Hop on over to my stories to see more on this puffer jacket!

P.S. Not into down-filled coats? Everlane also has a ReNew collection where all the products are made with 100% Recycled Polyester. I also have a ReNew Long Puffer that I got last year — it’s not as warm as the Re:Down puffer, but if you’re not in a climate as cold as Toronto, it’d be a great alternative for you. Check out my stories from last year to learn more about the ReNew puffer!

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Thank you to Everlane for sponsoring this post! The Re:Down Sleeping Bag Puffer was gifted to me to review and this post does contain some affiliate links. If you decide to shop through the links above, I may make a small commission that helps support this blog and my Instagram. As always, I only share products and brands I love and support. Thank you for supporting Candice Tay!