retail reconnaissance – cautiously festive edition

chanel-esque tweed jacket

While there is certainly no shortage of blinged-out pieces as we approach the holiday season, my inclination is to lean a bit toward the subtle side. Or at least subtle enough that you’ll still want to wear these come January.

If Chanel-esque jackets are in your style wheelhouse, this one from J.Crew is a tempting option. The tweed fabric has a bit of sparkle to it, and I like the collar. The navy looks nice with denim, black or grey, but there’s also a champagne color too. (Offered in Misses, Petites and Tall sizes.)

metallic pointed toe flat

These studded flats from Halogen approach sparkly while circumventing twee.

sparkly sweater

Also in the sparkly-not-twee neighborhood, this v-neck sweater from Two by Vince Camuto.

sequin sweater

I really like the kimono-style sleeves on this subtly sequined number from Melissa McCarthy Seven7 in Women’s sizes. (If black isn’t your thing, it’s also offered in a pretty raspberry color.) Sweaters like these are the kind of pieces you can throw on with black pants and a pair of sparkly earrings and be ready for those impromptu holiday get-togethers. You’re welcome. 😉

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12 Comments

  1. I saw the Halogen Olson flats months ago, but didn’t care for the patent leather options available at the time. Once these sharkskin flats showed up, I knew I had to have them. They are not only stylish, but comfortable and can adapt from casual to dressy. I love these shoes! And this is coming from someone who wouldn’t normally be drawn to anything with studs. Very Valentino-ish without the V price tag.

      1. I didn’t find them to be narrow; I usually wear a “medium”, or “B” width and they’re fine. I also have some foot “issues” that flare up when a shoe is too narrow, and haven’t had a problem with these. Thank you for asking.

  2. My industry used to have blow-out black tie events at holiday time. And I was often invited to another event in a similar industry, which meant I had to buy two formal getups every year.

    Things have changed since the recession. If there are holiday get togethers now, they tend to be right after work, and everyone just wears their work clothing.

    My holiday wardrobe is down to one sheer tunic with bronze sequins (not allover sequins, more of a random spaced pattern of sequins here and there), which I wear with my black work separates.

    I would also wear this for a more casual gathering in someone’s home (or my own!) by wearing it with ponte pants. I wore it to dinner with my sister the other night with a cashmere cardigan and a ponte skirt.

    So yes, I agree, having one or two items with just a little sparkle means you’re ready for anything. Except maybe black tie. But I like the new casual vibe.

  3. I like everything but the McCarthy Woman piece, which looks like a drop sheet to me. (I like Woman-sized clothes cut much closer to the body.) Wondering about the scratch factor in the J Crew blazer but really like its discreet sparkle. Love the Camuto sweater, which is forgiving but not too tenty. The shoes are fun!

    Like rb I have a sequin-sprinkled sheer tunic, and a black lace longsleeved tee; these get me though handily- it’s always such fun to wear a truly evening-y fabric.

  4. I bought a blingy top just the other day at my favorite thrift shop, which I consider a Two-Fer: cheap *and* glittery. My friend found it for me actually; I was looking at something else & she came over with this longish loose-fitting kind of meshy-but-not-quite knit top of glittery yarn with jet beads worked into it & said “hey, this was made for you!” [Don’t you love friends who can do this?] I tried it on & it was obvious that even worn with jeans, it really WAS made for me. It’s similiar to the McCarthy one above, maybe not quite that loose, & has the most wonderful drape to it. It’ll look great at the one Christmas thing I go to, but I’ll probably get more wear out of it with the very jeans I had on when I bought it. I have to admit I’m very much a magpie — oh, look, something shiny — but finding blingy clothing that doesn’t make you look like you belong in a reality TV show or standing on a street corner can be tricky.

  5. Crazy about the Halogen flats, but they don’t fit my long narrow feet. So envious of your shoe choices. Wish it was as easy to expand the width of my feet as it is to expand the width of my bottom!!