Questions about what to wear to holiday parties have come up quite a bit in these past few weeks so I decided to share the Ginger-Bred Pyramid of Dress Codes for a second time.  Click here for the details on each category.

THE GINGER-BRED PYRAMID™

• Regardless of what you are told the dress code is, ask yourself this: “What is the message I want to send with my outfit?”   Is it ‘party animal’ or ‘classy lady’?  Your choice. Cocktail Attire (or any category) can be interpreted in different ways.  You might wear something revealing or provocative for a friends party, but that would not be the best choice for a work party.
• For men who abhor the sport jacket: you are no longer in high school.  Wearing a sport jacket and taking the time to be sure it fits properly sends a clear message about who you are. It shows you care about yourself,  you respect the people you are with, and you respect the seriousness of the event.
• Holiday gear need not be red and green. It need not have you sparkling head to toe. It need not show every ‘asset’.  Remember, less is more.

Here are a few outfits from last year’s events:

You can still look festive – and even sexy – with luxurious fabrics such as silk, cashmere, satin, and velvet.  It is elegant without going overboard or showing too much skin.

What about parties at home? Sure, you need to be comfortable if you are the hostess, but dressing up shows respect for the occasion and each other. It also makes for better family pictures!
Dressing up at home for the holidays started with Ginger, and the tradition lives on.   I like to think that Peter and I are in some ways contributing to teaching dress code to the little ones!

Hope this was helpful!  Happy holidays!