I'm Still Going to Wear These 4 Kinda-Outrageous Holiday Party Outfits at Home

It took me until 2020, but I finally learned a valuable fashion lesson I'll continue to follow forever: just forget the rules and wear what you want. Up until this year, I admittedly overthought everything — top trends, designer items, wearing something 'too loud,' whether or not I was dressed 'appropriately' for the occasion, etc. But after months of saving my best clothes for special events, and having zero special events on my schedule due to the pandemic, my attitude changed. So, even if all of this season's holiday parties are virtual or teeny-tiny, I'm still going all out — and I encourage you to do the same.

After all, why not end the year with joyful, mood-boosting fashion, even if your big plans involve watching While You Were Sleeping for the 156th time? Whether it's a sequin top you pair with your go-to jeans, or a Nap Dress that feels like a full outfit (but is technically pajamas), the new motto is go for it, girl — even if the only people who see it are immediate family. (Well, them and all of Instagram and TikTok.)

From fancy-fancy to comfy-yet-impressive, here are four kinda-outrageous holiday party outfit ideas that are still worth breaking out this season.

Actually Loungewear

If I'm being honest, I'm totally that person who sometimes ends up wearing the same sweats for multiple days. But this holiday season, I'll be celebrating in a Hill House Home Nap Dress ($125) — which is definitely a cool and fun update without going overboard. Since it's chilly, I layered it over a long-sleeved Summersalt mock neck ($65) and pulled on some fuzzy Aerie socks ($10) before slipping into the ultimate comeback shoe: a mini pair of UGG boots ($140; nordstrom.com).

Something Classic

I ordered this vintage skirt off of Etsy years ago and break it out every time I'm feeling that classic, green and red combo. Since I love a good cardigan, I styled this & Other Stories option ($89) as a shirt (and — hack! — tucked it up and into my bra to avoid any extra bulkiness). A red Noonday Collection headband ($42) and Jennifer Fisher hoops ($375; net-a-porter.com) added that holiday feel, and since I complete 95% percent of my fall through spring outfits with white boots, these low AGL heels (shop similar: $495) were the perfect final touch.

Beyond Basics

If jeans are more your thing, I also have the perfect trick for making them feel festive: sequins. To spruce up my go-to vintage Lee pair, I threw on a basic Summersalt mock neck ($65) and layered a bright green, sequined For Love and Lemons top ($124) over it. The piece immediately transformed my basics, then I kept with the dressed-up theme by slipping into Stuart Weitzman slingbacks ($475; lanecrawford.com) and adding a small pair of Pandora double hoops ($75; pandora.net).

Go Big While Going Home

Remember what I said about not waiting for specific occasions to wear what you want? There will likely come a time this year where I'll end up on the couch in my poufiest dress. In my opinion, this ruffled Tanya Taylor design ($765) qualifies as holiday-neutral (I'd even wear it for Valentine's Day), so while it is an investment, that versatility makes it feel worth it. I chose to pair this statement piece with an equally-bold red pair of Bea Bongiasca Vine Wrapped Hoops ($1,600), then stuck with the metallic theme with some vintage cake-stand heels I found on eBay.

Photographs by Kat Slootsky, assisted by Ricky Jackson. Modeling and Styling by Samantha Sutton. Hair and Makeup by Yui Ishibashi. Production by Kelly Chiello.