5 ways to nail festive fashion as you wrap up 2023: How to look trendy and chic this holiday season

Take notes from Blackpink’s Jennie, Game of Thrones actress Maisie Williams and singer Dua Lipa for your next festive party look

Whether your social calendar is booked out or you’re choosing to prioritise quiet nights in, the month of December denotes festive dressing.

However, if traditionally merry colours and sparkles can feel too predictable, we look to more modern ways of incorporating these elements into yours, as well as your pets holiday looks. From recent celebrity red carpet looks and social media posts to brands who are driving trends, here are five ways to up the ante for Christmas, New Years and more while looking fresh.

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1. Sweet motifs by Simone Rocha and Sandy Liang

Delicate motifs like hearts, bows, ribbons can evoke the charm of a cosy Christmas—and thanks to the coquette and blokette (sporty meets feminine) styles going viral—these dainty designs have been trending all year round. Designers such as Simone Rocha and Sandy Liang have also leaned heavily into this delicately feminine aesthetics.

Rocha dressed Game of Thrones actress Maisie Williams in a pristine chiffon look with crystals and bows galore for the British Fashion Awards earlier this month, while Liang has added these elements even in the brand’s holiday pet collection so your furry friends can look even cuter than usual.

2. Fur coats as seen at Celine’s spring-summer 2024 show

Fur coats are a winter staple thanks to their cosy feel and luxurious look, and fashion brands such as Celine were seen incorporating this plush fabric into their spring-summer 2024 collection, as seen at Paris Fashion Week in October.

Singer Dua Lipa has also embraced the trend in a recent outing in New York in November: she was spotted in a floor-length black fur coat by Entire Studios with a sheer geometric dress underneath it. Meanwhile, influencer Lara Bußmann was seen pairing a vintage fur jacket with jeans and a cap for a laidback look.

Opt for a vintage or faux option if you want to look stylish yet still consider sustainability in your fashion choices.

3. Merry red on Gucci runways, galas and beyond

Deep and rich shades of red—popularised by runways such as Gucci’s spring-summer 2024 show and the corpcore trend—are out in full force for the holiday season.

Add a pop of scarlet through accessories such as handbags, boots and even hair ribbons—as seen on Danish influencer Emma Moldt (from her Instagram post on November 30). Or go for an elegant all-red Loewe ensemble like what Korean American actress Greta Lee wore to the Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles at the beginning of December.

4. Sparkle city on Paco Rabanne runway

Sparkling ensembles have been having a moment on runways—especially in Spanish designer Paco Rabanne’s autumn-winter 2023 collection that was full of his signature metallic motifs. And while gold and silver shades remain forever popular, there’s a new hue in play this season: bronze.

British TV presenter and model Alexa Chung and Hunger Games: The Ballads of Songbirds and Snakes (2023) actress Hunter Schafer put their best and bronziest feet forward at various red carpets recently: Chung wore an understated 16Arlington dress with a pannier-esque silhouette, while Schafer wore a Alexander McQueen number with cut-outs and fringe galore.

5. Winter white by Lihi Hod, as seen on Blackpink’s Jennie

While crisp white is a classic look all year round, it especially evokes snowy vacation vibes when worn in winter.

Jennie from Blackpink demonstrated this perfectly when she attended a state banquet at Buckingham Palace last month in a white off-the-shoulder gown by designer Lihi Hod. Meanwhile, in a recent Instagram photo, model Rosie Huntington-Whitely went for contrast, pairing a structured white coat with a black turtleneck, trousers and sunglasses for a cool yet classic look.

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Topics

Jennie Blackpink Alexa Chung Maisie Williams Hunter Schafer Gucci Sandy Liang Simone Rocha Dua Lipa Buckingham Palace

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