Holiday Hybrid

Our new fav look for the holiday party this year is a departure from simple, cloying A-line dresses. It's boring. Don't you want to be the coolest girl in the room?

We're loving separates that are a hybrid of different styles like tuxedo/men's wear and street, choose items that mix lace patterns, frills and piping. There is something that feels exquisite about a blouse that highlights divergent mediums. Can you wear an item that has a medley of lace, sequins, velvet, mesh and leather? If all of the components are basic black, we think it works. ( Below some looks we covet from Eloquii and Torrid)

Look 1: Eloquii Split neck lace top, $80.00 and Pleated Contrast Hem Faux Leather Skirt$ 110.90

Look 2: Black lace blazer $50.00, Velvet Choker neck top $30, Black deluxe skinny pant, $45.00 and Mesh Scalloped Lace Up Mini Wedges (Wide Width) $40.00 from Torrid.

Look 3: Black & Gold Foil Textured Dot Chiffon Bell Sleeve Top $35.00 and Black Foxy Cami $15.00 from Torrid.

Look 4: Eloquii Faux Leather Skirt with Lace Hem, $100.00

Re-create the perfect holiday party look: We've found all the pieces to ace this outfit.

Eloquii, Sequin Pearl Embellished Blazer $199.90, Eloquii Allover Lace Bodysuit $54.90, Aldo Choker, $12.00 , Roy Textured Pull On Legging, Addition Elle, $115.00

All Over Lace Heels (Wide Width) Torrid $40.00

GET CREATIVE: Jay's look, cost $35

Jay likes to sew. In college she could never find cool clothes in her size, and she learned some clever tricks along the way. Let's face it, we all have, right ladies? She created this mixed medium blouse from an old peplum dress in her closet. She added lace sleeves from a blouse she found in a thrift shop, mesh to the cleavage to make it a tad more demure and layers of sequin material to create a floaty layered peplum. She bought the sequin material and mesh at Fabricland in Scarborough. The leather vest, was an old jacket she had kicking around since 2002. She cut off the sleeves, restitched the seams and voila. The blouse is something similar to what she saw in the window of a "skinny girl" store and she wanted a similar look that flattered her body shape.

Here's her two inspiration looks:

It took her a week to sew the components together, but the shirt and vest cost her a mere $35. Jay's blouse can be worn with a skirt ( as shown or with jeans or tights)

( Below) Jay's look without the vest.