Holiday Dressing

What to wear to holiday party? Rich colors and glam looks provide alternative to Little Black Dress

We’re not knocking the Little Black Dress, but the holidays are the perfect time to give that safe little number the night off. Reach for rich colors, lush fabrics and embrace the fun of taking glamorous chances.

Not sure how to start wardrobe planning for holiday happy hours and other season fetes? The style-setting retailers at CultureMap’s Holiday Pop Up Shop have more than a few ideas for lighting up the season.

French Cuff owner Kairy-tate Barkley is falling for a mix of lace and velvet and a design detail not to be missed.

“We are loving the dressy yet feminine fabrications of red lace, gold metallic-shimmer organza and burgundy crushed velvet and we can’t resist sequined tops, scalloped hems and anything with a dramatic bow on it.”

WildBloom Boutique is also swooning over deep, darker hues.

“We are loving shades of green in olive and hunter as well as reds in marsala and burgundy are so fun to accessorize for the evening,” WildBloom manager Thuy Pham said.

If your personal style leans more boho than froufrou, Ashley Srouji of Souk Chic says to embrace it. She finds style inspiration from the past, blended with looks from the modern runway.

“I'd have to say my favorite trend is the bohemian style. I have an Instagram account where I post pics I find from the 1930s to runway pics from today that embody this well traveled look and lifestyle,” Srouji said. “This look is timeless and this is the Souk Chic look.”

Versatility is key to keeping the holidays merry and bright and Kailey Tissue McCollum of Kissue suggests a casual trench coat for multiple occasions.

"One of our favorite holiday style trends right now is layering, especially in Houston. One of our favorite pieces to layer with at the moment is a casual, loose fitting trench coat,” she said. Tissue McCollum likes to throw it on top of a pair of skinny jeans and a favorite top, or wear it with a party dress.

From a casual trench to a cape for all occasions, Harriet Alexander, designer of Vaha Capes, likes a particular combination.

“Perhaps our obvious holiday style trend would be capes and clutches,” Alexander said.”We love the way a clutch can make an outfit, and you can never have too many. And, capes never go out of style.”

And who doesn’t love timeless holiday style?

The CultureMap Holiday Pop-up Shop presented by Lexus is open December 13, 11 am-4 pm, at Silver Street Studios. Admission is complimentary, so reserve your tickets early. And shop 'til you drop for boho, froufrou, velvet and lace top holiday styles.

Dressy, feminine fabrications of red lace are a holiday must.

holidays

FALL FÊTE

Texas luxury boutique collabs with Houston designer for new fashion brand

Photo courtesy of Saint Bernard

Saint Bernard teams up with Houston designer Lyndsey Zorich for Love Note.

River Oaks District boutique Saint Bernard is getting ready for fall with a new collection created with Houston style veteran Lyndsey Zorich. The fashion-forward retailer and the founder and designer of Mason's Daughter teamed up to launch Love Note by Lyndsey Zorich, a new Saint Bernard-owned brand.

Saint Bernard doesn't usually collaborate with local designers on its own brands, making this partnership with Zorich special. She was involved in everything from creative direction and textile development to fabrication and production. Shoppers can expect a feminine collection with a playful take on everyday dressing for women who want to look put together, but not too serious.

Love Note officially launches on Thursday, September 10 at Saint Bernard stores in Houston, Dallas, Southlake, San Antonio, and Austin, as well as online. Customers will have to be patient, because another unique aspect of this collaboration is that the entire collection won’t debut at once. Instead, the brand will roll out in a series of monthly drops, each having its own seasonal point of view.

Saint Bernard x Lyndsey Zorich Love Note by Lyndsey Zorich is available at Saint Bernard stores in Houston, Dallas, Southlake, San Antonio, and Austin, plus online.Photo courtesy of Saint Bernard

The Kick Off is the first drop in September. It is a game day-inspired collection with pieces designed for fall sports and weekend road trips. In October, The Lean In will debut with more feminine silhouettes, followed by Getting Comfortable, which focuses on the perfect layering pieces for Texas’s warm fall weather.

A longtime Saint Bernard shopper herself, Zorich's unique style and Texas perspective gave her a greater understanding of what Texas customers want.

“Getting dressed has always been one of my favorite forms of self-expression, and Love Note allowed me to take that idea from concept all the way through the finished product,” said Zorich. "Saint Bernard felt like the right partner, because I genuinely understand and love their customers. Love Note is meant to bring a little more playfulness to getting dressed, pieces that feel personal, special, and bring joy to everyday life.”

That individual connection is what Saint Bernard wanted in this project. According to Ashleigh Goyer, director of owned brands for Saint Bernard, the store wanted a new way for Saint Bernard to give customers something both recognizable and unexpected.

"She shares her perspective, her lifestyle, and her love of fashion, and she has an incredible ability to make getting dressed feel effortless and personal," said Goyer.

lyndsey zorich river oaks district houston shopping saint bernard houston