You can’t complete the holiday season without great holiday parties with friends and family. And what would a great party be without a great dress on you? Everyone knows that your must-have for any holiday party is — besides your glistening smile — the perfect dress. To save you some time from dress shopping when you should be gift shopping (for someone else, not yourself), I’ve gathered the hottest holiday party dresses from your favorite stores that you need to be wearing this holiday season.

Velvet and sequins are must-haves for the holidays, hence, they’re perfect for those New Year parties you’ve been invited to. Plus, velvet is totally in style right now, so that velvet dress you decide to splurge on will do you some good for the rest of the season.

From left to right: Ruched Tank Dress, Sequin Dress, Mesh Bodycon Dress , Metallic Lace Peplum dress

When looking for a great outfit piece, or holiday dress in this case, for a great price, Forever21 is always the go-to store. The high neck sheath dress (second from right) is a great dress for the workplace holiday event. Gold is a hot fall trend and is perfect for the holidays if you want to shine in something other than sequins. The metallic velveteen dress above (middle) combines two of fall’s hot trends — gold and velvet — to create a fun dress made to dance in.

From left to right: Accessory/Shoe #1, Accessory/Shoe #2, Accessory/Shoe #3

What’s a great outfit without accessories and heels to complete the look? Charlotte Russe has a great selection of well-priced accessories and shoes worth taking a look at. Below are some ideas for what accessory/shoe pair above goes great with your holiday dress.:

1. For a dress with minimal sparkle and more texture (think metallics, velvet, or dresses with embellishments), wear a great bootie to add some personality to your outfit. The velvet bootie pictured above is a great find at Charlotte Russe to add personality to any outfit, whether it’s paired with a party dress or jeans. The glitter bar earrings and the rhinestone bracelet in a muted color add sparkle to your outfit without taking away from your dress.  
2. If you’re opting for a more low-key dress that doesn’t have a lot of sparkle or shine, let your shoes and accessories do the talking. Have fun with your heels and choose a sparkly Mary-Jane for some sophistication and sparkle with your jewelry. Wear your favorite statement necklace like the one pictured above (Stone statement necklace) and a sparkly ring (above: sparkly rhinestone ring).
3. The last accessory/shoe look is perfect if you’re dressing in a sparkly/sequined/metallic dress. Your dress should be the star of the show while your shoes and accessories support it. Choose a suede pump like the one pictured above on the far right (found here at Charlotte Russe) and pair it with a simple bracelet and studs of your choice (pictured above).

Know of another store with a great selection of holiday-ready dresses? Share with me in the comments below!

xo, Leila