7 Dinner Appropriate Holiday Outfits When Visiting Your In-Laws This Christmas
Eating dinner as a family should always be special and even more so as we celebrate the upcoming holiday. Whether spending Christmas with close or extended relatives, ‘tis the season to enjoy quality time with the ones we love while also pulling out the festive winter looks. As the holiday season is in full swing this year, for those who will be spending time with a significant other and their family, it can be stressful putting together the picture-perfect outfit that gives off a great impression while staying true to your personal style.
Here to help, we’re setting the tone for a stylishly modest yet chic dress code consisting of neutrals, knits and bold colors when dining with your in-laws. With all that in mind, staying warm, comfortable and cozy are also must during this cold weather season. Dealing with family pressure can be difficult enough so ease your nerves by scrolling to find a range of top-tier dinner-ready looks you’ll want to wear even after the holidays are over.
1.Sweater Dress but Make it Fashion
If there’s one piece you can count on when deciding what to wear this Christmas, a knit dress is always a quick solution to your wardrobe woes. If you don’t already own one of these winter essentials, I suggest looking out for on-trend colors, textures, and design features. I love this deep green cable knit paired with an oversized buckled belt for a snatched waist complete with contrasting boots for a high fashion outfit. Perfect for chilly holiday weather, this look is super comfortable and easy to put together.
2.Pretty in Red
For the stylishly conservative woman, it's all about showing your best assets in the most flattering way possible. This red body-con knit cut-out dress is perfect for a semi-formal yet casual Christmas dinner. Pair with high-heeled sandals or a sleek black boot to complete this modern holiday look.
3.Fringed Knit
This crochet midi skirt with an exaggerated fringed hem and brown boot is giving a casual yet iconic holiday look. The soft form-fitting material of both the ribbed knit turtleneck and textured knit skirt is key to this chic yet comfortable look. Making a major statement, this is a fashion-forward combination with a creative take on winter’s best styles.
4.Sassy but Classy
For those of us attending cocktail Christmas parties this year, opt for a long-sleeve printed maxi dress for a classy yet dramatic effect. The high side slit along with the one-shoulder detail is a sexy approach to this overall conservative style. Worn with minimal earrings and a matching necklace allows this eye-catching ensemble to speak for itself.
5.Casual Flex
Loving a denim on denim moment 365 days a year, this is the perfect casual combination for a festive evening with your in-laws. If opting for a cropped sweater this Christmas, pair it with high-rise medium wash denim along with a printed faux leopard bootie for a bold pop. Add a long-line jean jacket to stay warm and stylish all night long.
6.The Co-ord Knit
The latest knit trend, co-ords are one of two or more pieces of clothing that are made in matching colors or styles so that they can be worn together. When wearing oversized items, pair a statement belt to show off major curves. For this light brown two-piece set, the contrasting dark textured boot is a chic choice for this standout holiday outfit.
7.Boots with the Fur
If there is a dress that I can wear around the house one day and transition with the swap of a knee-high boot for a cute dinner the next, I’m sold. Thanks to last year's rise in the popularity of loungewear, the cozy trend has continued to sweep the fashion industry by storm leaving no one unaffected. Keeping it cute, this off-white faux fur dress paired with the ultimate brown boot is the perfect holiday look both your man and his family will love.
Featured image courtesy of @caxshe/Instagram
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Sheila Rashid's Androgynous Approach To Unisex Clothing Is A Lesson In Embracing Individuality
The ItGirl 100 List is a celebration of 100 Black women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table.
For Sheila Rashid, it all started with some free-hand drawings and a few strokes of paint.
The Chicago-based clothing designer and creative director of Sheila Rashid Brand recalls using her spare time in high school to hand paint designs on t-shirts and distressed hoodies, distributing them to classmates as walking billboards for her art.
Rashid sought to pursue fashion design at Columbia College in Chicago but eventually took the self-taught route to build upon her knack for crafting one-of-a-kind, androgynous pieces.
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Thanks to the mentorship of local designers taking her under their wings, Rashid was able to gain valuable experience in putting together collections and creating patterns; equipping her with them with the necessary skills to pursue her own collections.
After two years of living in New York, Rashid returned home to the Chi and uncovered the unique flair she could offer the city. “I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world,” she tells xoNecole. “That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
For the Midwest native, inspiration comes from her time around creative peers and the city’s notorious winters — known to be a main character in many Chicagoans stories. “It's a different perspective and mindset when I'm making stuff because of the weather here,” she explains. “When we get summer, it’s ‘Summertime Chi’ — it's amazing. It's beautiful. Still, I find myself always making clothes that cater to the winter.”
"I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world. That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
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Many designers have a signature aesthetic or theme in their creations. In Rashid’s design story, dancing between the lines of femininity and masculinity is how she’s been able to distinguish herself within the industry. Her androgynous clothing has garnered the eye of celebrities like Zendaya, Chance the Rapper, WNBA star Sydney Colson, and more — showing her range and approach to designs with inclusivity in mind.
“I think I do reflect my own style,” she says. “When I do make pieces, I'm very tomboyish, androgynous. My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes.” From denim to overalls, and color-drenched outerwear, Rashid has mastered the structure of statement pieces that tell a story.
“Each collection, I never know what's going to be the thing I'm going to focus on. I try to reflect my own style and have fun with the storytelling,” she shares. “I look at it more like it's my art in this small way of expressing myself, so it's not that calculated.”
"My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes."
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Still, if you were able to add up all the moments within Rashid’s 20-year career in design, one theme that has multiplied her into becoming an “ItGirl” is her confidence to take up space within the fashion industry as a queer, Black woman. “Being an ItGirl is about being yourself, loving what you do, finding your niche, and mastering that,” she says.
No matter where you are on your ItGirl journey, Rashid says to always remain persistent and never hesitate to share your art with the world. “Don’t give up. Even if it's something small, finish it and don't be afraid to put it out,” she says, “It's about tackling your own fear of feeling like you have to please everybody, but just please yourself, and that's good enough.”
To learn more about the ItGirl 100 List, view the full list here.
Featured image Courtesy