This Is Your Sign to Accept That Holiday Party Invite—4 Looks to Re-Create Now

While I do love a fun night out, I'm really not a party girl. Yes, I love to sing and dance in front of the DJ booth, mix and mingle with my friends, and take mirror selfies in the bathroom, but honestly, I go to parties for the fashion. I spend weeks researching my looks, and it basically takes me a whole day to get ready. Once I'm there, I can't help but observe everyone's outfits. And the holiday season is the best time of year for partywear. Admittedly, I'm accepting every holiday party invite just for the opportunity to play dress-up and make mental notes of the trends.

When I want to feel glamorous, Net-a-Porter is the first place I go. The online retailer's selection of luxe, trend-focused pieces is pretty unbeatable, and its party edit is thriving right now. Of course, I couldn't resist the urge to comb through the many pages of party attire and create four on-trend holiday looks for you. Before you decline an invite because you don't know what to wear, take a scroll through this holiday lookbook for some exciting outfits to re-create.

Maxi hemlines have made a huge comeback this season, dominating Pinterest boards and runway shows with no sign of going away. The elongated style of this dress embodies the elegance of a gown without being too formal. For your next holiday party, pair this cutout maxi with textured heels that peek out from under the dress when you walk and a saturated purse that can be seen even in the darkest of rooms. Tie it all together with silver statement jewelry, and congratulate yourself for making it onto the "best dressed" list.

Hands down, the easiest way to take a rather simple look to new heights is to color-block. It gives the impression that you spent hours methodically planning your outfit when, in reality, it took no time at all. The combination of blue and purple is unexpected but effective. For the ultimate holiday vibe, take a collared, satin shirtdress and your favorite strappy heels for a spin with silver accessories.

What's a holiday party without a little (or a lot) of sequins? This iconic texture makes the rounds every year, and I'm not complaining. Put a trendy spin on your sequined garments by playing with length and color. This sequined micro-mini is the star of the show and requires very little styling to make a big splash. Opt for classic styles like a turtleneck and heeled sandals to tone down this bold, monochromatic ensemble while maintaining that festive element.

Black can be mistakenly labeled as boring when it comes to holiday dressing, and I'm here to dispel that myth. An all-black look will forever be the sleek and classic outfit recipe that anybody can pull off. Take your everyday blazer and trouser pairing, for example, and style it with a bead-embellished top as an ode to the season. Pro tip: The key to making an all-black outfit holiday ready is to experiment with textures and lengths that add a touch of sparkle.

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9 of Azazie's Most Affordable, Bestselling Wedding Dresses

Founded in 2014 by Charles Zhong, the online retailer Azazie introduced custom tailoring (in sizes 0-30) to its affordable bridal space just one year later. Taking a sustainable approach to wedding-dress design, the gowns are made to order and usually decided upon after the "try at home" option is utilized. The program invites brides, bridesmaids, or anyone in the wedding party to select three different looks to be shipped to their homes anywhere in the US. The in-app "try it on" feature, meanwhile, allows shoppers to adjust the skin tone and body type of the model they're viewing on the product page, so they can better imagine how it will look on them.

It's technology like this that helped the bridal retailer gain momentum, according to chief marketing officer Ranu Coleman. "We follow Fashion Week and bridal trends very closely in order to stay ahead of the trends. We also study customer behavior on our website and app for key terms that are gaining momentum," she explains to POPSUGAR. "In addition, we survey our customers before launching new styles and everything we do is data and trend driven."

Coleman revealed that for 2023, research led the team to invest largely in 3D embellishments, florals, and interesting surface textures - all of which you'll see reflected in the current top-selling gowns. Coleman says that the company typically notices a surge in sales and traffic immediately following Christmas, since the holiday is such a popular time to get engaged.

While the wedding dresses are so appealing because they can be ordered from the couch - and most of them are well below $1,000 - the bridesmaid offerings are also desirable, with Serena Williams memorably sporting the Kaleigh silhouette in candy pink for friend Hayley Schinault's special day in 2019.

Ahead, discover Azazie's all-time bestselling wedding dress, plus its most popular gowns of the year.

Related:

12 Jovani Dresses That Prove Why the Brand Is Viral on TikTok

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Elizabeth Sulcer Has Styled Bella and Gigi—See Her Curated Holiday Beauty Picks

If there's anything that Elizabeth Sulcer is known for, it's her impeccable taste. The iconic stylist has dressed the likes of the Hadid sisters, Elsa Hosk, Stella Maxwell, and more throughout the years. As you might expect, her taste-making skills extend far beyond the realm of fashion. When it comes to beauty, she also, as one might expect, has her finger squarely on the pulse. 

That's why Violet Grey tapped her to share the beauty products she's planning on gifting in 2022. Each of these products is as effective as it is chic. Keep reading for Sulcer's curated picks for this holiday season. 

“Everything Augustinus Bader makes is exceptional–his products require no explanation at this point," Sulcer shared in a press release through Violet Grey. "Something everyone can benefit from during this dry time of year is The Rich Cream."

This candle is an ode to the fig tree, and it will make your living space smell like summer-soaked paradise. 

“This beautiful shimmering body oil leaves you glowing in the sun–perfect for any vacations your loved ones have coming in the new year," said Sulcer. 

“Dr. Dennis Gross brings the spa to you with this face mask," said Sulcer. "Personally, I love the way it lifts and firms my skin."

This buzzy sculpting bar is as chic-looking as it is effective. “I use this tool every day to sculpt and drain my face and give it some natural contour," said Sulcer. 

Sulcer shared that this iconic lipstick shade is an absolute must-have for everyone in the fashion set. 

This is one of those perfumes that just smells good on everyone. Airy and woodsy, it blends notes like violet, magnolia, and cedar for a truly tantalizing scent. 

This ultra-luxe body cream is truly self-care in a jar. 

For supremely hydrated and supple skin, Dr. Barbara Sturm's hyaluronic serum is tough to beat. 

With five wicks, a 190 hour burn time, and a svelte matte black vessel, Diptyque's coolest candle somehow got even cooler. 

Next, Laneige Is Known for Its Viral Lip Mask, But These 10 Products Are Sleeper Hits

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Simone Biles Wears a Red Silk Minidress For Holiday Shoot With Jonathan Owens

Simone Biles may not officially be a married woman just yet, but she and fiancé Jonathan Owens have already (effectively) sent out their 2022 holiday cards as a pair. Posting a series of photographs lensed by photographer Rachel Taylor, the gymnast captioned her Instagram carousel "HAPPY HOLIDAYS ❤️."

For the shoot, 25-year-old Biles slipped into a cherry-red silk minidress, accessorized with a chainlink necklace, a simple nose ring, and black strappy heels. Her look was finished with a red wide-brim hat, and she opted for shimmering white eyeshadow and her hair twisted into loose curls. Owens, meanwhile, sported his version of winter whites from head to toe, rocking fitted, ankle-length denim, Saint Laurent low-top sneakers, and a lightweight striped bomber over a classic tee. The duo posed in front of a clean backdrop, staging a "cocktails at home" theme with a green velvet couch and faux snow-covered trees acting as props. They held champagne flutes, walked arm-in-arm, and even practiced an adorable lift, which should come in handy during their upcoming wedding.

Though this is their first holiday photo shoot together, Taylor is the same photographer who recently captured the couple's official engagement photos, which saw them in matching ripped jeans and T-shirts. Here's hoping there's more outfit coordination to come, even after they tie the knot. After all, they already have their date night style on lock, and Biles is well-versed in creating custom apparel to cheer on Owens's football team.

Ahead, shop pieces inspired by Biles's festive look, then click through the seasonal photoshoot one more time.

Related:

Simone Biles Wears a Bra and Micro Miniskirt For a Date With Her Fiancé

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Kate Middleton Uses Her Jewelry to Honor Princess Diana in Boston

Kate Middleton and Prince William are spending a quick three days in the United States for a tour that is focusing on the environment and climate change. Touching down in Boston, Massachusetts on Wednesday, Nov. 30, Middleton is already using her wardrobe to pay tribute to her late mother-in-law, Princes Diana. In a deep aubergine Alexander McQueen suit and coordinated turtleneck underneath, Middleton tucked her hair behind her ears to show off a pair of the late royal's iconic two-tier sapphire and diamond earrings.

The earrings feature a double sapphire and diamond cluster; one hanging from the other with a single diamond suspended between each. Each cluster is made up of a cabochon sapphire center stone and diamonds around the outside (the top boasts eight diamonds, white the bottoms are surrounded by nine).

This is not the first time that Middleton has worn these stunning drops. Back in June of this year, she was seen wearing the same pair at the annual Trooping the Colour event that stood as part of a birthday celebration for the late Queen Elizabeth II.

While Diana herself wore the earrings on multiple public occasions, she owned two pairs that looked remarkably similar. It has been widely mis-reported that these earrings Middleton took to Boston are the very same that the late princess chose for memorable appearances such as a 1985 dinner at the White House, where she famously danced with John Travolta. Though they have comparable features, those double clusters feature larger sapphires; additional diamonds around the sides; and the jewels graze each other edge-to-edge, without diamonds separating them.

As for the rest of Middleton's Boston wardrobe, she has continually leaned into the fall season, sporting a green tartan Burberry dress, forest-green Alexander McQueen coat, blue vintage tweed Chanel Blazer, and more. Ahead, see all of Middleton's looks from the US tour so far.

Related:

Kate Middleton's First Tiara as the New Princess of Wales Pays Tribute to Princess Diana

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I Wore Rihanna's Favorite Perfume for a Week, and My Life Will Never Be the Same

For as long as I can remember, I've always been into woody fragrances. Like a true L.A. woman, I was committed to Le Labo's Santal 33 ($90) for years and have only veered ever so slightly to experiment with similarly spicy scents laced with notes of sandalwood, bergamot, vetiver, and other decidedly savory aromas. Fragrances categorized as sweet or gourmand—the fancy name given to perfumes that smell almost edible with notes of honey, caramel, vanilla, and the like—just never called to me. (A brief stint with one of Paris Hilton's body sprays back in middle school was the first and last time I gravitated toward something that made me smell like I was dipped in sugar.) Too unsophisticated, I scoffed from atop my Le Labo–scented high horse. But that all changed when I finally got my hands on a bottle of Rihanna's favorite perfume, Kilian's Love, Don't Be Shy ($265).

It wasn't until very recently that I started seriously considering leaning into sweet perfumes, but a years-long love affair with Frédéric Malle's Portrait of a Lady ($85) and a more recent rendezvous with Tom Ford's Bitter Peach ($240) got me thinking that maybe, just maybe, I'm more into warmer, more syrupy notes than I'd let myself believe. Then, a viral TikTok video reminded me that my queen Rihanna is widely known as one of the best-smelling humans in Hollywood and that her signature scent is the key to this reputation. The candied notes of orange blossom, vanilla, and marshmallow I would have normally turned up my nose at were suddenly so intriguing to me. It's not that I'm naïve enough to believe that a price tag is always an accurate indicator of quality, but at $265 for a single bottle, I had a hunch that this fragrance would be something special. Spoiler alert: It is.

At first spritz, I almost didn't know what to make of the smells swirling into my nostrils. Do I smell… Fruit Loops? S'mores? What the hell is going on here? For so long, I had been concocting an imaginary scent profile of saccharine notes akin to the smells that might waft out of a candy factory, and that wasn't too far off. This stuff smells like cotton candy mixed with earl grey tea and juicy citrus fruit, topped with the confidence of having all your bills set to autopay without worrying whether you've got enough money to cover them all. That's right—this fragrance smells rich in more ways than one. I don't know why I expected anything less, seeing as Rihanna is the human embodiment of wealth, health, and happiness, but it was almost uncanny how quickly those same vibes started to seep into my own reality. From day one, I couldn't keep my wrists away from my face to take in long whiffs, nor could I pass a mirror without pausing to stare and take in the badassery I suddenly felt. Walking my dog, one of very few interactions with the world outside my home lately, transformed into a welcome opportunity to leave a trail of sumptuous goodness for the world to enjoy. I wanted to wear only my finest sweatpants and even felt more inspired to put on a little makeup from time to time to match the glam vibe of my new aroma. The scent starts off strong, so the first time I sprayed myself, I was seriously intimidated, but within a half hour, it settles into the skin so beautifully and stays there all dang day. This fragrance is life changing, friends.

So in conclusion, I'm into sweet perfumes now. They're so fun and so extra and give a big middle finger to subtlety, which is an energy I can really get down with right now. There's still a time and a place for my woody faves in my scent wardrobe, but for the purposes of lifting my mood and raising my confidence with a single spritz, I definitely won't hesitate to reach for those warm, gourmand scents. If you want to be like me and Rihanna, I'd recommend Love, Don't Be Shy. If you're shopping for other options, keep scrolling for more sweet perfumes to try.

Key Notes: Neroli, orange blossom, rose, marshmallow. This new, limited-edition launch is a more intense version of Rihanna's favorite Kilian scent, calling in stronger notes of rose and orange blossom for a crisper take on the ultra-sweet classic.

Key Notes: Jasmine, saffron, cedarwood, ambergris. This is a great starter scent if you want to dip your toe into the sweet scent pond without sacrificing woody notes in the process. It's the perfect middle ground.

Key Notes: Mandarin oil, orange, jasmine accord, caramel. This indulgent scent is sweet without veering into the cloying territory. Plus, how pretty is that bottle?

Key Notes: Musk, vanilla, almond, star anise, bergamot, orange. Reviewers of this unisex scent liken it to the smell of a root beer float. Intriguing!

Key Notes: Cotton candy accord, raspberry jam, strawberry jam, candy apple, cream, hazelnut, vetiver, vanilla, praline. You may need to remind yourself that this one isn't edible. It's at once herbal, spicy, and sweet.

Key Notes: Caramel, musks, vanilla, benzoin. The name says it all. This one straight-up smells like candy.

Key Notes: Iris, patchouli, vanilla. This scent brings in powdery, floral elegance combined with earthy, musky, and sweet aromas for a full-bodied experience.

Key Notes: Tonka bean, caramel, hay, praline. If you could imagine a perfect balance of warmth, milkiness, and smoke, this would be it. It marries a complex blend of spicy scents together with vanilla for a true gourmand experience.

Key Notes: Coffee, white flowers, vanilla. This fragrance is warm, spicy, and intense. It's the kind of scent that enters the room before you do.

Key Notes: Tobacco leaf, spices, tobacco flower, vanilla, cocoa, dry fruit accord, wood sap. Spray this one in the morning, and it will remain on the skin well into nighttime. It's creamy, fruity, and woody all at once without being confusing.

Key Notes: Tuberose absolute, India Orpur, Szechuan peppercorn, suede accord. Soft and musky, this floral fragrance evokes a walk through a lush garden bursting with white flowers.

Key Notes: Salted caramel, pistachio, vanilla, sandalwood, almond. It smells like vacation—point-blank period.

Key Notes: Ginger, green tea, marshmallow. If you're worried Love, Don't Be Shy might be too sweet for your liking, here's a similar (but spicier) option to try.

Key Notes: Vanilla orchids, tonka absolute, amber woods, musk, amber, patchouli, brown sugar. This quintessential vanilla perfume is pure and sweet without being sickly.

Key Notes: Pear, orris, marshmallow. The name of this one might be slightly deceiving, in that it might lead you to expect an overly sugary scent. In reality, sparkling fruits jump out first, and the sweetness is really in the finish.

Key Notes: Grapefruit, Italian lemon, lime blossom, lychee, mango flower, freesia, sandalwood, tonka bean, amber. There's nothing better than a mix of sweet and citrus.

Key Notes: Mandarin, magnolia accord, neroli, frangipani flower accord, coconut essence, ylang-ylang, vanilla absolute, almond silk accord, sandalwood accord. A spritz of this sweet and floral fragrance will transport you to the Sicilian gardens that inspired its conception.

Key Notes: Orange, patchouli, Turkish rose. If Chanel No. 5 is too overpowering for your taste, this warm, floral mist is a great alternative. It's definitely sweet but takes on a more cologne-like identity on the skin.

Key Notes: Almond milk, coconut, cashmeran, vanilla. This one is almost bitter to start, but it soon gives way to a creamy, smooth, and sweet scent that melts so beautifully on the skin and wears close to the body. Next: You'll Always Get Compliments When You Wear This Type of Perfume in the Winter

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