A Fashion Editor’s Guide to Dressing for the Holidays in NYC

New York is one of the most magical places to be during the holiday season. The city pulls out all of the stops when it comes to seasonal décor and special touches that make it one of the best times of the year to visit. Storefronts along Fifth Avenue are adorned with glittering lights and festive holiday windows. The iconic towering tree is unveiled at Rockefeller Center. An ice skating rink is installed in Central Park. Some of the chicest events of the year also arrive with celebratory cocktail events, dinners, and parties.

A calendar packed with festive events also means there are plenty of occasions to wear holiday-worthy attire. In New York, that translates to some key wardrobe essentials that work for everything from a low-key cocktail party to black-tie events. Ahead, see a fashion editor’s guide to dressing for the holidays.

One of the most versatile items you can add to your look to make it feel holiday-ready? Beautiful jewelry that strikes a balance of modern of elegant. Right now, we’re seeing the fashion set gravitate toward fresh takes on pearls, directional designs with sparkling diamonds, and sculptural earrings. The beauty of a great piece of jewelry is that you can wear it with something casual or dressy. Trust us—it instantly makes a look feel more festive.

Nothing feels more primed for the holidays than a showstopping dress worthy of an elegant evening and a black-tie dress code. Right now, we’re seeing high-shine dresses in silver and modern sequins everywhere from the runway to the best-dressed New York fashion set. With an impactful look like this, there is little else you need to add other than a subtle bag and pair of heels.

Twenty twenty four has been the year of the personality piece in the form of really good, really impactful accessories. The pillbox hat made a resurgence on the street style scene and is exactly the piece to incorporate into a directional holiday look. Gloves, too, are an outfit-making item—especially in a leather elbow-length version. And then there are bows, which are a holiday mainstay that returns season after season.

Conversation-starting heels are another key accessory to incorporate into your holiday attire. High-impact, high-design styles have the ability to transform even the simplest look and make it feel festive. Look for styles finished with cool hardware details, glittering rhinestones set along mesh, or even a pair that resembles a sparkling disco ball.

Sometimes all it takes to make a look feel ready for the holidays is opting for the right materials like sleek, sophisticated satin. A beautiful jacket, pair of cigarette pants, and kitten-heel pumps in satin immediately feel festive. This is a great direction to take because you can stick with silhouettes that already work for you and wear the items for years to come.