Dressing for the holidays might be one of my favorite times of the year. Everyone is suddenly open to sparkle, outfits get a bit fancier and events give us all a reason to wear some items that maybe don't get as much use as they should.

One piece of advice I give to all of my clients is to stop shopping for special events. This may come as a shock to you, but I almost never shop for an event that I have coming up. Why, you ask? Because I already own something that is perfect for nearly anything that pops up on my calendar. You might be thinking, but Ashley, I don't have a wardrobe like that! While this may be true, but it's shopping for specific events that is actually hurting your wardrobe. Think about it like this... you receive an invite and you immediately think, 'Ok, I need something new.' You purchase something that is SO perfect for that event... you feel amazing... the event is over and now that garment goes to die in the back of your closet. Does this sound familiar?

Instead, when purchasing something for an event, really think to yourself how the garment will fit into your lifestyle and existing wardrobe. Is there a way you can satisfy the dress code of your event AND pick up a piece that you'll wear again later? I hear too often, especially around this time, that women have designated items in their closet that only come out around the holidays. Phrases like: 'Oh that's my Christmas sweater' or 'I only wear that on NYE'. When purchasing something for an event, if you can envision how you might repurpose the garment maybe for work under a blazer, for your next upcoming vacation or even for a dinner out... you'll not only be satisfying your want/need for something for that event, but also be building on your wardrobe. I'm always considering how to build on my wardrobe, not just buy individual pieces.

This week I've designed looks for all of the holiday events on your calendar this season! Shop the catalog here.