a holiday fit with duality

because you won't wear velvet in january

Dec 18, 2024

welcome back to ‘mini dives’. if you’re new here, these are not quite deep dives, but mini dives into a singular focus whether that be one artist or an entire genre, one book or articles covering a singular topic, one brand or an overarching product category….you get the “mini dives” idea.

social: @stratabites; email: stratabites@substack.com

things i’m listening to (likely while shopping the carts below): songs that topped the charts on this day,however many years ago…

december 18, 1964 — come see about me by the surpremes
december 18, 1968 — i heard it through the grapevine by marvin gaye
december 18, 1995 — one sweet day by mariah carey and boyz II men
december 18, 2006 — irreplaceable by beyoncé
december 18, 2008 — live your life by t.i. feat. rihanna

things in my cart: a holiday fit with duality

i realized a few years ago how small the window was to wear anything velvet and since then [almost, to not sound hyperbolic] completely cut it out of my wardrobe. so, here are things i’d wear for the holidays that you might actually wear again past jan 1st:

we’re starting with a mostly sensible shoe from reformation because you won’t want to be wearing massive heels all night i promise.
if you feel like you really need some festive color or bows, go for donni’s silk hair bows. low commit (to your fit and your wallet).
“wearable past the holidays” doesn’t mean no color. this rodarte silk-satin midi dress is absolutely multi-use (and 50% off!).
buci’s heiress dress in silver goes from long to short (aka it’s speaking to all my fellow lizzie mcgquire movie fans). i love this color for the holidays.
there’s nothing better than an LBD (little black dress). my current hyperfixation one is the zenni satin dress from reformation.
if you’re going for the other LBD (long black dress), the vivianne dress from sézane is a nice, simple option. definitely highlighy rewearable.
i don’t think i’ve stopped thinking about ciao lucia’s pink serena dress since it came out and now it’s more than 50% off.
50% off dresses that are too good to be true seems to be a trend because it also applies to this beaded sara cristina mini dress.
clocking in at 25% off: pristine’s beige tristessa minidress with bias-cut satin and hand-dyed lace trim (!).
i’ve never seen a miaou thais dress not be flattering on someone. this red polka dot one? fun!
i saw someone wearing this rotate birger christensen dress recently and immediately ran through the appropriate events i could wear it to.
re-wearable does not have to mean subtle either! cara cara’s karlie trench is perfect to throw on over whatever dress/combo/ you land on.
i live for an off-the-shoulder moment. especially this nicholas the label dark plum mini.
a pair of taffeta pants from donni…aka the only pants that made the list. sensibly seasonal (aka, not too seasonal).
one more pair of shoes, because i love the flower hardware on these lisa says gah slingbacks.