While holiday-themed parties can be counted on for heating things up this season (and no, we’re not talking about that bottle of mulled wine tucked in your gift bag), the cool weather can put a dent in your fashion quotient. How stylish can you be when forced to keep warm in weatherproof boots and chunky cable-knit sweaters? And when your BlackBerry is packed with as many as two or three texted invitations per night, how does one create that perfect holiday outfit on the go?
With little time between the annual office party and a night on the town, our paper party guests — let’s call them Natalie and Paul — dress up and down a versatile outfit that’ll take you from work to party in a snap.

 

 

 

WHERE: Office party
WHEN: 7:30pm
Natalie and Paul use the winter fundamental of layering to their advantage. Natalie impresses the boss in a casual What Goes Around Comes Around tuxedo blouse ($108, www.bluefly.com) topped with a knit dress and jeans. Paul meanwhile is chic in a Club Monaco dress shirt ($89, www.clubmonaco.com), ribbed American Apparel vest ($41, www.american
apparel.ca) and Burberry jacket (www.holtrenfrew.com).

WHERE: Gallery opening
WHEN: 9:30pm
Wine flows freely at a friend’s Mercer Union opening, and Paul loosens up by pairing his black denims with an appropriate Worship Worthy Frida Kahlo–honouring tee ($55, www.worship
worthyshop.com). Natalie’s AGO tote ($14.95, AGO gift shop, 317 Dundas W) comes in handy, as she’s ditched the sweater to show off her high-waist 18th Amendment jeans ($260, www.holtrenfrew.com) and Kate Moss Top Shop leather jacket (approx. $300, www.topshop.com).

WHERE: Club
WHEN: 12:30am
An invitation to CiRCA’s Randomland has Natalie wearing her knit dress again, but by itself over a simple grey Mango camisole (US$19, www.mango.com) and shocking red opaque tights from Urban Outfitters ($12, www.urbanoutfitters.com). Unfortunately, Paul had a few too many and is sleeping it off in his plaid Coach’s Corner/Hockey Night in Canada knit boxers ($14.99, www.sears.com).

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