Gone in 60 Seconds: Office to Happy Hour

Photos: Katie Derus | Coat: Billabong last seen here] | Cardigan: Ann Taylor | Top: LOFT | Pants: Arden B. | Booties: Charles David | Belt: Vintage: | Bag: Rebecca Minkoff | Sunglasses: Van Heusen | Necklace: BR | Bracelets: J.Crew, F21, Nordstrom, Ann Taylor | Watch: Vintage Dior | Nails: CND Shellac Hot Pop Pink

Merry Christmas, everyone! These photos feature an outfit I wore recently for a girls' holiday dinner, a fun tradition we've had for several years now. Although we don't all live in the same place anymore, we try and make time for it every December.

While this wouldn't be appropriate for the days I have to dress more formally for work, I'd definitely wear the ruffly shell/belted cardigan/cropped pant combination for a day when I only have to be in my office. With some classic pumps and a tailored winter coat, I can go from office to lunch to client meetings, then out for drinks after work without skipping a beat (okay, maybe one beat can be skipped to put on my Charles David booties before happy hour!).

What I like most about the ensemble in this post is the pattern-mixing that's subtly going on, never announcing to the world, "Hey! I am wearing two totally contrasting things--am I not so hip?!" Don't get me wrong--some days I am a huge fan of doing some serious, contrasting pattern-mixing, but I think some more delicate patterns can easily be mixed in such a way that the look is interesting and different to the observer up close, but it doesn't scream "Look at me!" across a crowded row of cubicles--it sort of just whispers it to those around you.

To me, mixing textures is a little easier, actually, than mixing patters. In these photos, I paired the silky, bright, salmony-orange ruffled shell with a dark wool-blend cardigan, which had a lighter, subtler cross-hatch pattern throughout. The pants had a woolly, herringbone-type texture to them. I know I will probably have a question or two sent my way about the cardigan and shell, but both were purchased a while ago, sadly. For the cardigan, you may want to check out the Ann Taylor factory/outlet stores around you and see what they might have still available. And, just for other petites' reference, I'm wearing this cardigan in XXSP, the shell in XSP, and the pants are 00.

How were your Christmases and other holidays?! Mine was fairly low key, but I loved it. So far, I've gone skiing every day, which is huge for me. It's an early New Year's Resolution, I think, to get 30 days of skiing in before the area closes (I've been skiing since age 2, but as you get older, more "adult stuff" seems to get in the way and wreck my skiing plans.) I actually have tons more resolutions on my list and will likely pare it down to something more (hopefully) attainable.

What kinds of resolutions will you be making next week, readers?