The Big Day – Enjoying Family & Friends In Casual Style

By Brian Maynor
December 20, 2013

With less than a week to go before Christmas, it feels like time has tripled speed and my to-do list has kept right up there with it.  Most of the time it feels like a juggling act, trying to get everything done and carve out time to enjoy the season.

Through all the stress of traffic, crowds and finding the perfect gift when the 25th rolls around most of us are exhausted and would love nothing more than to spend most of the day in our pajamas.  Alas unless you are 8 that probably won’t happen, but here are a few ideas for looking pulled together while focusing on being comfortable:

1.    Uggs.  Keep you feet toasty warm and cushioned in a pair of the perfect ‘house shoes’.  These will probably be the most important part of the outfit.  Today with so many styles to choose from, you can find a pair to match every aesthetic and they all have the pillows of fleece for which your feet will thank you.

2.    Relaxed fit pants.  This is not the day for anything skinny or slim.  It is the day for the ‘relaxed fit’.  That extra inch or so makes a huge difference when you are lounging around the house and eating holiday treats all day.  Now make no mistake, relaxed fit does not mean baggy.  You can’t throw all caution and sense of style to wind.

3.    Sweaters.  Keep the seasonal cheer going strong and stay comfy with a colorful sweater.  No matter what style you choose or what you layer beneath it, sweaters are comforting, casual and help to pull an outfit together.  My recommendation to keep it stylish is complement the sweater with a shirt that either inverts the colors in the sweater, or opposes them with at least one shared secondary color.

4.    Accessories.  This is one day it is okay to give your accessories the day off.  I know a few people who feel naked without a pair of earrings or watch, so wear what you must to be comfortable, but let the rest go.  This is no day for long necklaces or stacks of bracelets.

There is however one accessory that should be mandatory, the Santa hat.  During the season they go with everything and when else will you be able to wear a red velvet hat with white fur trim and look normal?

Thankfully in less than a week we can all take a breath and spend at least one day of the season relaxing and enjoying the company of family and friends.  Whether you are travelling to see loved ones or they are travelling to see you my hope is that we all embrace the seasonal theme of ‘comfort & joy’.  Happy holidays!

Click on the images below to learn more about the outfit.

Click on the images below to learn more about the outfit.

I am always curious to hear about your weekend wardrobe dilemmas and help make your work wardrobe pull double duty.  Email your questions, quandaries and conundrums to [email protected].  Also find each of these storyboards at http://brianmaynor.polyvore.com with links to purchase each item.

About Brian Maynor

Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.