From ugly sweater parties to how they feel about others shopping for them (some funny answers on this one!), our stylists open up about holiday highs and lows on this #TruthTuesday.
When style is your job, sometimes it’s hard for people to imagine how we manage style for ourselves and others, especially when it comes to gifts, in real life. While our wish lists and gift shopping may be a little more fashion-heavy than the average bear, our holidays probably look a lot like yours. Truth is…this time of year presents universal joys and challenges for everyone, and we’re looking forward to sharing them both with you.
NASHVILLE STYLIST KATIE RUSHTON
1. What is your favorite holiday party look (one casual, one dressy)?
For a casual holiday party look, I tend to start with my favorite jeans. With it being so cold right now, I’d probably pair one of my favorite chunky sweaters with my distressed denim and then throw on an animal print heel or bootie to complete the look. For a dressier holiday party, I tend to go for an all-black look. Since I don’t dress up on a regular basis, I love the ease of knowing that I can throw on a black dress or black pants and a black blazer and go. I usually pull out a fun sparkly statement necklace or statement earring to pair with my all-black combination, and that accessory gives me just enough extra to complete the look.
Ugly sweater parties are definitely not my favorite. However, if I’m invited to one, I’m definitely going to have fun with it!
I am continually working to make my own wardrobe “effortless” for myself just like I do for our clients. I love having a very simple, streamlined wardrobe. I am in need of a few new sweaters this season, so I’ve been on the hunt for a couple of easy sweaters in solid colors. Free People is one of my favorite sweater brands, so I’m always looking online or in various stores that carry that brand to see what’s out there. I also love a local boutique in Cool Springs, fab’rik, so I always make sure and check out what they have when I have a chance to stop in there.
Yes, it does. I see things here and there when I’m out and about shopping for clients that I try to make mental notes to add to my Pinterest board that my husband has access to. He does not like shopping for me. He says it’s “impossible,” so a few years ago, I agreed to making a Pinterest board for him. I add things to it from time to time (when I remember). Then, he has ideas when it the holidays roll around.
Yes. I think, for the most part, gift cards are go-to gifts for me from friends and family, and that’s perfectly fine. However, my husband does step out of the box from time to time, and he’s done good when he has.
I absolutely love the holidays! I have a small immediate family, but we had so many traditions and get-togethers with our extended family, and also with friends who were like family, when I was growing up. Baking cookies with my mom and one of her good friends and daughter is a favorite. My mom and I still usually make the drive to my hometown one Saturday or Sunday in the month of December each year to continue our cookie baking tradition together. Another favorite is Christmas Eve candlelight service. I love going with our family to our Christmas Eve service and then heading to my parents’ house afterwards for our family’s Christmas gathering. Now that I have my own little girl, Christmas morning is also becoming a favorite.
NASHVILLE STYLIST KATEY PRESTON
1. What is your favorite holiday party look (one casual, one dressy)?
I have fallen in love with the fit and flare skirts this season! The long ones are gorgeous, but I just love the ones that are a little shorter with a wider waistband. The deep red color of this one from Eliza J is really gorgeous. While I’m the first to rock a peplum top when I find a good one, I don’t love the look of this one paired with it as much. Instead, I would opt for a slim-lined sweater tucked into the skirt, maybe with some fun bell sleeves! A very classic Ralph Lauren look.
2. Are ugly sweater parties a nightmare for you, or do you have fun with it?
I mean, nobody likes a party pooper so if invited I’d go along with it, but I’d be looking for the cutest ugly sweater I can find!
3. Where are you shopping for you this season?
A new handbag is the number one item on my list!
4. Does fashion usually play a big part of your holiday wish list? How do you feel about others shopping for you?
I love receiving jewelry as a gift, especially fun statement necklaces and stackable bracelets. That’s usually a go-to from girlfriends. If there is a specific piece of clothing that I have my eye on, I will just send the link straight to my husband…although he has been known to wander into stores he knows I love and let the sales gal pick something out for me. That only works sometimes. (I sort of wish he would just hire Katie Rushton to do the shopping for him ha!)
5. As a stylist, do your friends and family find it challenging to shop for you?
I like to think I’m an easy person to shop for, but maybe my friends would beg to differ. I love things for my house almost as much as I love fashion, so the options are endless!
6. What are some of your favorite holiday traditions?
This is a big one for me. I lost my mom almost 10 years ago, and sadly my children never had the chance to meet her. I lay on her traditions thick all year long, but especially during the holidays. It’s important for me that my kids know the beautiful woman that their Nana was. We bake all of the same cookies I always baked with her as a child, often times dancing around and singing our favorite Christmas songs into a wooden spoon as a microphone. And the ornaments…so many special memories and traditions there. Each ornament has a story, and my kids love hearing those stories year after year as we hang them on the tree. As a kid, we always received just one gift from my parents, and we were allowed to open it on Christmas Eve. It was always a book, inscribed with a note and dated in my mom’s handwriting. I kept all of those books, which are now cherished by my kids, and we’ve started the same tradition in hopes that their children will enjoy those books in the future as well.
NASHVILLE STYLIST EMILY GOODIN
1. What is your favorite holiday party look (one casual, one dressy)?
I love a short, a-line cocktail dress with long sleeves (maybe lace or brocade) and a little added sparkle in the jewelry or shoe. A maroon or black velvet blazer over a sparkly tank, dark jeans, and heels for a casual party.
2. Are ugly sweater parties a nightmare for you, or do you have fun with it?
I think they’re a nightmare because I always have more fun when I feel confident with my look! Who can feel confident in an ugly, ill-fitting sweater? However, I feel like I have a good sense of humor…I just enjoy seeing the sweaters on other people and getting a laugh. 🙂
3. Where are you shopping for you this season?
I’m shopping at a few local places such as The Showroom and fab’rik and, of course, Nordstrom Rack and TJMaxx because I love a unique find!
4. Does fashion usually play a big part of your holiday wish list? How do you feel about others shopping for you?
Yes, it definitely plays a part of my wish list. However, I’d rather get a gift card so I can pick out what speaks to me!
5. As a stylist, do your friends and family find it challenging to shop for you?
Yes, I usually get money or PJs ha!
6. What are some of your favorite holiday traditions?
My favorite holiday traditions are decorating my house for Christmas, baking cookies and banana bread, going to a million dinner parties with all of my girlfriends, attending a date-night Christmas party with my man, and attending a Christmas Eve service with family and singing silent night with everyone holding a candle.
DALLAS STYLIST HEATHER PUJOL-CUFFEE
1. What is your favorite holiday party look (one casual, one dressy)?
For a casual look, I’d go for skinny jeans, an off-the-shoulder sweater, and OTK (over-the-knee) boots or ankle booties. For a dressier look, a red jumpsuit and leopard print pumps.
2. Are ugly sweater parties a nightmare for you, or do you have fun with it?
Ugly sweater parties are so not my thing ha!
3. What are you shopping for you this season?
I am shopping for a new handbag and new yoga clothes.
4. Does fashion usually play a big part of your holiday wish list? How do you feel about others shopping for you?
I am very particular about my fashion, so I prefer that people either give me gift cards or view my Pinterest pages to know exactly what I want and like. My preference is to shop for myself.
5. As a stylist, do your friends and family find it challenging to shop for you?
My friends and family find it extremely challenging to shop for me and that is why they ALWAYS give me gift cards! Hahaha! And believe me, I am totally ok with it. 🙂
6. What are some of your favorite holiday traditions?
Every Christmas I fly to NYC and spend it with my family there. We play Ugly Santa and have so much fun enjoying each other’s company. This Christmas is my husband Ryan’s first time going to New York City, and I am very excited for him to spend it with us.
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