7 glam style pointers for the holiday season

Party season is upon us. And whether you're dropping into a neighborhood open house, heading to the annual office party or going glam to a festive cocktail soiree, you have to get dressed in something celebratory.

Whatever you do, don't let the "what to wear?" quandary take the fun out of a full social schedule. The almost-anything-goes nature of this particular fashion season lends itself to quick and easy party ensembles - some of which are already right in your closet.

And while it's always fun to pick up a few new party pieces, you can keep these styling tricks in mind while you shop so you get more mileage (and more outings) out of everything you own.

1. Just add sparkle.

Repeat after me: Sequins are my friend. There was a time when they seemed a little too Vegas for most of us, but they've become so ubiquitous that they're often going to work without raising an eyebrow. If you haven't indulged in at least one sequinned item, now's the time. And if you have one hanging around your closet, bring it out. Pair sequinned tanks or skirts with everyday fabrics like denim, cotton cardigans for low-key events; mix them with satin, silk, wool for dressier ones. You'd be amazed at how much mileage you can get out of a single sequinned essential.

2. Wear red... or green. Not both.

P.S. These fashion rules go out the window for your child's class party. In that case, loosen up. Wear the red and green accessorized with the light-up necklace and a Santa hat. But if you're looking to score style points, pick one seasonal color or the other. Both are having a fashion moment and make for great, high-impact party looks. Red looks festive popped with something other than black - like hot pink, winter white, even leopard. Green looks fresh with grey, champagne, navy, black or gold. Or go head to toe in a green or red dress and metallic or nude shoes.

Image: coral bridesmaid dresses

3. Pair lace with leather ... or denim ... or suede.

Ladylike lace is having a comeback, but don't think of it only for super-dressy events. (Where it obviously works well.) Instead, make a lace shirt the unexpected counterpart to edgier and more casual party-wear - whether it's a leather skirt, waxed denim or even suede. Then dress it up on another night with a full skirt or tuxedo pants.

4. Try tights.

Take your tired LBD or boring work skirt to the party by wearing it with a pair of tights. Lace, openwork, or an interesting color (merlot, moss, teal, red) are all fun options that will energize the staples that have been moved to the back of the closet.

5. Use a little fancy footwork.

If you're going to invest in one party piece, consider an embellished shoe. Walk into any shoe department right about now and you'll be tempted. From flats to pointy pumps to strappy stilettos, every silhouette has a blinged-out incarnation. You'll see velvet, jewels, bows, metallics and more. They're an instant outfit-changer - turning your black pants and a sweater into chic party attire.

6. MYO dress.

Or romper. So you want to go dressier, but don't have a dress? Maybe you do. If you can find a matching top and skirt in your closet, you can combine the two pieces and - voila! - you've created the effect of a dress. Or you can use the same trick by pairing a matching top and pants to get the look of a romper. (This is a great way to repurpose any silk tanks you bought this summer.)

7. Wear white - not just winter.

This year, any white passes as winter white - as long as the fabric is seasonal or seasonless. So you can go out and buy a beautiful white sweater or white corduroy pants ... or you can find some white staple lurking in your closet and give it the party treatment. Skip the linen or cotton pique, but other fabrics you might have worn this summer - like tropical weight wool or cotton-lycra - can be added right into your party rotation. Wear with sparkling accessories and save your spending money for your holiday shopping list.

Also Read: kissy plus size bridesmaid dresses