Bored of Red? Dress Like the Sugar Plum Fairy For Your Next Holiday Party

I'm dreaming of a pink Christmas.

Getting dressed for the holidays is so much fun, full stop. Whether you’re going to a super fancy dinner, a cocktail party or a gift exchange at home with your friends, there’s something truly delightful about piling on the accessories, glamming up in gold or silver and wearing green and red together just because you can. But what happens when you get bored with seasonal shades, tired of tartan and burned out on metallics? That’s when visions of sugarplums come dancing into your head… and maybe your closet too.

The Trend

The Sugar Plum Fairy of The Nutcracker fame is undeniably gorgeous and glamorous, the subject of many a childhood fantasy. Countless children dreamed of being a ballerina so beautiful, what with her layers of candy pink tulle, gemstones that sparkle all the way to the cheap seats and silky pointe shoes. But the Sugar Plum Fairy’s impact reaches far beyond the stage; her sugar sweet aesthetic has also inspired a trending beauty look via one Hailey Rhode Bieber, who was inspired by her own ballerina days. The Sugar Plum Fairy makeup look is all about that lilac-pink color brushed across your cheeks and eyelids, but it works equally well for out-of-the-box holiday dressing.

How to Wear It

Okay, we’re not saying you have to go full balletcore in a tutu and pointe shoes, but you could if you really want to be on-theme! No, this is more about incorporating pink, magenta and lavender shades into your holiday and winter season wardrobe, skipping the reds and greens, silver sequins and the like in favor of something softer and more ethereal—like the Fairy herself.

This isn’t bright, hot Barbie pink, however. Sugar Plum Fairy dressing is about pastels, pastels, pastels! And there’s no bigger “pastels for winter” supporter than the Hill House girlies, whose fanciful, flowy Tulle Ellie Nap Dresses ($179) are primed for this exact trend. The color of Reformation’s velvet and rhinestone Pia Dress ($278) is literally called Sugar Plum, so exact is that pinkish-purple hue.

For separates, Ref’s Bailey Knit Top in Rose Sparkle ($118) has a lovely sheen and easy-to-style silhouette, and Free People’s Stardust Pullover ($98) is cozy and casual, perfect for a more low-key holiday hang. Pair either top with Anthropologie’s Tilda Maxi Slip Skirt in Mauve ($98) and style it with kitten heels, ballet flats (I mean…) or chunky boots. If you’ve got the budget for it, the Rhinestone Feather Ruched Minidress from Self-Portrait ($760) ticks all the Sugar Plum boxes and looks like so much fun to wear.

When it comes to accessories, indulge your whims and luxuriate in lots of texture and over-the-top accents, like feathers, bows and sparkle. Why wouldn’t you carry a ballet pink feather bag to that dinner date? Lele Sadoughi’s Silk Rosette Ribbon Choker ($65) is a fun, coquettish nod to ballet that would be the perfect way to break up an all-black outfit, and this Studded Puffy Headband ($14) from Urban Outfitters feels like something a 2023 version of the Sugar Plum Fairy would wear.

The holiday season is made for going just a liiiiitle over the top. Don’t feel like you’re doing too much; just have fun with it! If you need inspo when planning your big holiday outfit, think of what your child self would want to wear and listen to their demands. “More glitter! More pink! More purple!” is exactly what we’re going for.

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Read the original article on Byrdie.