I put out a question box on my Instagram story to see what type of holiday outfits you’re looking for this year. It sounds like a lot of you need elevated casual attire, so I created two easy holiday-ready looks with black pants. Best of all, everything is available at Nordstrom. Gotta love one stop shopping, especially during this busy time of year!

sweater (S) // Spanx pants (M) // quilted slides // open oval necklace // satellite pendant necklace // teardrop earrings // similar shoulder bag

Most women have at least one pair of black pants they can dress up or down, depending on the venue. If you don’t, I highly recommend the Spanx The Perfect Back Seam Skinny Pants.

These are super sleek and stretchy and comfortable, and they smooth out all the lumps and bumps, as you would expect from Spanx. These pants also come in regular, tall, petite, and plus sizes.

On top, I’m wearing this ribbed cotton blend sweater in a festive deep evergreen. I love how versatile this sweater is. The dramatic balloon sleeves make it a little extra special, but you can wear it with jeans for a casual date night top, or keep the pants and tone down the jewelry and shoes for a work wear look. But you can also accessorize it for a holiday party, as I did here.

To make this classic look party ready, I added bold beaded earrings and two layered necklaces in the same black and silver tones.

I love these Panacea Beaded Teardrop Earrings because they pack a punch, but they’re on a thick felt backing material so they’re super lightweight. They’re quite affordable too. It’s nice to have a few pairs of earrings like this on hand for when you want to bling up your look.

The gunmetal hardware on my layered necklaces is a nice change from the typical silver or gold. Kendra Scott’s Elisa Open Oval Cubic Zirconia Necklace and Satellite Elisa Pendant Necklace can be worn for everyday looks as well, giving you even more bang for your buck.

My second look features the same jewelry with a floral blouse and similar black pants. While I love the Spanx The Perfect Back Seam Skinny Pants, I recently ordered the Vince Crop Leggings to try. I’ve heard such good things, so I wanted to try them for myself and compare.

blouse (S) // Vince pants (M) // quilted slides // open oval necklace // satellite pendant necklace // teardrop earrings // similar clutch

While they are very similar, the Vince pants do look and feel like a higher quality pant. Even my photographer noticed the difference when I stepped out of the car after I switched pants. These have seams down the front as well as the back, and they have a slightly longer inseam as well as a wider leg opening.

They’re definitely an investment piece, but they will last for years and can be dressed up or down. In fact, a friend and JLS community member wore these traveling all over Europe recently, and she can’t say enough good things about them.

Either pair is a solid purchase if you need a classic black pant, depending on your budget and which fit you like better. I wear the medium in both, for size reference.

I wore my Jeffrey Campbell Mr Big Slides with both outfits. Quilted slides are very much on trend right now, and these are quite comfortable. I also appreciate the lower heel because I can’t do super high heels anymore, but these are still dressy enough to support a holiday look.

This blouse is another piece that you could wear for less formal occasions, but if you dress it up with blingy jewelry and a crystal clutch, it makes a great holiday party look.

It’s on the shorter side, and I had to keep tugging it down because of the elasticized waistband, but I love the fabric and the cut of the neckline and the way it’s squared off in the back. The fabric is really pretty too. It caught my eye the second I walked past it in the store.

If you prefer a bit more length, take a look at this blouson sleeve blouse. I really like that Naturel Spots print.

I love that these looks both utilize wardrobe basics that you can mix and match with other pieces in your closet and wear all season long for a low cost per wear. It’s the crystal clutch and blingly jewelry that take this look from desk to dinner.

One thing women often overlook when putting together a party look is the bag. Over the years, I’ve collected a few small evening bags, and now I never have to scramble at the last minute. And don’t forget about your coat.

I picked up this Bernardo Chevron Faux Fur Jacket when I was at the mall last week because I never seem to have the right outerwear for my dressier looks.

Here’s how it looks fastened up the front. I’m wearing the small, for reference.

I was really pleased with the quality of this jacket for the price point. While it looks great with holiday outfits, I can also throw it on with jeans and a sweater to level up my date night looks and wear it all winter long.

Unfortunately, inventory has gotten depleted quickly since I purchased it just a few days ago. I hope they restock, but meanwhile, here are some more faux fur jackets to peruse.

I highly recommend shopping early for your holiday looks this year due to the ongoing supply chain issues. Hopefully this post gets you thinking about the events you have coming up!

As always, when you shop at Nordstrom, you get their free shipping and free returns. And don’t forget about their BOPUS (Buy Online Pick Up in Store) and contactless curbside pickup options.

If you aren’t already a Nordy Club member, be sure to sign up so you can start earning points toward Nordstrom Notes when you shop. You also get to enjoy exclusive perks like members-only access to sales, offers, and events!

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photos: Alison Cornell