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Alternatives to Holiday Sparkles

Around the holidays everyone defaults to sparkle. And why not. Sparkles are festive, can be worn from head to toe, and even mixed and matched (i.e. shoes and a top) if you can manage to do it well and keep yourself from looking like a human disco ball, or a disaster from the sequin section at JoAnne Fabrics.

Sparkly shoes seem to be the safe bet around the holidays for those who are looking to add a little glam to their look. It’s easy, doesn’t generally take over an outfit, and it’s easy to find silver, gold and black in metallic sheens.

If you’re looking for a little something different though, I suggest you skip over the shiny (dear lord I can’t believe I said that) and look for something a little more lush.

Fabrics such as velvet and satin and brocade prints with jeweled embellishments can still channel the
glamour of the holidays, but offer something a little different than the safe holiday sparkle.

Charlotte Olympia has the Jingle Bell Dolly in her holiday collection, which is an amazing red velvet heel with optional jingle bell ankle strap. The gold island platform offers a little bit of sparkle without making gold the centerpiece of the outfit.

Bombshell
Satin shoes, once thought of as perfect only for weddings (because of thosePinup Girl Clothing has gone retro with their Bombshell heels from the Pinup Couture line, all in amazing satin colors like champagne. There’s also the Betty shoe, which offers a delicious peep toe along with an ankle strap, so they’re wonderful for all seasons.
horrid dyeables) are now all over, and way more chic than the low heeled pump we have somehow all inevitably owned.

Brocade is perhaps the hardest to find, but one of my personal favorites because it’s something no one else would think about wearing because it seems too complicated. Instead, it’s the perfect way to top off a solid colored dress (which you can of course pair with some amazing accessories).

Fluevog does it right. 
My personal favorite is the Fluevog DeVere in black paisley. I’m such a sucker for the fluted heel, and I love the cutouts and the short boot. It’s a fun and unexpected shoe. If you’re looking for something a little more traditional (or with a smaller heel), the Ivanka Trump Laura flat offers a sleek pointed toe and small stacked heel. If you’re looking for something to go with pants, then Nine West has a great brocade smoking flat called Lavalu

No matter what the final look you're going for is, playing with prints and fabrics can change the look and offer festive alternatives to the traditional sparkles people have come to expect around the holidays.

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