Key Takeaways
- This edit is organized into two groups — two ready-made matching sets and a handful of standalone separates — so you can build a full holiday look or just pick up one piece.
- The two sets are color-coded by occasion: Chocolate Noir works from Thanksgiving through casual winter gatherings, while Tinto Red is the one to save for December’s bigger celebrations.
- Velvet, metallic tweed, and sequin are the three textures doing the heavy lifting this season — pick the one that feels most like you rather than wearing all three at once.
What You’ll Find In This Post:
- Key Takeaways
- Sets
- 1. The Hutton Blazer in Velvet
- 2. The Perfect Wide-Leg Pant in Velvet
- 3. Square Neck Vest in Velvet
- 4. The Caroline Pant in Velvet
- 5. The Statement Basic: Embellished Modern Shirt
- 6. The Easy Layer: Cowl Neck Top in Satin
- 7. The Office-to-Evening Jacket: Metallic Tweed Jacket
- 8. The Styled Skirt: Plaid Midi Slip Skirt in Satin
- 9. The Styled Skirt: Weekend Button Midi Skirt in Corduroy
- 10. The Showstopper: Sequin Column Midi Skirt
- FAQs
Sophisticated, Not Costume-y
Holiday dressing has a way of tipping into costume territory — sequins head to toe, a satin everything, nothing you’d actually wear again come January. What I like about this particular lineup is that almost every piece could be worn well past the holidays: a velvet blazer goes right back into rotation in February, a metallic tweed jacket reads polished at the office in any month. The shine and texture are there for the season, but the pieces themselves aren’t one-and-done.
✨ Beth’s Style Tip: If a full sequin or velvet moment feels like too much, let one piece do the talking and keep everything else around it simple — a sequin skirt with a plain sweater, or a velvet blazer over jeans.
Sets
Set 1: Chocolate Noir
Chocolate Noir is the one to reach for first — it’s rich enough for Thanksgiving, easy enough for a casual winter gathering, and it doesn’t read as strictly “holiday” the way red does.
1. The Hutton Blazer in Velvet
The Hutton Blazer in Velvet — Ann Taylor
$148.00 (marked down from $198.00), Chocolate Noir
Why it works: a classic blazer silhouette in rich chocolate velvet feels instantly more special than a basic black blazer, while still being just as easy to wear with denim as with its matching pant.
2. The Perfect Wide-Leg Pant in Velvet
The Perfect Wide-Leg Pant in Velvet — Ann Taylor
$119.00 (marked down from $159.00), Chocolate Noir
Why it works: a high-waisted, flared velvet pant that pairs with the Hutton Blazer above for a complete set, or works on its own under a simple sweater.
Set 2: Tinto Red
Tinto Red is the deeper, more celebratory half of the pair — a little bit cranberry sauce, a little bit full December holiday party, the one to save for when you want the color to do some of the work.
3. Square Neck Vest in Velvet
Square Neck Vest in Velvet — Ann Taylor
$139.00, Tinto Red
Why it works: a sleeveless, button-front vest in rich burgundy velvet, cut with a waist-defining square neck — wear it with its matching pant for a complete set, or on its own over the Cowl Neck Top below.
4. The Caroline Pant in Velvet
The Caroline Pant in Velvet — Ann Taylor
$109.00 (marked down from $149.00), Tinto Red
Why it works: a streamlined, straight-leg velvet pant that completes the vest above into a single cohesive set — also available in a curvy fit.
Separates
5. The Statement Basic: Embellished Modern Shirt
Embellished Modern Shirt — Ann Taylor
$129.00, Winter White
Why it works: a crisp white shirt with scattered embellishment walks the line between basic and dressy — wear it buttoned up under the Metallic Tweed Jacket below, or on its own with the Plaid Midi Skirt for something more subdued.
6. The Easy Layer: Cowl Neck Top in Satin
Short Sleeve Cowl Neck Top in Satin — Ann Taylor
$84.50, Winter White (also offered in Black, Red, Cream, and Purple)
Why it works: a draped cowl neckline in satin reads dressy without any actual effort — the blousy, relaxed fit makes it just as easy to wear under a blazer as it is on its own.
7. The Office-to-Evening Jacket: Metallic Tweed Jacket
Metallic Tweed Jacket — Ann Taylor
$109.00, Rich Claret Metallic
Why it works: polished buttons and metallic stitching update a classic tweed silhouette just enough for the holidays, without losing the versatility of a jacket you can wear all winter.
8. The Styled Skirt: Plaid Midi Slip Skirt in Satin
Plaid Midi Slip Skirt in Satin — Ann Taylor
$99.00 (marked down from $139.00), Purest Plum
Why it works: a softly flared, pull-on plaid skirt in a rich burgundy-and-cream check. I’d style this with the Hutton Blazer from Set 1 for a mix of texture and pattern.
9. The Styled Skirt: Weekend Button Midi Skirt in Corduroy
Weekend Button Midi Skirt in Corduroy — Ann Taylor
$109.00 (marked down from $149.00), Purest Plum
Why it works: a button-front corduroy midi skirt with a vintage feel. I’d style it with the Weekend Argyle Crew Neck Sweater and matching Weekend Argyle Triangle Scarf for a cozy seasonal moment, though the skirt stands easily on its own too.
10. The Showstopper: Sequin Column Midi Skirt
Sequin Column Midi Skirt — Ann Taylor
$119.00 (marked down from $159.00), Red Shine (online exclusive)
Why it works: a column silhouette keeps this from feeling costume-y despite the sequins — this is the piece to let do all the talking, paired with something simple on top. A matching Sequin Crew Neck Blouse is available if you want the full set.
How to Mix These Pieces
A few ways I’d put these together:
- Keep it simple: let one statement piece — the sequin skirt or the metallic tweed jacket — carry the whole look, and keep everything else around it plain.
- Make it a set: Chocolate Noir (the Hutton Blazer + Wide-Leg Pant) covers Thanksgiving and casual winter gatherings, while Tinto Red (the Vest + Caroline Pant) is the one to save for more festive celebrations.
- Mix texture over pattern: pair the Plaid Midi Skirt with the velvet Hutton Blazer rather than another patterned piece, so the look doesn’t compete with itself.
- Dress it down: the Metallic Tweed Jacket and the Cowl Neck Top both work with denim on a day when “holiday party” isn’t on the calendar.
FAQs
Sticking to one statement piece at a time — one sequin, one velvet, one metallic moment — rather than combining several in a single outfit.
Chocolate Noir (the Hutton Blazer + Wide-Leg Pant) is the more versatile of the two — rich enough for Thanksgiving, easy enough for a casual winter gathering. Tinto Red (the Vest + Caroline Pant) leans more festive, the one to save for December’s bigger nights out.
Most of them, yes. The velvet blazer, the metallic tweed jacket, and the satin cowl neck top are all easy to fold into your regular wardrobe come January.
Closing Thoughts
I don’t think holiday dressing needs its own separate wardrobe — just a few pieces with enough richness or shine to feel a little special, worn the same way you’d wear anything else in your closet. That’s really what drew me to this particular lineup.
Style has no expiration date — and neither do you.
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Set 1: Chocolate Noir
Ann Taylor The Hutton Blazer in Velvet
Ann Taylor The Perfect Wide-Leg Pant in Velvet
Set 2: Tinto Red
Ann Taylor Square Neck Vest in Velvet
Ann Taylor The Caroline Pant in Velvet
Separates
Ann Taylor Embellished Modern Shirt
Ann Taylor Short Sleeve Cowl Neck Top in Satin
Ann Taylor Metallic Tweed Jacket
Ann Taylor Plaid Midi Slip Skirt in Satin
Ann Taylor Weekend Button Midi Skirt in Corduroy
Ann Taylor Weekend Argyle Crew Neck Sweater
Ann Taylor Weekend Argyle Triangle Scarf
Ann Taylor Sequin Column Midi Skirt
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Before You Go
Which of these would you reach for first — a ready-made set, or building your own mix? Tell me in the comments.
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