The boutique guide · The holidays
Christmas and New Year's Eve are one week apart and call for almost opposite ways of dressing. The first is spent at home, at the table, with family, and calls for warmth and comfort without giving up a touch of polish. The second is spent outside, in the evening, and calls for light: a fabric that catches the light, a shoe that plays its part, a small bag.
Below, you will find outfits for the two celebrations, for her and for him. But first, one thing we have learned from observing our Decembers, which changes how it makes sense to plan.
New Year's Eve shopping happens before Christmas
Last year, the December day on which we sold the most was Sunday the 21st, the last weekend before Christmas. Sales held steady from the 22nd to the 24th, then the boutique closed on the 25th and 26th. And between December 29 and 31 - precisely when, in theory, people look for an evening outfit - we had the quietest days of the entire month.
The reason is practical, and applies to any online store. Delivery takes 24-48 hours, and if the size is not right, you need time to exchange it. Anyone ordering on the 29th is relying on a single attempt.
The boutique's advice. If you are genuinely interested in an outfit for New Year's Eve, order it by December 20, together with the gifts. Returns are free within 30 days: anything that arrives on the 22nd can still be exchanged at your leisure, and if you then decide not to wear it, you have until mid-January.
Christmas: warmth before impact
You sit at the table for hours, often in a heated home: a Christmas piece must look good up close and remain comfortable throughout the afternoon. That is why knitwear is the first product category we sell in the second half of December, ahead of boots and sneakers.
A sweater with a Christmas pattern is worn with ease, and we have a precise name for it: the Vacanze di Natale capsule sweaters by MC2 Saint Barth: it is the brand we sell most during those two weeks. For those who prefer something less explicit, a wool or cashmere crewneck in a warm shade - burgundy, camel, forest green - feels festive without saying so. The full selection is in women's knitwear and men's knitwear.
For her, knitwear works with a midi skirt or soft trousers, paired with a boot or loafer: nothing that feels tight around the waist after the second course. For him, a sweater over a shirt with just the collar showing, or a turtleneck under an unstructured jacket. In both cases, velvet — on a skirt, trousers, or jacket — is the quintessential December fabric: warm, soft, and with that depth of color that comes alive under the lights at home.
New Year's Eve for her: the light
The evening of the 31st calls for a fabric that catches the light. An evening dress in satin or sequins is the most immediate answer, but not the only one: a glossy skirt with a top in fine knit is more versatile, because from January 2 onward the two pieces remain useful separately.
Half the effect comes down to the shoes. The décolleté remains the safe choice; the slingback is more comfortable for a long evening, because the exposed heel does not rub. And the advice we always give in store: you spend more time standing on New Year's Eve than you think. A 5-7 centimeter heel will see you through until one; a 10-centimeter heel will not.
Then there's the bag. The clutch is the seventh best-selling product in the second half of December — ahead of handbags and belts — and that's no coincidence: it's the piece that transforms a simple outfit into an evening look, and the only accessory you carry in your hand all night on New Year's Eve. Ours are in women's clutches.
New Year's Eve for him
The dark suit is the foundation, but on New Year's Eve you can dare to go a little further. A velvet jacket over dark trousers is the most elegant and less rigid choice; reserve the tuxedo for a party that explicitly calls for it. The suits and jackets we carry cover both styles.
Underneath, a white or black shirt without a tie, or a fine roll-neck instead of a shirt - a solution many underestimate that works extremely well under a jacket. The belt should match the shoes, and the shoes should suit the evening: polished loafers or lace-ups, not sneakers.
If the garment is a gift
A large proportion of what sells in December is not for the person buying it. Our gift ideas are collected in Christmas gifts, divided into for her and for him. One rule that always applies: if you do not know the size, choose something that does not have one - a clutch, a scarf, or a fragrance.
Frequently asked questions
What should you wear for a family Christmas dinner?
Something beautiful up close and comfortable for hours: a wool or cashmere sweater in a warm colour, with a midi skirt or relaxed trousers for her, or over a shirt for him. Velvet is the quintessential December fabric. It is best to avoid anything tight around the waist: you spend a long time at the table on Christmas Day.
What should you wear to a New Year's Eve party?
A fabric that reflects the light - satin, sequins, lamé - on a dress or a skirt with a fine-knit top. For him, a dark suit or a velvet jacket with dark trousers. In both cases, the shoes and bag make half the impact: a clutch can transform even a simple dress.
When is the best time to buy an outfit for New Year's Eve?
By 20 December, together with the gifts. In our experience, 29 to 31 December are the quietest days of the month: delivery takes 24-48 hours and, if the size is not right, there is no time left to exchange it. With free returns within 30 days, buying early costs nothing.
What heel height should you choose for New Year's Eve?
Between 5 and 7 centimetres, because you spend much more of New Year's Eve standing than you might think. A slingback is more comfortable than a closed-toe pump for a long evening, because the exposed heel does not rub. Above 9-10 centimetres, it is best to have a platform or a spare pair of shoes in your bag.
Is the Christmas sweater still in fashion?
Yes, especially when worn with a light touch rather than as a costume. Styles with a discreet motif - the MC2 Saint Barth Vacanze di Natale capsule is the best-selling collection in our two weeks of December - can also be worn after the holidays, throughout the winter in the mountains.
0 comments