The festive season has produced iconic looks in the past. Every year, Christmas queens come back every holiday to inspire our shopping choices for upcoming festive parties and our everyday winter wardrobes.
We are more fashion-conscious this holiday than ever before. As revenge for the two years of Covid-19, searches for ‘party dress’ are at an all-time high worldwide, with a 127 per cent increase.
Analysis of Google Trends data also shows that searches for ‘Christmas outfit’, ‘Christmas fashion’ and ‘Christmas party dress’ have risen now by 472 per cent, 278 per cent, and 499 per cent worldwide, compared to the last five years.
In preparation for the upcoming festive season, style experts at Nasty Gal reveal how to recreate five of the most iconic Christmas outfits on a budget this winter.
Mariah Carey – “All I Want For Christmas”
For most of us, the first thing that comes to mind when we think of Christmas icons is the Queen of Christmas herself.
“All I Want For Christmas Is You” has racked up over one billion YouTube views across the original and new versions, and it remains the most streamed Christmas song to this day.
In the original 1993 video, Mariah shoots at a snowy amusement park, bundled up in a red cinched ski jacket and matching trousers tucked into a pair of chunky white boots. She accessorises with white gloves and a cosy red knitted Fair Isle hat with her hair in plaits underneath.
Ski clothes can be expensive, but padded and puffer jackets are much cheaper and will give your outfit the same ski-luxe vibe at a fraction of the cost.
Puffer jackets were a huge trend last year and are having another moment this winter, as searches have surged by 291 per cent worldwide now compared to the previous five years.
Sometimes we can lose our shape in chunkier coats, so cinching the waist with a belt accentuates your figure and gives you a more tailored silhouette.
Destiny’s Child – 69th Annual Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting
The Rockefeller Christmas tree has been an icon of New York for almost a century. Y2K fashion icons Destiny’s Child performed at its 2001 lighting ceremony in all-white matching outfits with fur accents, designed by Tina Knowles.
Beyoncé wears an off-shoulder white asymmetric long-sleeve dress with fur trim and a peekaboo cutout neckline. She completes the look with white calf-length boots, a cute winter hat with matching fur trim, and silver drop earrings.
Fur-trim dresses were a big trend last year and will make an even bigger comeback this holiday season. Google Trends data reveals searches for ‘fur trim dress’ and ‘fur dress’ are skyrocketing 1,718 per cent and 180 per cent right now compared to average levels seen over the last five years.
Pair a white fur trim dress with a faux-fur jacket and white boots to recreate the look at home. Add a touch of holiday sparkle with some silver jewellery, perfect for reminding coworkers who the Beyoncé is at your office holiday party.
Christine Baranski as Martha May Whovier – The Grinch Who Stole Christmas
Need inspiration for a statement coat? Look no further than Martha May Whovier from The Grinch. Yes, you heard that right.
There are 3,500 searches on average each month for ‘Martha May Whovier costume’.
Town bombshell Martha wears a classic Christmas colour palette of red, green and gold, snowy whites and blues.
But the exaggerated fur-trimmed baby blue robe with billowing sleeves is what solidified her status as a Christmas style icon.
To channel Martha’s camp festive style into an everyday version of this look, wear a light blue fur or borg trim coat with silver strappy heels and silver jewellery.
Tilda Swinton as Jadis the White Witch – The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Legendary Hollywood actress and fashion trailblazer Tilda Swinton transforms herself into Jadis, the evil White Witch, for the remake of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.
It takes one look at Tilda’s costumes to understand why it’s an iconic Christmas look.
Seventeen years later, over 1,800 searches are made for the witch’s costume each month.
In the scene where Jadis meets Edmund, she wears a floor-length blue-grey wool and silk gown with a white lace overlay and an exaggerated, couture-inspired structured neckline.
The colour palette consists of icy blues, whites and greys, which evolve throughout the film.
Both fiercely terrifying and glamorous at the same time, she would look equally at home on an Alexander McQueen catwalk as she would in Narnia.
Even the White Witch gets cold in Narnia, so she opts for a gigantic floor-length white fur coat made of foxes.
Taking inspiration from Tilda’s ethereal glamour for a swanky holiday party look, opt for an ombre sequin dress – aim for blue-grey rather than blue to avoid looking like Elsa from Frozen. Throw on a pair of silver heels and wrap a white faux fur stole or jacket to complement the look and keep you warm.
Searches for sequin dresses are rising just in time for the holiday season – increasing by 128 per cent worldwide compared to the last five years as we look forward to a lockdown-free Christmas.
Cameron Diaz as Amanda Woods – The Holiday
From the minute she steps off her first-class flight to London, Amanda Woods (played by Cameron Diaz) has a style which oozes LA cool.
Her colour palette consists mainly of neutrals with pops of colour.
While we’re obsessed with every outfit from her designer wardrobe, Amanda’s chocolate brown and cream shearling coat makes the top of our Christmas list.
Despite being released 16 years ago, the coat is still Googled over 800 times monthly.
Pair a shearling jacket with an off-white turtleneck and flared jeans to recreate the effortlessly chic look.
Shearling jackets are trending worldwide, with a 142 per cent increase in Google searches compared to the last 12 months.
It wouldn’t be LA-style without accessories. Take inspiration from Amanda’s square black sunglasses and leather gloves to complete the look.
We couldn’t mention the Holiday without talking about the scene where Amanda stops by Graham’s (Jude Law) house in a sexy outfit to surprise him, only to discover his two daughters at the door.
It’s glamorous and wearable all year round, perfect for an understated holiday party look.
To recreate it at home, style a black blouse and off-white pencil skirt with a statement belt and gold jewellery.
A spokesperson from Nasty Gal commented: “After two years spent in lockdown wearing loungewear, trend reports show a growing desire to get dressed up and go all out. We all like to put a little extra effort in at Christmas to wear something glamorous, sparkly, and festive. Whether you’re looking for a special holiday party look or to update your winter wardrobe, there is so much style inspiration to take from these iconic festive moments”.
ENDS
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