What to wear to your company holiday party is always a stressful decision. If you are like me, it's one of the few times a year you get to dress up and pretend to be super glamorous! Before I had kids, I would go all out. I'm talking spray tan, fresh manicure, blowout and accessorized to the nines. Nowadays, I'm lucky to get out the door without my dress tucked into my underwear. Whether you have all the time in the world to primp or you are scrambling to find time to get a shower, the struggle to pick the right dress is real.
This year I thought I had it all figured out, with time to spare. I ordered this killer BCBG dress from Rent the Runway. It had a touch of sparkle that was perfect for a holiday party with a sheer top that had a subtle sexiness. I ordered it weeks in advance along with some matching earrings and I already knew exactly what shoes I would wear. I thought I was all set to be effortlessly party perfect.
That was of course until my dress actually arrived. I had ordered two sizes, a small and an extra small, as I had read in the reviews that the dress ran big. When the dresses arrived I tried on the XS. It fit like a glove. One problem, the shear top had a large snag in it. No problem. I called Rent the Runway, I knew their customer service was awesome. They promised to send me a backup dress, in two sizes, right away. The problem was my same dress was no longer available. F#ck. I'd have to pick a new pretty but subtly sexy dress. Ugh. Not to mention I only had 2 days until my party so the selection of dresses available on my date was slim. Talk about mission impossible! I picked out a dress I thought would work and crossed my fingers. The next day my new dress arrived. It was a cute Elizabeth and James Emorie dress. The color was stunning but unfortunately the cutouts were all wrong. They cut into my waist and made it look like I was bulging out of the sides. Not cute, my friends. It was probably for the best. I was wondering if I was too old for cut outs anyway. I mean, I am somebody's mother.
Now I was full on panicking. It was Thursday night. My party was Friday. Ken was traveling and I had the kids on my own until he returned in time for my party. I was not about to drag them both to the mall while I shopped on a Thursday night. I started group texting my girlfriends. Who has a dress I can borrow? Do you deliver? Then I remembered this red jumper I saw at H&M last weekend. I thought yes, yes, yes! I can totally rock a red jumpsuit to my party. I mean when else would I wear a red jumpsuit? I work from home on Fridays but there is a H&M literally down the street from where I live. Dangerous, I know. I could run down there tomorrow at 5pm, pick up this perfect jumpsuit and be home in time to shower, primp and make it to my party by 7pm. Right?
So there I am. Friday at 5pm trying to run "quickly" into H&M during the holiday season. I hadn't showered in 2 days. My roots were blazing and my hair is piled in a top knot on my head. I'm wearing my Friday uniform, which is basically the Lululemon outfit I worked out in early this morning. I'm disgusted with myself but I was on a mission. I fight for a parking spot, run into the store and B line straight to the red suit. There's one left, only one left and it isn't my size. Not even close to my size. CRAP. I frantically find a sales person. "Do you have anymore of these in the back?" "No, sorry that is the last one." Okay, now I'm officially freaking out. What the F#ck am I going to do? I start scanning the store and looking for ANYTHING I think might work. I piled up my arms with a few LBD choices and headed to the dressing room. By some miracle, the first little black dress I tried on fit and it was perfect. Thank you Holiday Party Gods!!
I rushed home, hopped in the shower and scrambled to pull myself together in time to leave. My roots needed a touch up, my legs were bruised from kicking open our Double Bob. I was seriously a hot mess but somehow, someway, I pulled it all together.
So there I was at 6:30pm. Feeling extra glam and ready for a good time. I put on my go to black and gold Zara heels and headed down the stairs to say bye to the boys and walk out the door. As I was walking down the stairs I missed a step and stumbled just enough to bend the stiletto on my favorite heels. NOOOO! Not the heels!! I tossed the heel to my husband and asked him if there was anything he could do to fix it? Please, pretty please? No luck, they were goners. UGH. I schlepped back up the stairs to find another pair of shoes that would work with this number. I found a pair of silver Enzo Angiolini pumps I had scored on major markdown last year at Saks Off Fifth Ave. I'll have to remember this moment the next time Ken tells me I have too many shoes. You never know when you'll bust a heel and need a back up. Just sayin.
It was a super stressful day of what the F am I going to wear? But the scramble to pull it all together was definitely worth it. We partied the night away like we didn't have 2 kids that were going to wake us up at 6 am, which we knew we'd regret in the morning.
I must say, my coworkers and our husbands look pretty posh themselves, don't they? Although, I know for a fact, I'm the luckiest gal around to have this guy by my side.
Stay tuned for my tips on how to do a 2 minute root touch up, the perfect red lipstick and how to fake a spray tan. All my favorite Holiday party shortcuts will be up on the blog next week.
Shop my look and my co-workers looks in the link below. Rent or buy them. You pick!