Good morning. Today we’re making the case for a festive uniform — plus, more for feeling merry and bright, including:
For me, the holidays don’t start the first time I clock the peppermint Oreo dupes on the shelf at Trader Joe’s. Nor when I dig out the menorah, still covered in wax drips from last year. Not even wrestling my Christmas tree into its stand can spark the twinkle in my eye that I get when diving deep into my closet to unearth one of my most prized holiday treasures: a vintage, forest green velvet suit. I’m a proud outfit repeater, and each winter I don my suit, the thrill of slipping into its lush hug gets richer, as I recall wearing it to so many happy celebrations over the years. And though my days of extravagant parties are mostly behind me, my eagerness to dress up is unwavering. Because it was never really about the party or the dress code. It’s about taking a moment for joy — and for myself — during what can be a chaotic season. If you haven’t yet found your own holiday uniform, I encourage you to consider it. It can be truly anything that makes you feel festive (but bonus points for fun silhouettes, rich colors, or a little tulle). For two Wirecutter style writers, festive garb equals a lovely dress, so we recently sent them in search of the best ones out there. They tried on 55 dresses across New York City, all under $300 — jiggling zippers, examining pleats, inspecting seams, and, yes, shimmying and twirling. We hope their suggestions help you look and feel extra special this season. The 8 best holiday dresses they found→ We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more ›
And if you’re hosting — not attending — a holiday bacchanal, consider these steak knife upgrades. In our tests, no other knives came close to matching their performance or quality, not to mention their included storage block. Good looking, a great gift, and on sale right now→
Choosing a gift for someone with excellent taste can feel like a daunting task. The temptation to splurge for the sake of splurging is real, as is the urge to settle for safe but uninspired choices, like cash, just to avoid the dreaded polite but unenthusiastic “Oh, I love it!” To help you navigate this minefield, we turned to Wirecutter journalists with an eye for design. Everything we’d gift to someone with impeccable taste→ Merry, merry. You can reach the Wirecutter Newsletters team at newsletters@wirecutter.com. We can’t always respond, but we do love to hear from you.
|
