It’s “Sala season,” otherwise known as the lavish time of year when you dress to impress while sitting in a living room. For many, getting together with relatives will be quite different this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. With cases rising in most parts of the country, the CDC has advised people to socially distance and not travel to or gather with people outside of their households.
To keep each other safe, sane and healthy, many of us are virtually reuniting with family members from our sala’s via video chat or Zoom. Many Latine families follow the tradition of showing off and showing out at holiday gatherings—just because you’re not physically in the same space doesn’t mean you can’t still get a ‘fit on and celebrate with style.
If you need inspiration for comfy but styling fits for your “Xmas and chill” movie party, want to impress at your Zoom adapted holiday work/company party, go the humorous route with an online funky/ugly Christmas sweater event, simply wow to make a statement at your family’s video chat or do it for the gram, we got you covered. Here are four holiday party style pack ideas with items from Latinx-owned brands to suit whichever way you choose to celebrate:
The Christmas & and Chill party
Who says you can’t lounge in style? If you want to elevate your “just rolling out of bed” look, the Cojelo Suave Teeby Cuban-American owned Lights Label gives shameless permission to do just that by embracing the Tee’s phrase, “relajando, chilleando, y gozeando mi vida. No te metas porfi.”
Compliment the top with their “Muy Cozy” mug and fill it with hot peppermint chocolate, horchata, coquito, canelazo, saril, etc. —whatever strikes your fancy. Then, for the bottom half, we suggest ultra-soft wide-leg sherpa pants such as these by Missguided which can be paired with spread love socks by Mexican-American lifestyle brand Grl Collective and luxe shearling slippers by Spanish designer shoe company Freda Salvador.
Going the extra mile with accessories? We like to think the “Chillona” nameplate necklace by Tejana designer Jen Zeano can take on a double meaning. Add on an off-white teddy bucket-hat and nobody can question your dedication to relaxing and taking it easy with flare.
The Virtual Work Holiday Event
Many companies are forgoing their holiday parties this year which is great for public health but can dampen the mood for those who enjoy a chance at dressing up and getting fancy with their co-workers. If your company has opted to adapt and host a Zoom party, you can still strike a pose.
We love this relaxed fit, deep-v, sequin knit jumpsuit from Black by Maria Silver. The Dominican, Tennessee-based designer shows us that being fancy need not be hard. Rather than going through the effort of coordinating separates, this jumpsuit is an easy, comfortable solution for quick outfit assembly.
Sometimes all you need to focus on is the waist up. This white, cropped, twill jacket by Venezuelan-American owned brand Simonett does the trick. Round out the look with the “hotline bling” hoop earrings and “Sun Dancer” choker necklace from Cubana-owned jewelry brand Xio by Ylette, and add an oversized clear resin gold hair clip by Bauble Bar if you wish. You can also take the opportunity to show off your holiday nails with this lacquer bundle by lights lacquer and, if you’re feeling bold, try out this award-winning, bright Christmas-red lip by Mexican-American cosmetics company Reina Rebelde. Guaranteed to make you, your work party’s show-stopper.
The Funny, Funky, Ugly Sweater
This statement crew neck from Etsy says it all: we’re all here for some good chisme. Leave it as is or, to ugly-fi it up, glue or tack on small ornaments, bows, pom poms, tinsel etc. Do the most!
Ugly sweater parties are all about getting ridiculous and going way over the top, so indulge your maximalism by pairing your top with a reindeer hat from Ecuadorian-American store the Latin American Boutique and light-up Christmas tree shades by Blinkee. This look is best accessorized with quirky, cowboy-boot earrings by Latina owned online shop Dos Femes to show off the holiday vaquera in you. Lastly, don’t forget to have games in tow to keep the Zoom party rolling. We suggest this Pandemic Loteria by Rafael Gonzalez Jr. for some respite whilst engaging in family fun.
The Glam for the Gram
This dress-up option is curated for the most dedicated among us who take sala completion seriously and aren’t letting anything curtail their glam. After all, we still have Instagram to show off our fit to. Dress to impress in Sheer Collective. This Dominican, sister-owned brand’s Red Hot Jumpsuit is an all in one ready to go outfit, a fired-up fabulous choice for effortlessly getting in style this holiday season. Not to mention high slit flared pant legs make the look especially worth serving. If you want to mix it up, throw on an organza blouson sleeve with a surplice neckline sweater such as this one from Urban Outfitters for an elegant red and white Christmas combo.
Make your ‘fit shine by pairing it with a wide gold chainmail choker that doesn’t distract from the jumpsuit’s neckline and draws attention to the face along with red fuzzy pom-pom drop earrings, also from Sheer Collective. For makeup, we suggest a deep violet-red lip by Argentine-owned Besame Cosmetics to offset the bright orange-red jumpsuit and a cream sweater. And, if you really want to stand out, throw on some multi-chrome eyeshadow from Chaos Makeup. Their Magma palette is a great option. As a final statement piece, you can experiment with magnetic midnight crown headbands by Colombian designer Lucia Echavarria. Strut that living room runway or snap a photo and post.
