Dress:  Talbots*; Bag:  Kate Spade; Shoes: Musette (old), similar here; Earrings: J. Crew (old), similar here; Cardigan:  Nordstrom

I've been seeing so many memes in the past week joking about how the holiday season begins at midnight on November 1.  This kind of seems like madness to me--there used to be at least a solid three-week buffer between Halloween and the "holidays," and it seems a little crazy to start donning Christmas sweaters and decking the halls in the first week of November. 

However, despite my personal misgivings about kicking off the Christmas season on November 1, this is the time of year in which many companies and organizations have annual receptions and dinners, many of which take place during the week.  The "day to evening" conundrum is tough to tackle even in the best of times, but put a "Holiday Season" gloss on it, and it can be hard to figure out how to look work-appropriate until 6pm and party-ready thereafter.  

While there will never be a perfect solution short of going home to layer on a smokey eye and change into true evening attire, I have developed a couple go-to strategies for handling these situations in a more practical way.  I try to find classic work silhouettes (hello, sheath dress) in either a solid dark color or in a fabric with a sheen or texture that can hold up against cocktail dresses.  I then pack some sparkly jewelry in my bag and rely on my under-desk shoe closet (we all have at least 6 pairs of shoes at work, right??) to swap daytime for evening accessories.  This dress is a great example of the later.  The slightly metallic tweed would look great for day paired with a black cardigan, black heels, and simple silver earrings, but transitions easily for an after-work holiday cocktail party or dinner with some coordinated sparkly earrings and metallic heels.  

What are your go-to day-to-evening tricks and tips?  Do you love that the holidays seem to start earlier and earlier every year, or are you with me on thinking that the "holiday season" starts on Thanksgiving?  Let me know in the comments below. 

*Thank you to Talbots for gifting this dress!