Whether you have a holiday darty (day party), a secret Santa gift exchange, or a small gathering with friends on the agenda, finding something casual yet sophisticated to wear can be a difficult endeavor. For me, most of my holiday-focused activities lean more towards ‘relaxed attire’ than full-on festive or dining-dressy, but I still like to step it up from another outfit with everyday denim.

Layering a high-neck sweater over a midi dress is a great combination for such a casual occasion. It’s a great way to extend the shelf life of those dresses made for warmer weather while remaining cozy in a knit designed for the fall/winter season. I actually wore a similar outfit to this on Thanksgiving, but with a shorter dress and a pair of OTK boots to compensate the skin exposure from a shorter hemline.

Dress: Boohoo | Sweater: H&M | Booties: Dolce Vita (old, similar here)