Subtle touches turn ordinary clothes into holiday attire

Learn to dress appropriately for special occasions during the holidays.
Scripps Howard
Holiday dressing, according to the design staff at Ann Taylor, can be summed up in two words: subtlety and sparkle.
Depending on the occasion, it pays to dress appropriately. Don't be underdressed at the ballet (ratty jeans and a sweater) and don't be overdressed at lunch with friends (stilettos and stockings).
Here's a list of holiday fashion must-haves that can be combined or worn separately for any event, save a black-tie affair.
First, a well-organized closet is key. Any articles of clothing that require dry cleaning should be dropped off this week. Check to see if any shoes need repair work. Purchase a quick-soak jewelry cleaner for rhinestones that are on the dull side. Have a lint brush on standby, especially if you're wearing black. Examine those purses that you reserve for the holidays to make sure they're in good working order and are big enough to hold the necessities: keys, ATM card, breath mints, compact and lipstick.
You'll get a lot of use from a pair of good-fitting jeans. However, now's not the time for the worn-out, slouchy look. It's not necessary to spend hundreds of dollars on denim. Just get a pair with some stretch and a hint of fading. Consider Old Navy boy-cut jeans, which are less than $25.
Nothing bulky
For a dressier outfit, pair the jeans with a pretty embellished sweater. Look for one with delicate beadwork, nothing too bulky. That's better saved for a trip to Lake Tahoe.
A hint of lace on the edge of a camisole is nice under the sweater, especially if it's a wrap or shrug.
Coats, either long and elegant or short and fitted, complete any outfit. Two of the most popular styles this season include long wool coats with faux fur collars, which look terrific with jeans or winter white pants. A short, fitted velvet jacket in either black or a jewel tone dresses up those same pair of jeans. Switch to a skirt with faux fur boots or those cowboy boots you can't get enough of, and you've got another weekend outfit.