Style expert Nina Garcia knows that all you need to make it through a season's worth of soirees in style are a few great dresses. Here are three distinct frugalista looks to help you out-dress, not out-spend, your fellow holiday revelers.

1. 

   Be Dazzled

   A sleeveless shift dress in rich jacquard feels even more luxe when topped with a faux fur and accentuated with a chunky gold link bracelet.

   
2. 

   Jazzed Up LBD

   This one-shouldered little black dress shows that a timeless classic needn’t be boring. Add edge to the look with a fashion-forward show and a pop of colorful bangles on your wrist.

   
3. 

   Jewel Tones

   Don’t be afraid to mix rich, bold colors. The undertones of the dress, mixed with a stunning statement cocktail ring feel festive while a classic shoe grounds the look.

   

Nina Garcia

Nina’s Take
As Fashion Director of Marie Claire, TV style expert and author of The Style Strategy, Nina Garcia brings a refreshing point of view.

1. Hanging Plates

   When mixed in a display with vintage china, these white dinner plates lend texture to artless walls.

   

2. Ornamental Arrangements

   Fresh flowers can be hard to come by this time of year, so instead, fill a vase with a mix of spherical Christmas ornaments. And, if you keep the color palette seasonless and classic, like blue and white, the decoration can last for months longer than mistletoe and holly.

   

3. Side Dish

   While meant for the powder room, this brushed silver and white porcelain dish makes for stylish cocktail-ring storage.

   

4. Tree House

   During cooler months, display your hanging outdoor plants on a vintage dish atop a classic side table.

   

5. Throw Rug

   While usually relegated to a mudroom, a classic rag rug is ideal for adding shabby-chic flair to family room furnishings. Toss one over the back of a sofa in place of a more-expected throw.

   

6. Textural Table

   Add dimension to your diner table by layering textiles. This crotched-lace window panel can be folded and placed over a vintage swathe of fabric

   

Rachel Ashwell

Soft colors and clean white paint are the trademarks of Rachel Ashwell’s Simply Shabby Chic™ style. Inspired by her English upbringing and her California lifestyle, the results are fresh, lovely and comfortable, at prices that are easy to live with.

Long or short? Classic or trendy? Nina Garcia helps you warm up to cold weather with this season's hottest outerwear.

• 

  Red Hot

  A classically tailored pea coat gets a timely upgrade in the season’s most important hue—fire engine red.

  

• 

  Cool Casual

  Tread lightly into fall with a wool blend cape. Give utilitarian grey an equestrian spin by pairing it back to slim jeans and flat boot.

  

• 

  Long n’ Lovely

  Prepare for the season’s crop of holiday parties with a single dress coat. Winter white wool looks lovely atop a classic LBD.

  

1. Dressed-up Vanities

   Before guests arrive, set out a tray with a bottle of sparkling water, a few premium chocolate, and a hand-penned welcome note. During their stay, visitors can use the space to store personal belongings like eyeglasses and jewelry.

   

2. Stylish Slumber

   Boasting a modern rendition of a Moorish tile pattern, the Thomas O’Brien Indigo Duvet instantly dresses up the most basic of white sheets. Add a further dash of color and pattern with vintage accent pillows and a contrasting throw.

   

3. A Perfect Bath

   A guest powder room should steer clear of excessive decoration. Instead, opt for neutral-toned linens and clean-lined storage pieces.

   

4. Fresh Flowers

   Add some cheery color to the guest bedroom with an informal floral arrangement in a vintage-style vase.

   

5. Suds Up

   With the incidence of lost luggage going up around the holidays, be sure that the lavatory is stocked with all the toiletries your guest might need, including a fresh toothbrush and toothpaste and unscented bath and body care.

   

6. Right on Time

   A bedside alarm clock encourages guests to keep their own schedule. This stainless steel model also boasts a classic dial and cord-free operation.

   

Inspired by vintage American style and clean modernism, Thomas O’Brien’s inventive designs bring style, order and comfort to bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens at very comfortable prices.