The season for holiday parties is just beginning and the question that’s most often on my mind is, “What am I going to wear?”  The threat that someone may see me in the same dress twice (Oh, the horror!) means I’m on the hunt for options that are both stylish, sexy, and economical.

I like Guess? by Marciano lately for fun and flirty party dresses.  I just picked up the Nambi Corset Dress and the Crista Dress for girls’ nights out.  They have just the right amount of sex appeal.  My philosophy is too never show too much all at once.  No mini skirts with maxi cleavage!

One of my classic go-tos is J.Crew.  Classic just sums it up.  J.Crew has everything from day dresses to wedding dresses and a wide array of party dresses and even bridesmaid dresses.  From fun prints and designs that look one-of-a-kind to simple cotton dresses with great sheen in a lot of colors, J.Crew has it all.  This season I am picking up their cotton cady Sydney dress in Cypress or Spiced Wine.  What I like about this dress is that it can go from day to night.  You can wear this to a daytime wedding or even to work with some great tights and a jacket or sweater.  With the sheen of the cotton, it transitions easily to date night, parties, and even wedding attire (they also make great bridesmaid dresses).

Another place I adore for party dresses is White House | Black Market.  They have lovely sophisticated dresses at reasonable prices (usually under $200).  Most of their products are obviously black and white, but these are easy-to-work-with party staples.  My current favorite is a strapless floral dress with a bow on it. I could wear this one out or to a wedding – it’s very versatile.

What I really love to do, is to go with a great stand-out color or print when considering a party dress.  While the LBD (Little Black Dress) is always a chic choice, it gets boring to go to every party in black!  Why not show your personality with something fun?

This season Express has some great finds.  My favorite is the sleeveless tube dress that comes in both black and Fantasia Blue.  I love it in black (pictured), but for some fun, why not try the blue?  It’s bright without being too electric and is sure to get you some positive attention.  The best part?  It’s only $79, so why not get both colors?

What do you look for in a party dress?  Do you stick with LBDs or do you like to throw on something red or with a bold print once in a while?

So now that I’ve got most of my parties all planned… all I have to do is find some matching shoes!