We ask more of our clothes during the holiday season. The rest of the year, an office outfit is an office outfit and an evening ensemble is just that. But during that brief time when one might be called on to do her day job during the day and then attend a party or charity event at night, dressing becomes a strategic activity.

The outfit needs to look crisp and fresh for an extended period of time, be appropriate for all sorts of settings and, most important, be comfortable enough so a smile can be mustered at 8 p.m.

Seattle Times Newspaper