I'm feeling the holiday spirit and have been weeding through Christmas dresses to find the perfect number to wear before or on December 25. Since I know I'm not the only person who needs options, I've got us covered with everything from preppier picks to winter-themed milkmaid dresses! And if you're worried that everything's just red and green? Fear not! There are plenty of holiday hues to choose from. Happy shopping!
Anthropologie
By now you should know I love a good cozy and stylish moment — hence this fun sweater dress. While you'll get the traditional rib knit that covers your shoulders, chest, and arms, you're also getting a woven bottom that's slightly lighter. You're sure to match someone's Christmas tree, making this dress the best choice if you don't want to go overboard with your look.
Abercrombie
Now, you know we love an Abercrombie dress over here. Somehow, they truly have a dress for every occasion — the holidays included! I love this deep, rich, green pattern here. It's totally evoking the Christmas spirit, and the silhouette is totally flattering too!
Ann Taylor
I'm not saying I picked this JUST because Taylor Swift wore a black dress with a bejeweled neckline the other night...but I'm also not NOT saying it. Regardless of who's worn something similar, this Ann Taylor dress is a totally classic shift dress that will look good at any Christmas dinner table. Plus, a little bit of shimmer never hurt anyone!
Revolve
Feeling inspired by preppier Kate Middleton looks this season? Revolve has you covered! This bright red dress with its statement buttons is an incredibly chic way to standout this holiday season! Pair it with some velvet black heels or a shimmery silver pair, and you're sure to turn heads...in the most demure way, of course!
MANGO
Do you plan to visit more than one family member or friend's house on Christmas? Well, you're going to need a flexible dress that won't lose its stretch with all the moving around you'll be doing.
P.S. Add a teddy or faux fur coat over it for extra pizazz.
Anthropologie
Nordstrom
This is a dress that would make Blair Waldorf proud — I don't make the rules! Really though, if you're feeling tired of the "typical" Christmas colors, this dress is perfect for you! The navy color will blend in perfectly with any environment, and the statement sleeves add just enough festive nature to your look!
Free People
Let's talk about it: 2024 was hard for some of us. I have a feeling you could use a touch of magic and whimsical feelings in your life though. While this dress won't fix your problems, it'll help you embrace the holiday spirit on Christmas.
Old Navy
Sometimes you just wanna through on a cute (and flattering) velvet dress and call it a day! There's just something about velvet that screams the holiday season — and I'm soooo here for it! Grab this Old Navy option for a simple silhouette, and accessorize it with some statement earrings for a not-so-simple slay. (Or sleigh?)
Nordstrom
Red is always classic for the holiday season, and this dress owns that classique nature to the fullest. The off-the-shoulder sleeves are gorgeous, giving you a slightly sexy look without being too over-the-top. Plus, that sweetheart neckline? Yeah, adding this dress to cart ASAP...
H&M
The only way to host your own Christmas party this year is to wear a sequin wrap dress that's perfect for the hospitality you intend to show guests. Though it makes a statement, it doesn't look outlandish. Seriously, it's just right for the holidays.
Banana Republic
There's no shame in wanting to show off the new pair of knee-high boots you bought right before Christmas. Between us, I like to think footwear is one of the most important parts of an outfit because it can make or break whatever you're wearing. This mock-neck dress from Banana Republic is perfect for allowing your boots to complete your look because the hemline rests right above your knees, letting everything else work in tandem with it.
Target
I always know Target's gonna have something totally adorable to add to my cart — holiday season or not. I love this flirty little one-shoulder cocktail dress for any holiday parties you have coming up! And? It has pockets. Yep, you read that correctly.
Macy's
If you recently gave birth and plan to introduce your infant to family members this Christmas, you'll want to wear something that's as comfortable as it's functional. Though this doesn't fit any traditional holiday themes, all that matters is that you're able to breastfeed or hold your baby without worrying about if the fabric will irritate little one's skin.
Ann Taylor
If you're spending time at your grandparents' house on Christmas and have a grandmother that gives you a side eye if your hemline is an inch too short, you'll want to show up in this sweater dress. It truly covers everything and is less likely to illicit interesting comments from your elders.
Banana Republic
My rule of thumb for company parties is to err on the side of caution. Banana Republic is known for having stylish pieces that work for professional settings so I highly suggest you wear this cute midi dress if you've RSVP'd to a holiday soirée at work.
Cupshe
Someone out there loves plaid as much as I do which is why this belted frill beauty's made it to my must-have Christmas dresses wishlist. It looks like it has the traditional feel of the holidays stitched all over, making it an easy pick for someone who wants something cute and festive to wear on December 25!
Lulu's
So you decided to go to someone's wedding on Christmas and have to figure out what to wear that doesn't distract from the bride's gown. Take a peek at this green maxi dress from Lulu's. It has a bardot neckline and velvet texture that says, "I'm formal enough to attend this wedding and not cause a scene."
Petal & Pup
And if you never wait for special moments to dress up, twirl your way into the holidays in Petal & Pup's pleated maxi dress. You'll find every reason to keep moving on Christmas just to hear a rustle of fabric while you set the dinner table or reach for a present to gift to someone.
But that's not all! Browse through more party dresses if you still need holiday style inspo!
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It's official: Blue Ivy looks totally grown up now — especially in her gorgeous gold gown at the Mufasa: The Lion Kingpremiere. It honestly feels like just yesterday that Beyoncé announced she was born, and now she's a star in her own right! She celebrated her Disney film debut with her family by her side on the red carpet (and everyone looking as gorgeous as ever).
While Jay-Z was one of the latest celebrities caught in the crosshairs of P. Diddy allegations, it didn't stop mom and dad from showing their unwavering support. The family put on a united front, smiling for the cameras and praising Blue's work on her latest Disney film, further proving that they're in this together. Here's everything we know!
Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney
Blue Ivy stars in Mufasa: The Lion King as Kiara with Beyoncé voicing Nala again. The highly anticipated film will show Mufasa's origins from a young cub to the majestic king we've come to know, love, and mourn.
In this cute BTS clip, Beyoncé and Blue are initially shown in separate recording booths while the latter says, "Don't stare at me." It's a typical response all kids eventually give their parents, but it doesn't bother Beyoncé. She simply smiles and says, "I can't help it. You're just too beautiful girl." Still, she offers a bit of reassurance to Blue. "I'mma be right here closing my eyes."
Blue briefly talked about what it feels like to work on a movie by saying, "If I like told my younger self that I was in a movie, I'd like never believe myself."
The star couldn't help but tear up as she continued to watch Blue and said, "Give me a second. I'm still...just can't believe that's my baby." While sitting side by Blue, Beyoncé eventually turns to look at her to let her know she's "so proud of her." Even Rumi, Beyoncé and Jay-Z's youngest daughter, makes a quick appearance!
The Mufasa: The Lion King premiere occurred December 9 with Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and grandma Tina Knowles standing by Blue Ivy's side. They looked stunning on the red carpet as they wore coordinating outfits. Although the ladies seemed to be present and excited, Jay-Z temporarily looked distracted while all of them were standing together (via PEOPLE).
If we had to guess, it may have something to do with the recent allegations connecting he and P. Diddy weighing on his mind. After the accusation went public, Jay-Z penned his own public statement and shared it to Roc Nations' social channels. The most heartbreaking aspect of it is realizing his children will be able to see everything.
"My wife and I will have to sit our children down, one of whom is at the age where her friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims, and explain the cruelty and greed of people," he wrote (via X). Only time will tell how everything pans out, but we hope this doesn't overshadow Blue Ivy's success, nor do we want to see people vilify her or her siblings for alleged misdeeds of Jay-Z.
At the end of the day, we're so proud of Blue for letting her light shine bright despite everything else!
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Gapnever misses, and right now, their new arrivals for wintertime are absolutely stunning. From chic (yet practical) jackets that stand up to cold temps to trendy jeans that'll definitely earn you compliment after compliment, you just have to peek at their current collection.
Luckily, I did the heavy lifting and scrolled all 600+ items to nail down the cutest styles for the season. A lot of these are undeniably luxe-looking, but also happen to be on sale up to 30% off! Shop my faves below.
These new arrivals from Gap are everything:
Gap
I own this hoodie in the butter yellow colorway, and I was instantly impressed by the quality. Its 'extra heavyweight' promise holds true – the material is thick and durable, but has just the right amount of slouch to it so it's not overly structured. The lack of traditional hoodie strings makes it feel upscale, which is perfect for any cozy winter 'fit.
Gap
This cotton poplin shirt reminds me so much of something DÔEN would sell, but while the famed brand's tops near $200 a pop, this Gap version is only $47. Plus, you can take an extra 30% off with code 'GREAT'. Score!
Gap
Though it's sheer, this meshy midi dress makes the perfect addition atop some cozy winter layers. Holiday gathering season is upon us, and this pick will def get the party started.
Gap
The button-up design on this lightweight cardi means you can play with multiple ways to wear it. The hem hits at just the right spot to pair with mid- or low-rise jeans.
Gap
This easy one-and-done jumpsuit is sooo flattering. It snugly hugs the torso before falling into a wide-leg silhouette that'll wear super well with your go-to winter boots. Layered up with a cardigan or not, you'll be making a style statement wherever you go.
Gap
Barrel jeans are one of the hottest jean shapes of 2024 – rock the trend with this style that's shoppable in 8 different washes!
Gap
Your new office BFF, now in the shape of a sleek strapless vest. Pair it with a blazer and you're set up for immediate success!
Gap
Cable knit is timeless, so you can wear this cozy pick year after year. After year. Seriously – the soft, slouchy cotton will hold up tremendously well.
Gap
I love that these wide-leg jeans have some '70s flair but still feel up-to-date for today's fashion trends. They'd look absolutely stunning (they def do the booty some favors) on a night out!
Gap
Hello, leopard print! If your winter outfits are craving a little extra oomph, this patterned piece is sure to do the trick.
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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
Ahhh…Paris Geller. Where does one even begin with the best Gilmore Girl whose name isn't actually Gilmore? The woman we all came to know and love. The purveyor of backhanded compliments, deadpan humor, the quickest wit one can imagine and an absolutely ungodly work ethic. The sole character of the series who I would 100% watch a spin-off of, and love every minute. Sure — she once said that everyone around her needed to be sterilized immediately. And that Rory’s boyfriend offers “nothing to women or the world in general.” And that she can “scare the stupid out of you. But the lazy runs deep.”
She may, in fact, be the only character whose absurdity warrants such unhinged comments, and I am so here for it. You may be reading this because you too believe that Paris Geller deserves way more praise than she receives. Or you hate her. Or perhaps you don’t even know who she is. Regardless, allow me to delight you with the many — shall I say — unique musings of my favorite Gilmore Girls character, and explain exactly why Paris was not only what the cult-classic show needed, but the feminist icon TV needed, too.
So let’s start from the beginning. Paris Geller (played by Liza Weil) joined the GG crew in Season 1, right as Rory Gilmore (the show’s sort-of protagonist) walked into Chilton Academy, a private school where Paris was attending, for her first day. A far cry from Rory’s relatively timid and soft-spoken personality, Paris tore up the screen with her high-strung personality and immediate rivalry with Rory (Rory did not feel the same), who Paris viewed as the only candidate who could possibly challenge her spot at the top of the class standing. As the year progresses, the two become friends, which of course Paris still highly questioned.
The rest of their high school experience is plagued with repeated ups and downs, from Paris’s parents’ highly publicized divorce to their joint student government campaign and, most notably, Paris’s C-SPAN meltdown, courtesy of a Harvard rejection fueled by what she can only assume to be wide-spread knowledge that she lost her virginity. Despite losing the Valedictorian slot to Rory (which Paris comes to terms with after finding out Salutatorians tend to be more successful), Paris walks across the graduation stage and accepts her diploma from the school’s headmaster, to which she iconically quips, “no hard feelings.”
Fast forward to Paris’s first year at Yale, a school she knew Rory was attending but had no intention of ever seeing again. Not to the surprise of Paris’s life coach, the two frenemies were placed together as suitemates, a pairing that ultimately served as a catalyst for lifelong friendship. Throughout college, Paris pursues pre-med and pre-law degrees, joins the Yale Daily News alongside Rory, dates an elderly professor (he passes away, leaving Paris to grieve), moves on with the editor of the Yale Daily News, Doyle McMaster, and potentially saves Rory from abandoning Yale forever by admitting to Lorelai that Rory is the only person who ever listened to her, challenged her and motivated her.
Paris then proceeds to become the editor of the Yale Daily News, a position in which her power-hungry tendencies took full-force, resulting in a forcible resignation, kick Rory out of their shared apartment, let Rory move back into their shared apartment (now with Doyle), be accepted to a slew of prestigious medical and law schools. She ultimately chose to attend med school and break up with Doyle, to which he refused, and tells Rory that they’re on their own but she can still do great things (Of course this doesn’t last, the two are meant to be best friends.)
Somehow this doesn't even scratch the surface of the character of Paris. As you can tell, Paris is a fiercely loyal, protective woman who fights for herself to no end. She (literally) doesn’t care what other people think (so long as they’re not within her immediate circle) and never stops pursuing her dreams, no matter how many times she probably should have. She is the epitome of feminism in modern television — perhaps taken to an extreme — and serves as a necessary counterweight to Rory’s floundering sense of self.
So long as she keeps her need for perfectionism in check, Paris has one of those few personality types whose wild ambition and outspokenness is directly beneficial to her success, a success that she, and only she, can define. Sure, she has an exaggerated sense of self-importance, but when balanced by Rory’s soft-but-straightforward approach, Paris can quickly reset, reevaluate and move forward.
That's the thing with Paris — she’s always moving forward. She doesn't get into Harvard? Tough. She takes a few days to wallow before considering her other options: Yale, Columbia and Princeton. She doesn’t know whether to choose med school or law school, so she takes stock of her bearings, reflects on her past dreams, and makes a clear, concise decision that she moves forward with.
Her brutally honest nature (both internally and externally) is exactly why Paris works. She’s generous when needed, comfortable with giving tough (and oftentimes tougher) love, is able to express vulnerability with the people she loves, doesn’t allow outside influences to affect her path and never let’s someone (especially a man) tell her she’s less than (*cough, cough*—Rory). For an early 2000s show, she showed women that there is power in education. There’s power in stepping away from a caretaker role. There’s power in expressing your opinion, no matter your age.
Image via WB
There’s no doubt in my mind that she’s inspired countless women over the years — after all, she’s inspired me! Even though she’s had her controversial moments, she’s always been a cheering voice for women, even if it’s behind her resting grimace. For these reasons, and so many more, I am hereby deeming Paris Geller the best of Gilmore Girls — the heroine, perhaps, and a feminist icon to all.
What's your take on Paris Geller? Let us know in the comments, and sign up for our email newsletter for more pop culture musings!
Header image via Netflix, Warner Bros
This post has been updated.
Gilmore Girlstakes up more of my brain space than I'd care to admit. The show is undeniably great. I mean, there's a reason it's become an absolute cultural phenomenon! The banter is witty and memorable, the Stars Hollow, Connecticut setting is warm and friendly, and the character dynamics feel natural and comforting. All of these elements combined create the perfect comfort show thatI personally rewatch again and again. However, despite having an overall positive opinion of the show, there is one bone I have to pick with it. This grievance makes my blood boil and keeps me tossing and turning at night.
While I can't pose my all-too-important question to the creators of the show, I will ask it to you, reader: Why in the world was Lane Kim's storyline such a travesty? Considering the show is not shy about uplifting and celebrating Rory (despite her many mistakes) it feels especially unfair how short of a stick Lane (played by Keiko Agena) truly got. Here are my unfiltered thoughts on the subject.
Throughout Lane's formative teenage years, she was forced to hide her true identity and interests in order to appease her mother. From hiding CDs in her floorboards and changing her clothes when she got to school, Lane was under a lot of pressure to keep her mom happy, while still trying to figure out who she was. Her mother even kicked her out after finding out about her "secret life," causing Lane to have to move into Rory's dorm. Rory, on the other hand, had a mother who supported her every dream and who she could be fully herself with.
I'm not sure why only one of these two besties got to live out their dreams, but if it did have to play out this way, it should have been Lane Kim. Given how difficult her upbringing was, couldn't the show have given her a win by having *her* be the one who gets to follow her dreams?
Image via Saeed Adyani/Netflix
Once again, the show propped up Rory and gave her not one, not two, but three love interests. Whether or not you love all three of them, we can all admit that each boyfriend was compatible with Rory in their own way, and helped her learn and grow. Lane, however, did not get this. Her first boyfriend, Dave, is great. He's kind and sweet and understanding of her family situation, but the show breaks them up because they can't handle being long-distance. (Technically, we know actor Adam Brody had to leave for The O.C. but where is the justice??!)
After Dave, it all goes downhill from there for poor Lane. She ends up with Zack, who isn't bad but isn't great. And, as soon as Lane is finally getting to pursue her passion by going on tour with her band, she finds out she and Zack are pregnant. Considering how long Lane dreamed of getting to be her authentic herself and openly express her interests, it feels cruel that this twist of fate took it away from her at this exact moment.
Image via Neil Jacobs/Netflix
Despite Rory having almost every opportunity available to her, we find out in Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life that she is making bad decisions (like, er, sleeping with an engaged man) and is struggling to find her way. Lane, on the other hand, has made the best out of the cards she's been dealt. She's still married to Zack, is taking care of her twins, and has even kept music in her life by joining a band. I can't help but think if Lane can forge ahead despite all of her unfortunate circumstances, how fantastic could her life have been if the writers had served her just a little bit more good fortune?
Image via Saeed Adyani/Netflix
Lane's experience mirrors many Asian-American girls' lives. She had a strict upbringing and struggled to strike a balance between fitting in with her American peers and forming her own identity, while still trying to manage her mother's expectations of who she should be. As an Asian-American, Lane's experiences mirrored many of my own, and, at a time when there was such little Asian representation, this was extremely impactful.
With the lack of representation at the time, it was even more important that Lane was dealt an ending that she and her viewers could be proud of. Instead of turning her into somewhat of a cautionary tale, her story could have been utilized to empower an audience of individuals who saw themselves in her. For that reason, Lane's treatment on Gilmore Girls will never quite sit right with me.
What do you think about Lane Kim's storyline on Gilmore Girls? Let us know in the comments and check out our guide to Where Is The Gilmore Girls Cast Now? to keep up with your favorite Stars Hollow residents (even if they're not in Stars Hollow anymore).
Lead image via Warner Bros
This post has been updated.
