Mona (and let’s be honest Shila too) feels like our home (not-so-faraway) from home. So when we were thinking of places that inspires us and simultaneously have a not-so-obvious Christmas feeling, we were, of course, torn between the 2.
Mona was the winner this time, because their new yearly tradition, Mona Marché, is the perfect start of the festive season.
And we decided to dress up for “Festivus”! (it’s no coincidence that this episode of Seinfeld aired on December 18th—guess what today’s date is? Exactly!)
Stella’s Version
-“Gilda, are you decent?”
-“Me?”
Yes, that’s what I had in mind when I was dressing up. Do I look like Rita Hayworth? No, but that’s beside the point. I wanted something dramatic because if we can’t dress up during Christmas when can we? So I paired the Υστέρνια dress with sheer, black opera gloves and the most classic stilettos there are with a vintage fishbone brooch just for the fun of it.
Did I manage to stay in character? No, because as I said I’m not Rita Hayworth.
I have 3 favourite dresses of all time:
The Deadfall dress (you guessed it, the one I’m wearing)
The Avalanche dress and
I rotate between the 3 in every gathering/event/festivity/celebration I attend. The 3 dresses are all made from the same not-too-elevated-not-too-raw combination of wool. The refinement of the fabric makes it ideal for black tie events but the lack of sheen allows you to wear the dress (dare I say it?) from day to night. I don’t know where you’ll go in the morning wearing the Deadfall dress but I JUST wore it from 9:30 to go to work to 22:00 to attend an event right after. The Gia Borghini boots are surprisingly extremely comfortable and give to any simple outfit a bit of an edge.
For me black, navy blue, dark green and burgundy are my forever colours. Either in total looks or just combined with each other. For Christmas I either combine them with something sheer, sparkly or pearly and this time I did all 3! I wore a sparkly, sheer turtleneck with my burgundy wool suit and the most uncomfortable pearly shoes ever manufactured. I’m the laughing stock of my friends when I choose these very princess-y shoes but the joke’s on them, I can’t even walk in them!
Alexandra’s Version
For this very merry edition of our Substack, I gave the classic Christmas colour palette a little rebrand. Spruce green? Lovely on a tree, but I went with petrol blue. Red got a glow-up as rich, velvety burgundy. And black? Black stays, but in an updated blue-black version. It’s the universal answer to every “What do I wear?” crisis, especially when there’s panettone, mulled wine and partying involved. Now, let’s break it down because these dresses deserve their moment.
My first pick is The Australian Little Penguin dress with these waist super-revealing cutouts (because if you’re going for cutouts, commit). It’s topped with a gleaming silver-tone jewellery piece by SANKTOLEONO, which means no need for extra accessorizing. It’s made from wool in petrol blue—or teal, if we’re getting precise—which brings me to a quick history detour. Back in the days blue pigments were notoriously tricky to produce, unlike green, which nature offered up in abundance. But green dyes had a problem, they faded. Teal, requiring both durable blue and green pigments, became a symbol of elevated status. Pontormo’s Carmignano Visitation (1528) proves the point: Virgin Mary’s teal robe dominates the room, symbolizing status and importance. And she was pregnant with Jesus, so… Christmassy much? *Speaking of dominating the room—I actually forgot to wear shoes with this one.
This year, I’ve developed a bit of an obsession with everything-burgundy. Which brings me to my next pick: the ultra-chic ALTALUN dress in a rich, maroon wool. It’s long (like, practically grazing the floor), effortlessly sleek, and so minimal it feels like it was designed to show up in @cabmate’s feed. I kept accessories simple, just a few gold bangles for a touch of sparkle. Because when the dress is this good, it really doesn’t need much else.
Okay, maybe the Tarantula Juice Dress isn’t exactly “Jingle Bells,” but it’s definitely more have-a-very-noir-christmas. In a deep, almost-black blue (depending on the lighting), with a daring open back, this dress is basically made for anyone looking to say, “I’ve arrived, but let’s skip the pleasantries.” I threw on knee-high black leather boots, and just like that, I had the perfect look for breaking the ice at a glitter-themed, over-the-top party.
Valisia’s Version
Velour is a luxuriously soft and cozy fabric, celebrated for its ability to reflect light in a way that imparts depth, richness, and an undeniable touch of sophistication to its appearance. This inherent elegance makes it a quintessential choice for festive gatherings, such as a Christmas Eve Réveillon. For such elevated occasions, my ideal ensemble is the dark green velour Always blouse paired seamlessly with the coordinating Alexandra Leaving shorts.
The structured fullness and the length of the shorts, create an effortlessly flattering silhouette giving you at the same time legs for days. The sumptuous, deep dark green hue of the fabric serves as a stunning canvas for bronze accessories, elevating the entire look with a subtle glow of warmth and opulence.
Have I mentioned that velour is my ultimate go-to fabric for winter’s festive gatherings? Oh, I certainly have—and for good reason.As I mentioned above itt exudes a refined, timeless glamour that feels utterly irresistible. Yet, velour also possesses a bold, unapologetic edge, embodying a non-conformist attitude that sets it apart. Embracing this duality, I chose to pair it with black garters and stockings—because, why not? I couldn’t help but draw inspiration from the iconic 1976 Siouxsie Sioux look, where she dared to wear nothing but leather underwear at a Clash gig. A touch of rebellion and an undeniable celebration of personal style.
If you're aiming for a striking after-dark impact, sheer fabrics are undoubtedly the way to go. However, my ultimate styling advice is to pair the sexy with the sexless, balancing all the elements to create a look that feels chic but with a wink. The “Αρνάδος” romper perfectly embodies this philosophy. Its boyish, boxy silhouette complemented by the delicate sheerness of silk organza achieves an ideal harmony. The result? A look that feels both refined and daring, evoking the charm of a subverted librarian—unexpected, intriguing, and effortlessly cool.
A Festivus for the rest of us!
Stella + Alexandra + Valisia