What to Wear: Holiday Cocktail Party

Truth be told, I've been waiting for all the Halloween fuss to be over so that I can start planning for Christmas. Thanksgiving is wonderful as well, but there's just something about Christmas (enter spiritual pun/anecdote here) that is aglow with warmth, merriment and a little sparkle. ;)

While it may seem a bit too early to brainstorm your wardrobe for holiday social gatherings, I take the first of November as a sure sign that Christmas is right around the corner. We're in the initial stages of party planning, and in the midst of Googling peppermint cocktail recipes and figuring out whether white or rainbow lights are best, I've also compiled an inspiration board of sorts to get us all set on the right (fashion-forward) foot:

And here's a little fashion inspiration for the guy in your life:

Do you have a go-to dress for cocktail parties? 

Any social events on your calendar already?