The year flew by before our very eyes, and it’s already the end of December—albeit the busiest part of the month. The holiday season means countless events for our kids, get-togethers with friends, visits with family, and work fêtes.

The rush of excitement we feel upon receiving the invites can be cut short when we realize we have nothing to wear—or we don't want to repeat an outfit we wore to the last party with a similar crowd. And then there's that last-minute Christmas shopping we still need to get to which could throw our credit card balance right out the window.

If this sounds like you, you’ve come to the right spot. Taking inspiration from some of our favorite local influencers, we compiled the best looks to show just how easy it can be to be stylish and still stay on budget.

Sequins, sequins, and more sequins. Sometimes I hear "sequins are so in right now," to which I mentally reply, "were they ever out?" It's one of those staples that will never go out of style. Who else but Houston blogger Dawn Darnell to show us how to wear it and save money in the meantime? 

Above, Darnell is wearing a pink version of this Charlotte Russe wrap dress, which now appears to only come in red—which is still a great holiday option and, currently on sale for $15, a pretty unbeatable price.

Houston blogger Margaret Rojas of Style the Girl models a beautiful striped sequin jumpsuit—still available from Express in black (currently on sale for $64), which means plenty of chances to wear it with different accessories. Throw on a silk scarf or a leather jacket to complete the look and voila! 

A touch of sparkle is another holiday favorite—even more so when it's in the form of stars and brought to us by the ever-convenient Amazon. Wear this cute $25 dress with black booties, tall boots, or heels, depending on the occasion, and add a gold or black bag to guarantee you'll be the star of the night. Find other similar dress options here and here. 
 

Metallics have Gucci's seal of approval—when Alessandro Michele took the reins of the fashion house as creative director, he promptly sent silver pleated skirts down the runway—and other designers have followed suit. Case in point: this Michael Kors mirror dot crossover dress worn by Brittany Fullwood of Hello Honey. Style it with a similar color or black shoes and bag. The dress is currently available (on sale for $64) in black, but check other retailers for the silver option—or find other affordable alternatives here & here.