It would be easy to sit back and say that fashion doesn’t matter, but everyone knows that’s not true. Whether it be in music, film or daily life, the way we dress speaks worlds for our personalities and who we are as individuals. With the holidays right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about how you’re going to be approaching your look for all the parties and get-togethers that are coming up. After all, you know you’ll end up in some kind of holiday photo at one point or another this season, so it makes sense that you’ll want to look your best.

What many people forget, however, is that it’s more common to make mistakes when putting together holiday ensembles than it is to hit the nail on the head with one’s fashion choices. Some of these mistakes can be overlooked, while others can make even the most fashionable people look as if they have no idea what they’re doing. Even celebrities fall prey to these issues, like that time Paris Hilton wore a mock ski bunny outfit or when Julie Christine dressed up as a veritable human Christmas tree.

Here are three things to watch out for, none of which will do you any favors this holiday season…

Risking Wearing the Dreaded Holiday Sweater

We’ve all seen the dreaded holiday sweater at a party before – the one with the deer or pixelated snowflakes all over it. More often than not, someone wears it as a joke about dressing seasonally and maybe gets a few laughs. But keep in mind that if you toss one of these on, you’re going to be stuck wearing it for the entire evening. Even Kanye West has failed to pull off this look, and he can make practically any ensemble element look good.

It might seem as if it’s worth getting a laugh or two, but in most cases, it certainly is not. If you absolutely must wear one of these sweaters for whatever reason, it had better be at an ugly sweater party. Walk around town in one, and you’ll surely end up getting some questionable looks.

Being Too Sparkly 

In some situations, sparkly clothing can be really attractive. Stacy Dash’s pink sequined dress on Single Ladies, for example, really works well. For whatever reason, a lot of people use the holidays as an excuse to wear sequined everything, which can really look ridiculous when taken to a certain level. A slight sheen can look great, but you don’t want to be walking down the street reflecting the entire town.

If you choose to wear sequins, keep it to one piece in an ensemble. Combining sequined pieces will not only make you look like a walking mirror, but the potential for clashing in this scenario is overwhelmingly large. When in doubt, keep the sparkles in your closet and choose a more refined, sophisticated approach to winter fashion.

Not Having Anything to Wear 

Perhaps the biggest mistake to avoid this holiday season is not having anything to wear to a party. You definitely want to look seasonal when showing up at a holiday party, even if this doesn’t necessarily mean wearing holiday-themed attire. The best route to take is to simply buy one or two holiday dresses to wear this year, as the garments will be new to both you and the people you know. The type of dress you end up buying should depend upon how formal the parties are that you tend to go to, but if you’re just hanging out casually it doesn’t have to be over the top. Just make sure you have something to wear, and you won’t run into this issue.

Being fashion-forward this holiday season is more about not making mistakes than anything else. Avoid these mishaps, and you won’t have to worry.