Zara December Collection 2012

All year it's turned out collections that hone in on our favorite trends (at our favorite price points) — and Zara's last looks of 2012 are just as awesome. Perfectly on-point for the holiday season — without any festive dressing clichés here — the December lineup is a mix of black and white stripes, sophisticated houndstooth blazers, sequined minis, a touch of plaid, and a hearty helping of leather. It may not be rife with the most obvious choices for party dressing, but a printed t-shirt, statement jewels, and a blazer might just be a cooler alternative to your average Christmas dress anyway, as evidenced by lookbook muse Kasia Struss. They're also the kind of pieces you'll keep in rotation long after your holiday party and NYE obligations. Read on for our takeaways — then click through for a look at the whole collection.

• If you're not the party-dress type, this jumpsuit makes a pretty sexy alternative.
• Style up a sequined skirt just like this for the coolest kind of New Year's dress code.
• This sequined jacket is one of those awesome pieces, with just the right amount of party glitz and sophistication, that last you long after the ball drops.