You are invited to…a holiday party…and more than likely more than one. The time span between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year is oddly short, meaning holiday parties are being crammed into fewer days and nights. What to wear, what to wear?
I love sparkle and glittery looks, and they are all the rage right now…thankfully! Even if they weren’t, I’m one to say “do it big” during the holidays, and uber-stylist and designer Rachel Zoe agrees.
“The holiday season is the perfect excuse to add as much sparkle to your life as possible,” Zoe wrote in her Zoe Report. “Every festive get together from now until New Year’s calls for shimmer!”
I love it! Best of all, it doesn’t have to be a formal black tie event to warrant a little sparkle. If it’s a more casual party you are attending, simply carry an embellished clutch with a little black dress or try pairing a sequin top with skinny jeans and some fun, sparkly shoes like these from Kate Spade that I adore:
I also love these silver glittery smoking loafers from Target (I have them in gold) and these multi-colored glittery ballet flats from JC Penney (I have very similar ones from 9 West)
Head-to-toe Dolce and Gabbana liquid gold heaven:
Silver and gold glitter options
Dressed down but dressy ideas from Nordstrom and Polyvore:
Don’t forget the small details:
Speaking of LBDs, they are always in style and the holidays provide the perfect opportunity to jazz them up a bit with glitz and glamour. Lace is also remains popular, as is the menswear trend. I know if we were attending our club’s big New Year’s Eve bash this year I would perhaps be wearing a stylish women’s tux of some sort. I just love the look!
To make the menswear look work however, be sure to add ladylike touches to your ensemble to create a feminine feel (sky-high heels, statement jewelry, bold lip color, etc.) and keep it from looking like a costume. Also keep it simple and stick to a classic black and white color scheme.
Whatever your occasion, your goal is to be comfortable yet look polished. Three simple ways to do so are to start with a great haircut, get a professional manicure (this is the time for fun metallic or glittery polish!), and shape those eyebrows. As they say, “if eyes are the windows to the soul, eyebrows are the frames.”
Still not sure what to wear? Well, without knowing where you’re going and what your tastes are, I can’t really offer more help, but I can help you decipher the sometimes confusing dress codes, which are:
Black Tie – Women should wear formal full-length or cocktail dresses and men should wear a tux. Black or other dark colors are preferred.
Black Tie Optional/Semi-Formal – Elegant long or knee-length dresses should be a lady’s option. If you choose to wear a short dress, be sure to pick one in rich colors and “dress it up” with special jewelry. Men should wear either a tux or dark dress suit.
Cocktail – This is your chance to be playful yet tasteful. Use color or sparkles to add a little “je ne sais quoi,” but be sure to keep it classy. Dark suits for men.
Business Casual – Women should wear a light and airy dress and even the right pair of sandals will work. For men, a linen suit is perfect.
When all else fails, keep in mind “better overdressed than underdressed” and during the holidays, who can argue with designer Bill Blass when he says:
Have fun and cheers!
Beyond Words 