Psst, got your glamorous party outfit yet?
If your answer is “No,” we wonder if it’s time to turn your attention from table decor and gift-wrapping to looking sensational at those parties you’re attending over Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
When considering party-wear such as LBDs, jumpsuit and party separates, we must mention trends such as velvet, sequins and trouser-suits. We’re also noting important details like asymmetry and off-the-shoulder necklines, and embellishment such as feathers, frills, fringing, embroidery and, of course, sequins.
As we’ve said previously there are lots of hemline options this season and lots of beautiful luxe fabrics as well as velvet including lace, chiffon, crepe and jacquard. Plus, of course, anything lavished with sequins or “sparkle” as well as print, from floral and abstract to animal-prints.
Sequins and “sparkle,” are hard to wear successfully at any age yet they keep appearing on catwalks. That’s because models tend to have very “straight” and angular bodies so sequins look amazing on them. For the rest of us, not so much…
HOW TO WEAR SEQUINS & SHIMMER
All-over sequins or shimmer create the illusion of more curves thus they are very flattering on women with straight and angular bodies.
For us, the ability of shine and shimmer to add inches is less welcome. To wear all-over sequins or shimmer without creating the illusion of extra inches, consider buying in a larger size to avoid cling.
Other solutions include partial sequins…For instance, we love a sequin slip dress, but believe it works best partially hidden beneath a dark blazer or jacket which we’ll keep on all evening!
Other options are to pair a sequin bottom half with a very plain (possibly long-sleeve) top, or to team a plain bottom-half with a sequin top half and then add a plain blazer or other jacket.
Or just wear sequins as embellishment…
Left: Sequin slip dress, River Island, £65, sizes 8-16
Right: M&S sequin top, navy, £25, sizes 6-24
Left: Sequin midi skirt: River Island, £65, sizes 6-16
Right: Wallis, now £25, sizes 10-16
LITTLE BLACK DRESS
You don’t need us to tell you about the Little Black Dress; you know all about LBDs. We will just mention that the season’s best may be navy or teal or burgundy. It is all about the instant glamour and instant flattery of an LBD, rather than it actually being black…
Left: Phase Eight navy LBD, £285, sizes 6-20
Right: Gina Bacconi, £220, sizes 8-26
MAXIS, MIDIS & JUMPSUITS
As an LBD is likely to be knee-length (the “little” in the name is a bit of a giveaway!) here is party-wear for all who prefer the extra coverage offered by a maxi, a jumpsuit or a midi (by which we mean a dress with a mid-calf hemline and fullness, pleats, etc).
Left: Phase Eight maxi dress, £225, sizes 6-20
Roman dipped-hem midi, £70, sizes 10-20
Left: Metallic snake-print midi dress, Blue Vanilla, Debenhams£32, sizes 8-16
Right: Phase Eight jumpsuit, £130, sizes 6-20
TROUSER SUITS
As we have been saying for some time, trouser suits are hot, hot, hot… For party-wear, choose one in tuxedo-style, as rocked by Emma Thompson or in a luxe fabric such as satin or metallic jacquard.
Left: Tuxedo jacket, Boden, £160, sizes 8-20 (matching trousers, £90)
Right: Reiss Arla jacket, £375, sizes 4-14 (matching trousers in sizes 4-16, £175)
PARTY SEPARATES
Glamorous evening separates are a clever way to put tops, trousers and skirts together to create a party outfit unique to you. Party separates also allow you to deal with any issues of proportion in body-shape… for instance, a bottom-half in a dark colour and matte finish is good for “pears”, while a top half in a muted colour without too much sparkle is flattering for “apples” or those with a fuller bust.
Right: River Island, £30, sizes xs-l
By the way, we think you should know that the best party pieces are selling fast. It is, after all, December. All retailers are keen to avoid unsold stock so they’ve bought less…so, if you are slow, you risk missing out! Have fun shopping for your party-wear. We’ll be back with more information and fashion advice soon. In the meantime, stay sensational.
Leave A Reply