If you’re going to a holiday party in the next few weeks, you’re probably on the lookout for something pretty special. But with lots of Christmas gifts to buy this year, who wants to blow a bundle on a party dress?
What can you wear that looks fabulous but doesn’t cost an arm and a leg? Here are six festive holiday party dresses, all under $150.
Socializing with your boss on a Friday night, watching a co-worker get sloshed on eggnog, and wondering if anyone will notice you are double-dipping at the buffet can make company holiday parties stressful. But they can also be a lot of fun.
Knowing you look fabulous in the perfect Christmas party dress can help ease your stress when you’re wracking your brain trying to make small talk. Whether your work party is a large, formal affair, a small potluck office get-together, or something in between, here are a few ideas for what to wear to a company holiday party. Continue reading “What to Wear To A Company Holiday Party”
Even though I posted earlier that velvet is one of the top trends in my Fab Fall Countdown series, gold velvet deserves a special shout-out of its own.
I can’t honestly remember seeing so much gold velvet since the ’70s, when my mom (along with many others) had a crushed gold velvet loveseat in her living room! ( Remember those days?) Other than that, it has popped up from time to time around the holidays, but now it’s busting out for every day (and every night) this fall.
When gold meets velvet, the result is always rich, elegant and classy. Here’s a look some gold velvet tops and other fab pieces that have sparked fashion’s sudden gold rush, plus some ideas on how to wear gold velvet this fall.
Wear A Gold Velvet Top to ….
1. Dress Up Jeans
They say opposites attract! Luxurious gold velvet paired with well-loved jeans creates an interesting, modern vibe. This pretty Free People Dream Team Top with its lacy sleeves and Victorian styling is soft and romantic and adds an old-fashioned sweetness to your basic everyday denim.
2. Add Impact to an Outfit
I love finding that one special piece that can take an outfit from ‘Okay’ to ‘Oh wow!’ and these gold metallic velvet booties from Stuart Weitzman will do just that. These boots look royal and would be fabulous with a classic black turtleneck or white shirt for a very stylish upscale-casual look that goes anywhere.
3. Wear Gold Velvet For Everyday
There is nothing more comfortable and easy for work or lunch out with girlfriends than a pull-on velvet skirt. But instead of one in boring black, stand out from the crowd in this one from J.Crew. I love the fresh way it’s pictured here with a chambray shirt and cute lace-up shoes, but since gold looks lux with black, I can also see it with a black v-neck or turtleneck sweater and boots.
4. Be Party-Ready In Crushed Velvet
If you’ve got any holiday parties coming up in the next few months, give this one-shoulder gold velvet top a close look. Not only will it get you party ready, but it’s also a classy way for an over-40 gal to achieve a subtly sexy look.
5. Flash a Dash of Gold Velvet
Socks have become a big deal in the last couple of years, and these crushed velvet socks are a way to get on that bandwagon if you don’t particularly like patterned socks but still want to try something a little different and fun.
6. Add Instant Luxe
If you haven’t worn a duster before and wondering if it’s for you, the answer is yes. Dusters add instant polish to anything you throw it on with. This velvet duster from Free People looks luxe with anything you wear it with. And did you notice how pretty the lining is?
7. Use A Gold Velvet Top As A Layering Piece
This sweet crushed velvet t-shirt from Target makes a cute t-shirt in its own right but slip a black or navy blazer on with it, and you’ve got a very sophisticated layering piece that will take you from a day at the office to an evening out at night.
Even if you like to dress casually, it’s easy to pull in a couple of luxurious pieces to upscale your outfit and make you feel fabulous. Here are two beautiful things I just bought: elegant, classy, and right on trend!
I love the classic look of an impeccably tailored jacket worn with jeans or leggings. This stunning velvet jacket pushes all the right buttons for me.
Velvet is trending, and you are going to see a lot of it this fall. This particular jacket is by Theory. They call it their power jacket, and that is exactly how you feel when you slip this baby on.
It’s been a long time since I wore a jacket with strong shoulders like this (hello 1980’s), and I must say I like the crisp look and feel, not to mention how a structured shoulder makes the rest of your body look so sleek.
My jacket looks red in some of these photos, but it is actually more of electric pink. Here’s a similar jacket.
Did you notice what else I bought? I treated myself to these breathtaking Kate Spade rose embroidered boots that I have been eyeing forever. I think they really pop against the all black, and their feel goes so well with the luxe velvet jacket.
Kate Spade flower embroidered boots fall 2017
Here’s a closer look at these embroidered boots. They’re a work of art! I’d be happy just to put them on a shelf and look at them all day, but I’m making myself wear them all the time, so I really get my money’s worth. ( Don’t you hate when we buy clothes and then don’t wear them?)
Let me walk you through what’s behind this look. Both velvet and embroidery are part of what everyone is calling the Russian Doll trend….lots of velvet, embroidery, dark florals, plenty of red, black, luxurious details.
I’ve taken a couple of these Russian elements and mixed them with a classic black column of color. Have you heard me talk about that before? If not, a column of color is simply a dressing trick.
To create a column of color, you wear black head to toe (in this case, a top and leggings). Then, you put a jacket, or long vest, a coat, or something like that in a bright or light color over top of the dark column.
The contrast between the long, lean line of black and the outside color running alongside it creates a visual illusion that will make you look taller and slimmer. Movie stars use this trick ALL the time.
So you see, you look relaxed but dressed up at the same time, and with my 40+ lifestyle I find I require that combo a lot.
Here’s one last look without the jacket. It looks good this way too.
Yesterday I touched on some exciting 2017 Fall Fashion Trends that you’re going to want to start thinking about incorporating into your wardrobe. They were:
Red Trend
70’s Style
Futuristic Metallics
Classics Deconstructed
Winter Florals
Today, Part II of What’s Trending for September and Beyond…….
6. Modern Cowboy
Also referred to as New Americana, this crafty, homespun trend runs the gamut from kitschy cacti motifs to Texas Tuxedos (a.k.a., head-to-toe denim). For grown-up gals, It’s best served in small doses.
Great fitting jeans with a cowboy-boot-inspired pair of mules, leather vest, or patchwork print scarf will make you look hip and on-trend. A cowhide print prairie dress with cowboy boots, on the other hand, carries the risk of making you look like a long-lost cast member of Little House on the Prairie. Keep it chic, not costumey. Continue reading “More Fall Fashion Trends You Don’t Want to Miss”
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