Holidays are truly the most wonderful time of the year. It’s a time of giving and sharing, eating heartily, smooching under the mistletoe. What I really love is that it’s time to be shamelessly decked out in sanguine splashes of sequins, tasteful threads of tuxedo, and fabulously fun footwear. These looks are designed to make an entrance, go toe-to-toe with time, but most importantly to easily transition these gems into your wardrobe so that your duds get the most distance.
Sequins always scream a rollicking good time, but not all that glitters is golden; small sequins are absolutely divine for embellished detailing in skirts, chiffon or jersey tops, and accessories, but unless it’s a mixed sequin alternating in size or creating a pattern, an entire article of clothing in small sequins can be overkill. A vibrantly hued long sleeved boat neck mini like Alice & Olivia in a check-me-out shade like electric blue is guaranteed to stop tracks, and can be paired with black tights and a platform bootie for downtown funk, or with a chunky architecturally heeled mary jane for a more uptown affair. If a whole bespangled dress gives you the cold sweats, you can always work your bling in, one bead a time, and opt of for a sequined pencil skirt. For the holidays, this dazzling number can be paired with a tuxedo jacket, silk cami, and slick D’Orsay heels for a graceful approach that is anything but lackluster. Then, pair that same sequined pencil number with a silk of chiffon tie-neck blouse and strappy sandals and it’s a hint of a spring fling. Anya Hindmarch’s multidimensional glitter clutch with sleek hardware is sure to amplify a simple and well-tailored cocktail dress while illuminating light and radiance as you work the room.
I have to admit, my favorite evening look is the tux. It’s pulled-together, mysterious, and just as effortlessly cool as it was when Yves Saint Laurent debuted Le Smoking in 1966. A woman who rocks a tux is clearly either running the world or on the verge. I favor a slim or straight cut crepe pant with a satin trim jacket, like Alexander McQueen’s masterpiece with a cinched waist to add a twist, but lately I’ve come undone for structured tux jackets with leather accents and ever versatile skinny leather pants poured on with a straight cigarette cut for sophistication with a hint of dominatrix. Rawhides in a straight cut are also universally flattering and can seamlessly support your entire wardrobe. They can be worn traditionally with a freshly starched oxford and bowtie, with tails and a hardware cami for dramatic affect, or cropped and voluminous to engage fantasy and proportions. The key is anchoring the top with the bottom and the suit pieces hold their own separately, like rag & bone’s multi-tasking black tuxedo pants suit with gold braid accents.
Now let’s face it: Jumpsuits are controversial. If you’ve got a long torso or long legs, you may wind up being cut unflatteringly in the midsection. You may wind up with highwaters. If the fabric is too flimsy, it can act as a magnifier for cellulite. But hear me out; done well, a jumpsuit glides and moves with the same continuity as a flowy dress, but the design gives it some form. I’ve always been in the fan club, even if it was just a party of one, so I’m so elated that jumpsuits are back on the radar again. Esteban Cortazar also has birthed a ravishing and sinuous yet steadfast jumpsuit with a cape-back cady, which is sublime in winter white. For a class of sass, IMAN Global Chic’s crimson palazzo jumper with an ombre sequined cowl offers effortless glamour.
Finally, what would a rockin’ New Year’s Eve be without The Shoes? I don’t know about you, but I have been out for a night on the town and so dismayed by a pair of lackluster striders that I ultimately went home early due to an attack of the blah’s. So spangled and sky-high, sleek and stilettoed, D’Orsay, kitten-heeled, platformed, or flat, if you don’t finish your look of with a pair of kicks that give you an extra strut in your stuff you may as well do yourself a favor and just stay home. Pierre Hardy’s sumptuous multi-toned velvet platform sandals add a dash of disco to any structured tuxedo or long-sleeved shift, while Christian Louboutin’s stunning leather and chain peep toe pumps give a flirty frock some attitude. For the siren with a sense of humor, Charlotte Olympia takes a classic pair of crimson platform leather sandals, loses the knot, and adds a decal of a roaring lion for an element of capriciousness. Keeping the rest of your look minimal keeps these daredevil heels from crossing the line into comical.
Crank up the jams, pour yourself a flute of bubbly, and relish in getting dressed for a night to remember confident that you are armed with the best of the best for this holiday season to ensure you are at your most captivating when you walk out of your front door and resolute in the knowledge that you can work your new finds into dinner with friends or weekend shopping. Salut!
