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Yuletide Greetings Girls!
Now I know you're currently throwing wads of hard earned cash at various useful gifts for 'Nanna' or `Cousin Jenny', but please spare a thought for your wardrobe and its contents at this most busiest of times. Do you or do you not have one fab outfit you can don?.
What are you going to wear to THAT party or family food fest?..Aargh!!! I can't bare the thought of you turning up in the same moth eaten snowman jumper or LBD again, (unless that's your thang) so I'm going to offer you a holly branch of styling help.
You're Christmas cherub is here to throw you baubles of current festive finds (not affiliated) and shower you with gifts of inspirations to save you from your December dowdiness. Heaven forbid!!
Here are my TOP 5 POINTERS to consider in your outfit game....
1. DETAILS, DETAILS
Hoorah for sequins, soft ruffles and crystals. No we're not making our own xmas decorations, I'm talking the art of little details and clothing 'embellishments'. From fine knits with bejewelled details, ruffled or one shouldered necklines to shunkly (is that a word?) sequinned skirts and sparkly trousers , there's something for every taste whether full on or subtle.
The route you choose to take is down to your personal taste but I think that a simple adorned top goes well with a tailored separate in a more textured or patterned fabric whereas a glitzy dress takes less bling and hair can be simple.
Just don't try and outdo your Christmas tree, no one wants to be blinded.
Take heed though, don't put sparkly, metallic or embellishment on parts of the body you're not fond on as they do draw attention to them and certainly, fluid metallic or fine sequinned fabrics are not 'lumps and bumps' friendly. It's always better to flatter your form by skimming rather than sticking.
It's because they're highly reflective and increase the illusion of surface area you see, FYI they make things look bigger! This is great if you want to balance up proportions though, so if you're smaller up top than your bottom half, ( a pear shape) you can try sequins in a jacket or top and keep your lower half matt, darker and simple in silhouette.
If you do want to flaunt your assets use 'glitz and bling' to draw the eyes to them and you might even attract a few magpies in the process. So with crystals and gems you can look for them on trims to garments and bags alike.
Speaking of birds, feathers are massive and a lovely textural touch to your evening wear but I am always dubious about adding them to my practical wears because they just don't work well in our wet weather climate. Flat and soggy is not a good look I fear.
2 , FEEL YOUR WAY
This seasons fabrics are luxe and tactile making physical contact even more attractive,. Hello lace, leather and velvet... ooh er missus. For a bit of sex appeal there's lace a plenty in dress forms to blouses on the high street in dark hues as well as creams and neutrals, but if you're a bit scared do not fear, you can still show your provocative side in a shrug/bolero or with see-through details on tops and skirts.
Lacey arms are great camouflage for flesh rich upper arms provided they're not tight otherwise they'll look a bit strangled and not at all attractive.
Leather is a great fabric to add structure and create a neat silhouette against floatier or more drapier garments. It's great for camouflaging lady wobbles too and I often like to tuck my tummy into a leather skirt and you can get many a fab print on a faux fabric too.
Velvet can be super chic and looks 'amazeballs' and by no means `Austen Powers'. You can find it in dresses, camisoles or even trouser suits and worn with heels looks the bees knees and it doesn't have to be black either. This fab jumpsuit is in a lustrous green.
3. PRINT SAVVY
If you have a penchant for print then you're in luck this Christmas and there is something for everyone. There's dark florals for the romantic types, rich plaids for the classics and silky animal prints for the more dramatic, which are all gorgeous for parties.
There's always a spot of jacquard hanging on the rails too. What's jacquard I hear you say? Well its a rich silkier version of 'Aunty Maud's' curtains, but not as heavy and definitely more chic.
Personally, I think they look great in a trouser or skirt teamed with a simple shirt/blouse and a jacket and heels.
4. COLOUR CHARM
The bright and the bold are rife this holiday season, so seek out the fiery warm reds, oranges and yellows to lift your mood and merge with the lights and festivities. These hues are great if you're warmer in the hair and eyes department and especially so if you're darker in skin tone. They work wonders with a bit of animal print too.
However, fear not if you slide more to the pale and peachy, because there's the lighter versions and the whisper on the street is the pairing of beige and pink, yes you heard right.
The Autumnal classics of greens, burgundies and navies are still around if want to inject a pop of comfortable colour but metallics are definitely the way to go if you want to give them an instant edge. Silvers, pewters and shiny shiny is easily pulled off in accessories if you're not feeling brave.
5. ACCESS ALL AREAS
The key to finishing an outfit is in the accessories and this season we're seeing lots of ideas and inspirations from ear crawlers to blingy buckles.`
Statement necklaces are still big news but they've gone more ornate and pearly, especially in the earring department. Plus, they look great with simple garments and slick hair dos.
If you've bought a backless dress then you need a ` backlace' yes it is a word and looks beautiful on a toned back. Don't go out looking for one though you can just flip a long necklace over and 'et voila'.
Feel free to bejewel your lustrous mane with neat ornate hair clips too or go for an updo if you're feeling Cinderella like, you cant beat a pile of coiffed loose curls.
Lastly, lets not forget our 'ickle tootsies' and of course our secret addiction....shoes!!!! Well maybe mine anyway.
Snake and animal print really are a great wardrobe addition because they act as a neutral so they will always go with something and are definitely an investment.
Statement shoes or those of a different colour to the rest of your outfit can make a regular outfit look edgy and you don't have to match your handbag either these days, but don't go overboard because remember, your face is much more beautiful than your feet.
Check out my Pinterest link for visuals and outfit ideas.
On that note I wish you a Happy Christmas and Fabulous New Year!
Be Yourself, Be Fabulous and Be Safe.
Sara xxx
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