February 11, 2009 3:48 PM
- Text
Do Your Party Clothes Fit Who You Are?
(CBS)
What would you wear to a close friend's birthday party? A nephew's wedding? A co-worker's house-warming? Outfits change according to the occasion and who the other party-goers will be, of course, so why do women buy one outfit and use it for every event? Also, do you strike the right balance between not showing too much skin but not blending into the woodwork? Why is picking party clothes so exasperating?
According to Katrina Szish of InStyle magazine (www.instyle.com), it's possible to get one outfit and change up the accessories depending on the purpose of the party. Fun and flirty when you're with friends, a little more conservative when you're around your colleagues and bosses, fancy and black tie-ready when you're going to a wedding. Her goal this morning was to take four looks and make them just right for a holiday office party.
One real-life model, twenty-something Grace, was wearing a short silver Cynthia Rowley shift and bright pink heels, which would work perfectly if she were partying with her pals, but not if she were invited to her conservative firm's holiday event. To tone down the look a bit, Zsish added black tights and a chic black patent leather clutch.
Dress - Cynthia Rowley, Quilted Tunic - $370; available at Cynthia Rowley boutiques, www.cynthiarowley.com
Tights - Hue, $11; available at Bloomingdale's, www.hue.com
Shoes - Steven by Steve Madden, $109.95; available at Steve Madden stores, www.stevemadden.com
Ring - Made her Think, $110; available at www.madeherthink.com
Cuff - Banana Republic, $28; available at Banana Republic stores nationwide, www.bananarepublic.com
Clutch - Alexis Hudson, available at Henri Bendel, www.alexishudsoninc.com
Another real-life model, thirty-something April, donned a pretty but austere LBD (little black dress). LBDs are great for almost every formal occasion, but can be dressed up a little more around the holidays. To keep from blending in with all the other women wearing LBDs, Szish has accessorized April with some fun shoes, a metallic sweater -- which she says is must-have this year -- and some gold bangles. This, along with a clutch, takes the standard LBD and makes it fashion-forward and fresh.
Dress - Isaac Mizrahi for Target Handkerchief Back Dress, $49.99; available at Target stores and www.target.com
Metallic Sweater - Cynthia Vincent, $168; available at Shop Bop, www.shopbop.com
Shoes - Cynthia Vincent, $396; www.endless.com
Gold Bangles - Isaac Manevitz for Ben-Amun, $145 - $205, Made to order; www.ben-amun.com
Ring - Isaac Manevitz for Ben-Amun, $125, Made to order, www.ben-amun.com
Earrings - Sparkling Sage, $75; www.sparkling-sage.com
Clutch - H&M, $12.90; available at H&M stores nationwide, www.hm.com for store locator
Real-life model Suzanne, forty-something, tried to dress up a black pantsuit with a metallic-looking top. But the pairing only makes her look matronly - what to do? To improve it, Szish has removed the suit jacket and added a beautiful brocade jacket, something that's perfectly acceptable for an office party or a black tie event, and looks much more festive than a dull black suit. In addition, she swapped out the suit's pants for a pair of tuxedo pants.
Metallic Tank - metrostyle, $24.99; www.metrostyle.com
Brocade Jacket - Trina Turk
Tuxedo Pants - The Limited, $79.50; www.thelimited.com
Shoes - Abaeté for Payless, $35.00; available at Payless stores nationwide, www.payless.com
Cuff - Echo of the Dreamer, www.echoofthedreamer.com
Ring - Mars and Valentine, www.marsandvalentine.com
Earrings - Echo of the Dreamer, www.echoofthedreamer.com
Necklace - Isaac Manevitz for Ben-Amun, $185, Made to order, www.ben-amun.com
Clutch - H&M, $34.90; available at H&M stores nationwide, www.hm.com for store locator
But what happens when a forty-something woman takes the fashion magazines too much to heart and ends up in an age-inappropriate outfit? Lisa, a real-life model, loves to wear sparkly things, perhaps to excess. What to do? Szish put her in an entirely new outfit, one that still has a sparkly side, but isn't quite as, well, eye-catching. Her look has been modified, but it's still fun.
Jacquard Sheath Dress - Ann Taylor LOFT, $99; www.anntaylorloft.com
Shrug - The Limited, $88; www.thelimited.com
Fuchsia Pumps - GUESS by Marciano, $120; at Guess retail stores nationwide; www.guess.com
Earrings - Isaac Manevitz for Ben-Amun, $115, Made to order, www.ben-amun.com
Ring - Mars and Valentine, www.marsandvalentine.com
Bracelet - Mars and Valentine, www.marsandvalentine.com
Bag - Alexis Hudson, available at Henri Bendel, www.alexishudsoninc.com
According to Katrina Szish of InStyle magazine (www.instyle.com), it's possible to get one outfit and change up the accessories depending on the purpose of the party. Fun and flirty when you're with friends, a little more conservative when you're around your colleagues and bosses, fancy and black tie-ready when you're going to a wedding. Her goal this morning was to take four looks and make them just right for a holiday office party.
One real-life model, twenty-something Grace, was wearing a short silver Cynthia Rowley shift and bright pink heels, which would work perfectly if she were partying with her pals, but not if she were invited to her conservative firm's holiday event. To tone down the look a bit, Zsish added black tights and a chic black patent leather clutch.
Another real-life model, thirty-something April, donned a pretty but austere LBD (little black dress). LBDs are great for almost every formal occasion, but can be dressed up a little more around the holidays. To keep from blending in with all the other women wearing LBDs, Szish has accessorized April with some fun shoes, a metallic sweater -- which she says is must-have this year -- and some gold bangles. This, along with a clutch, takes the standard LBD and makes it fashion-forward and fresh.
Real-life model Suzanne, forty-something, tried to dress up a black pantsuit with a metallic-looking top. But the pairing only makes her look matronly - what to do? To improve it, Szish has removed the suit jacket and added a beautiful brocade jacket, something that's perfectly acceptable for an office party or a black tie event, and looks much more festive than a dull black suit. In addition, she swapped out the suit's pants for a pair of tuxedo pants.
But what happens when a forty-something woman takes the fashion magazines too much to heart and ends up in an age-inappropriate outfit? Lisa, a real-life model, loves to wear sparkly things, perhaps to excess. What to do? Szish put her in an entirely new outfit, one that still has a sparkly side, but isn't quite as, well, eye-catching. Her look has been modified, but it's still fun.
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