It’s time to sparkle

WE are on the Christmas countdown and are well and truly in the office party season. Whether or not your work place is planning a dinner and drinks night or just an after work get-together, you will want to get out of your work clothes or uniform and let your personality shine through. The shops are packed with bling at this time of year so don’t be afraid to avail of the trend, as this is sparkle season.
When going straight from the office to a party you will, of course, have to pack at least a pair of glam shoes and a bag. When you are not obliged to wear a uniform at work, you obviously have a lot more scope and can plan your basics and accessorise accordingly. The basics for this season are a printed silk blouse, tux-style jacket and, of course, a pencil skirt or embellished or printed pants.
Never wear to the office what you would wear to a nightclub but you won’t have to pack the kitchen sink if you engage in some forward planning. Team your printed silk blouse with a below-the-knee pencil skirt for work and be simply adding an obi belt (wasted wrap around), a sparkly brooch worn on top of the top button under the collar and glam pair of skinny pointed court shoes with an embellished clutch, you will be hot to trot.
Alternatively, you can breathe new life into a sleeveless dress by wearing your printed silk blouse underneath it. To be on trend in the office, you will need to button up the shirt to the top and bring it to the front of the dress, then before heading out on the town, remove the blouse, pop on your patterned tux or fur jacket and team it with natural or 40 denier tights and spiky heels. When thinking of wearing sequins to a party, you can team a sequined skirt with a crisp white blouse or a simple plain jersey-style top. The shoes of choice for this look are black gothic ankle boots or more delicate metallic Mary Janes.
Head-to-toe sparkle is a look that is not for the faint hearted but was popular on the A/W catwalks. Lanvin added opulence to the sequined dress by teaming it with a statement neck piece, chandelier earrings and ornate clutch. If that look is too much for you, why not try wearing a textured tux jacket or if your sequined dress has a below-the-knee hemline, wear a leather jacket. It’s all about contrast this season; even heavy knits are paired with sequined dresses and skirts.
The tux jacket is so versatile it can go from work to a party by offsetting its tailored lines with a sporty, flared mini-skirt. You can also wear a peplum top underneath, ensuring that the peplum starts at the jacket hemline. To create a taller, slimmer silhouette, try head-to-toe colour. Always start with the jacket and add trousers and top in similar colour tones. When your jacket has a winter floral print, opt for a plain top or dress underneath, as the floral pattern should speak for itself. Great shoes for this look are the two-strap court shoe, which will add instant femininity to your powerful tux.
For my fashion find this week, I would like to bring your attention to Clare’s newest online fashion site, www.azzbazz.com. The site offers glamorous and gorgeous party dresses, as well as seasonal corsets and lingerie, unusual hosiery and costume jewellery to suit any budget. When looking for something a little different, they offer a diverse range of affordable items for every lady’s wardrobe.

Tess
tessp@eircom.net
www.stylenmind.com