Holiday Fun, Holiday Fashion

'Tis the season to be pretty and if you're like me then this is the time of year to start gearing up for some holiday fun. You've got parties to attend or to plan, time to spend with family and friends, the always entertaining company party, and of course the crown jewel of all holiday events: New Years Eve!!! So many events to attend and you being the stylish person you are want to have the perfect outfit for each, here are some simple outfit ideas that will work for every occasion.

Holiday Fashion Trends:
Before we begin shopping (Black Friday deals, anyone?) lets talk trends. The holidays are the best time to have fun with fashion trends you may not usually try. Sequins and sparkle may not be appropriate for the work day or for running errands but they're perfect for parties. Tuxedo jackets and pants are also a perfect way to mix and match for all your events, just remember to buy the right sizes for your body type. Reds are always popular this time of year but try mixing in some metallics like a bold silver necklace or a large gold cocktail ring. Just don't go overboard and wear too many trends. We'll get to more Do's and Dont's later.

So now that you know what trends to keep your eye out for lets get to the fun part, SHOPPING!!! The first thing you want to pay attention to when it comes to a any party is the invitation. I know, not quite what you were expecting, but it is important. The rules for this are simple if there is a dress code specified remember to stick to that, if there is no dress code then look at the style of the invite. If the invitation is fancy or formal then your outfit should be formal, same goes go for a casual invitation. Casual doesn't mean wearing your everyday go-to jeans and a simple t-shirt. This is your chance to dress up and stand out.


Here are some ideas for a casual party:
I know I just said avoid jeans and a t-shirt but that doesn't mean rule out all jeans. Wearing the right type of jean and pairing it with other, more formal pieces are perfect for a casual holiday party. While shopping look for jeans that have a dark rinse. Boot cut and skinny jeans are the easiest to find and work for almost every body type. Jeans with a slight flare are also a good choice for a casual party particular for pear shaped women (women who are rounder on the bottom). Here are some suggestions for holiday jeans:

Divine Rights of Denim Flare Leg Jeans

Forever21, $29.80                                    

Premium Denim Skinnies with Rhinestones

                                             Forever21, $27.80

               

                                              Mossimo Supply Co. Juniors Bootcut Jean-Dark Wash

                                              Target, $22.99



Choosing a top to go with your party jeans is a little bit easier. You have so many options though, so its all about narrowing down your options.

My rules for choosing a top are simple:

1.) If you're wearing dark colored jeans (the best option) pair them with a bright or light colored top.

2.)Dress up your jeans up by wearing something sparkly. I love this sequined top from the Kardashian Kollection from Sears for $39.99

3.) Dress your jeans up by pairing them with a blazer. The party maybe casual but adding a blazer is a way to create the perfect blend of dressy and casual. I like this Embellished Woven Blazer from Forever21 for $32.80

We've covered casual, so let's move on to a more formal party. There are many levels of formal from semi formal to Black Tie. Most events will specify whether the dress code is Black Tie or not. SO let's focus on what to wear to a semi formal event.

Dressing for a formal or semi formal event opens up a world of options for outfit choices. You can wear pants (but not jeans) or a skirt or even a dress. But with so many choices the amount of ideas can be overwhelming. My hint for shopping for a formal event is just keep in mind what you'll be comfortable with. If you know you won't comfortable in a skirt or dress then obviously you shouldn't suddenly choose those options now. Part of making an outfit perfect is confidence, being confident in what you wear will make your outfit stand out even more.

Let's start with dress options since most women choose to wear dresses to holiday parties, and why not? Its not everyday that you get to wear a fabulous party dress!!!

Now, the second most important part of choosing an outfit after confidence is fit. Making sure that your dress will fit and flatter your body type is very important. We've discussed body types slightly before. Now I'll explain different body types and how best dress them for your holiday party.

So today we'll start by talking about the perfect dress for someone with a Straight body type. As we know the Straight body type is very slim from top to bottom. Choose a dress that its fitted. The slimmer the dress the more it will flatter your shape. Avoid wearing dressed that are going to make you look too thin though. Wearing a dress that flows away from your body can make you look like you're drowning in fabric instead of accenting your thin frame.

This dress from Dots ($26.80) would be perfect for someone with a Straight frame. Its fitted through the top but is slightly wider in the hips, so it can add the illusion of a fuller figure without drowning you in too much fabric.

If you're like me, and you are more of an apple shape (full on the top, slim on the bottom) then the goal of finding the perfect dress can be one of two options, downplaying your full bust or accentuating it. For a formal event the best option may be to downplay "the girls". I'd start by choosing a dress that keeps my chest covered but will make me look like I have a little more junk in my trunk. The Randi Strapless Feather Dress from Bebe is $159 and is perfect for an apple shaped girl like me. The feathers and layers on the bottom make your bottom half look full while downplaying your bust without completely covering you up.

Pear-Shaped girls have a hard time shopping for dresses more than anyone I know. Pear-shaped women are heavier on the bottom and for some reason instead of trying to accent a woman's beautiful behind many dresses try to hide it with full skirts. This is where a Body Contouring or Body Con dress would be perfect. Body Con dresses fit like a glove to the entire body accentuating every curve. However, choosing a Body Con dress for a formal event can be very tricky. Since formal events call for a more conservative look I would choose a dress with sleeves. As Body Con dresses tend to be short it is best to just show one area of skin at a time in this case you legs so try to find a dress with a high neckline and in an understated color or simple pattern.

If the Body Con dress is just a little too revealing or sexy for you then there are plenty of other options for pear-shaped ladies as well. For other styles look for pieces that flow away from your hips like pants that fall away from the widest part of your hips or an A-line skirt. A dress with an A-line skirt is a great option for a formal holiday party. This dress with a gathered A-line skirt from Dots ($29.80) is a great way to minimize the look of your hips while letting you show off a small waistline and the ruffle detail is perfect for any holiday party.

Last but certainly not least, the Hourglass gals. Quite frankly you hourglass ladies consider yourself lucky, you have the figure that all women work so hard to achieve. However, sometimes dressing an hourglass figure can be hard. The trick to dressing your body shape is finding way to balance out your full top and bottom. You don't want to look too heavy on either end. The key to doing this is finding pieces that accentuate your waist. When choosing a dress its best to choose a dress that is fitted slightly in the top, nipped in at the waist, and flows out away from your lower half. This is the perfect dress for any holiday party. This little backless number from Cache ($178.00) provides the perfect balance for your hourglass shape. The sequins are perfect for a New Years Eve bash.


So now that you think you're ready to shop for the prefect holiday party outfit, there's just one last type of party: The often dreaded, yet always entertaining, Company/Office Holiday Party. We've all had those awkward moments when someone in your office shows up in a too short dress or skirt. So what DO you wear to an office holiday party? The rules are simple: Make sure your skirt is only an inch or two above your knee, make sure your clothes fit and flatter your figure: nothing too tight or lose. Lastly remember that this is a work event so keep in mind that if you wouldn't wear it in the office during work hours is probably isn't appropriate for a work related party.

Now before we go out to enjoy our holiday party shopping sprees let's quickly go over some Do's and Dont's for Holiday Party Shopping:
1.) DO buy clothes that FIT and FLATTER your shape.
2.) DO try trends that work for you. Holiday parties are the time to dress up and stand out.
3.) DON'T try wearing too many trends at once. A bright red sequin tuxedo+super sparkly metallic accessories=A big holiday mess. No one wants to look like a walking Christmas tree.

So now that you have your simple rules and I'm sure plenty of ideas. So go out and enjoy shopping and have a fun safe time at your holiday parties

Until next time Stay Stylish and Happy Holidays,
Lena B

For more information on shopping for your body shape visit:
www.ShopYourShape.com

For more cute clothes options visit:
www.Forever21.com
www.Cache.com
www.Dots.com
www.Bebe.com
www.Sears.com for the Kardashian Kollection