Thursday 15 November 2012

What to wear this Christmas . .


As it is nearing the party season now is a great time to start picking up a few great pieces to see you through December and over the New Year.  I have suggestions suitable for all ages and tastes and as a personal shopper I get to see all the gorgeous garments as soon as they arrive in stores.  It is such a great time of year for dressing up and wearing something special.  It is your opportunity to wear a little black dress, sequins and glitter and a faux fur coat.  Alongside these, I have noticed five key trends emerging for this winter. 

Lace – This feminine fabric shows a little skin through the print of the lace creating a sheer effect, this can look very pretty whilst being practical on those winter nights out if worn in a sleeve to take the edge off the cold and cover pale winter skin.  Pair it with a chunky, modern necklace for contrast and a tailored trouser to mix the delicate, vintage style fabric with a masculine edge.  If you are not keen on wearing separates on a night out, there are many lace dresses on the high street at the moment, which are the easiest way to wear lace.  Once the dress is on you can just add simple accessories for a classic look.

Lace top – Dorothy Perkins £28



Gold – For the upcoming party season, I have my eyes pealed for the perfect party dress and this year I am swapping the little black dress for the little gold dress.  I first saw a great gold dress with black lace detail last month and since then I keep spotting gold styles everywhere.  Rather than just using gold as an accessory this winter, why not have the colour as the main feature of your outfit? Let the gold do the talking and pair it with a neutral colour like charcoal or black.  Gold and raspberry work really well together, as do gold a deep purple.  When done right, gold can look glamorous and elegant which is perfect for over the Christmas and New Year period.


Gold skirt – Whistles £125



Leather – Whether you opt for a traditional leather jacket or something a little different this winter, leather is a great addition to any outfit.  Why not try a leather skirt, one option being a ladylike pencil skirt but when it is made from leather it really gives it an edge. Then there is a 60s style mini-skirt in leather and skater style short leather skirt, either way just tuck a good quality t-shirt in, a sheer blouse or the on-trend look of a jumper and leather skirt.  If you are daring swap the skirt for leather trousers!  If you would rather stick to a dress you will be able to find a numerous styles on the high street.  Mostly this season I have seen leather dresses with jersey panels which make them fit better and more comfortably than all leather.  Wear with caution! Keep in mind how warm leather can make you feel!


Leather dress – Reiss £295



Velvet – There is something very festive to me about velvet.  It is definitely a fabric you save for the Autumn/Winter period as it is too heavy to wear any other time.  If you are investing in a velvet jacket or bag I would suggest sticking to a classic colour that you can wear with a variety of prints and colours.  However, if you are going for a more on-trend piece you could have fun colour-wise.  A velvet jacket in a dark colour, such as navy or black can look just as great worn over a little dress as with some fabulous trousers and a slim fitting blouse.


Velvet jacket – Next £65



Baroque – Carrying on from being one of the Spring/Summer 2012 trends, baroque has now taken a darker, more romantic if not gothic feel compared to the colourful Versace like intricate mix of chains and floral detailing.  Think textured fabrics and subtle prints on trousers and jackets worn as a suit or separately.  There are plenty of opulent jacquard dresses available in variety of colours this season.  There are many ways to wear this trend.  You could wear a baroque print on a t-shirt with dark jeans in the day or a jewel coloured baroque printed dress on a night out.  The choice is varied which makes this a particularly accessible trend.
The wonderful thing about the above trends is that they can be mixed and worn together to create new outfits so each piece can be worn numerous times eg layer the velvet jacket over a baroque dress or a lace top. Wear a dress with a gold baroque print, two birds with one stone.  Also you can dress down some of the trends and key pieces if you know how eg wear a long sleeved, lace top with beautiful wool trousers or a gold, fine knit jumper with a dark jeans to make the pieces suitable for day to night.


Baroque dress – Oasis £75

No comments:

Post a Comment