A dressy skirt and jacket combination makes for a super holiday outfit. It’s a versatile look that’s timeless, ageless and a lot warmer than a dress or a blouse ensemble. Your choice of skirt and jacket styles may vary, but it’s important to keep the fabrications of both items lavish and swish. The key is to look a step up from business formal.

Here are some things to consider when you plan this outfit:

• Skirts can be short, long, A-line, straight, matte, shiny, stiff, soft, neutral or bold. A long skirt is very formal and will take you to a black tie event, while a knee-length skirt can comfortably take you to any party occasion. Skirts made of jacquards, lace, silk taffeta, chiffon, drapy crepes and stretch sateen are ideal options.
• Jackets are best when they are short and fitted. They’ll work over any type of skirt and over a pair of dark jeans they will double up as a casual party look. Velvet, burnout and jacquard are my favourite fancy jacket fabrications this season, but sequins and sateen are also great. Have fun with voluminous sleeve detailing or signature Ralph Lauren ruffles for a truly romantic touch.
• Tops are optional underneath the jacket. Fancy camisoles that peek out always do the trick, but satin tanks and lacy knits do just as well.

Finish off the look with the golden rule: dressy heels and a small fab bag. It might be time consuming finding all the pieces of this ensemble, but when you do, you can split them up to dress them up or down with one of fashion’s best inventions: denim.

An assortment of black velvet jackets.

An assortment of party skirts. The intention is not for the look to be entirely black or for the jackets to match the skirts that they are positioned above (it just worked out that way with the pictures that I chose to support this post).

Fancy separates are the way to go if party frocks are not for you. The fancy wrap ensemble is classic, easy and instantly slimming. Unless you’re extremely well endowed, you can probably wear this look. Pair a fancy wrap blouse with a short or long skirt (A-line or straight), fancy heels and a petite posh bag and Bob’s your uncle. Matching the look with slacks will also work, but it’s not quite as smart. This style of blouse aches to be worn with a skirt because it’s dressier and more feminine that way.

This ensemble might need a little fine tuning. Here are some tips to help you on your way:

• Luxurious fabrication is essential. Wrap blouses are available in everyday cotton, which is fine for the office but won’t do for fancy fares. You’re after silk and taffeta to be party appropriate.
• Wear a shimmery camisole if the front V-neckline is too low.
• Alter the length of the ties if you prefer the look of a reef knot instead of a bow. A bow can look fussy while the vertical appeal of knotted ties is streamlined and draws the eye up and down. Most wrap blouse ties are long enough to accommodate bows, and end up hanging too far down your thigh if you leave them knotted without tying the bow. You’ll therefore need to have the length of the ties shortened so that the look stays balanced.

This party separate combination is particularly flattering if you have a little extra around the middle. A woven top that’s layered and ruched has wonderful camouflaging capabilities.

You can achieve the same affect with different styles of blouse. The pink blouse on the right doesn’t actually “wrap” like the red and brown blouses do (it buttons done the front instead), but the overall look of the outfit is much the same.

The Holiday Season is in full swing and that means cocktail parties, office do’s and New Year’s celebrations. The holiday party cheat sheet aims to give you a good starting point for planning your outfit. It covers the four big areas you’ll be thinking about:  your dress, your cover-up, your shoes and your handbag. You’ll also find some pointers back to related blog entries.

Please comment here if you have any feedback or questions and, as always, use Ask Angie if there is a specific question that you would prefer to ask in private.

Dresses aren’t your only option for holiday bashes, but they are the most fashionably festive and feminine choice in this frock-focused season. I’ve been blogging about alternative “non-dress” party looks and will continue to do so over the next week, so stay tuned. Unleash those fabulous outfits and let the merrymaking begin!

Above-the-knee shift, sheath and tunic dresses are extremely popular this season, and if I’m not mistaken this trend will continue into Spring. Wearing the correct type of heel with a raised hemline is imperative if you’re to keep your look hip and chic. It’s best to wear chunkier heels or a shoe with a little more foot coverage when sporting a mini dress or skirt. A skimpy dress paired with a skinny heeled shoe gives the illusion that you’re going to topple over, but a chunky heel somehow balances out the look.

The exception: skinny-heeled, knee-length boots with raised hemlines somehow works. The extra coverage that you get from the boots achieves a striking balance.

The haute couture illustrations are a little over the top, but they do perfectly illustrate the mini dress with chunky shoe look.

The short sequined dress is a strong new party look. “New” is relative because I remember a similar disco look in the 70’s and the use of all-over stretch sequin fabrication in the ‘80’s. It was then that I owned a garish shocking pink stretch sequin boob-tube (or tube top as they are called in America) and skin tight stretch sequin miniskirts and dresses were all the rage. Bring back any memories of your own?

Thankfully, 70’s and 80’s fashion that repeats itself is normally better the second time around, and this season is no different. Sequined frocks are now A-line and roomy, but still as sparkly as ever. Styles are either sequined from side seam to side seam, or partially sequin-embellished. I personally prefer the latter because a spot of sparkle goes a long way. Sequins from head to knee remind me of fish scales and can look a little cheap if the quality is not up to scratch. On the other hand, I have seen expensive, fully sequin-embellished dresses look magnificent. The sequins are normally a little smaller, a little closer together and not quite as plastic looking.

The right sequin dress paired with the correct accessories can look fab. Wear one of these to any bash and you’re sure to be noticed.

Short fully sequined dresses can be matched with opaque tights, sheer hose or no hose at all. You’ll find that most of the necklines of these dresses are quite high in order to compensate for their shorter length.

Short dresses with partial sequin-embellishment. Jewelry and handbags worn with sequined dresses should be kept plain because a shiny frock is a huge statement all on its own.

Today is Thanksgiving Day in the United States and here at youlookfab it is becoming a tradition to reflect on the things we enjoyed over the past year. This year I was thankful for the following trends:

• We saw an Autumn and Winter season full of colourful clothing that was not bohemian inspired.
• Dresses continued to be a fashion focus.
• Flats are just as fab as heels.
• Tunics and longer length knitted tops are all the rage.
• Skinny, straight, bootcut and wide-leg pants are equally trendy.
• Rises are rising.
• There is an abundance of wool-free warm handle knitwear available (I’m allergic to wool).
• The A-line silhouette is forever fashionable and generally flattering.

But most of all, I’m thankful for my youlookfab friends. It gives me great pleasure to work with my clients and occasionally help them to experience a wonderful “fashion moment” (when that foreign and unfamiliar item of clothing or footwear suddenly makes perfect sense). I’m grateful for the trust they put in me when it comes to their personal style. And then there is you – the youlookfab.com reader. I’m constantly impressed with the thoughtful comments you write on this blog. They really add to the value of our site, and they inspire me to continue.

Thank you youlookfab supporters and Happy Thanksgiving!

Black Tie holiday events call for formal attire. Men wear black suits or tuxes; while women have a choice between short cocktail frocks, long dresses or dressy skirt separates (fancy slack ensembles won’t do). Finishing off the look with heels, one piece of statement jewelry (either earrings or a necklace) and a small evening bag is a safe way to go.

If the new party look isn’t for you, then sticking to a modern classic ensemble is just as fab. Here are some ways to pack a little more punch and drama into a classic Black Tie occasion outfit:

• Add metallic, red or colorful shoes and handbag to a little black dress.
• Opt for a dress in a colour or metal instead of black.
• Wear a long chunky necklace instead of a short pendant or strand of pearls.
• Sport sheer shiny hose with peep toed shoes. Subtle sparkly styles will also work.
• Wear a translucent stiff wrap that fastens or “pulls through” in front instead of the pashmina kind that hangs loosely around the shoulders. This gives your outfit more structure and definition.
• Add a faux fur shrug and opera length gloves.

Browse the dress category if you’re unsure about the best dress style for your body type. A fit-and-flare style (fitted on top and A-line in silhouette) is universally flattering and comfortable and therefore an ideal option. You’re after an outfit with a bit of sheen, so bypass matte jersey dresses because they’re not sufficiently luxurious for a swanky event.

A midnight blue, empire-cut cocktail dress, a front-fastening wrap, and a men’s black and ink blue silk tie with a white shirt.

A long fit-and-flare black gown, shiny yellow clutch and delicious red satin peep- toe pumps that are probably impossible on the dancefloor.

The dropped waist coat is not a mainstream item, but it’s certainly making a fashion statement. It was particularly popular in London stores a few months ago and I’m seeing more of this silhouette here in the US. The style is sweet but hard to wear. You’ll need to be slender, tall and small hipped to pull this one off. It’s instantly widening and leg-shortening on most body types, especially if there is gathering on the hip seam. I say no to this style if you’re not a gazelle-like rectangle or an inverted triangle.

I get asked this question regularly, but it is a difficult one to answer because it depends on your profession and industry. It’s perfectly acceptable to sport bare legs in the fashion, arts and advertising world. It might be less appropriate to do so if you’re a lawyer, business consultant, accountant or bank manager. Throw in the uniqueness of a country’s culture and we’ll struggle to find an answer that is considered universally acceptable.

In general though, I believe that modesty is the best policy in a professional setting. In particular, ultra-fashionable sweater dresses and shifts that stop somewhere between the top of the knee and lower thigh require hose and tights irrespective of the industry. These dresses ride up when you sit down and it’s inappropriate to show large areas of your bare thigh at the office.

Remember that you can make exciting hose choices in traditional settings. You needn’t stick to boring bare beige. A mock skin colored micro fish net stocking is an updated and safe way to go. The fishnet pattern is backed by ultra fine, subtle, normal hose. The texture adds an interesting dimension to your outfit while the skin tone keeps the look demure.

How do you feel about wearing hose to the office in your profession and industry?

Just over four years ago I moved to America and this is when I first saw holiday knitwear in the ladies area of a department store. And when I say “holiday knitwear”, I mean that quite literally: Bright red, green, blue and gold pullovers and cardigans with snowmen, reindeer, Christmas trees and candy canes appliquéd all over.

I started my buying career in the infants and toddlers department of a chain store, where playful holiday knitwear is adorable. But the thought of adults wearing these items is quite foreign to me. Is this a holiday tradition here in the United States? I’d love to know the story behind this unique fashion statement.