The space age trend started coming through last year and there’s no stopping it for 2008. Metallic trapeze jackets, biker styles, blazers and trenches are an ultra modern, fashion forward look that has just recently gone mainstream. Metallic jackets are not created equally and you’ll find that some are more overtly shiny than others. If you like the idea of wearing a silver or gold jacket that’s not that shiny, choose one in a natural fiber like cotton or linen. The effect of metallic fiber (lurex) woven together with natural fiber is more subtle, than metallic fiber woven together with non-organic fiber. I purchased a metallic linen jacket last season and it’s an indispensable neutral in my wardrobe for both daytime and evening.

A collection of subtle and very shiny metallic trapeze jackets, bikers, trenches and blazers. I like this look best with jeans or over a dress.

Unfortunately I cannot appreciate the elevation of these shoes, but platforms are the height of party fashion this season. They’ll look festive and mod with cocktail dresses, jeans, flirty skirts and satin skinnies (either bare-legged, or with hose). Pop in foot petals to prevent your feet from sliding and add an insole for cushioning comfort. Statement peds like these are sure to kick your outfit up a notch if you feel stable in 4-5 inch heels. They’re like sculptured works of art on your feet. I’ll admire them from a distance because I draw the line at 3 inches and “2 hours” for party shoes and that scenario needs to include a lot of sitting.

Pretty party platforms with either skinny or chunky soaring heel heights are a must if you like the look and your feet can stand it. It’s a skill that you can add to your resume if you can walk and dance the night away in these. I don’t know how Beyonce does it.

Some holiday events aren’t formal enough for a suit and tie, but smart casual won’t do either. The answer is something in between, where a fancy form of business casual never fails. Here’s what you need:

• Dress pants in wool blends are best. Stick to flat fronted styles with straight legs (these are generally most flattering). Stay away from casual khakis and cotton rich fabrications because it’s inappropriate to wear this look in Winter.
• Dress shirts should be fairly form fitting and preferably a little shiny. This way your look is a step up from everyday office wear. Wear them tucked into pants with an undergarment-T and dressy belt that matches your shoes. The informal untucked shirt look is not suitable in this setting.
• Smart shoes in high shine leathers are ideal. Keep them the same colour or darker than the pants and wear dress socks that match.
• Blazers are an optional extra, but a chic finish to the look. Plain or pinstriped wool , cashmere or velvet fabrications are great and remember that you can comfortably pair this look with jeans for smart casual occasions. Multi-purpose pieces in our wardrobes are fab.

Plain shirts and micro-geometric patterned shirts are dressier options than broad stripes, and darker colours both for shirts and dress pant look a little swankier than lighter hues. But a pair of black dress pants and white shirt remains a perfect semi formal combination, especially on a darker skin tone.

Suits and tuxes are inappropriate for casual holiday parties at home or at informal restaurants (unless there is a dress code stated on the invitation). Relaxed holiday gatherings are usually smart casual and this calls for a toned down, yet appropriate, holiday look.

Putting together smart casual attire for gents is easy once you have the components:

• Jeans – A perfectly fitting fab pair of quality dark wash jeans will take a bloke almost anywhere. Learning to dress smart denim up or down contributes significantly to one’s personal style, so it’s worth investing in a splendid pair. Make sure that the jeans aren’t too short (high water pants shorten the leg).
• Shirt – Finding a great shirt is not easy because shirt fits and lengths are inconsistent. A man’s shirt has to fit properly in order for him to look chic (men generally wear smarter shirts at least a size too big). A dressy shirt looks classy when it’s tailored but not too snug, so alter if you need to. And remember to do “the sit test” (a shirt should not pull open at the tummy when sitting). It’s acceptable and hip to leave smart shirts “untucked”, but they need to be short enough to look chic. An untucked shirt that’s too long and big looks sloppy.
• Shoes and belt – There is no limit on the dressiness of the shoe. Both lace-up and pull–on will work. Stay away from clumpy peds with thick rubber soles that are unrefined. Wear a matching belt and finish off the look with dark dressy socks.
• Blazer – This is an optional but handsome cherry on top. Think boarding school pinstripe blazers in grey, ink or black wool blends and make sure that the fit is perfect both in length and width. The shoulders should not drop and the button should close. Ask for professional assistance if you’re unsure.

A tailored finely knitted polo neck (turtle neck) is a great alternative to a shirt when it’s cold. This is the masculine version of the flop-proof outfit and will serve men well for almost any smart casual occasion.

The untucked shirts on these models are at the correct length. An undergarment T-shirt worn under a button down shirt is always a good idea.

Veteran American fashion designer Ralph Lauren brought out a few interesting Holiday looks for gents this season. Not quite my preconceived idea of the male American tradition, but a novel and unique look all the same. In fact, I can appreciate the retro 50’s trend with a Scandinavian twist. To my surprise, the models seem to get away with the look. On some fashion level these Holiday ensembles are ultra funky, preppy and tastefully humorous. Does anyone else share my view?

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.