Miami Living Magazine

The holidays are the most wonderful time of the year. Despite the sometimes- frenetic pace of the season, nobody ever really gets sick of December, except for maybe Ebenezer Scrooge. For any "fashionista" worth her salt, one of the best parts of the season is getting to dress for all sorts of social occasions, but even the best find themselves looking for new inspiration for what to wear. Working the Office Party Office parties are the kickoff to most peoples' holiday party circuit. The complication, however, is that typically it's hard to strike a balance between professional and party. Word to the wise, it's best to go conservative with a splash of holiday sparkle. The easiest way to achieve this is the skirt and top combo with well-chosen accessories. Think something structured yet playfully textured like the knee length alpaca pencil skirt from Raoul paired with one of Diane Von Furstenberg's ballerina wrap cardigans. Add a little holiday sparkle with a jeweled belt or hair jewelry to create a chic and simple party look, Anthropologie, Free People, and H&M are all good sources for these. If your party is for adults only, and takes place on a weekend night then raise the hemline a little, think something from 3.1 by Phillip Lim. Dinners and Drinks The friendly dinner party is where you can let your holiday style shine brightest. Your friends and family will appreciate you staying true to your personal style, with that being said use this opportunity to buy a new cocktail dress. Nanette Lepore's Metallic Jacquard Dress is perfect with its fun metallic sheen paired with winter velvet. If you are feeling a little more festive, Halston has a series of gorgeous cocktail dresses in holiday red. For some light winter layering, try out Swiss dot stockings with classic heels and don't forget the ultimate dinner party accessory: a truly great bottle of wine for the hostess. Holiday Social Scene From Thanksgiving onward the calendar is choke-full of plated dinners, charity auctions, and Christmas shows. Something about winter makes people crave black tie. We recommend making the season bright by wearing something with lots of holiday sparkle; one of the gowns from Bagdley Mischka is perfect for this. Pair the sequins with a faux fur wrap or an edgier cashmere sweater to contrast with the glitz. If subtle is more your event style, something classic like Theia's beaded bodice gown is what you need. Don't forget to finish off the look with a statement clutch like Marchesa's box clutch or Coast Paloma's Pearl clutch. Start Off 2015 Right New Year's Eve is about finishing off the holiday season with a bang. Take your cue from the fireworks display and opt for glitz and glam. Go Gatsby. If you can't track down something beaded and vintage, look no further than some of the offerings from Ralph Lauren, earlier in the year, or Sue Wong. Think of it as homage to 2014 and the wonderful trends it's provided. If your New Year's Eve plans are more party-through-dawn, consider something more playful. Pairing a conversation tee with a ballet skirt and layers of jewelry is fun, edgy, and made to dance in all night. Stores like H&M and Abercrombie have both of these things, or you can go to Celine and Moschino for a designer take on a playful party look. Remember, all of these events come with lots of posted photos, so it's worth it to pull out all the stops. If nothing else, the New Year always brings new trends and lots of post-holiday sales --and the only way to need a new outfit is to have already worn everything else. In Style: Dress to Impress Inspiration for Every Holiday Occasion Words by Olivia Willats FASHION MIAMI LIVING 37

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