The holiday season is approaching, but what can you wear and what is best to avoid on big occasions? Here my tips for not getting caught unprepared and looking your best without spending a fortune.
Christmas Eve, Dec. 25 and New Year’s Eve, these are the most important appointments in the coming weeks, to be approached with the right enthusiasm and above all with the right amount of glamour. Attending a gala dinner or event does not happen often and especially not to everyone. When it happens most people are assailed by doubts, and among the most recurring is obviously what to wear.
Let’s see what are the must-have items and how to best enhance one’s physique while respecting the rules of good taste. Actually choosing the right attire to wear to a gala dinner is less difficult than you might think. Often the invitation also includes rules regarding the dress code, which you need to adhere to.
Christmas Eve dress code
Tradition dictates that on Christmas Eve, families gather around a table to eat delicious seafood dishes, feasting and celebrating the happy occasion of being together. The dress code will depend on the type of evening and the location chosen. If staying indoors, ladies can opt for a knee-length sheath dress or just above, paired with classic pumps or a high-heeled ankle boot. In the case of celebrations at the home of relatives or friends, it is best to avoid a long dress, reserved for a gala dinner or an event held in a more formal setting. For the same reason, short dresses, balloon dresses and generally cocktail dresses should be avoided in this last case.
It is essential to know that a woman, at a gala dinner, will have to wear a long, plain dress. The right length comes to cover the ankles, in addition, the train is expected, but it should not be excessive. The neckline should allow the lady to show off precious jewelry, but without being excessively accentuated. Stoles and fur coats are ideal to cover the shoulders, and sandals are allowed.
Over the years, the rules of etiquette have become less pressing, and the choice of colors is also less bound by protocol. However, dark colors such as timeless black, burgundy or midnight blue remain to be preferred. An exception is granted to scarlet red or forest green, which recall the Christmas atmosphere.
Whether one is at home or attending an actual party, Christmas Eve fabric is warm and precious. Light velvet is ideal and generally fabrics that enhance the body without overly accentuating the shape. As for men, on the other hand, if a black tie, or tuxedo, is not required, it is possible to wear a dark suit with a tie or even without, but leaving the first button of the shirt undone. If the event is informal, a broken suit will be elegant without being pretentious.
For any doubts, the advice is to consult a professional who can enhance the silhouette and complexion, through the most suitable colors and patterns, and also the overall look of the couple. Her and his looks, in fact, should be strictly coordinated.
Christmas dinner dress code
After getting through Christmas Eve with ease, here is no way to disfigure for lunch as well. Since it is a daytime occasion, the evening dress can be set aside in favor of a suit jacket and palazzo pants, which has been all the rage for the past couple of seasons. Underneath you can wear a simple undercoat, such as a soft wool turtleneck perhaps in red or forest green in homage to the Christmas time.
Women who just can’t give up the skirt can choose a little black dress suitable for parties, profiled in red or burgundy, or paired with a soft cardigan. Very elegant is also the total white, in this case better to focus on a fabric such as wool or cashmere and prefer simple and clean lines.
If attending a more formal event, the “lounge suit,” which is the dark suit for both her and him, may be required, but less demanding than the black tie and long suit. That of the lounge suit is a choice of courtesy to the guest, who especially in Italy is unlikely to own a black tie and can thus opt for a suit that is already in the closet.
The man should not deviate too much from the business man’s attire that he perhaps wears during the week, opting for a blue suit with a white shirt, to be paired with a tie in typical holiday colors. Great attention is given in this case to accessories. Here it is possible to indulge in a few quirks, such as a vintage watch or cufflinks or a more valuable collector’s piece.
As for the woman, the range of possibilities is wider with the choice ranging from a longuette dress, which, however, should not touch the ground and not cover the shoes, to the classic knee-length sheath dress to elegant pants with a satin or georgette blouse. The jewelry to match is the parure or a single valuable piece. The bag is medium-small, not a minaudiere, suitable for social evenings, but not a shopper designed for everyday use either.
New Year’s Eve
When it comes to party attire, the coolest and most fun night out is certainly New Year’s Eve. Again, the dress code depends on the type of event to which one has been invited and the desire to amaze and transgress the rules. Let’s start with an elegant and exclusive party, where every guest is placed under the magnifying glass from the point of view of looks. The watchword here is dare, as the overall atmosphere is less sober and more brazen.
The advice is to abandon traditional fabrics such as velvet, which is reserved for Christmas, and leave room for sequins, even large sequins (Givenchy recently revisited the sheath dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s), glittered or worked fabrics, satin, and, for the most daring, leather or vinyl. The goal is to grab attention and become the center of the evening. So banish half-measures.
Mini or maxi, New Year’s Eve knows no rules except those of common sense. As for colors, gold and silver are always very popular, but this year fluorescent hues have also been cleared through customs, such as vitamin fuchsia, also chosen by Valentino and Pantone for their coordinated collection, orange and grass green. Black and ultramarine blue remain a safe haven, and burgundy, purple and periwinkle an alternative and striking choice.
Instead of the classic dress, short or long, you can opt for a jumpsuit made of important fabric and embellished with bright details. The pants are strictly loose, soft and slippery, almost a kind of skirt that sways with every step, creating a seductive see-through effect.
On New Year’s Eve, even men can step outside the usual standards and go for precious details. If the classic tuxedo always turns out to be the best choice, then why not personalize it with a little precious detail on the lapel or bow tie? With this little trick, the stylist explains, it will be possible to stand out in the crowd without overdoing it.
The matter is quite different if you are invited to a more intimate and family event. This does not mean having to forgo glamour and sequins, but simply opting for something less demanding. A 1920s-inspired dress with fringe and glitter could be an original solution to wait for the stroke of the new year, as could a pantsuit and jacket profiled in sequins.
Men, on the other hand, can opt for a Cocktail attire look, which indicates a refined and very fashionable style that is less strict than those mentioned above and leaves more room for whimsy and creativity. Cocktail attire originated as “late afternoon wear” and is easy to encounter at public events. It is a cross between a casual, spontaneous outfit and a more formal one, the result being a look that is both relaxed and refined, easily achieved by combining classic must-haves with pieces with a more contemporary spirit. For example, a classic dark suit but with a slightly shiny finish.
Tips for saving money
In order to select the perfect outfit, without investing tons of money, it is essential to take into consideration a few variables: the type of ceremony, expectations with respect to the party and location, the degree of bonding with the celebrant, and the expected reuse of the chosen garments. Of course these are very subjective considerations, yet if done with due care they will result in significant financial savings.
- The type of ceremony: the budget should be appropriate for the type of event; a christening at a friends’ house does not require the same investment as a gala dinner.
- Expectations: to decide how much to spend, it is essential to know or seek information about the venue. If the party is in a five-star hotel or a vintage mansion, it is advisable to invest on one’s look to be in tune with the venue. If it is held at a farmhouse, one can go for a more casual and less expensive outfit; if it is at the beach, there is no point in spending a fortune on shoes.
- The type of connection: another aspect to consider is the person who invited us and in what role they did so. There is great difference, in fact, in being the godmother of a baptism, a best man at a wedding, a simple acquaintance, the hostess’s best friend, a distant relative, a simple invitee, or perhaps the organizer herself. If the person who invited us is very important in our lives, we will probably feel particularly involved in the celebration. If, on the other hand, the invitation comes from a third cousin presumably we will be just a presence in a crowd of attendees, in which case there is no point in spending too much.
- The subtle art of reuse: Kate Middleton and Letizia of Spain are undisputed masters. When choosing a garment, it is crucial to consider the versatility of the dress For example, a couture gown is usually a unique and original garment (one that is remembered!) and it can be tricky to put it to use on other occasions. This is a perfect choice when taking part in a memorable event. But if not, better to opt for a more expendable garment for other occasions as well. In fact, there are plenty of outfits perfect for a special occasion that can also be reused in everyday life.
