What to Wear this New Year's Eve!

With New Year's Eve just a few days away, many ladies are panicking over what fabulous outfit they're going to wear for the occasion.  NYE can be one of the most stressful holidays of the year simply because we want to be able to say that we did something fun and had a great night.  Who wants to say they sat around doing nothing when their besties are out partying their faces off?  Unless of course a quiet night in is your thing, is which case, great!

Whatever you choose to do, there always seems to be a dilemma regarding what to wear.  I'm sure your friends are constantly asking you "what are you wearing for NYE?"!  Well here are some options for you to choose from.

The typical outfit for NYE involves sparkle (usually in gold or silver), and black.  If you're wearing a dress with a belt and detailed collar (like a peter pan collar), going for wild shoes is overkill.  Keep it simple with cute ballet flats.  Yes, it IS okay to wear pants on NYE.  Pair skinnies with an interesting top (like a cute little peplum top which is always flattering).  Want to keep it sleek and simple?  You can never go wrong with a little black sheath dress.  The looser fit that has been seen everywhere recently is comfy to wear and you can eat without worrying about your belly being bloated!  This is a holiday where it's okay to wear red - but why not be on trend and make it a deep wine color or oxblood color to make it more interesting?

Whatever you choose to wear for your New Year's Eve celebrations, make sure you have fun, stay safe, and hopefully I'll see you here in 2015!

Holiday Metallics!

I've always liked metallics, but this Winter they are in full force and looking simply fabulous.  It's a great way to add some high-shine to your ensemble this holiday season, especially if you're sick of wearing red or black! Don metallics to all your holiday soirees to add something different and exciting.  Polished metals come alive to make metallics blazing hot for day or night-time wear.  Designers showcased mirror metallics with fluid fabrics in all shining shades of the spectrum for a look that is sure to get you noticed!  In the festive form of icy silvers, glorious golds, bold bronzes and pewters, the shine of these lustrous metals give a glam-rock look to your holiday wardrobe.

See how the designers put their looks together on the runways and get inspired to give it a try.  Go on, I dare you!!

Sequins year round? Why not! See how...

Sequins.....they seem to be everywhere this time of year, and people seem to automatically associate the holidays with wearing them!  Every store I go to seems to have sequins, or at the very least, something sparkly!  And that's great, but what about the rest of the year?  We don't have to limit ourselves to wearing them only during the holidays!  Believe it or not, there are different ways to wear sequins, and done right it can really make an outfit.  The trick is to rock sequins in a casual-glam way that looks effortlessly chic.  If you're wondering how exactly to pull this off, here are some ideas.

1.  Mix your sequins with something more casual.  I love how Olivia Palermo paired a sequin cardigan with jeans and a white button-down.  This look could easily transition from day to night with just a simple switch of shoes!



2. J. Crew is a brand that always seems to style sequins just right.  One of my favorites?  An oversized, classic striped tee mixed with a sequin skirt, pant, or shorts.  The juxtaposition of the casual tee with the fancy sequins makes for a super appealing combination.



3.  By adding casual flats, funky blue nail polish, minimal jewelry, and messy hair, Alexa Chung makes her sequin-embellished dress appropriate for a music festival.



4.  For a glittery, feminine look, add sequins to a pastel skirt and sweet high-heels.  This gives the look a pop without going overboard.



5.  For the truly apprehensive - pair a shiny bag (or shoes) with your daily outfit.  It's a safe and easy way to give your outfit some serious sparkle!



6.  For a casual-glam look, I pair a metallic silver-grey tank with leggings, and wear a black long-sleeved tee shirt underneath the tank.  I add a double black-studded belt that I wear low on the hip, and finish it off with a pair of biker boots!  But, if unlike me, you're okay with showing off your arms, skip the tee and show off those arms, or just add a jacket or wrap to stave off the chilly night air!

How to do Red for the holidays...

When it comes to dressing for the holidays, red is a hue that is a given, right?  Red bows, dresses, those awful holiday sweaters (don't get me started!), are often - and unfortunately - paired with green!  I like to be festive too by donning a touch of red (I usually give the green a miss!) but I do believe  there's a more stylish way to do it!

So with that in mind, I have the proof right here - a number of celebs and street-style standouts who've made the case for just a pop of the statement color.  It proves the old adage of 'a little goes a long way'.  This sentiment applies to every day dress-codes too, not just holiday ensembles.

All you have to do is perk up an outfit with a pop of red by adding a ladylike clutch or a pair of statement heels.  Even a bright red lip color or red sunglasses would do the trick!

But if you're looking to embrace the statement color in a more obvious way (and that's okay if done right), get yourself a topper in a brilliant red shade.  The trick is adding it to your look like a neutral - don't let it pigeon-hole you into holiday-dressing territory.  Instead, mix it up with basic black or camel for a chic contrast - and feel free to try it against denim or leopard-print.  The options are endless.

If you want to wear a red dress make sure it's an ensemble that isn't too fussy and stick with a simple red sheath dress, preferably minus embellishments!

See here some ways to add just a touch of red, a whole lot of red....and some definite don'ts!!!





PLEASE - don't do this...

Holiday looks for the man in your life...

Usually my posts and fashion tips are for women, but today my post is for men!  Having lived in Pittsburgh for just over 16 years now, one thing I have noticed is that a lot of the local men do not seem too concerned about their daily attire.  I think this is a shame, as first impressions are important, and a sloppy looking guy (or woman for that matter), definitely sends the wrong message.

I'm not suggesting that a guy needs to get dressed up on a daily basis, but it appears that over the past few decades we have seen an increase in casual-for-all-occasions attitudes, and it is no longer unusual to find men in jeans and T-shirts, even on the holidays.  Though it may be more comfortable, appearing at a Christmas party or dinner dressed down will not impress!  Keeping certain rules in mind will assure an appropriately festive Christmas look.

I would really appreciate feedback from the guys out there who actually bother to read this on what they think about this post, and what their thoughts are on fashion for men!  I'm hoping my male friends will bombard me with their thoughts!

So with this in mind, take a look at how to dress appropriately for the following occasions....

Holiday Party

Unless the office environment is very casual, a suit is the best choice, in a dark, conservative color such as charcoal.  Novelty ties are unacceptable, but you can show some seasonal flair with a bright pocket scarf or flash of colored sock.  This is the time to pull out the well-shined oxfords and, if you have them, cuff-links.  In a very casual workplace, wool trousers or heavier-weight khakis and a tucked-in striped or plaid button-down shirt are good choices.  Roll up your sleeves at the office, then add a blazer for the party.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is typically less formal than Christmas Day, so khakis and a sweater is a good choice.  Wearing a collared shirt under the sweater adds a level of formality - if the sweater has a pattern, match the shirt to one of the secondary colors.  A cashmere v-neck sweater in a warm, seasonal color is luxurious enough to be worn over a dark, solid-color crew-neck tee.  If your Christmas Even gathering is a cocktail party or formal dinner, opt for a jacket and tie.

Christmas Day

Christmas Day calls for thoughtful dressing that befits the significance of the holiday.  Though Christmas dinner usually occurs early in the day, it is a formal meal.  At the minimum, wear a sweater over a button-down shirt and a pair of trousers in a heavier fabric such as gray wool.  Polished leather shoes are a must!  Because most Christmas events occur during the daylight hours, it is appropriate to opt for lighter colors, such as camel or French blue.

DON'TS

The most grievous sin of holiday dressing is the theme sweater (think Colin Firth in Bridget Jones Diary!).  Also, avoid green and red together.  It may seem like an inspired choice for Christmas, but the combination is as tacky as the novelty sweater!  Couples that coordinate their clothing - another big NO!!  Please, keep your matchy matchy sweaters (even worse in a Christmas theme!) at bay.  Trust me, it does not look cute!  And finally, football jerseys are NOT APPROPRIATE for Christmas!  If you absolutely must enjoy holiday  kitsch this Christmas, themed boxers are fine - just be sure to keep your pants on!