The perfect wardrobe for Christmas
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Faux-fur jacket, €87.50 at River Island; Ankle boots, €145 at Buffalo; Sequin trousers by Selected Femme, €139.95 at BT2; Metallic brogue, €76 at Topshop; Ring, €18 at Oasis;Belt, €33, studded cuff, €11 and tux jacket, €104 all at Warehouse; Trainers by Alexander McQueen for Puma, €123.14 at asos.com; 'Black Satin' nail varnish by Chanel, €21 at Arnotts, Brown Thomas, Harvey Nichols and House of Fraser.
Pictures: Independent Woman
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By Niamh O'Rourke
Tuesday Dec 8 2009
This year, we definitely need a little bit of seasonal cheer, and to let loose and look wonderful while we do it. The party season is about to kick off, so it's time to get your glitz on.
You may not have the cash to be as extravagant as previous years but don't let that spoil your fun. Cue the capsule wardrobe. It's a clever way to work the party circuit without having to spend a fortune.
The key to a good capsule is to start with one lynchpin item, be it a fail-safe little black dress or a liquid satin sheath.
Just make sure it's not a one-hit wonder, it needs to have a certain element of versatility and also requires you to limit your colour palette. For the want of a better phrase, you need to be able to 'dress it up or dress it down', hell, dress it sideways if you must.
Here are three options that will see you stylishly through any festivity thrown your way whether it's an office party, Christmas Day or a full-on New Year's Eve showdown.
Edgy LBT
In a season that is swamped with show-stopping dresses and heels so eye-catching you'll have a flock of magpies as your entourage, how can you stand out from the crowd? The temptation is to pile on more glitz but this is a dangerous game. Coiffing that seasonal glass of bubbly as you get ready could be the tipping point to your Bobo the clown moment. It's a slippery slope.
Why not opt for the uber-cool option of the LBT, aka the Little Black Trousers? Think Tomboy tux, vintage YSL, Bianca Jagger or Charlotte Rampling. Never underestimate how sexy a pair of sharply tailored tux trousers can be. Or if you want to nail this season's coolest look of languid glamour, go for a pair of fully sequinned tapered trousers or harems. There's plenty on offer from Selected Femme's price-conscious pair at BT2 in Dundrum to Topshop's vast and varied collection.
It's a given that if you're willing to go with this look, you have a fabulously defiant sense of confidence and individuality so work it. Keep the look edgy. Go for a rock chic twist with a faux fur coat and pile on the jewels from knuckle-duster rocks and gladiator cuffs to a tribal belts.
The key accessory that will define your version of this statement-making look is your foot-candy. If you are part of the Natasha Khan and MIA school of out-there quirkiness, you can definitely pull off a flat. Check out Alexander McQueen's high-top trainers for Puma that will guarantee you can dance the night away or try Topshop's fuschia metallic brogue -- very Yohji Yamamoto. The safer option is a super-sexy ankle boot that will inject a dose of femininity into your look, and of course give your bum that added oomph.
Sassy satin number
Take one drop-dead gorgeous party dress in an eye-popping shade and it will take minimal effort to bring your look together. This silk-satin dress by Roksanda Ilincic for Whistles is perfect. The opulent jewel hue and luxe texture says party without any need for bling, while its oversize patent corsages and sheer neckline give a fashion-forward edge.
This dress may have a personality all of its own but it's up to you to manipulate its style. Option one is to refine the frock by teaming with a pair of patent sling-backs, long leather gloves and a full-on feather jacket for a touch of Hollywood glamour. You'll be so deliciously tactile, not even Santa himself could resist you.
Option two gives a tougher version. Soup it up with skin-tight leather leggings, killer studded heels and a sparkling mini clutch. Still super feminine but dropping enough hints to let them know you're up for more than a mince pie and a glass of milk.
Ultimate LBD
It's certainly a guilty pleasure in our current climate but if you're going to invest in any party piece, go for a jaw-dropping black dress. Empty those change jars, get your bob-a-job hat on, do whatever it takes to acquire the best and, boy, will it be worth it.
This Grecian-inspired dress by Donna Karan is the ultimate LBD.
It's show-stoppingly sexy, will flatter your figure beyond belief and there's not a sparkle in sight so it will long outlive any frivolous party season.
A great LBD is like a blank canvas so let the fun begin with high-octane accessorising. Go for Elsa Schiaparelli quirkiness by adding a sculpted headpiece like the one pictured above by French milliner Benoit Missolin.
If you're feeling playful, check out Kurt Geiger's glittering emerald heels that will blow any idea of your LBD being boring right out of the water. And if classic elegance is what's required, then a very simple slick of Chanel rouge to your pout and a pair of jewel-encrusted chandelier earrings will have you channelling Holly Golightly in no time.
- Niamh O'Rourke
Irish Independent
