Let's face it, we may not be quite as vampy as our favorite heroine, Bella, but when the holidays roll around this year and the sun starts to go down, I think many of us will definitely be ready to howl at a new moon. It's also time to take a bite out of those boring basics in our closet. We can give them a new afterlife for those evening soirees in the months ahead.
Here are my favorite fashion must-haves for this holiday party season:
-- The long, layered necklace. This is an easy way to update whatever you wear this year. Pile on a double strand or a triple strand of your favorite beads and chains. Mix gold with silver, bronze with pewter, crystal with jet black. Be original. Add your grandmother's pearls to metallic chain links. It's hard to get this look wrong.
-- The major pin. Another one of my favorite ways to add sparkle to holiday outfits. Jeweled pins are everywhere this season. Add a dash of bling on party pumps, evening clutch purses and even wide, wrap sash belts. I love the exotic feather pins. Large, silk charmeuse rosette pins are another big hit when attached to a long strand of pearls.
-- The evening coat. If you really want to add an investment piece to your party wardrobe, then look for a statement-making coat that will transform anything you wear. Whether it's a colorful velvet trench (think purple!) or a satin cocoon coat (dashing in black), the special statement coat or jacket will be an evening staple for years to come.
-- The lace sheath. No, we're not going to settle for just any cocktail dress. Come on and put some romance into your party life. You'll turn heads in this dress, whether you go for the tried and true little black dress or a stunner in a shimmering gold variation.
-- The sheer blouse. This is a great way to dress up everything from jeans to pencil skirts to tailored suits. Go as bare as you dare, and layer as much or as little as you need depending on whether or not you're going to a cozy party for two or a corporate affair for hundreds. A fuzzy, faux fur vest is a great cover-up for a sheer top, too.
-- The skinny pant. For party going, I've always thought it was best to keep the focus on top when it comes to selecting wardrobe pieces. With the trend this year of more volume on top, it means keeping it simple on the bottom. That's why a pair of slimming pants or leggings in a more festive fabric -- satin or velvet, even sexy leather -- will be one of your best bets.
-- The knit cardigan. Want to get dressed up, but still be comfortable at a more casual party? Try one of the season's soft touches: a ruffled knit cardigan. The longer, the better ... and perfect to team up with narrow pants and flats.
-- The one-shoulder top or dress. If you're not afraid to brave the holiday chills, then this is one way to stand out from the rest of the party crowd and show off a little shoulder. These asymmetrical pieces speak for themselves. Add a pair of great, dangly earrings or bold, cuff bracelets.
-- A sparkly wrap. Got to have some shine for the holiday season, and what better way to add a touch of sparkle to your basics than to toss on a glittering scarf, a fringed cape or a sequined sweater? It's a great holiday mood lifter that's a versatile accessory for casual clothes as well as more formal attire.
-- The metallic shoe. Another accessory that can make your holiday outfits shine. And when else do you have an excuse to wear a pair of gold high-heeled peep-toe sandals or silver ballet flats sprinkled with rhinestones? Go for the glow of a new moon and don't get caught on the dark side.
Sharon Mosley is a former fashion editor of the Arkansas Gazette in Little Rock and executive director of the Fashion Editors and Reporters Association. To find out more about Sharon Mosley and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
