The Party
How many times have you stood in
front of your closet and thought '' not fair, it is so easy for men, just a
pant and shirt to think about'!!Women have so many things to keep in mind when
dressing for a party; the kind of party: day or evening, formal or informal, a
grand function, an office party, indoors or outdoors and so on and so forth.
It goes without saying that you
would like to be the best dressed at the party, something your friend seems to
achieve quite effortlessly!!
The Ensemble
Thankfully the grunge look is
behind us, and elegant, sophisticated, feminine clothes are back in vogue.There
are so many decisions to make about the outfit, ethnic or western, long or
short, fitting or breezy, embellished or simple.
Footwear also needs some serious
thought; high heels or flats? That depends on whether the party is going to be
indoors on flooring or outdoors on a soft lawn (where heels tend to sink into
the soil), are you going to be standing for long, are you going to be running
around or dancing a lot, strappy or sturdy. It is always a debate between style
and comfort.
Next comes the jewellery and
accessories, the makeup and perfume; here I think the old adage “less is more”
holds good. It goes without saying that you should ensure that your skin, toe
and finger nails and hair are all in tip top condition.
The Dress
The right party dress for womenis so important; so let’s talk choices:
Day time parties are normally
casual events so a thumb rule could be that you dress just a bit fancier that
you normally would. Cotton, chiffon, silk, and denim, work well during the day.
A strappy or halter sun dress; a maxi dress with high slits on the sides, cropped tops with a flared skirt, all look good. The colours you choose should
reflect your mood and personality; you could wear bright colours or muted ones,
wear a single colour or do stripes or floral prints.Contrasting prints add zing
to your outfit. You could really play around with colours for a day dress.Don’t
forget your straw hat and sunglasses!An oversize bag normally suits the
occasion.Sandals and wedges are great for outdoor parties; neutral coloured
makeup gives it the final touch.
Dressing for an evening party,
however, takes things to another level. The rule should be simple yet bold. It
could be a long gown (if the occasion warrants one); a dress above the knees
works well too. The dress must be well cut and stitched, whether you are buying
from a store or buying online from sites like abofmake sure you do not
compromise on the cut.
The best materials for the evening
are silk, chiffon and satin.Though black seems to be the go-to colour, it is
better to go with a colour that enhances your skin tone (black can make some of
us look dull and washed out).
Jewellery can really make your
dress look amazing.A simple necklace that reaches just above the top of your
neckline with simple earrings is always a winner; if you feel like wearing
chunky earrings don’t wear a necklace. Subtle makeup is always a god choice as
it helps emphasise you best features.An elegant pair of high heels or stilettos
and a clutch bag completes the look.
Whether you are dressing for
a day out or a special occasion, do remember that confidence is your best
accessory. Choose ensembles you are comfortable in, and which reflect your
style.
