Holiday Style

Holiday Style

Southlake Style

November 2008

By Tricia Mahoney

 

The Holidays…yup they are right around the corner! So let’s talk about what you’re going to wear. Here are my top trends that translate well to holiday fashion:

1. PURPLE

2. JEWEL TONES

3. FEMININE

4. ART PRINTS

5. GRAY

6. WINTER FLORAL

7. LEOPARD

Trend 1: PURPLE

Lush, rich, juicy, deep, delicious color – PURPLE – it is the ‘it’ color this season and the ultimate style statement.

Featured Pieces:

• Purple halter dress (photo #1, left) by Rebecca Taylor, $120 from Nieman Marcus Last Call Clearance Center (NM Last Call). This dress is great if you want to show off your sexy shoulders. The color is bold and luxurious and the hemline is billowy and feminine. A huge cocktail ring and bold chandelier earrings would be gorgeous.

• Eggplant twill Becky dress (photo #1, right) by Foley, $450 from Lola Boutique and jewelry from Francesca’s Collections. The pleated fabric is rich and flattering. This dress works wonderful on a woman with a fuller bust looking to minimize her middle section. The way the fabric is draped creates a smaller waist and the open neckline accentuates the bust. The more formal the event, just glam up the jewelry, hair and make-up.

• Purple sequin, bubble top (photo #2, left) by Theory, $127 from NM Last Call shown with cream pants. This top is great if you have beautiful shoulders, neck and collarbone. For this ensemble wear your hair back to show off the beautiful detail of the neckline. As for jewelry, no necklace needed but a dramatic cocktail ring and bracelets are a must.

• Purple dress (photo #2 right) by BCBG, $29.00 from TJ Maxx with jewelry from Francesca’s. Style doesn’t have to be expensive. This adorable dress has full arms which will balance out a bottom heavy figure. Huge hoops or chandelier earrings, a wrist full of bangles and a cocktail ring really dress up the more casual fabric. As for necklaces, go for it. And layer them baby layer them.

Trend 2: JEWEL TONES

Saturated, rich, autumn hues are everywhere. The best part is you choose the color that works best on you!  Don’t be afraid of color. Color exudes confidence and color reflects this season’s style.

Featured Pieces:

• Green silk tank dress (photo #3) by Graham & Spencer, $389 from Lola and jewelry from Francesca’s. This dress is more classic is shape and coverage. If you’re more conservative, keep the look clean with one multi strand necklace, as shown. But if you’re more daring and bold, layer a number of necklaces for interest and drama. This dress would look great with gold metallic shoes. Whatever accessories you choose, match tones – warm tones with gold and cool tones with silver.

Trend 3: FEMININE

Romantic, beautiful, soft and flowing…ruffles, feathers, lace, pleating and bows are ultra feminine. It looks like you dipped into your lingerie chest. So sexy, so frilly, so girly!

Featured Pieces:

• Black spaghetti strap ruffle dress (photo #4 & photo #5) by Rory Beca, $320, silver sequin shrug by AC Robat, $185 both from Lola. Jewelry from Francesca’s. I have shown this dress with and without the shrug. As you will see there are different necklaces featured as well. You have options so have fun with it! I love these tiered dresses. They are so playful and free flowing. Great if you have fabulous legs. Pair with peep-toe, T- or ankle-strap stilettos. Oh Yea!

• Brown feather dress (photo #6) by Elie Tahari, $599 from NM Last Call and necklaces from Francesca’s & SAKS FIFTH AVENUE OFF 5TH.  The beauty of this dress is the under layer of lace that just subtly shows through the shear chocolate overlay. OH, and then there are the feathers on the hem. They are airy and ultra feminine without being over the top. So pretty! Pair this with metallic bronze stilettos – WOW!

• Black floor length skirt (photo #7) by Heidi Merrick, $570 with cream ruffle top by Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, $238 both from Lola. Jewelry from Francesca’s. So very feminine and elegant. The full yet streamline skirt is wonderful as it lengthens the body. The pleated top is classic beauty. To make it edgier drape…no pile on the necklaces and let them drape down your body for drama.

 

Trend 4: ART PRINTS

So modern, this print could have been taken right from the gallery at The Museum of Modern Art. Think of it as sexy wearable art.

Featured Piece:

• One shoulder sunburst dress (photo #8) by Black Halo, $345 from Lola and jewelry from Francesca’s. Oh so pretty. The one shoulder dress is so flattering if you have great shoulders, neck and décolletage (chest) area. The billowy sleeve is so soft and feminine – very pretty! For accessories, hair and make-up…keep it modern and sleek. Pull your hair back, focus on smoky eyes and finish it off with a lizard clutch, viola!

Trend 5: GRAY

Oh so simple, but oh so elegant. Think of all shades of gray even out to metallic. They all work so seamlessly!

Featured Piece:

• Gray Dress (photo #9) by Catherine Malandrino, $510 from Lola, jewelry from Francesca’s. This is so soft and beautiful. The sheer top shows the cami underneath and the horizontal pleating at the waist will define and structure the flowing fabric. Great for someone looking for coverage on their arms but still seeking sexy, sheer luxury. T-strap platform stilettos would be beautiful with this dress. The minimalistic dress screams for bold make-up. Be sure to have blush/color on your cheeks so the gray doesn’t wash you out. Try a red lip – super sexy!

Trend 6: WINTER FLORAL

The beautiful, bold floral options offer everything from bold and graphic to breezy and pretty this season.

Featured Pieces:

• Black knee length Daisy skirt by Heidi Merrick, $370 with winter floral silk top by Rory Beca, $320 (photo #10) both from Lola. Necklace from SAKS FIFTH AVENUE OFF 5TH. OH this is very pretty. Great if you have a well defined waist. This winter floral is great for warmer skin tones. Make sure you really play up your makeup – bronzer would be wonderful and give warm color to your face.

Trend 7: LEOPARD

Oh I love leopard. It is a trend we have seen season over season and year after year. Leopard is bold and super chic.  There are a couple of rules with animal print you need to abide by.

1. Only one animal print piece per ensemble. And most defiantly do not mix prints such as zebra and leopard.

2. Quality is critical. Do not go cheap with fabric, stitching or fit.

Featured Pieces:

• Leopard dress (photo #11) by Chloe Dao (winner of Project Runway, 2nd season), $355 from Lola. Necklace from SAKS FIFTH AVENUE OFF 5TH. OK this dress is fabulous. The fabric is thick with stretch so it is smoothing and forgiving. The cut is wonderful and shows off curves beautifully. Keep accessories to a minimum. The dress is THE statement. You don’t want to overdo it. Less is defiantly more in this case.

So when you are shopping for your holiday fashions remember to Shop Smart, Spend Wisely and always be STYLISH!

Tricia

Tricia Mahoney is the owner & SHEeo of StylishShe. StylishShe is about style. True style for Real Life. It is about women, style, shopping, fashion and beauty. To learn more please visit www.stylishshe.com. You can contact Tricia at tricia@stylishshe.com.