Staying Fit
No matter how dramatically fashion changes, the seasonal style annually donned in proximity to holly and mistletoe is neither beholden to industry whims or design trends.
That’s because
holiday
style is not about being cool. It’s all about being warm and
embraceable,
and is best achieved by enlisting these key factors: color, comfort, texture, sentiment
and
shine. Let’s take them one at a time.
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Color
My No. 1 holiday rule: Unless it’s set off by a shower of sequins or your weight in diamonds and rubies, avoid showing up for any festivities in head-to-toe black. Black isn’t foolproof — it’s lazy. And it isn’t necessarily slimming. (Clothes that fit are slimming). But it’s almost certainly boring. More importantly, no matter how smart your little black dress (LBD) is or how dashingly urbane you imagine yourself in matching charcoal turtleneck and
blazer,
when you’re surrounded by a room filled with dozens of people also similarly clad like elegant bank thieves, you’ll pretty much vanish.
5 tips to guide you through the holidays
With more and more invitations eliminating dress codes and with style now declaring “anything goes,” the result is an uneasy mix of freedom and confusion. Because there is enough stress over the holidays, here’s an unofficial cheat sheet to help guide you.
1. An easy and infallible rule of thumb: You can make a mistake dressing down. You can never make a mistake dressing up. Looking your best always wins. That doesn’t mean that you show up in a gown and tiara to a tree-trimming party. But don’t hesitate to don something you wouldn’t step into for a casual night at home. The nice thing about being slightly overdressed is that you usually get more than your fair share of compliments.
2. For men, you don’t have to wear a sports jacket. A handsome sweater will do fine, and a slim-cut pair of trousers that aren’t the bottom half of a suit. Jeans are OK as long as they are either a dark-wash denim or a deep color. However, if you feel more confident and pulled together in a jacket, slip into one that you wouldn’t necessarily wear to the office: corduroy, velvet, a thicker tweed or brighter plaid, for example. Even if you more naturally gravitate to a tie, don’t. And open the top two buttons of your shirt.
3. For women, neither a dress nor pants are preferred. Choose what you look best and most comfortable in. If you’re going to an event space, pull out a party dress. If you’re going to someone’s house, opt for a fabric that’s pliant, a color that’s warm and a silhouette that grazes rather than clings.
4. There is no more perplexing invitation than one that says “Festive Attire.” The request is a cop-out — the host is aiming for a posh-looking crowd but is fearful of imposing a formal dress code. Your host should realize that for some, a bright colored T-shirt with a cheeky, wisecracking slogan about the holidays is real festive. The easiest solution is for women to opt for a cocktail dress (don’t go long!), or a sparkly stop and dressy pants, plus jewelry with some drama. For men, go for a dark suit with an open, solid-hued shirt (it doesn’t have to be white) and a slip-on shoe. Never having to wear a tie is always a reason to celebrate.
5. But if the invite does say “Black Tie,” follow the rule. It means that your host is probably going to the trouble to do something out of the ordinary. Then why not look extraordinary? For women, go all out and pick your favorite look. For men, a dark work suit will not cut it. You’re a grown man. You should own a tuxedo or at least a dinner jacket, especially since there are plenty of outlets offering them for nominal pricing. You don’t have to wear a bow tie, however. (I don’t own one.) A dark silk or silver one will do just fine. Think positive. If you look that good, someone may steer you toward the mistletoe.
Come on. You wouldn’t decorate your tree solely in onyx ornaments. The true hues of the season are glorious jewel tones. Find one — be it a rich burgundy, deep lapis , malachite green or burnished topaz — and claim it is as your signature color for the holiday. You may be surprised to discover that the right jewel tone is actually far more flattering to your skin tone, as well as your hair and eye color, than black — which can flatten complexions starting to exhibit winter pallor.