Some ladies, stand looking blankly at their wardrobe in fear that they have nothing to wear for that â??special occasionâ??, whilst others worry that they will either be over-dressed or under-dressed when they get to the special event, and genuinely donâ??t enjoy themselves as they are just not comfortable in what theyâ??re wearing.

However fear not, these simple few tricks will help you along your way.

Type of event
Consider the type of event that you are going to; is it a wedding, birthday celebration or work do? Also check your invitation to see if it states a dress code, this will give you some idea of what to wear.

Whatâ??s your role?
This may seem strange, but think to yourself why am I going to this event? Are you the star of the show? Or simply the friend at a birthday party.

If it is your birthday celebrations then you want to look and feel better than all of the other guests. However, if you are only a guest, then make sure that you wonâ??t overshadow the personâ??s party.

Your style
As mentioned before sometimes you wonâ??t enjoy an event to the max as you donâ??t feel comfortable in what youâ??re wearing. Only you know your own style, so choose something that you will feel comfortable in. Stick to your own personal style and add some finishing touches that really show your personality, maybe some heeled shoes and sparkly jewellery.

Colours
Think of the time of year that youâ??re going. If itâ??s in the summer then go for more pastel colours which will make you feel summery, if you feel comfortable enough try wearing a flowery dress to really bring out the summer feel. If itâ??s in winter then you may want to stick with the little black dress with heels and accompany with thick black tights.

The sit down dinner
If your occasion is a formal sit down meal, then wear a nice dress that has a patterned, glitzy bodice. This will make you feel glam and people can see the gorgeous design on your dress, even if you arenâ??t standing up.

The Dancing Party
If you are going to a party and you know itâ??ll involve a lot of dancing, then itâ??s best to wear a floaty dress, so that when youâ??re dancing you have the freedom to move whilst on the dance floor.

The Beach Wedding
So you have an invite to a beach wedding? Itâ??s best to wear a dress which has sleeves; this will protect you from the sun. Choose a light, floaty material which will keep you cool all day long.

The Garden Party
A simple plain dress would be perfect for this occasion, nothing too fancy as you donâ??t want to feel over-dressed. For the perfect look accessorize with nice jewellery and a simple flower in the hair, to add a colour burst to your outfit. Try to avoid floaty dress, which could only blow everywhere with a tiny gust of wind.

Image – Navy Round Neck Dress With Net Layer

The Little Black Dress, or LBD, is every girls wardrobe essential and is a great outfit to dress up or down, depending on the occasion. Not only will the colour create an all over slimming effect, but it is also a dress you can wear time and again.

The trick to accessorising your LBD, is to tailor it to the situation you will be adorning it. For example, if your dress is being worn for an everyday occasion such as work, then you might want to wear a smart suit jacket over the top. It would also be advisable to keep your jewellery simple, and wear flat or small heeled shoes with or without tights, depending on the weather. A small handbag will top the look off nicely. The same rules would apply if your wearing your Little Black Dress to a job interview. Keep all accessories simple, and make sure you are wearing a black bra. Any other colour will only spoil your sophisticated look.

If you are wearing your LBD to an important event, such as a ball or black tie type occasion, then this is the time to really glamorise your look. Again, stick to wearing a black bra, and try to find one which will suit the type of dress you are wearing. You might want to opt for strapless or removable strap designs, depending on the style of your dress. Unsightly bra straps will compromise your gorgeous look, and make you stand out for all the wrong reasons. Jewellery for these types of occasions should be bit more adventurous than for everyday wear, although not to over the top. A charm bracelet and classic silver earrings are both options which are very stylish at the moment.

Heels for a formal event like this, should be a bit higher than for everyday wear, but not too high that you are hobbling and have a feeling of discomfort. Stick to shoes you know you can walk in, but have a sparkle to them. The good thing about black is that most colours will go with it, white, red, you name it. Why not invest in a clutch bag in a metallic silver colour, very trendy for this season. Finish the look off with a scarf, shrug or bolero in wonderful olive green or deep red/purple colours, for a look which will ensure you stay glamorous and stylish all night long.

 If your Little Black Dress is joining you on the dance floor, then you can afford to experiment a bit more with it. Large high heeled shoes or knee high/thigh high boots, will suit this type of occasion, especially with patterned or fish net tights. Chunky accessories such as a waist enhancing belt, or pieces of jewellery, will help to create a funky look for those wild nights out.

Team up your LBD up with a pair of flip flops, oversized hat and sunglasses, for that perfect, understated look on the beach.

Unless you have particularly chosen to wear a pair of ankle length trousers, most evening trousers will look best when they are really long, almost skimming the floor. A pair of high heels is usually by far the best option of foot wear for any evening wear but if you really can’ t walk in them, then choose a pair with a mid height heel or even a pair of pretty embellished ballet flats.

How your overall evening outfit will look is very much dependant on the top that you choose to wear. Hip length tops usually look best with evening trousers although sometime an elaborate tunic will also look great. You can choose from all sorts of different styles from sleeveless tops to blouses and even sparkly or embellished knitwear. Unless you are planning to wear a jacket, bolero or pashmina or shrug that makes a big style statement, you could add interest to your outfit by looking for a top with sequins, beading or some other interesting embellishment. Another option would be to choose a simple but elegant style of top and choose some beautiful accessories. If you choose an elaborate style of evening trousers, a simple top will usually look the best.

These Lilac Straight Leg Evening Trousers make a huge style statement with their eye catching colour. The top layer of the trousers is a floaty material that drapes perfectly for that evening look. They also have a lining which ensures that they are not see through and hang perfectly. Combine these trousers with a black top or a purple top and gold jewellery for the real wow factor.

These brown layered  Cinderella evening trouserswork really well for ladies who like to look different and individual. The flattering straight leg trousers are covered by a petal like skirt which moves as you walk for a really stylish evening outfit. These trousers are also available in black. The brown trousers would look good when worn with black,  a range of other neutral colours or even metallics or red.

These double layered trousers with diamante detail are a really unusual style with a floaty top layer with a slit which reveals a row of diamate as you walk. You could combine with a fitted top that also has a little diamante detail or just a plain black evening top.

An evening dress will usually be floor length, although sometimes a three quarter length style will also be suitable.  It is usually made of luxurious fabrics like chiffon, silk and velvet for an extravagant look. The great thing about black evening dresses is their simplicity which is what makes them so elegant. A simple black column shaped biased cut dress with spaghetti straps looks amazing and incredibly glamourous, especially when accessorised with some black heels, a sparkly necklace and clutch bag.

The beauty of this black evening dress is its simple understated elegance. It looks like it is a separate top and skirt, but it is actually  a separate skirt and top. The cut of this evening dress is flattering for all body types and the short sleeves are great if you prefer to keep your arms covered up.

This black full length satin evening dress makes a feature of the neckline with the black and white stripe bow. It has a lace up back which is perfect for ensuring just the right fit. It has a really flattering shape which hugs the body flaring out at the hem.

This three quarter ength evening dress is delicate and floaty. The skirt has godets which allow it to flare out when you twirl. It also has pleated straps with sequin and flower detail on the front. It can be worn with or without the scarf depending the look you would like to achieve.

This three quarter length evening dress is fully lined with a great asymetric neckline that is really flattering. A simple pair of black high heels and embellished clutch will set this dress off perfectly.

A black evening dress will always look amazing but how you accessorise it will make a big difference. If the dress is a really simple style you can opt to wear a statement necklace.For a more elaborate design of dress a more simple style of dress will look best. High heels and kitten heels will both work well and a small beaded handbag or clutch is the most suitable way to carry your possessions around.

On the autumn winter catwalks lace featured in a big way from the beautiful and elegant maxi length dress at Valentino, Erdem, Roberto Cavalli and Antonio Berardi to the cute low waisted cream dress at Marc by Marc Jacobs, lace shirts with floral collars at Christopher Kane and military detailing at Burberry Prorsum and a lilac lace dress at Miu Miu. As usual black lace was the most common but there were also nude shades, cream, grey, pink and navy. Lace can be so many different  things from dark and romantic to pretty and sophisticated. Lace can look modern or vintage depending on how it is worn and each piece of lace has its own beautiful and intricate design.

The perfect way to work this trend for everyday wear is by wearing a simple lace top or a top with lace trim. Lace already has so much detail withing it, there is no need to add any further detail to the clothes, look for lace tops in simple shapes.  Any of the summers lace pieces should easily transfer to the winter and can be worn with a smart cardigan or jacket for an on trend look.  Look for lined lace tops or simply layer them with a beautiful camisole top. A lace trimmed top looks great with a pair of smart trousers for work wear but it can also look great with evening trousers for a party or night out.

This Ivory Detail Lace Top will look great for work when worn with smart trousers or for a more casual look when worn with jeans or casual trousers. It is a great way to get a taste of the lace trend without going overboard.

For an smart outfit for the evening team this Lace Evening Tunic with a great pair of black trousers and you have an outfit that will make you look instantly chic.

If you are looking for a really eye catching top for a party take a leaf out of Miuccia Prada’s book with this pink lace top. Stop it from being to sugary by wearing with black tailored trousers and a boyfriend jacket.

One of the most elegant ways to wear lace for the evening this short sleeve lace evening top looks amazing when worn with the matching a line skirt.

Another great lace piece for the evening this lace and jaquard jacket is features a really unique design which incorporates lace and ribbon.

This three quarter sleeve lace top has interesting lace detail around the neckline at the front and the back as well the cuffs. It looks great with a patterned a line skirt.

A black skirt is one of those wardrobe items that is incredibly versatile, works for so many different occasions and goes with so many other clothes. A black skirt is a great part of your work wardrobe but can also work for going out, weddings and parties. We love this black fluted hemline skirt with zip fastening. Black is a really slimming colour and can even make you look like you have lost a few pounds. A black skirt is a particularly good way, for those with larger hips, to disguise or divert attention from them, The fluted hem helps to balance out the hips. It is also classic style that looks great on most body shapes and is comfortable and practical to wear.

This beautiful and feminine cerise pink sleeveless floral topwould look amazing with a black skirt for a wedding or any other formal event such as a day at the races. The pin tuck detailing on the top makes it really flattering and the ribbon can be removed or worn depending on whether you would like to cinch it in at the waist.  Add some great accessories like perhaps a feather fascinator, a clutch bag and some heels for a really stylish and on trend outfit. For a slightly cooler day you could also add a shrug or bolero.

This crinkle summer blouse looks great with a black skirt for the perfect smart casual work outfit. It is light and cool and would work perfectly for those days when a full business suit is not required. The delicate embroidery on the blouse gives it  a feminine and pretty look and the turned up sleeves a slightly casual feel. This top is really easy to wash and no need to worry about it creasing as it is supposed to be creased.

Black works really well with bold and bright colours for a really eye catching outfit. This cerise jacket looks great when combined with a black skirt for a business suit that is hard to ignore. Perfect for those meetings when you want everyone to know that you mean business. The fitted waist on this jacket also goes perfectly with the fluted hem black skirt for a smooth and streamlined silhouette. All you need to add is a great black handbag and shoes.

When combined with this striped yellow camisole top, the black skirt becomes an elegant outfit that could easily take you from work to an evening out. Perfect for those times when you are not really sure where the day is going to take you and smart enough for the office whilst being just a little dressy. The belt allows you to cinch in at the waist a little giving the camisole some shape. A black clutch and some black heels will finish this outfit perfectly.

For an alternative to the ever popular little black dress, try combining this skirt with a great black top. We love the diamante detail on this top which shows that you are ready to party. This outfit definitely calls for a pair of killer heels and a gorgeous clutch. You could also add some diamante earrings if you really want to sparkle.

However, it is possible for women over the age of 40 to find evening wear which is not only suited to their age but which also has a fashionable undertone to it.  A prime example of this is the actress Emma Thompson who was recently in London for the premiere of her latest film.  Emma herself is 50 and is therefore at an age which most women struggle to dress suitably.  However, Emmaâ??s choice of evening wear at the premiere left her looking extremely fashionable, yet her choice of evening dress still flattered her figure and did not look like it should have been worn by a woman in her twenties.

Emma opted for a Vivienne Westwood chocolate coloured, strapless evening dress, which was neither too tight nor too baggy, rather it suited her figure beautifully.  Women often think that post 40 they are no longer able to carry off a strapless evening dress but as Emma has proved this simply isnâ??t true.

The problem that many women have is that they dread having to wear evening wear which shows off the tops of their arms and consequently avoid strapless evening dresses.  However, this problem can be easily solved with the addition of a cover up such as a shrug or a bolero.  In fact Emma added a sheer shrug to her ensemble to complete her look.  The addition of such an item has many benefits as not only does it cover up the part of the body that most women are paranoid about but it also protects them from the cold chill in the air.

So it would seem that there really is nothing for women over the age of 40 to fear whenever it comes to shopping for evening wear.  Emma Thompson has proved that it is in fact possible to be both stylish and practical.

]]> http://blog.romanoriginals.co.uk/2010/04/21/follow-emma-thompson%e2%80%99s-lead-in-the-evening-wear-department/feed/ 0 http://blog.romanoriginals.co.uk/2010/04/07/camisole-and-lingerie-inspired-clothes/ http://blog.romanoriginals.co.uk/2010/04/07/camisole-and-lingerie-inspired-clothes/#comments Wed, 07 Apr 2010 12:01:14 +0000 http://blog.romanoriginals.co.uk/?p=822 Whilst some would argue that underwear belongs underneath your clothes and not on show, there has, over the last decade, been a constant theme of underwear inspired clothes that are both delicate, feminine and sexy. Back in the nineties, Jean Paul Gaultier designer that cone bra for Madonna for her Blond Ambition tour. There were various other designs by  Jean Paul Gaultier and many others which were inspired by lingerie including Calvin Klein’s delicate and minimalist slip dresses. Since 2008, these underwear inspired pieces have been beginning to make a come back with corsets, big knickers (worn as shorts) and delicate lacy camisole dresses being key features.

For spring summer 2010, there were plenty of catwalk collections joining in with this trend. At Bottega Veneta, a cream bustier with white edging along the seams, worn with cream cropped trousers and a cardigan. At John Paul Gaultier, Dolce & Gabbana and Dior corsets were all teamed with silky and Lacy lingerie pieces. At Chistopher Kane sheer layers revealed white bras and at Just Cavalli a pink satin bra was layered over a mesh vest. At Marc Jacobs a blue satin bra worn over the top of a jacket with a pair of knicker like shorts and a Loewe, a bright orange bra was worn with a neutral skirt and coat. Vintage lingerie was also a key inspiration at many of the shows with plenty of lace and nude, neutral tones.

There is no doubt about it the underwear trend is a bit risque and is designed to catch peoples attention and push boundaries. It is also very desirable in many ways including the way that it can enhance the shape and is very delicate and feminine. There are two main threads to this trend, the very fitted corset and bra style of clothes and the looser more romantic camisole and slip styles.

Whilst you may be thinking to yourself, there is no way that I would go outside the house with my undies on show, there are ways to wear this trend that don’t look trashy or cheap. Evening wear for example often has some corset shape to it. You can sometimes find very gorgeous camisole tops that are just too beautiful to wear underneath your clothes and would look great as everyday tops worn with jeans or under a suit jacket. There are also plenty of lace embellished camisole and vest tops that have the feel of a beautiful piece of lingerie but are not too revealing.

A few simple pieces of advice when wearing underwear as outerwear or underwear inspired pieces:

• Avoid see through clothes. This does not leave anything to the imagination!
• If a piece looks too much (or too little) on its own, try layering it under a shirt, jacket or over blouse.
• select what you wear carefully, it should be subtle, pretty and feminine rather than full on sexy.
• If in doubt, have a good look in the mirror or ask a friend to assess if it is suitable and tasteful.
• You can often get away with underwear inspired pieces more in the evening than daytime.

The little black dress is probably the all time most popular of party and evening dresses. It can even be worn for day time occasions when accessorised with some bright colours to make it slightly less formal. Every woman should have at least one classic little black dress in their wardrobes. It is likely to be worn constantly season after season for all of those occasions when you just can’t make up your mind what to wear. A little black dress is ideal for those times when you want to play it safe and blend in. It can also be accessorised with some really wild accessories if you would prefer to stand out in the crowd – the choice is yours.

The perfect classic little black dress is a simple style like this front pleat detail dress (pictured above). It can be worn for daytime events with a jacket or dressed up with  jewellery and heels for a glamorous cocktail dress.

The little black dress has been around for many years proving that it is completely timeless. Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel first published a picture of a little black dress in Vogue in  1926. Audrey Hepburn’s little black dress in Breakfast at Tiffanys was probably the most famous LBD ever. She wore the Givenchy dress with pearls, a look that was made popular by Chanel. During the sixties a shorter style of little black dress also became very popular.

If you are still not convinced that you should have at least one little black dress in your wardrobe. Here are some great reasons.

Versatile- if you want a piece of clothing that will go with just about everything, then the little black dress is it. You will not need to to go out and buy a whole raft of new accessories to go with it (unless you want to) as a pair of black shoes, a black handbag and coat will all look great.

Timeless – the little black dress will never go out of fashion. It can be cleverly accessorised to keep up to date with the seasons trends. The dress is a real investment as it will last and last.

Flattering- black is a very slimming colour and perfect if you want to disguise those few extra pounds around the hips and tummy. It looks good on almost everyone, if you have very pale skin be sure to wear some blusher though to avoid looking drained.

Flexible - no other dress can take you from the office to the evening with such sophisticated grace. The little black dress is acceptable at almost any occasion. You will never feel overdressed or under dressed when you are wearing one. For daytime occasions throw on a shrug, bolero or beautiful scarf , for evening add heels and a statement necklace. For a really formal occasion a beaded clutch and long black gloves will turn it into something really special.

Easy -what could be easier than puting together an outfit using your LBD?  It is so easy to co ordinate with other pieces and to accessorise.

Nowadays, most women wear trousers and, indeed, some prefer to wear them all the time, so they have become acceptable for evening wear, too.  As with dresses, they come in many different styles and colours.  Where jeans would be ideal for a casual evening out, they are not â??dressyâ?? enough for a dinner party or other formal event, such as a visit to the theatre or opera.  Fortunately, trousers have come a long way from being something to wear informally.

It is possible to buy trousers made especially for evening wear; using some of the fabrics used for evening dresses, they can look stunning and, again, black is a very popular choice.  There are designs available nowadays that are tailored in soft elegant fabrics which, teamed with a glitzy belt and jewellery, can look every bit as eye-catching as an evening dress.  Of course, when wearing trousers on a special night out, a top has to be chosen to be worn with them, making shopping for the perfect outfit a little more difficult.

There are some women who just wouldnâ??t feel dressed-up enough in trousers and, for them; the choice of evening dresses is amazing. Any colour is deemed suitable but there is always the black option.  Worn long or cocktail length, they are suitable for any occasion and can be dressed up in the same way as trousers. To add  a finishing touch to an evening dress, a coordinating or contrasting  pashmina is the ideal accessory, with the added bonus of adding an extra layer of warmth when required.

Today the choice of evening wear has never been so great â?? there is something out there to make every woman feel like a million dollars on a special night out.