Posts Tagged ‘evening wear’
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.
Women often dread turning 40 as this is seen as a major milestone and often one which women think means they must change their style. However, the problem here is that all too often women struggle to find clothes which they think are suited to their age and which do not leave them looking frumpy. This can be especially true of evening wear, as many women over the age of 40 dread the thought of having to shop for an evening dress. They often believe they cannot wear anything fashionable as this will leave them looking like an older woman trying to dress like a younger lady. They therefore feel that the only other option available to them is to opt for a dress more suited to a woman much older, leaving them feeling dowdy.
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.
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? Â It is so easy to co ordinate with other pieces and to accessorise.
There was a time when the little black dress reigned supreme for evening wear, not surprising since black  complements most people and is easy to match up to accessories like handbags, shoes, and jewellery.
Nowadays, most women wear trousers and, indeed, some prefer to wear them all the time, so they have become acceptable for evening wear, too. Â As with dresses, they come in many different styles and colours. Â 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. Â 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. Â 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. Â 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.