It’s midway through November and that means a few things for fashion.
One: It’s getting cold outside, so bundle up. Two: Parties! Holiday parties, charity events and galas tend to be crammed in between now and Christmas.
So let’s get you prepared.
As I noted, it’s cold and the fall season is all about layers.
Men, depending on how cold it is, do not hesitate to layer in fours: Undershirt; long-sleeved shirt; sweater and coat. You can even throw in a scarf if the mood strikes.
The key to pulling off this look is sizing. Stick to what fits. Not too big and not too small. If you are worried about the size, err on the side of smaller when layering. Nobody looks good when they could be described as baggy, frumpy or dumpy.
Side note: This goes for suits as well — stick to suits that fit your body type. If a 38 regular is a little tight in the pants, you are better off either letting them out a touch, or losing two pounds, than going up to a “40 regular.”
Also (and this is very important) if you are invited to a party and the invite says black tie and you do not have a black tie, you should either buy or rent a tux or decline the invite.
Think about it: If you were invited to a white party, you wouldn’t show up dressed in green, would you?
Now for the women. Fall in Richmond brings excitement in the form of three words: Boots, boots and boots!
You can never go wrong with a pair of high black boots, flat or heeled, it really doesn’t matter. Stick to below the knee to keep it stylish.
Let’s talk about our second item — parties. For the community events and galas, you absolutely cannot go wrong with floor-length gowns this season.
They can be elegant or understated, but floor-length is key. Have a look at one of Richmond’s best dressed, Kelly Grant.
She is wearing a classic black gown, which looks great and provides an opportunity for bling.
Note the bracelet and earrings, which really bring this outfit together.
For makeup, go with smoky tones, and for mascara, there is only one brand to buy; the Dior show over curl.
How do I know this, you may ask? Ladies, trust me on this, according to my wife, Richelle, and the man at the hair salon, once you try it, you will never go back to another mascara.
If you are choosing not to go floor-length, rule of thumb when it comes to parties is, unless you’re in Vegas, keep the dresses classy and go with something below the knee.
And while a mini-skirt with leggings may look good, it is not appropriate for a gala or work function.
For the work holiday party or festivities with the family, my advice is to keep it classy.
Ugly sweater parties have run their course, and frankly they weren’t that great anyway. I mean, who likes a neck rash from some weird rayon poly blend from some “vintage” ugly sweater?
Unless you’re Michael McCoy (former executive director at Touchtone Family Association) who can pull off almost anything, including a Nehru jacket, the one and only thing to wear to any holiday party this season is a suit and tie, skip the tie bar.
Rob Akimow is director of advertising at the Richmond News
