Monday, December 8, 2008

Party All The Time!

PARTY ATTIRE, DECONSTRUCTED
White Tie – Men must wear white jacket, shirt & tie. No exceptions. Not much room for creativity. Ladies, see Black Tie.
Black Tie – Formal. Gentleman: Tux & Tails. Ladies, floor-length gown. See Bill Blass Lurex silk crepe gown at left, available at net-a-porter.com.
Black Tie Optional. Men in suits, ladies in dresses, ranging from knee-length to floor-grazing.
Cocktail. Men can go without a jacket, but should wear a tie. Ladies in shorter dresses, like this Clever dress, at frenchconnection.com.
Semi Formal – Think Day Wedding. Casual frocks for the gals, button down shirts, tie optional, for guys.
Festive – This term usually pops up around the Holiday Season. It does not mean wear an ugly jumper with a sequined Santa. In my opinion, it is a suggestion by the hostess to dress up a bit, perhaps in lovely red cashmere sweaterdress or something of that ilk. Jingle Bell earrings optional. CC likes this Yaya Aflalo Stella dress, at shopbop.com.
Casual – The dreaded catch-all. Appropriate only for backyard barbecues, this term encompasses anything from cut-offs to culottes, neither of which CC would be caught dead wearing. Get ready to avert your eyes, because guests are free to wear their pajamas if they like.
CC's focus today: Get outfitted for your holiday galas!
Today, gentlemen first:
At right: Club Monaco dinner jacket; Brooks Brothers Black Fleece cashmere pants and matching tie, courtesy nytimes.com.
Classic elegance: a Hickey Freeman suit, at Barneys (above) or an Isaia chalk stripe suit, featured in Details (left)
Ladies? Wear red or green if it strikes your holiday fancy, but not together! Or don a fabulous sparkling gown or embellished LBD!
Versace silk crepe cocktail dress, at eLuxury.com
Jay Godfrey Zaha layered strapless frock, at intermixonline.com.
Jean Paul Gaultier red velvet dress, at eLuxury.com
Karen Zambos green silk dress and Rachel Lee ring. Go to chickdowntown.com.
Be different! Wear another bright, like this gorgeous periwinkle Pencey Social dress, at shopbop.com.
Deal of the Day 1: Silence & Noise strapless sateen dress, $58 at urbanoutfitters.com; picture via cosmopolitan.com.
Rachel Roy silk belted dress, at Saks Fifth Avenue.
3.1 Phillip Lim purple ruffle-neck frock, half price at aloharag.com.
Patternalia:
Yves Saint Laurent Arabesque print dress, at Neiman Marcus.



Bejewel and bedazzle with this Rachel Gilbert Sienna fringed and mirrored dress, at net-a-porter.com.
OR go full-on fab: a flirty tulle skirt paired with a sweet cardigan or a brazen bustier may be just what Santa had in mind for you!Karen Zambos black taffeta skirt at chickdowntown.com.
Instant Vintage petal taffeta dress, at asos.com.
Great find: Ilana skirt, $38.50 at delias.com.
Get metallic:
J. Crew metallic Vita cami
Glam beaded cocktail dress, $76 at 80spurple.com
Vivienne Westwood Anglomania Monroe lamé dress, at net-a-porter.com
Hervé Leger Alix metallic empire dress; visit intermixonline.com
Bill Blass Lurex silk crepe gown, at net-a-porter.com
Left: Rachel Gilbert Scottie sequin dress

Right: Thurley silver lace overlay dress, on sale at shoplanguage.com.
All Access Holiday Fun!
Runway inspiration: Christian Lacroix necklace
Get glam with this Lanvin crystal droplet necklace at net-a-porter.com
Maison Martin Margiela Gift Bow ring, at eLuxury.com. So festive and fun!
Deal of the Day 2: Rio Exotic beaded clutch, $24.80 at forever21.com.
Last look: The perfect extra: Elizabeth & James silk chiffon shrug, at net-a-porter.com.

Get gala glam, darlings!
xoxox,
CC

64 comments:

www.janetteria.com said...

Oh! What a lovely party dress & accesories. I adore MMM Gift ring! :))))))

xoxo: Janet

life . style . dissected said...

oooo i have to have that black and white stripped sequin dress!


x
melissa
http://www.lifestyledissected.blogspot.com/

Cindiddy said...

my new love is the corset tube cocktail dresses, i just got two of the same style but diff color! loveee

Ella Gregory said...

I love the jewel tone dresses. The green on orange dresses are lovely. Also your header is so cool.

WendyB said...

This is a great time of year for sequins!

s.i. michaels said...

That petal taffeta dress is wonderful. I could see wearing this at so many parties...

Siru said...

Great post! I think too many (in Finland at least) have no idea how they Should dress and end up embarresing themselves.

juliet xxx

Angela said...

ooohhh, CC i adore the herve leger gold bandage dress.

Anonymous said...

intersting choices. i like your style ,

wanna link?
www.balmainbazaar.blogspot.com

Cupcakes and Cashmere said...

i love these festive dresses...they all have such great details!

FASHION CHALET said...

aw, Thanks, I love your header above, CC :)

xx

Vintage Lollipops said...

The perfect holiday pair....
the amazing Bow ring and Elizabeth & James silk chiffon shrug.

Sigh.

xx
Bella

electric feel said...

i want the ring
it is so cute

Unknown said...

love it!! holiday parties are the best... and i have one every weekend.. starting this past weekend

electric feel said...

ohh i forgot to say
i love your new header

Meg said...

I love dressing up! Too bad most of my holiday events fall between casual and semi-formal.

zoe aka drinkupthefashion said...

i absolutely loved this entry, because you explained all of the different dress codes. not that i get invited to a lot of parties :X, but it is nice to know for the future! :D and i loved all of your selections.

Penny said...

that tartan outfit for the guy is fantastic!!! i think i might try to convince my boyfriend to get it!!
gorgeous dresses xx

melissamilis said...

thanks for stopping by! :)

CULTURE CREATORS said...

Perf post. Great new years inspiration...now if I can only find an amazing party to go with the dress....Hhmmm. Happy Monday sweetheart.

CC

Sasi said...

The Rachel Gilbert Scottie sequin dress is to die for!

La Belette Rouge said...

That green dress and that ring!! I want to go to a party just so I can justify them. LOVE!!

Puebla Chic said...

it was nice to read the actual etiquetes for dressing, thanks

Lisa said...

Great breakdown of what those holiday dress codes really mean, CC!

MizzJ said...

That green silk dress is gorgeous!

please sir said...

Yay for parties! I need a bunch to go to so I can wear all these!

MarionRocks said...

Thanks a lot for your comment on my blog :)
This is an amazing selection of amazing clothes :)

Couture Allure Vintage Fashion said...

Great feature - and thanks for the breakdown on proper attire. My sister had a black tie wedding last April, and believe it or not, several gals came in sundresses and flip-flops!

Cate said...

That part about the party attire is really useful, thanks for posting! I've always wanted to know what all those 'instructions' mean! :)
xoxo
Cate

Cate said...

P.S. 'An ugly jumper with a sequined Santa' - that really made me laugh ^^

Anonymous said...

I love those dresses, especially the black one! <3

Bibbi-Jeanette said...

I want the little purse. It's wonderful!

MY OWN YELLOW CAT said...

Good dresses!



Muaks ^^

LenoreNeverM♡re said...

ADORE that Maison Margiela Gift Bow...reminds me of J Koons arts! That's right C.C...time to party & have a jolly good time Dahhhlin'...

Siljesfashion said...

The Thurley silk dress was made for me. To go dancing in that! Heaven.

Boubou said...

Oh thank you for your nice comment ! Youre welcome to my blog carrie !
A bIENTOT !
BOUCHRA
Boubouteatime

BiLLiON $$$ said...

all of those pics were fab-u-lous
i love some o those dresses :)

Katy said...

I love the MM gift bow ring! So witty!

Great Plains Bazaar said...

This is a helpful holiday attire guide, especially to share with the men in our lives.
Thanks for adding me to your links. I am adding you to mine :)

Anonymous said...

i love that first dress & that green one. sooo chic!

xoxo,
La C.

Countrybelle said...

holiday party dresses are so fun! i wish i were home in the US just so i could go to a holiday party in one of these. i love your picks, especially the one with the huge black taffeta skirt, and the Lanvin sparkly. as always, you have a fabulous eye...
me in secret: heartshapedmorning.blogspot.com

Rebecca Jane said...

so many great picks - i love the holiday season, there are so many chances to dress up and have a great time. I love the margiela with the gift bow - how appropriate at this time of year! Although I must say I do love it at any time

Anonymous said...

rachel gilbert dress= amazing!
and the bow ring! i want the bow ring so bad!

Anonymous said...

I want the Bow ring!!

Lydia O'Connor said...

Raaaah what cute little party dresses! I want them all...mm
<3 (encyclo)lydia

Micaela said...

total EYE CANDY for this slave to fashion!!! Sequins? YES PLEASE!!!! fun, flirty, fabulous!!!! xo

Fashion_Girl22 said...

Oh my, am I dreaming?! Your covering menswear too! I'm so happy, I love men's and womenswear all the same!!
The Herve Leger dress really does have party written all over it. <3

Fashion_Girl22 said...

Forgot to mention:
I spy...Garrett Neff in the 3rd men's pic down. Wearing the navy blue suit. He is too stunning. <3

Annie Spandex said...

Those are some really fun dresses. And the gift bow ring! !!!

Anonymous said...

gosh what an amazingly detailed post! =D am amazed at the sheer amount of great selections you've posted for each blog post. my fav: the versace red and black silk lace dress. the intro to the different sorts of dress codes was really interesting too! =D

Shannon Ragland Lake said...

Thank you for elucidating proper holiday gala dress for the masses. I attended a cocktail party last weekend and while the hosts were dressed impeccably (as was I, bien sur), some gentlemen showed up in, ahem, denim. And several ladies felt the need to show off their "cute" holiday sweaters. Ack.

Anonymous social worker said...

men don't have thta much room for creativity.
I love the small purse [last pic]
where's the party at?

roxanne said...

this reminds me that my house formal is coming up this friday and i haven't even though about what to wear.. great suggestions!

Anonymous said...

I can't wait to 31st ! I have to party ALL THE TIME as you said it ! I'm totally crazy of shiny dresses and amazing 12cm shoes.

Miss Urbanita said...

Amazing tartan for men.
I need Karen Z. skirt!!!

http://www.missurbanita.com

stellawantstodie said...

i really love the fisrt white dress, its beautiful!!!

Songy said...

How cool is that ring. I won't be partying but wish these will be good anytime.

Anika said...

Thanks for your comment :)
Love all the picks but especially the MMM ring and the flirty tulle skirt. Mmmm <3
Oh, and the Rachel Gilbert dress! Thanks for the great inspiration.

aizat.cinta.goddess said...

it is not an easy job to pick a party dress!i sometime have to help my friends to choose a great party dress!and to solve the problem is easy, little black dress is safe and sexy!

Marian said...

yummy post,food for the eyes i tell you CC! im terrible,i always impose a dress code at the holidays. does not have to anything particular but must be dressy ;),i just think its a lovely time so why not dress up for it a lil.Loved how you showed black and white tie options,to gorgeous options for events like a day wedding right down to holiday dressing.gorgeous post!
My fave piece is the Elizabeth and James chiffon piece.its perfect.
muah
marian

Marian said...

darling i forgot to say youve been tagged! do check my blog for details.
xx
marian

MakeupByRenRen said...

i'd love to wear any of these for new years!

{Tara} said...

That X-mas bow bracelet is one of the cutest, most clever pieces of jewelry I've seen in a while!

Seeker said...

Gorgeous stuff for party!!

xoxo