Party perfect

CEBU, Philippines - Parties, parties, parties. With December closing in on us, holiday season can only mean one thing: parties. Lots of it. And parties can only mean two words: dressing up. It’s easy for most of us to push everything that has to do with work to the background as we shift our gaze to more important things like what to wrap around us to make sure we turn heads during the much awaited holiday gatherings. This is that time of the year when it’s an absolute crime not to dress to impress.

For the clueless and those who consider fashion more difficult to understand than molecular biology, here’s a cheat sheet inspired from the style mavens behind Net-a-Porter to give you a quick run through of your holiday essentials—from head to foot, baby, so read on.

1.The Statement Necklace

The single-stranded pearl can be a little bit too blah sometimes especially when we’re in the mood to add a little sparkle to evening gowns in solid hues.

Enter the statement necklace which can give that classic evening ensemble a new lease on life.

When choosing the statement necklace, it is essential that on first sight, you know you will feel super charged to rock the black tie scene with it. Take to mind that you are not just wearing any kind of necklace. You are wearing a piece of art. This should be a piece you shouldn’t scrimp on as anything that goes way over the top can be too tacky and tawdry. If you want to make a high impact on you party, high impact jewelry will get you what you want.

2.The Signature Ring

Sometimes, all you really need in those exclusive cocktail parties is a signature ring, no more, no less. The bigger, the fancier, the better. You don’t really have to worry about how many karats it is or if it’s made of precious or semi-precious stones because frankly speaking, it won’t really matter anymore. In fact, if you have a whole box of fancy costume jewelry, so much the better. Actually, the bigger the stone, the more outrageous, the better it is for waving your fingers about and attracting attention without even trying.

3.The Show Stopping Earrings

Hoops, studs, drops. The key to the earrings is attitude. Go for crazy mixes of color or extra long drops. Match your earrings with the kind of frock you’re rocking that night and with the mood you want to evoke. Go all-out fancy with a pair highlighting a crazy mix of color and stones. Go extra sexy with thin studded hoops and a little bit edgy with studs in tough style. 

4.The Bijou Clutch

Often the most neglected party piece, this is a piece of the party puzzle that will add some dazzle into a very classic getup. This season, brocade clutches are the it-clutches so if you’re still a little on the low-profile kinda look, owning a fabulous brocade clutch can level up your look without making it seem like you’re trying too hard.

The brocade clutch is the perfect partner to the classic LBD. When matched with the right pair of wow shoes, it can definitely seal the deal for your look that night. When choosing the perfect brocade clutch, make sure it’s not only fashionable but that it’s highly functional as well. It should be able to fit your credit card, cell phone, and all-in-one stick.

5.The Fab Frock

For the average stylista, it will take about forever to search for the perfect party frock to rock the scene. And rightfully so as the frock is the heart of the total getup more often that not. It’s the frock that will pull the entire look together, the one piece for which the shoes, the accessories, the clutch, the hair pieces and what not will revolve upon. So if there’s one thing you should never, ever overlook in a thousand party years, it has to be your party dress.

There is no hard and fast rule when it comes to which dress to wear during a party because it will depend on your mood and on your body type. You can go with the classic silhouettes but make up for it in terms of material and detailing, or you can go with unconventional cuts and unexpected drapes in rich colors. The key to the frock is that it should reflect your persona for the night, whether you’re a diva in bursts of gold or you want to go all out on the quirk-factor by going for unique prints on silk.

6.The Wow Shoes

Bette Midler couldn’t have said it better when she told us, “Give a girl the correct footwear and she can conquer the world.” True enough, your shoes can be a source of unparalleled power—especially in the party scene. It can make or break the hottest holiday frock, and it can amp up or drag down your confidence level. 

In a sea of pumps and strappy heels, you’ll want to stand out and get yourself noticed. You’ll want to elevate your party status by embodying a sense of unprecedented power and what better way to own the party scene than with a pair of directional platform heels that will take you from babe to bombshell in a split second. Forget the traditionally safe picks that the rest of the female population will be wearing. Go for edgy, conversational-piece worthy pieces that only you will be able to pull off. (THE FREEMAN)