{"id":67005,"date":"2015-12-10T20:02:52","date_gmt":"2015-12-11T01:02:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=67005"},"modified":"2015-12-11T03:26:17","modified_gmt":"2015-12-11T08:26:17","slug":"leave-the-cocktail-dress-at-home-and-reach-for-skirts-to-survive-the-holiday-party-circuit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2015\/12\/10\/leave-the-cocktail-dress-at-home-and-reach-for-skirts-to-survive-the-holiday-party-circuit\/","title":{"rendered":"Leave the cocktail dress at home and reach for skirts to survive the holiday party circuit"},"content":{"rendered":"
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NEW YORK \u2013 December is a busy month for holiday parties and that inevitable task of trying to make your wardrobe stretch without breaking the bank on fancy dresses you\u2019ll wear rarely the rest of the year.<\/p>\n

Why not turn to skirt dressing instead?<\/p>\n

\u201cSkirts are definitely happening for cocktail dressing,\u201d said Meg Cuna, the fashion expert at the style site Popsugar. \u201cIt\u2019s a less traditional way to dress for the holidays but it gives you so many more options and combinations to work with.\u201d<\/p>\n

Look no further than Kim Kardashian and other influencers, including Lydia Hearst and Alexa Chung, for ways to elevate a skirt.<\/p>\n

\u201cSkirts are great way to get the most variations out of your holiday party pieces,\u201d said Connie Wang, fashion features director at Refinery29.<\/p>\n

Some tips on how to dress up a skirt for the holidays:<\/p>\n

Mix and match<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wang suggests wearing a stiffer skirt on top of a flowier dress. Try a slim pencil in a below-the-knee style over a slip dress.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a creative way to layer. Or cinch a longer-length skirt and a fitted top together with a wide Wonder Woman-style belt for a femme fatale silhouette,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Last year\u2019s peplum-style skirts and high-low hemlines have been replaced by long, sinewy silhouettes like the below-the-knee pencil, long, fringed styles and pleated, asymmetrical crepe skirts, Wang added.<\/p>\n

\u201cWear them with high-necked cropped shirts or an off-the-shoulder blouse and your flashiest shoes,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Or pair a mini skirt with a feminine blouse that has a bow at the neck and wear a killer pair of sky high boots, Cuna suggests.<\/p>\n

Go for prints, and pay attention to fabric. Choose silk, brocade, lace or cashmere touches, she said.<\/p>\n

Simple elegance<\/strong><\/p>\n

Skirts can lend a simple elegance over the bling of a beaded or sequined cocktail dress. There\u2019s a \u201870s vibe that plays on fabrics over embellishments.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sort of loving the feminine skirts and the cozy tops, especially when it\u2019s starting to get a little chilly out,\u201d Hearst said.<\/p>\n

For cocktails, Chung added: \u201cI\u2019d wear a leather pencil skirt and I\u2019d wear some kind of big frilly blouse and a stiletto.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elongate the look<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ken Downing, fashion director and senior vice-president of Neiman Marcus, said you can\u2019t go wrong by lowering hems.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really love a maxi and I love a midi this season. I think that a longer hemline looks really good to the eye. Something that has a little bit more fluidity is really the news,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Where your hem falls \u201cdepends on what legs you\u2019ve got,\u201d Chung said. \u201cA mini skirt\u2019s wonderful if you want to feel racy. I\u2019m 32 and the hemlines are getting lower.\u201d<\/p>\n

Accessories are key<\/strong><\/p>\n

Downing is a fan of chunky heeled boots.<\/p>\n

\u201cI like to see the leg covered right now,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

If sparkle is what you\u2019re after, try a sequin knit skirt with bright crystal jewelry.<\/p>\n

\u201cCrystal jewelry for day looks so chic,\u201d Downing said.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking for focus, glamorize from the waist up. Wear a grey flannel suit skirt with suede boots and a top with a touch of embellishment.<\/p>\n

Scarves never go out of style. A skinny one with beads or fringe \u2013 looped once around the neck \u2013 can dress up a skirt outfit, Cuna said.<\/p>\n

Individualize the look<\/strong><\/p>\n

There\u2019s freedom in skirt dressing, Chung said, and a slice of midriff is definitely on the table.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t believe in any limitations or rules, so if you\u2019re comfortable with showing some skin then go for it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Grab a choker to dress up a skirt look, Cuna said. They don\u2019t have to cost a lot and come in metals, velvet, suede and an array of colours.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s nice to bring in some shine around your neck with everything from gold chains to wearing a statement piece,\u201d she said. \u201cWe really love a pair of statement earrings right now. Just comb your hair back in a really simple low ponytail and let a pair of giant, sparkly earrings be the centerpiece of your look.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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