Cocktail attire doesn’t have to be predictable nor limited to dresses. For a cocktail attire refresh, try incorporating the power suit trend by skipping over the LBD for a luxe suit or better yet, a tuxedo.
I’ve been talking holiday parties for a few weeks now and you’ve seen that the venues and contexts for holiday dressing can really vary – from friend gatherings at home to professional dinners/cocktail parties to lavish galas. For me, I find the “work holiday party” to be the most challenging because balancing professional appropriateness and incorporating personality and trends is delicate business (and often fraught with mistakes – no one wants to be the gal in the “too short” or “too tight” or “too low cut” number). Thankfully for us ladies, trends are currently on our side – yes, I’m talking the power suit and you all know how much I love a good suit ensemble (see here, here and here).
So, for a recent holiday cocktail party at a swanky hotel in New York City, I ditched my LBD and went for something a bit unconventional. After all, you have to show up looking like a boss to be a boss. To create the look, I tucked a sleeveless knit black turtleneck (I am loving a mock/turtleneck this season and I don’t seem to be the only one) into my favorite black pleated mini skirt with gathered high waist that I topped with a luxurious classic black tuxedo jacket from Pinko. To turn up the holiday notes, I wore a pair of large black and silver rhinestone pendant earrings and a pair of point toe silver loafers. Finally, for accessories, I opted for classics – black cat eye YSL sunglasses, Daniel Wellington classic bracelet and black Prada mini satchel.
