HOLIDAY STYLE: PARTY DRESSES

Are you still trying to figure out what to wear to this season's myriad holiday parties? Wear a fun jewel toned dress or a black and white combo!

Clockwise from left to right: Pink ABS Holiday Dress $210.00 at Macy's; Shoshanna Gold Strapless Dress $340.00 at edressme.com; Paul & Joe Jersey Dress $312.80 at shopbop.com; Blue Tiered Lace Dress 75.00 pounds at Topshop; Twelfth St. By Cynthia Vincent at shopshopcom; Jill Stuart's Bubbly Dream Dress $850.00 at edressme.com; Cynthia Rowley's Electric Blue Cowl Neck Dress is available at edressme.com; Purple dress from shopbop.com- Twelfth St. By Cynthia Vincent; Black & White Holiday Dress by Vivienne Tam $247.50 at edressme.com; Strapless Silk Bubble Dress $198.00 at Bebe; Black & White Empire Waist Dress from Arden B; Julie Haus Petulla Dress $520.00; Black & White Shoshanna Dress $396.00 from edressme.com

My Black & White Pick:

Wet Seal- $28.50

My Jewel Tone Pick:

Bandeau dress available at TopShop!

LOUISE

Check out this fabulous dress!

I've just returned home after previewing Philadelphia designer--Kasey Olkus' new party dress of the season. The dress is called Salinas and it's from her womenswear line-- Louise! The event was held at Echo Chic* where guests mingled, drank champagne and eggnog, while her husband and DJ, Brendan Bring'em, kept the crowd on their feet.

Kasey with model...

...back of the dress!

Kasey lived in Ibiza and was inspired by it's inhabitants' fresh and fun approach to clothes and life.

“You see people leaving the nightclub in their party dresses and going straight to the beach in the same outfit, and vice versa... so these dresses can be very casual for the day, but because of the quality of the fabric and design they can easily be dressed up for night.”

This dress is definitely going to the top of my ever expanding list of things to buy, be sure to get your own!

Check out Echo Chic's fashionable clientele:

These women ponder the dress:

I loved this outfit:

* I recently mentioned Echo Chic in a previous post about Babooshka. Check out my vintage post here and stay tuned for StyleStar: Echo Chic!

HOLIDAY STYLE: GIFTS UNDER $60.00

Posted by StyleChile Guest Contributor: Yaz, Pop! Event Planning. Happy Shopping!

Clockwise from left to right: Nyakio Fragrance Diffuser- $50.00; iLuv All-in-One Docking Speaker System- $49.95; Archipelago Botanicals Signature Soy Wax Candle $22.00; Coach's Bleeker 3x5 Standing Frame-$28.00; Archipelago Botanicals 'Royals Collection' Short Candle-$42.00; Audrey Expanding Eight File Tote- $60.00; Marc by Marc Jacobs' 'Miss Marc' Umbrella-$58.00; Swarovski Crystal Letter Opener- $33.00; Coach's Legacy Stripe Oblong Scarf- $58.00; Tocca Travel Candle Set- $42.00; The Best of Benefit- $42.00.

Naki's Pick:

"Things A Woman Should Know About Style" by Karen Homer -$10.20 on Amazon. Thanks Varuna!

Keisha's Pick:

Redman Post-It Pack- $39.95

Yaz's Pick:

Banana Republic's Leather Journal -$38.00

BANG IT OUT

If you are looking to update your look, a fresh new way to do so is with bangs. Getting a haircut can be intimidating; once the hair is gone there is no going back. Look at this change as an investment. If you are afraid of committing, purchase a wig and wear it around the house. Ask friends for their thoughts on length and shape of cut. Show them magazine clippings, etc.

Find a stylist that you trust or one that you have researched… now is not the time to check out the newest salon in your neighborhood!!! You don’t have to complete your new cut with one swift hacking motion. First ask your stylist to give you long bangs…then if you want to go shorter, take that step.

Here are some variations and styles you can consider:

TEXTSTYLE: BOUCLE

French for 'buckled' or 'curled', featured textile, boucle is a fabric or yarn which has a looped or knotted surface.

Chanel popularized the textile...it is used in many of the design house's signature suits.

Chanel yellow boucle jacket available on ebay!

The woman who wears boucle is a true statesperson, the classic fabric is fit for a queen. Class up and follow suit!


| View Show | Create Your Own

Princess Diana wears a pale blue Louis Feraud boucle suit in 1995; the Queen of soul, Mary J. Blige, wears an ivory boucle jacket to Elton John's 13th Annual Aids Foundation Academy Award viewing party in February 2005; First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy, wears a white boucle jacket with Vice President Lyndon Johnson in 1962.

My Pick:

Classiques Entier Fringe Trim Boucle Jacket -$168.00 available at Nordstrom's.

Credit: Getty Images

SATIN SHEETS SLIDE

There is absolutely nothing slippery about the recent craze hitting women's fashion. We are seeing Satin everywhere. Satin is being rendered in blouses, pants and dresses.... it's a definite DO!

Victoria Beckham

Stars all over are introducing this fabric into their wardrobes.... whether it be on the red carpet, talk shows, or to simply pep up an outfit...so should you!!

Here we see Dreamgirls star Jennifer Hudson wearing a satin blouse at her recent appearance on MTV.

You will be sexy, sultry and satifisfied with Satin...trust me.

STYLEBITS

Honey Magazine is back!

One of my favorites, I was disappointed to hear that the magazine went into bankruptcy, but fortunately, they're back and hopefully new issues will be in circulation soon!




Oasis

Check out this great British store for clothing, shoes and accessories. Oasis' fashionable merchandise are designed by the store's in-house design team.

This sexy leather tulip dress is 138.00 pounds.

Thanks to UK reader, Thuy Anh, for the tip!



N Harlem New York Midnight Sale!

N Harlem New York will be open from 11am until MIDNIGHT tonight... late night cocktails & munchies will be available! Hurry in and enjoy savings of up to 40% on cashmere, wool, denim, fur, leather, and cotton apparel for men & women by designers including Tracy Reese, Hugo Boss, Nicole Miller, Juicy, G-Star, Chip & Pepper, Diesel, Miss Sixty, Energie, Marimekko, and much more. Address: N, 114 W. 116th Street (bet 7th & Lenox Aves)212-961-1036.

Thanks to reader, Shamika, for the tip!

SEEING DOUBLE

Check out these celebs and their inspiration!

Jessica Alba wears a Roberto Cavalli dress during a photoshoot...

...here it is on the runway!

Lindsay wears a gold Gucci jumper out on the town...

...here it is on the runway!

Meanwhile, doesn't it feel great to rock an outfit, only to realize that a celebrity--or their stylist, picked the same one?

Check out my fabulous friend, Yasmin*, as she rocks the same BCBG dress as Jamie Pressley--Yazzy rocked it first!



I was pleasantly surprised when I realized that Tia Williams--author and editor--and I have something in common. Here we are in our favorite dress:

Tia with Lola Ogunnaike--NY Times writer, at Cipriani, celebrating "Beauty of Color" which Tia co-wrote with Iman.

Kesha** and me, celebrating my birthday and bar passage. Oh to be 26 (and a first year attorney) again! I bought my Tricia Fix dress at Bella Sani.

I don't know who made Paris' navy cocktail dress...

...but I saw a similar dress at H&M last week!

* Stay tuned for StyleStar: PopEventPlanning, Yasmin's extraodinary event design company!

**Stay tuned for StyleStar: KeshaLambertPhotography, Kesha's incredible photography venture!

JUMP ON IT!

I wasn't quite sure about this look at first, but have grown to love it! Perhaps it has something to do with the youthful innocence that it evokes...the jumper, pinafore, romper or what-have-you is at once schoolgirl-ish, Lolita-ish and surprisingly appropriate for work!

The New York Times Sunday Styles section recently covered the trend:

Pair with a crisp white button-down and wear with black tights and pumps for the office:

Throw on a pair of stilleto (or flat) boots for post work fun!

Wear this more casual jumper to class, or add a few gold chains and/or belt for a date:

Norma Kamali Everlast Race Bubble Dress- $225.00 at Nordstrom's.

My Pick:

Urban Outfitter's Lux Button Jumper- $58.00

Styletip: do NOT wear pigtails with this look!

NYC SAMPLE SALES!!!

What: Diane von Furstenberg
Why: Dresses, sportswear, maternity, gowns, shoes, and accessories 45-75 percent off.
When: Dec. 12-15. Tues., 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Wed., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Thurs., 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri., 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Where: 260 Fifth Ave., b/t 28th & 29th Sts. (212-725-5400).

What: Carolina Herrera
Why: Gowns, were $4,990, now $1,247.50; cardigans, were $890, now $222.50; dresses, were $2,990, now $747.50.
When: Dec. 10-12. Sun.-Tues., 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Where: 317 W. 33rd St., b/t Eighth & Ninth Aves. (718-747-1656).

What: Secrets of Charm
Why: Charming dresses, were $450, now $175; sweaters, were $350, now $100; tops, were $250, now $90.
When: Dec. 13-15. Wed.-Fri., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Where: 45 Bond St., b/t Lafayette St. & Bowery, ste. 4a (212-677-4654).

What: Nanette Lepore
Why: Coats, were $450-$650, now $250-$300; dresses, were $270-$495, now $145-$250; sweaters, were $200-$330, now $85-$125.
When: Dec. 13 & 14. Wed. & Thurs., 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Where: 225 W. 35th St., b/t Seventh & Eighth Aves., 4th flr. (212-594-0012). Cash only.

What: Melanie Dizon
Why: Stilettos, were $350, now $195; flats, were $300, now $150; bags, were $250-$850, now $60-$350.

When: Dec. 14 & 15. Thurs. & Fri., 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Where: Buckler, 13 Gansevoort St., b/t Hudson St. & Eighth Ave. (212-255-1596).

What: Rafe
Why: Handbags and wallets up to 90 percent off. When: Dec 13-16. Wed.-Sat., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Where: 85 Fifth Ave., at 16th St., 12th flr. (212-609-1195).

What: Tevrow+Chase
Why: Coats, sweaters, blouses, dresses, and more 50-75 percent off.
When: Dec. 11-13. Mon.-Wed., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: 416 W. 13th St., b/t Ninth Ave. & Washington St., ste. 313 (212-929-1810).

HOT NEW HUE: PURPLE

In medieval Europe, blue dyes were rare and expensive, so only the aristocracy could afford to wear purple...not anymore...vamp it up this season with the royal hue!

Gucci celluloid cuff bracelets- $495; Although the perfume isn't purple, the bottle is...try Lolita Lempicka's little gem-$80.00 at Nordstrom's, it's one of my favorite scents; Bridget Moynahan sports a purple gown--let me know who the designer is please; Bobbi Brown carries palettes with various shades of the hue; Echo scarf- $48.00; Drape -neck silk jersey top from Bebe- $147; Paloma for Tiffany "Sugar Stacks" ring in amethyst-$975.00; and Gaultier's creative, couture, cutout dress is to die for!

My Pick: *

Jimmy Choo's Purple Satin Jewel Sandal $716.00 on Bluefly!

The price tag is pretty steep, but they're adorable. The shoes below are Aldo's inexpensive alternative.

I couldn't resist them, these are my own:

Aldo's "Zebea" $149.00

Styletip: Jewel tones work best!

* Below is Cynthia Rowley's black version of the Jimmy's. I got them from Daffy's for $99.00!