How To Choose An Outfit For A Special Party Event

Every party is special, but the New Year's Eve party for us grown-ups is one of the most looked forward to events of the year. If you are looking for ideas on what to wear here are some hints and tips for that special night out.

• Everyone has been wearing the latest gothic look of black lace this season, and it's also the perfect outfit for a New Year party. Nothing looks as glamorous or sexy as a black dress with lace edging, frills or sleeves.
• A New Year party is the perfect time to wear a little red dress - sometimes this can be a bit over the top, but at New Year it's brilliant. Team it with black or silver accessories. Stay with a red dress only and keep away from red shoes.
• Velvet is lush and plush - a very rich fabric. Again, this can be inappropriate for other times of the year, but a dark blue, black or plum velvet looks classy at New Year.
• Beads, sequins and crystals. All of these are gorgeous, but don't go for the tops which are fully covered in sequins - leave those for your Grandmama! But strappy dresses with bejewelled straps or necklines are gorgous. For skirts look for those with beads around the hemline.
• Want more sparkle? Then look for metalic fabrics in gold, silvers or champagne. Silver is my preferred shade, which looks fantastic on lighter skin tones, but golds are great with darker skin tones. Metallic has a rule rather similar to red - choose one or two items which are matching metallic, and don't go head to toe shiny!
• The all-time classic LBD - there are different styles to suit us all - a more glamorous or daring cut makes all the difference for a party dress though. Look for backless dresses if you prefer to wear sleeves, or shorter hemlines, which can be worn with opaque tights if you are conscious of showing too much leg.

Happy New Year To You All!

We Wish You All A Very Merry Christmas - Best Wishes From Fashion Tips

It's finally arrived and the festive season has begun. It's Christmas Eve and shortly we will be heading out to meet our friends and families and wish them all a beautiful Christmas. I can't wait ... and my only fashion tips for the next couple of days are:

• Dress warm and cosy in festive colours if you are going carol singing - you don't want a cold for Christmas morning!
• If you are like me and can fall over nothing at all - maybe save those high heeled party shoes for when you arrive at the venue - remember one of my first blog entries many months ago - keep a pair of those oh-so-funky wellies handy, they look brilliant with a party frock :-)
• This morning I have just had my nails done in a french polish - it will last me until New Year, so no worries about broken nails and chipped polish - I will be enjoying myself far too much to spend time on nail polish maintenance.
• Remember, if you don't have all the party outfits you wanted, maybe because of the credit crunch, then don't worry, just remember to accessorise diffently and your outfit will look new on each outing.

I'm off shortly to drink a glass of mulled wine and sing carols around our local village Christmas tree, so I just want to say a Merry Christmas to you all, I hope Santa brings you lovely gifts, and that you spend lots of time with those you love!

Sarah xxx

How To Apply Some Sparkle For The Christmas and New Year Parties

There has been so much emphasis on smokey eye make up recently that it's a perfect opportunity over the holiday season to go to the opposite end of the colour spectrum and apply shimmering, silvery shades which will suit all complexions from light to dark.

Ideally you should start off by applying a flawless foundation which suits your natural shade - look for some of the new mineral foundations which are available that blend perfectly. Then follow these tips for a sparkling glow.

• Using a rose pink blusher, smooth this from the apples of your cheeks upwards and outwards along your cheekbones.
• Next, using an eyeshadow brush, apply a shimmery wash of silver shadow powder over your eyelids, working it in up to your browbone, blending in well. Take the colour into the inner corner of your eye, and then along your lower lid.
• Using a black mascara, give your lashes two thorough coats, allowing the first coat to dry before applying the second.
• If you want your look to be more dramatic, apply black kohl eyeliner along your lower lashes before applying mascara.
• For your lips, apply a baby pink lipstick or lipgloss which will allow your eyes to be the centre of attention. Unless you have a darker complexion where you can wear plums or reds with this look, darker shades of lipstick will look slightly dated.

This look is fantastic with a hair up-do and a party frock, and once you have practised blending in your eyeshadow, it's pretty easy to do as well.

Tips On How To Choose Jewellery For Your Loved One This Christmas

Some people shy away from buying jewellery for their partner at Christmas time for several reasons. They worry about what if they don't like it, what if it doesn't fit, can they change it if needed? However, if you follow a few guidelines regarding the type of jewellery you buy and where you buy it from there really isn't a problem and I know that over the years I've been delighted to receive and also give some gorgeous pieces of jewellery which have been truly treasured both by myself and the recipients of my gifts.

Where To Buy Jewellery

Although traditionally it has been the high-street where we would have shopped for jewellery, there is now such a fantastic on-line choice, that I can personally can't be bothered to fight my way through the frantic Christmas shoppers and would rather sit at home with my laptop and a glass of vino and chill whilst shopping. I find that shopping this way means I spend much more time and care choosing an item rather than when standing in a queue in a shop where you can sometimes be pushed into making a hurried purchase which you regret buying by the time you reach home.

In addition, the best on-line stores offer up to 30 days for returns, which does mean that they will at least exchange gifts, if not offer a full refund, if the jewellery is returned unworn - so there is no pressure about return deadlines being passed if you shop in December. If you are ever worried about the security of a website look for the "SafeBuy" logo which offers the buyer all, or more, protection than when buying from a high-street store.

Don't get me wrong - I have nothing against the traditional jewellery shop if you are buying for yourself - you can try on the item of jewellery - but, for gift buying there are no real advantages especially in the busy Christmas season.

What Type Of Jewellery To Buy

Different items of jewellery can mean different things - if you have only recently met someone you might want to buy something less personal than a Tiffany heart ring, however, you are the one who knows how you feel about the person - and jewellery can sometimes say so much more than words. Here are some suggestions:

• Earrings - these are a perfect gift for a girl (or boy), they are not too personal, making them great for someone you maybe haven't known too long. Studs can be worn by most, but if you want a more glamorous gift go for something more exotic and dangly.
• Pendants - again perfect for friends to give to each other, but they can be more personal when you buy a heart pendant for a loved one, or a romantic locket.
• Necklaces - if your loved one (usually a girl in this case) loves dressing up you can be sure they will love necklaces, as they usually give a more decorative effect than a pendant.
• Bracelets and bangles - even when people don't wear these day to day, they are a great "special occasion" present. There's nothing like having a sparkling bracelet which you have stashed away to wear on a special night out. More and more men are wearing bracelets or cuffs - I'm not talking about the old gold heavy-weight chain bracelets (think Eastenders), but brushed stainless steel or sterling silver bracelets are really stylish.
• Rings - As long as sizing isn't an issue here (come now - its pretty easy to find a ring your partner already wears and measure it with a piece of paper, string etc) these are perfect gifts for men or women. For the more romantic of you, it's a way of saying I love you, but there are great silver or stainless steel contemporary designs which can be given between friends or to family.
  

If you are last-minute shopping in the next couple of weeks a gorgeous piece of sparkly stuff can sometimes be the answer.

What has been the most successful Christmas present you have ever purchased?

What Are The Benefits Of Wearing Flat Pumps Rather Than Heels To The Christmas Party?

I just love the idea of super high-heeled, strappy sandals for our Christmas Party this year, but I know that I have to walk from the taxi-rank, that I will want to stand around and chat and definitely have a dance. And then there's the walk to get the taxi when we've all had a few glasses of something bubbly. I love, like anyone does, to look glam, but I don't think you have to wear heels these days to do so. Flat pumps can look fantastic if you follow a few guidelines:

• Go for the ultra-feminine look with frills, pretty tops, and ballerina style pumps - so girly. Choose a pretty frilled skirt which is not too long.
• Don't worry if you are not so tall, remember the saying that "great things come in small packages" - again small is feminine.
• Look for a skirt or dress with a shorter hemline as this creates leg length without needing to resort to a heel. If you don't fancy showing too much leg, look for opaque or footless tights. Have a look at "Top Tips For Dressing To Be Slim".
• For parties there are some fantastic flat pumps with sequins, flowers, diamantes and other amazing designs.
• Just remember to think "feminine", don't wear too long a hemline, and don't pair them with bootleg or flared trousers (which can look a bit frumpy) and you will have a fantastic party time and wake up the next morning (maybe with a little headache), but with perfectly happy feet.