Holiday Fashion Tips from French Touch Image Consulting
Written by Marie-Therese Norris

Fall is finally here. I love this time of year. I love everything about it – the crisp air, the hearty dinners and the warm embrace of a favorite wool sweater. The blessed calm before the holiday storm.

Yes, Ladies, the holidays will soon be upon us and with them the usual round of social and business get-togethers that require the appropriate holiday attire. And so, while we still have our wits about us and the pickings are fresh and plentiful, now is the perfect time to hunt for the Perfect Party Dress (a/k/a the “PPD”).

Here are a few things to consider before you hit the stores.

You may already have a PPD in your closet and are wondering if you can get away with wearing it again. Will the same people be there again this year? Will they remember the dress? Chances are if you made a spectacle of yourself at the office Christmas party last year, it probably won’t be the dress that everyone remembers.

Anna Wintour regularly wears the same dress to numerous high profile events in the same season. In fact, she says she may wear a favorite dress up to 20 times in a year. She was photographed wearing this black-and-white Carolina Herrera creation more than three times during New York Fashion Week.

If the Editor of Vogue says it’s O.K., who are we to say nay? If you do decide to wear last year’s PPD to this year’s party, you may want to make it look new and fresh with a great new accessory or two.

Want to steal the spotlight at that chichi cocktail party in the Hamptons? Slip your little tootsies into these beauties by Christian Louboutin and I guarantee you strong men will weep with desire while wives and girlfriends will go positively green and NOT for the good of the environment.

If you decide you do need a new PPD and do not already own a Little Black Dress (shame on you!!), check out my article, “Secrets of the Little Black Dress,” for tips on choosing the perfect LBD.

Tired of the Little Black Dress and want to go for something with a bit more zing and a lot more bling? Go for satin or brocade in a rich ruby, amethyst or sapphire; but be aware that shiny fabrics can be extremely unforgiving. Their light-reflecting properties can create lumps and bumps where none exist or emphasize those that do, and brocade adds bulk. The dress must be a perfect fit.

During the Camelot years at the White House Jackie Kennedy was famous for her beautiful brocade and shimmering satin day dresses and evening gowns. The much-photographed First Lady knew that everything she wore had to look good close up, from a distance and in pictures.

Her favorite designer, Oleg Cassini, made sure there was a tiny gap between the dress and its paper-thin lining. This cushion of air allowed the shiny fabric to float lightly over Jackie’s body avoiding any unflattering shadows.

Here’s a Juicy Jackie tidbit: When criticized by the American press for favoring French designers, she chose Oleg Cassini to design her inaugural ball gown. Cassini was a naturalized American citizen, born and raised in Paris. Jackie appeased the American press while getting what she wanted - that all-important French Touch.

Marie-Therese Norris is a dear friend of Be Well Massage Therapy and the founder of French Touch Image Consulting. Please visit her website to learn more about her company and services…

http://www.frenchtouchimage.com/

frenchtouchimage@comcast.net

(609) 313-7922