How to Accessorize for Your Holiday Parties

Last week we brought you The Perfect Little Black Dress for your holiday parties. This week we bring you all of the accessories to go with your LBD! The idea behind the perfect LBD is that you can dress it up or down, depending upon the occasion. Therefore, we bring you complete outfits for three different holiday party scenarios; the formal holiday party, the less formal holiday cocktail, and dinner at home with friends and family.

The Formal Holiday Party

Go for glamour here! Add a fur stole (faux or real) to your long sleeve dress to have the best of both worlds, warmth and beauty. Read this blog post for more ideas about how to wear a fur stole. To keep the all-black outfit interesting, add patterned tights and a touch of emerald with your accessories. The icing on the cake? These gorgeous gold Valentino heels will have your toes looking like little presents. Or if you decide to keep it simple, stick with the black pumps that you already own.

Tibi Jacquard-Paneled Stretch-Ponte Dress, $395

Pologeorgis Small Pleated Rabbit Fur Stole, $495 

Spanx Sheer Fashion Pantyhose in Swiss Dot, $28

Oscar de la Renta Gold Plated Cabochon Necklace, $690

Moyna Beaded Clutch, $108

Valentino Metallic Nappa Couture Bow Pump, $695

Cole Haan Chelsea Pump, $298

The Holiday Cocktail

This outfit is guaranteed to dazzle your fellow cocktail guests. The sequined blazer is not only the perfect statement piece, it's the perfect price! Go for color with a bold statement earring and matching shoes or stick with modern metallic. I received these fabulous Jeweliq blue vintage deco drops as a birthday gift last week. I'll have to get my wear of them in the next few weeks because I don't think they will match the nursing pajamas I will be sporting 24/7 for the month of December! The LBD in this look is stretch cotton, leaving lots of room for holiday treats...And is this not the BEST holiday party clutch EVER?

Helmut Lang Cocoon Stretch-Cotton Dress, $210

Anne Klein Sequin Blazer, $179

Kate Spade New York All That Glitters Frame Clutch, $328

Jeweliq Sapphire Vintage Deco Drops, $20

MICHAEL Michael Kors Flex Suede Kitten Pumps, $99

BaubleBar Crystal Holly Necklace, $38

J.Crew Martina Metallic Wedges, $238

The Holiday Dinner at Home

When you're eating Thanksgiving dinner, you're going to want a comfortable dress with lots of stretch! Add a cashmere cardigan and gold necklace for an easy but put-together look. The ABS By Allen Schwartz evening bag is a great value for your money. A client of mine has already worn it to a recent black tie event. It looks really expensive in person! Add a heel or a comfy boot, your choice.

Theory Chloh Textured Stretch-Knit Dress, $415

Spanx Tight-End Tights in Black Opaque, $28

J.Crew Cashmere Cardigan, $94.50

Bauble Bar Gold Multi Mini Triad Pendant, $24

ABS By Allen Schwartz Pyramid Minaudiere Evening Bag, $60

J.Crew Suede Field Boots, $328

LK Bennett Doris Bootie, $236.98

Happy Holidays! May you look and feel fabulous this year and always!

Color it Right: Lani's Guide To The Colored Jean Trend

The Colored Jean Trend: everything to gain and nothing to fear! Some trends seem too expensive for only one season's worth of wearing. This is not one of them. Not only do colored jeans come at totally affordable prices but they seem to be sticking around. Don't be intimidated! I'll show you some great ways to wear them and take away your FEAR OF THE TREND. By the end of this post, you'll be wondering which color to buy first!

Let's start with neutral colors. A pale jean is a great foundation for any outfit--you can dress it up or down, and add pops of color or pattern without looking too busy.

HELMUT Jeans Gloss Wash Five Pocket Skinny $230

Doesn't this neutral, earthy color look like autumn? Pair these cords with booties and sit down to enjoy a pumpkin spice latte!

AG Corduroys--The Legging $168

Ash Footwear Nevada Boot Black Suede $295

One jean that a lot of women fear is the "winter white." Be fearless! Try them with bold pumps for a sleek nighttime look.

Gap 1969 Always Skinny jeans $69.50

Joan & David Qasina $209

Want to have more fun with the trend? This flared jean would look great with chunky pumps.

DL 1961 Joy Flare $178

KORS Michael Kors Kempton High Heel $250

When you think "brights," you probably think of summer. This fall is all about bright jewel tones!

REISS Ross Dart Slim Leg Jeans $170

Do the colorblocking thing with a bright blue jean on bottom and a pale blouse on top.

rag & bone The Legging Mid-Rise Plush Twill $187

J.Crew Collection Luxe Silk Crepe Blouse $198

Even bright orange is fall-appropriate... think pumpkin orange, not Halloween orange!

AG Jeans Stilt Crop Jeans $95

Colored jeans in a muted tone are great for daytime. This pair is casual with a nice zipper detail.  Add a chambray blouse and you have the perfect errand-running outfit.

Gap 1969 Ankle Zip Legging Jeans $59.99

J.Crew Perfect Shirt in Chambray Polka Dot $88

Try the color of the season, Oxblood, on jeans. Throw on a leather jacket for a tough-but-lovely look.

Aqua Denim Basic Skinny in Oxblood $68

KORS Michael Kors Zip Detail Moto Leather Jacket $365

Back to basics: show that colored denim is not just for jeans by 

pairing a basic black jean with a colored denim jacket.

Madewell Rail Straight Jeans in Black Frost Wash $98.50

Earnest Sewn Denim Jacket in Cabernet $198

My Favorite Fall Bags

This post is brought to you by special request from one of my favorite readers. Feel free to send in your own requests!

This fall, I have seen--and fallen in love with--bags that seem to have their own identities. These totes, clutches, backpacks, and shoulder bags have real personalities... talk about statement pieces! These are some of my favorites:

One important trend this season is bright colors. This purple suede highlights the jewel tone trend and makes a modern classic even more modern.

Proenza Schouler PS1 Large suede satchel $1,995

Structured bags are functional, but they also create crisp, stylized lines. 

Reed Krakoff Boxer leather tote $1,290

A variation of the structured bag is the doctor's bag. This doctor's bag is highly styled, but has more of a casual feel than other structured bags. 

Chloe Aurore leather duffle bag $1,895

Structured bags like to go out at night, too. This box clutch lends a rock-and-roll element to this lady like bag with its brass knuckles. The built in skull and gem rings are like instant accessories!

Alexander McQueen Knuckle Swarovski crystal box clutch $2,195

One staple shape of this season is the shoulder bag. It hangs calmly next to you, like a trusty sidekick. 

J.Crew Edie purse $238

Backpacks can have personalities, too. The patent leather detailing takes this large backpack from lazy to lovely. 

Pierre Hardy Patent leather-trimmed suede backpack $1,650

Leather brings a little sass and flare to what could be a dull duffle bag. 

Victoria Beckham Oversized textured-leather duffle bag $3,495

This season, pattern mash-ups are a-plenty, so go with a patterned tote and don't worry about "matching" your outfit.

Totem Salvaged Leather-trimmed cotton tote $300

For a modern pattern, try stripes in a bold color. 

Marni Printed vinyl and leather tote $290

And then there are animal prints and envelope bags... there are always animal prints no matter how much I wish they would finally go away!

J.Crew Collection invitation clutch in printed calf hair $448

Plaids are one of the biggest patterns this season. The black and yellow wool fabric brings a punk-plaid down a notch and makes it cozy. 

Newbark Snake-stamped leather and plaid felt weekend bag $1,600

Lace is always a good choice, even for day. This pattern is both demure and provocative. 

Dolce & Gabbana Miss Sicily macrame and lace-applique tote $2,425

The ultimate in patterns? Pop art. This Lichtenstein-like bag is loud, and I want to listen. P.S. The Lichtenstein exhibit is coming to The National Gallery! I saw it at The Art Institute of Chicago and will be attending the show again in DC.

3.1 Phillip Lim The Break-Up PVC and leather shoulder bag $695

Patterns aside, a bag can take on a life of its own through exciting or rich colors. Oxblood/Burgundy is the color of the season. This is the bag trend I'll be sporting this season!

Chloe Paraty Medium leather shoulder bag $1,895

Pales are gentle and give your entire outfit a subdued, pleasant quality and an extra dose of sophistication. 

Cole Haan Linley Rounded A Line Hobo $328

Finally, metallics and iridescent colors make bags pop and your outfit shine. 

The Cambridge Satchel Company Metallic satchel $205

What Fall Bag are you going to buy? I hope my choices have given you some inspiration!