Haute For The Holidays: Part I

Aesthetics + Economics's holiday style suggestions are based on an economics-influenced theory of style. I approach style from the perspective of a girl with two goals: optimization and differentiation. For yours truly, styling should be about (a) what pleases you, (b) what impresses or is at least appropriate to those you will be gracing with your presence, and (c) maintaining a sense of individuality as opposed to looking like a late-adopting victim/clone.

Everyone and her mother is going to show up to holiday parties this season in a gold sequin dress (striped like the French Connection Serpent dress, or cut with a bow a la Sienna Miller at the Costume Institute Gala) paired with black tights. I trust that you, dear reader, agree that this look has become trop clichéd. "Differentiate" yourself by opting for a sequin dress in a color besides gold (I suggest silver, red, or a silvery blue as seen in the Max Mara and Stella McCartney Fall 2006 collections). I love the styling in the shot above--the way the dress has been layered over dark jeans, and perfectly accessorized. Patent leather shoes make the look particularly festive.

Photo: Elle Accessories Fall 2006.

A red Miu Miu layered over a tee and accessorized with costume jewelry and a wide belt. A bit young looking, yes, but worlds better than looking like a clone. Warning: I think this look may be particularly suited to blondes.

Look for a more elegant alternative to the gold sequin dress in Haute for the Holidays: Part II.

Comments

[Johnica J. Garrett]

love it!

[candid cool]

i love the 1st photograph, and now that i think about the gold dress with the black tights is very "clone" like. i do love the long sleeved silver dress over the denim.

but i think the red dress, maybe with a black top underneath and no/minimal amount of jewels could be well suited to a brunette.

on a side note...i love you blog, def. a fan.

[Elsa]

Thanks guys!

candid cool, I look forward to seeing the holiday looks you capture on your blog.

[LIE-sha]

awesome entry. awesome ideas.
=)

[Stylefinder]

I love the dress over jeans look, but the bumpy bits that happen around the beltline and buttons really frustrate me. This always happens when I wear a longer shirt or a fitted dress over my skinny jeans. Any ideas on how to minimize that? (Other than airbrushing)

[Elsa]

Hi Stylefinder! In my experience, it's simply an issue of finding a dress that isn't too fitted or too clingy to be layered over jeans. Dresses made with thicker material or multiple layers of material are also easier to layer over jeans. Also, I find that the waistline of jeans made with more stretch does not "bulge" out as much that of a pair made of thicker, less stretchy denim. Good luck!

[Test]

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