This is the third installment in my collaboration with Josephine at Chic At Any Age, comparing styles in our respective cities. Today we’re dressing for another type of festive holiday get-together: drinks after work or dinner with friends.
Maybe it’s a pre-Christmas meet-up for drinks and a few appetizers, or a dinner out during that quieter week before New Year’s. Between work, family and other obligations, you don’t all get together that often, so it’s a special occasion. It’s a step up from casual, but a step below the formality of a cocktail party. When I start feeling flummoxed about what to wear, I’ve learned to go with my “What Would Emmanuelle Alt Do?” mantra, sticking with what feels authentic, and tweaking around the edges.
Above: lips | bag | nails | jacket |
top | jeans | necklace | ring | shoes
As many of us are looking to get the most out of our wardrobes these days, I’ve re-mixed a couple of pieces from an earlier ensemble. I’ve started with a long velvet jacket (mine’s this one) and a slouchy silk top, and added a pair of black sateen jeans, a bit dressier than denim without the just-came-from-the-office vibe. The velvet jacket, suede pumps and a red lip dress the look up a bit without skewing too stiffly formal. (If it’s too cold for shoes like this where you live, try a suede or embellished ankle boot.)
See what Josephine has selected for a similar event in London here.
Is there a favorite wardrobe item that you rely on for special occasion dressing?
The Velvet Jacket…
Elizabeth and James | Marciano Giulia | Joie | Theory | Halogen | ELVI (Plus) | Ted Baker
