It’s the time of year where we all have a party of some sort to attend practically every other night (or so it seems). This makes the all important question ‘what do I wear?’ even more pressing (and possibly frustrating). To ease the pain, these tips should guide you through the trends while maximizing what you already have in your closet.The Trends:

• Shine & Sequins
• Fur
• Lace
• Party Skirts
• Bright Colors

Interpreting Them for YOU

Shine & Sequins
We’re seeing this most prominently in blazers, tops, dresses and skirts. In some cases it’s metallic prints/details on easy to wear tanks, sometimes beading on your skirt or dress.

This is easy to incorporate into your look without even buying anything. Do you have any metallic clutches? Shiny jewelry … maybe even a bit blingy? Or even a studded belt?

You can play it up or tone it down, depending on your preferences, style and the occasion.

A sparkly top can make an otherwise basic blazer or cardigan pop a little bit which is perfect for the office holiday party. Even the sequin blazers in a dark, neutral color adds just a bit of pizzazz that you can either style with a classic touch or play it trendy by pairing it with a party skirt.

Fur
The fur (or faux fur) vest is everywhere and it’s definitely a trend, not necessarily a lasting style choice. However, you can play this trendy or classic as well, depending on your style.

And before you go out to buy a new piece of fur (or faux), dig around your closet (or your mom’s or grandma’s) because I’m sure there is some fur you can borrow.

Fur for the holidays is about adding a bit of glam. And, of course, if you’re not in southern California, it’s meant to be functional as well!

If you don’t have this in your closet, there are plenty of inexpensive options such as H&M and Topshop that will allow you to buy into the trend. Since this is a showstopper piece, it’s important that the rest of your outfit is relatively understated and complimentary. Keep it pretty much tonal, but definitely add some cool accessories.

If you are looking for something classic, then there are some great jacket options that will carry you through future seasons as well. Look for a color that compliments your skin tone (or the always flattering leopard) and a fit that doesn’t hide your shape. Again, you would keep the rest of your outfit pretty basic.

Another easy way to play with this trend (and hit another ongoing trend) is with an embellished headband. Always an fun way to play with your hair, this also adds another element to your outfit. Headbands aren’t just about getting your hair out of your face any more, they’re just as much another accessory as your purse is!

Lace
OH my gosh! So many fun ways to play with lace. And I would bet you probably have something lacy in your closet from a previous season. I know I do! And I’m so excited to wear it again. As I’ve said before, Fashion is cyclical and the trends do come back. This is why I believe in quality over quantity! Anyway, I digress …

Lace – try it as a skirt, a top, an accent, as a detail on your shoes or booties, or even with your tights. There are some GREAT tights options out there that make it really inexpensive to buy into this trend if you don’t already have some lace in your wardrobe.

What I love about the lace trend is that it’s really accessible for any age. And it’s so subtly sexy! (Another preference of mine – never overt, always subtly sexy!)

Party Skirts
Yay! Hit two trends in one. Party skirts can be lacy, frilly, sparkly and/or all of the above!

Some are short while some drape so lovely and to the knee (like the Alexander Wang I shared on Facebook). Whatever your fancy, you’re sure to find something you’ll go gaga over.

And you can incorporate some tights into the look (why not in a bright color?) to downplay a short skirt and make it subtly sexy (there it is again!).

Check your closet for something from a previous year that you can re-purpose for your new party skirt. Otherwise, this is a trend I would suggest you buy into because you can always find a use for a great party skirt!

Bright Colors
Proof that Fashion is FUN! Colors abound in the stores and they offer such a great way to play with your clothes. I love pairing unexpected colors to make an outfit that pops. I just love color!

And, we’ve been seeing it for two years now. The tones have changed a bit over the season, but for the most part it’s been variations on the jewel tones that first entered stores in Fall of ’08. So, you should definitely have some color in your wardrobe you can incorporate into your party outfits!

If you’re still nervous about adding color or playing with color combos, I suggest dipping your toes into the idea by adding coor through accessories. Shoes, clutches, necklaces, earrings, etc. make for great ways to add color and play.

Oh! An outfit idea! How about that LBD you have in your closet? What if we add a bright cardigan and nip that in with a shiny belt at the waist to be sure we maintain the structure and shape of the dress? It’s SO important to be true to your curves and not hide them! And now we’ve hit on a few trends with one outfit you already had in your closet! A Fashion Success!

My final suggestion to you with your holiday style: take some time to play in your closet. Have fun trying new things! Take pictures and plan ahead. One less thing to worry about this holiday season!