It is so easy to look in the shops and see all the glorious dresses and glitzy tops and it is so easy to be tempted to part with the cash without giving as much thought as you do when buying everyday clothes.
Remember these rules and you will not only look great but you will ensure that the look will be cost effective too.
1.
Colour Think which colours you look good in ( if you don't know this, make a note to see an image consultant who can help you with this and much more).
Then consider which of these colours are suitable for party wear.
Black is not suitable, particularly near the face, for lots of ladies.
See what you have in your wardrobe, you won't necessarily need to go and buy a new outfit.
By wearing a flattering colour at a party you will both look good and stand out from the crowd.
Using bright colours where you wish to draw attention is worth experimenting with.
2.
Styles Look at all the party type styles in your wardrobe and think what would be suitable for the occasion.
Don't dismiss a smart pair of trousers.
Particularly if you are short legged or a triangle shape, these can help you look very elegant if they are in one of your better darker shades.
3.
Drawing attention to the right areas.
Look in the mirror and see which areas you would like to draw attention to.
Also note those areas that you would like to disguise.
If you are thinking about a dress, think carefully about fabrics and shapes.
Is a tight fitting dress really going to look good on your hips? It might be great for an hourglass shape, but again there will be better items if, for example, you are rather more rounded.
Think about the width of the hem of the dress, a wider hem can slim the rest of the body, but be cautious that it doesn't make the bottom half of your body look too wide.
Consider the drape of the fabric, softer fabrics can fall into gentle folds and look elegant, but stiffer fabrics can add inches where you might not want them! 4.
Sparkle When we think of the party season we often think 'sparkle'.
Sparkle can be achieved by the actual fibres in the fabric, gold based and silver based are particularly common.
Do choose the one that suits your skin tone, silver fabrics with a warm skin can be very draining, particularly if you are thinking of teaming it with black.
Sequins can provide sparkle, again think about where you are going to put these.
They can add inches to your size, this might be just what you need, but if it isn't do look carefully in the mirror to see that you are happy with your overall look.
5.
Accessories You can wear an outfit that you have worn before and it can be totally transformed by accessories.
Think particularly about jewellery.
A striking necklace need not be expensive but it can be just the thing to make you look and feel stylish.
Consider earrings too, you can have 'sparkle' here, and if you have the figure to wear bangles then there are lots in the shops that again can transform your overall look.
Take a look at bags too.
If you are saving money by revamping an outfit a smart new bag is a great idea.
Finally of course, don't forget the shoes.
6.
An extra layer Will you need a stole/pashmina/scarf? There's nothing worse than being cold! Build this in to the planning of the outfit.
7.
Finally Assemble the whole outfit a few days before the party.
Put on all the clothes and all the accessories and do a final check in the mirror.
Where do you look first? Is this where you hope others will look too? If not you have still a few days to work on that area! Above all, enter the party room with confidence knowing that you look good, you will then feel great and give a great first impression which should set you up to really enjoy the occasion.
If you feel you need some help with any of these aspects or about dressing for different occasions then an image consultant will be the person to help you.