Is your New Year’s Eve outfit all squared away. I did the hard part for you, narrowing down your party dress choices from everything on the Interwebs to 75 perfect party dresses. If you missed it, click back because I know you will definitely find one (at least one!) you like.
What? You need shoes too? Must I do everything for you? No, that’s fine; that’s why I’m here. Here are 30 perfect pairs of party shoes from StyleCarrot partners. I went heavy on the glitter, but seriously, when else do you get to pretend your’e a princess? There are a few sexy blood red heels too, as well as cobalt blue, and the prettiest shades of pink pumps.
Dancing, dancing, dancing. I’m a dancing machine. (That’s sung. If you don’t know the tune, you are not a child of the ’70s.) Have fun!
P.S. The purse and jewelry are on you.
1 Hoss Burgundy Velvet Heels, $326 at Anthropologie.
2 Jeffrey Campbell Gold Peep Toe Heels at Bloomingdale’s.
3 Paola d’Arcano Cobalto Pumps, $398 at Anthropologie.
4 Badgley Mischka Nude Peep Toe Pump, $245 at Zappos.
5 Kenneth Cole Metallic Cage Pumps, $150 at Bloomingdale’s.
Many of you are probably still in the crush of the holiday rush. But since I celebrate Hanukkah, my present giving season is complete. My husband and I celebrate our anniversary on Christmas Eve -a spur of the moment elopement – so there’s opportunity for one more give and get, but the real buying, and by that I mean the buying for the kids, is complete.
That means it’s time to move on to planning the perfect New Year’s Eve outfit. Or you might have some holiday parties to attend. I’ll likely cozy up at home. But if I were planning a rocking New Year’s Eve, I’d start trying on dresses right now. There’s nothing worse than buying a party ensemble under pressure. After all this research I may just make a buy so I have a pretty party dress on hand.
I may have gone overboard—there are 75 party dress picks here from StyleCarrot partners and other sources. Lots of lace happening this season. There’s a turquoise lace dress by DVF; a cobalt lace dress from J.Crew, and a one-shouldered navy lace number fromReiss. (Princess Kate should totally dare to wear that.) Of course there are plenty of metallics. Metallic gold and gunmetal dresses, as well as jacquard (big trend right now, especially at Tory Burch), and a sprinkling of sequins. Plus capes. Channel Gwyneth and try a dress with a cape. The white one from Pixie Market is darling. 01
What would I wear? If I were a tiny bit younger and going dancing, I think #3 is really cute, though I’d probably opt for #33, the pleated midi by Rebecca Taylor or #47, the gold wrap dress. The stripey sequin Marc dress, #16 is adorable, especially paired with those studded clogs. The green knotted Lanvin silk shift (#25) is more my style these days, if I could afford it, along with #38, the modern minimalist black gabardine from Ssense. (Everything from Ssense is fierce. For a more festive feel but still considering comfort, I like #49, a black embellished chiffon shift by Velvet.
Last week I pulled together a collection of cute cosmetic cases, “Kiss & Make Up” in the Boston Globe. I generally like to do a travel-related roundup in the summer, and I had already done weekend bags last year.
Mostly, though, I was inspired by a particularly cute cosmetic case by Deux Luxe, that the publicist had sent me back in the winter—the Anguilla cosmetic case in jade green emblazoned with exotic birds. I love the look. Unfortunately it didn’t make it into the Globe, but I’ve included it here (#17), along with 29 other cute cosmetic case finds.
Bostonians, pay attention to #1, #9, and #18 by ultra preppy, Brookline-based design label Ame & Lulu. I’m kind of attached to #2 from Catseye London. Adorable, though maybe channels too much of a crazy cat lady vibe? There’s a doggie one as well (#21). And if you’re more of a boho girl, Target has a couple of great Coachella-worthy makeup bags (#5 and #8).
StyleCarrot partner Nordstrom is having a serious sale. Yes, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale starts today. As in Shop. Right. Now. New fall looks are on sale through August 3rd, but if you see something you like, better to jump in quickly because this is a highly anticipated sale event. (Key dramatic music.) I clicked through pages of items—the sale includes clothing, beauty, and accessories for women, men, and kids—and picked out the 25 items I’d buy.
I’ve actually had my eye on that DVF metallic clutch for a while, and I can always use a new wrap dress (especially in green!), grey shift dress, and Bobbi Brown lip color. I have a Rebecca Minkoff 5-zip cross-body bag in teal; I’d certainly get lots of use from the nude one. I like it because it’s not particularly large, but plenty roomy enough for a phone, compact, keys, and money, and drapes nicely with that nice heavy (but not too heavy) chain. I’ve been toying with the idea of Hunter rain boots. Not to be trendy, but because I don’t actually own rain boots. Can anyone tell me if they are comfortable?
I’m actually more tempted by the Sperry duck boots though; they look cozy. Probably a better bet for Boston. The Rag & Bone jeans seem to be a perfect cut—they’re a “slim boyfriend jean.” Promising. I just bought new black Nike Flyknit sneakers similar to the ones here. I figure getting black means that since it’s unlikely I’ll actually exercise in them at least I could wear them on the street. And finally, I love black diamonds, especially set in rose gold, if anyone is looking for present ideas.
You might need a refresh on your Hanky Panky lace thongs, Kiehl’s body cream, designer sunglass upgrade, or a simple everyday tote. Excuse me, vegan tote.
Happy anniversary sale.
Shops StyleCarrot partner Nordstrom for fall looks on sale now.
Selecting the holiday party dresses here was more fun than going shopping for the real thing. The list of designers reads like a Vogue editor’s Fashion Week to-do list. There are 42 different designers represented here, each dress more fun than the next. Probably you won’t be able to actually buy many of these, thanks to the sky high prices, but still, they are divine.
If I were going to a holiday party, and I could wear any of them (and this is in dreamland, where I have the perfect body to match my bottomless wallet), I think I’d opt for the Rachel Roy or Marc Jacobs, though I do also love the drape-y metallic Vivienne Westwood and the darling Nina Ricci. I also love the idea of the Isabel Marant with black booties, topped with a leather moto jacket. I suppose it depends on the occasion. They’re all pretty fabulous. Which holiday party dress would you wear to a fancy fete?
