I love this post- though I will sadly have no formal occasions to dress for this holiday season I’m staying in England for the first time ever, and I can’t imagine that my boyfriend’s family celebration is all that dressy.

The skirt on that first dress is gorgeous- exactly the kind of look I go for. I can almost hear “The Hills are Alive” when you swirl, Angie I also love the outfit with the red dress.

You are GORGEOUS! Amazing pictures. Greg is an incredible photographer as well, but it must be easy to photograph you!

I don’t have the opportunity to dress up for parties often, but now I wish I did! It must be so fun to put on your prettiest party dress and feel like a star. Thanks for the great formula… very user friendly and practical! Makes me want to go out and buy a sparkly dress and try the formula for myself!

How interesting…I never thought to target a specific decade in my look. I’ve usually selected my classic dresses based on my personal parameters (i.e. what shades and shapes look good on me no matter what) and gone from there. I wonder if I’ve been inadvertently channeling a particular time period by doing this. That issue aside, your formula of classic dress + modern accessories makes all the sense in the world.

I too had never thought of a decade, though I do tend to think silhouette first and so end up in the same place. Angie, while I love the idea of a dress, I always end up in pants at these things. How ’bout a pants based version of flop-proof party?

Angie you look absolutely beautiful!

I like your basic formula of classic dress with modern accessories. I didn’t think I stuck to a decade or such but overall like classic looks. I tend to try for color at holiday parties since so many people turn up in black dresses. We usually only have on dressy party each holiday season but this year I am hoping for a new years bash as well

Question–are there other cover-ups you would suggest that are relatively small but not the typical pashmina(which I have been using all along and now feel like I want to update a bit).It needs to have some warming capacity to it so sheer cardigans probably won’t work for me. I was thinking a short beaded cardigan may work but am having a tough time finding one that isn’t so heavy it weighs down the outfit completely.I like you idea of the dressier wrap like the gorgeous black one you are wearing above. Thoughts?

Oh Angie, what a treat to see beautiful you in these gorgeous dresses first thing Monday morning! Love the post and the pics. And I’m jealous – I don’t often go to events fancy enough to justify such stunning frocks. Enjoy!!!

Angie, seriously, these are the most wonderful pictures I have seen in your blog so far! Your outstanding fashion sense at its best!!! I truly love how you mix the accessories with the dresses – so stylish and yet so anti-fashion-victim!!

I used to have a sixties dress with a bolero jacket for holidays that i really loved. I think I have to brush up my party wardrobe capsule with bags and shoes and jewelry….
Thanks for this beautiful post, you´re an inspiration.

Angie – I love this post. You look fab. I love the red dress on you!!!

Love the festive post! I don’t have a dressy event to attend, but the tip to pick an era’s silhouette is something I’ll remember next time I’m looking for a dress.

Angie, I love this post. You look gorgeous and the formula with a decade in mind is great. I love your little bag with the first dress.

Oh Angie, thank you for the great post and what beautiful pictures! You are stunning.
I never put much thought into formal wear, and I don’t have any occasions this year, at least so far. But I am taking notes and will try to rejuvenate my 10-year-old dress with your tips.

Ooooh, pretty pretty. Can we have a closer look at the ruffly bag? Where from?!

I don’t think I get invited to any parties that are quite that dressy. People must, because an awful lot of fancy party dresses seem to be for sale, but I don’t. Perhaps a good thing, because the idea of not wearing my glasses is a total non-starter! Yikes!

And obviously no party is complete without a little dog

LOVE all of them! Gorgeous! And little Jasmine is the perfect accent to the red dress.

Oh my, you look stunning in all of those looks Angie, I really love the red dress ensemble, very subtle Spanish Senorita.

You’ve articulated perfectly why I gravitate toward retro-influenced and actual vintage dresses. That timelessness is hard to resist, and it’s so easy to update with a few well-chosen accessories.

You look smashing in that red dress, Angie. Wow!

I choose retro-styled dresses for my evening parties as well. A fifties “New Look” silhouette modified to appear a bit more modern looks best on me. My planned Christmas party outfit is a kelly green knee-length dress with full skirt, tight waist, and sweetheart neckline. Accessories are gold heels, a white mohair shrug (hand-knit and perhaps closed with a brooch), nude fishnets, and chandelier earrings. Hopefully the planned outfit isn’t too, too retro. I always wear my hair loose, so perhaps that will give the look a more modern feeling.

Just wanted to exclaim: Angie, you look totally STUNNING in all your dresses. Very beautiful!

Wow…what a great post, and you look absolutely gorgeous. This is definitely one to print off – how to dress for a party. I’d much rather have a really classic/retro kind of dress that I can wear for years, and change up the accessories.

Ties in beautifully with the makeup post too – and now I’m dying to know what kind of red lipstick that is.

So fun – I will be looking for a formal dress for an upcoming cruise soon (well, it’s not til March), and you’ve definitely given me some wonderful ideas to incorporate when shopping for something like this.

This must have been a real treat for Greg to photograph. You look totally gorgeous in every way (and so does your daughter)!

I won’t have any dressy events any time soon, which is just as well because shopping for it would give me a headache. I love these looks on you and on everyone else in the world, but I can’t even enter the the dress section of a store without wanting to turn around and leave. All the options that would possibly be flattering on me have plunging necklines and loads of cleavage, which is so not my style. I can’t wear any of the cute youthful looking options because of my chest, so I end up feeling around 15 years older than I am.

I know the day will come when I’m going to have to just bite the bullet, and I am dreading it. I’ll need all the support I can get from the forum. If I can even look 1/16 as fab as you, I’ll be satisfied.

What a treat for the eyes for me to read this over brekky Angie. Love each look. Formal/partywear is an area where I struggle because I am inherently casual and prefer to be under rather than overdressed. Next time I have a fancy occasion I’m coming back to this post for tips though!!!

I am taking notes here Angie, the era dressing tip is such an excellent idea. And you’re probably tired of hearing this by now, but you look absolutely gorgeous in all three outfits – and that’s a serious understatement!

Angie, you are so gorgeous and beautiful! LOVE your posts and advice. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

Two words, Gorgeous Angie !

How smart to choose a timeless look that doesn’t date — no panicking from year to year over what to wear when an invitation arrives. You look gorgeous. Love the spin you did in the second photo of the first outfit to make the skirt float!

Well HELLO, gorgeous. You would definitely be the belle of the ball in any of those outfits.

-meream

I adore your first look. I like the nipped in waist look the triangle shaped shawl and full skirt create (or enhance.)
How do you feel about this look for a fuller figure?

Lovely, heartwarming pictures. You look so very elegant and happy Angie. I’m so glad you’re a dog lover. I accidentally took your advice this year and bought a beaded retro 20s dress for the party season for the reasons you state. Elegant, simple and easy to wear.

Love your red shoes. Do I see toes peeping out of the black shoes you pair with the lovely red slip dress? I never know about shoes and hose!

Thank you for the great blog and fashion intelligence.

Love you in red. Simply divine. Great suggestions just in time for another holiday party season!

Say, you look gorgeous in all three of those frocks! I am especially fond of the red dress!

Your formula is priceless, and has helped me many times!

What do you think of the dressier Party Cardy?

love,
m!

You light up with that tomato red dress on. You are beautiful and you look as if you are going to be the bell of the ball.
I would love to find a party dress. It is so difficult to find one that is not black. I do have black skirts and pretty blouses or sweaters though. I’m sure I can build a party outfit with what I have.
We are going on an Argosy cruise kicking off in Kirkland this year.

Great looks. I am trying to figure out my outfit for a “business casual” holiday party…I want to look festive!

Thanks for the awfully kind words, ladies. I’m humbly taken aback.

Lisette! Why would you choose to wear pants when you could wear a dress!

Palm Fronds and Meredith, cardigans cannot be formal unless they are draped in sequins and glitz from seam to seam. You might like to look back at the cheat sheet I linked to at the start of the post for alternative cover-up options. The pashmina seems dated to my eye.

Linda, the ruffle-y zipper clutch was a gift from sister-in-law who lives in London.

Velvety chocolate, I wear “Fire” by Chanel on my lips for these occasions.

Maya, I promise that you’ll feel completely fabulous in the right retro frock when that first formal occasion comes knocking on your door. YLF will help you every step of the way.

Mamark, the look that you’re describing would work beautifully on a fuller figure.

Melanie, those are indeed toes peeping out in those black shoes. I’m wearing black micro fishnets hose with peep-toes which is a totally acceptable look.

My favourite part about these pictures is our little blog star Jasmine, who looks appropriately turned out for any occasion.

That first dress is insanely, insanely awesome!

Wow, I just wanted to say that you look absolutely amazing, so stunning! I just love the first dress with its skirt, and also the other black one. You’re so beautiful Angie!

Angie- how beautiful you look in your party wear! My favorite is the red dress- somthing about it seems so unexpected but you styled it so fabulously!!!

*Stunning* each and every photo!!!! Thanks for pulling it all together for us

I’m late (catching up after a Thanksgiving trip) but want to say you are so beautiful! I really want to find a pair of fab red heels!

[...] of purchasing new dresses each party season, I often rejuvenate the look of my frocks with new accessories. I don’t wear earrings so necklaces are my number one choice of jewelry for [...]

Wow, you are stunning Angie! The dresses are all gorgeous and the outfit combos fab!

I love this formula and I need to start building a timeless cocktail dress collection, probably from next year. I would like three: a black one that can be dressed up and down, and two colored ones, one in a more fall-appropriate color such as deep purple for all the holiday occasions and one is a more spring color ( e.g. turquoise) for weddings and such. I do own a couple of dresses, but thy look pretty young and are more of dancing dresses. However, I was lucky enough to score a classic long teal formal gown for a steal 5 years ago so i am all set in that area.

[...] holiday parties are actually more common than the formal celebrations we spend a lot of time talking about. These are bashes straight after work, at fancy restaurants, [...]

[...] I’ve had an excellent run with my red Kate Spades, which you’ve seen with my outfits a few times. After years they still look and feel superb so it was back to Kate Spade for a similar [...]