Unfortunately I cannot appreciate the elevation of these shoes, but platforms are the height of party fashion this season. They’ll look festive and mod with cocktail dresses, jeans, flirty skirts and satin skinnies (either bare-legged, or with hose). Pop in foot petals to prevent your feet from sliding and add an insole for cushioning comfort. Statement peds like these are sure to kick your outfit up a notch if you feel stable in 4-5 inch heels. They’re like sculptured works of art on your feet. I’ll admire them from a distance because I draw the line at 3 inches and “2 hours” for party shoes and that scenario needs to include a lot of sitting.

Pretty party platforms with either skinny or chunky soaring heel heights are a must if you like the look and your feet can stand it. It’s a skill that you can add to your resume if you can walk and dance the night away in these. I don’t know how Beyonce does it.

The December issue of Lucky Magazine shared an interesting laundry trick. You can wash beaded and sequined pieces at home instead of traipsing them off to the cleaners if you follow a few simple steps. I tested the method on one of my own sequined cardigans and altered the process a little.

Here’s what to do:

• Check that your washing machine has an ultra delicate “hand wash” cycle. If so, that’s the cycle to use. Use cold water and mild detergent (Woolite will do the trick).
• Turn the embellished piece inside out and pop it into an old pastel or white pillow case (you don’t want the dye of the pillow case to run). Close the pillow case with a tight knot and proceed to wash.
• Hang the damp garment over a rack or chair to dry, or flat-dry on a towel.
• Steam if necessary.

I took the chance with this piece because I felt I had nothing to lose. The last time I took an embellished piece of knitwear to the cleaners, it came back a size smaller. Dry cleaning can also cause sequins to melt. Some items do deserve to be professionally laundered (I wouldn’t risk using Lucky Magazine’s laundry method with my partially sequined mesh and satin party dress, for example). My embellished skirt, on the other hand, is soon to befriend a damp pillowcase.

Black opaques are all the rage this season, but sheer black hose can often look more flattering. There is something about the translucency of sheer hose (either in black or a colour) that is leg slimming and leg lengthening. I include sheer hose with self colored patterns (like spots or diamonds) in this category.

This is not to say that opaques, thicker ribbed tights, and patterned tights won’t look great when they complement an outfit. Sheer black hose was often a favourite choice with my clients this season, particularly for the additional coverage they offer in both everyday and party wear ensembles.

My point is that with all the exciting hose to choose from, we forget about simple sheer hose. And I definitely feel prettier in sheer black hose as opposed to thick tights. So don’t feel compelled to wear elaborate hose when the simple things in life are often best.

Some holiday events aren’t formal enough for a suit and tie, but smart casual won’t do either. The answer is something in between, where a fancy form of business casual never fails. Here’s what you need:

• Dress pants in wool blends are best. Stick to flat fronted styles with straight legs (these are generally most flattering). Stay away from casual khakis and cotton rich fabrications because it’s inappropriate to wear this look in Winter.
• Dress shirts should be fairly form fitting and preferably a little shiny. This way your look is a step up from everyday office wear. Wear them tucked into pants with an undergarment-T and dressy belt that matches your shoes. The informal untucked shirt look is not suitable in this setting.
• Smart shoes in high shine leathers are ideal. Keep them the same colour or darker than the pants and wear dress socks that match.
• Blazers are an optional extra, but a chic finish to the look. Plain or pinstriped wool , cashmere or velvet fabrications are great and remember that you can comfortably pair this look with jeans for smart casual occasions. Multi-purpose pieces in our wardrobes are fab.

Plain shirts and micro-geometric patterned shirts are dressier options than broad stripes, and darker colours both for shirts and dress pant look a little swankier than lighter hues. But a pair of black dress pants and white shirt remains a perfect semi formal combination, especially on a darker skin tone.