last minute holiday party considerations - accessories

So my fiance's holiday party is tomorrow evening. The dress code is "cocktail, a step up from business formal". As some of you might know, my attempts to find a dressy topper for my LBD were a dismal failure, so I'm just going to go with a shawl. I have other, sheer wraps but here are three options I chose because I need something to provide some warmth:
1. black and cream printed pashmina
2. my old standby teal pashmina
3. very pale bluish grey cashmere shawl - this one has the benefit of being warm, but it might be a little too blankety. You can't tell in the photo but it has a bluish tinge that is almost minty in some lights.
4. wild card - go to the Tibetan store down the street and get a new pashmina in a different color!

Which do you think is the best option? For reference I'll be wearing the dress in photo 2 with the grey shoes in the photo of the shawls. Nude sheer hose. (Could do sheer black too). Purse will be either my silver satin clutch or my black patent bag. Silver is probably better w/ the shoes but I am leaning toward the black as I am thinking about gold jewelry, possibly the long magnifying glass pendant in #4.

(Sorry, it's too late to be actually trying these things on.)

To be honest I think one of my goals next year needs to be to update my cocktail capsule, especially for colder weather. I need dressy black closed shoes, an appropriate topper, updated dressy handbag, and maybe a new dress. I'm not really loving this LBD so much these days and it has proven to be a bear to style. (I do have my allsaints black lace dress which I like a lot more but the eyelet lace material is completely inappropriate for winter.)

ETA: Have just heard that it might be more business than cocktail. Here is an old photo with my NL cropped blazer (imagine it without the flower please!). It's quite a businessy look but I will also bring a pashmina and swap if I feel too corporate. What do you think of the booties with this ensemble then? I know we decided they were too casual for cocktail, but what about business?

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13 years ago

Deborah

Veteran

Diana, of you want to wear the gold pendant then I think I would wear the the teal wrap. I'm don't usually mix silver and gold but I think I would here and carry the silver bag.

rute

I would go with the black dress + booties (more modern and trendy) + silver clutch (hide the strap and use it as a clutch) + black and white pashmina + no necklace (only a silver bracelet).

Anonymous

I like the booties better with the outfit too, it is more modern. I would do a black sheer hose, not nude. I am not liking the idea of the pendant because I think the neckline has enough detail and might even clash. I would wear earrings or a cuff bracelet instead. About clutches, I am also agreeing with Rute.
You have some bolero toppers, right? I would try each and every blazer, bolero etc, before I go for the pashmina but I confess, I just have a poison eye for them. I think you lose all of the flair of your dress by covering it with it. A cropped blazer can look festive once you add your evening makeup and hair.

Diana

Thanks, ladies. In my previous post, I think it was decided that the booties were not dressy enough for a cocktail dress code, hence the heels instead.

The pendant is really long, it hits me around the belly button, does this change anyone's opinion? I've attached a photo of it below. Normally I would be all for mixing silver and gold, but since the clutch is satin, it's not really quite reading right to me.

Zap, every blazer I try with this dress makes it look like I am going to a business meeting and not a cocktail party. Boleros don't work either - with that neckline they all make me look really round shouldered. FWIW I don't usually wear the pasmina like a scarf with evening dresses, but more like wrapped loosely around my arms if that makes sense (unless it's very cold, then I use it as a blanket, LOL).

ETA: OK, I have just heard that a lot of people are going to be wearing more business formal since they're coming straight from work (it's across the street from J's office). So I might bring the blazer AND a pashmina just in case. Will add photo with blazer up top.

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Great idea. Yes, bring the blazer. If I remember your fiancee's field, it might look a bit more corporate than you think. I have even gone to events like that in a suit.
Thumbs up on the pasmina plan! Take the black and white!
I don't think you need the pendant because the dress' neckline looks interesting enough but heck I'm too simplistic sometimes. Wear it if it makes the outfit seem more you. You can always take it off if you change your mind.
ETA: I like the blazer.

Thanks, Zap. I think you're right. Boston is pretty conservative dress-wise, and laywers even more so (MaryK and Una notwithstanding). I think part of the confusion is that this is the first holiday party the firm has had in three years, and J. has only been there for 4 months, so he has no idea (plus, he's just clueless about fashion anyway). He is wearing a charcoal suit.

Anyway, will probably not wear the pendant because it doesn't really work w/ the blazer. It's longer than the bottom of the blazer which just looks weird. So I'll do the b/w pashmina, silver clutch, and grey shoes.

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