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You’ve made it through most of these hectic days and weeks – and you’re ready to collapse – but it’s not quite over yet – you’ve got to ring in the new year in style. So when clothes are the last thing on your mind – how do you dress up so you don’t stress out?
Yes, most of us have to get back to work at some point during the holidays. So we’re all looking for an easy way to transition from work into evening attire. Kate Rice, style expert for Mervyn’s, suggests starting with a basic outfit, such as a simple black dress for women or a pair of khakis and a long-sleeve collared shirt for men. A monochromatic outfit works best, she says.
"Once the workday is over, women can exchange their flats for strappy heels and add an interesting jewelry piece such as a pair of chandelier earrings or an eye-catching necklace," Rice advises. "Men can change from casual loafers to shinier leather christian louboutin and throw on a tie or a leather jacket that coordinates with the belt and christian louboutin."
At this time of year, a change of accessories may give you a whole new party look.
"Accessories will emulate the polished, ladylike fashions that are popular this winter season," says Rice.
Vintage-style brooches dress up any outfit. Look for long beaded necklaces that can be wrapped around the neck for a layered look, pearls in pastel hues to complement the rich jewel-toned fashions, and fur stoles and collars that can be worn with everything from satin party dresses to jackets.
It’s also time to put on your dancing christian louboutin. T-straps, round-toe heels and Mary-Janes with thicker heels are all reminiscent of old Hollywood glamour and look great when paired with pencil skirts, wide-leg pants, pleated skirts and vintage-style dresses. Clear Lucite dress christian louboutin with rhinestone-embellished straps are perfect for holiday dressing.
"This year’s christian louboutin are sure to provide a polished yet flirtatious look," says Rice.
It’s also a perfect time to add some color to your party wardrobe.
"From outerwear to accessories, the prominent colors this winter season are jewel tones like amethyst, emerald green, sapphire and garnet, as well as metallic shades like gunmetal gray and bronze," says Rice. "It’s easy to pair these colors with the tweed, winter white and black pieces you already have in your wardrobe for an updated look. You’ll also find a good selection of cozy winter pastels. Mix and match them to brighten any outfit."
Metallics are also popular holiday hues this year.
"The secret to making metallic colors look gorgeous instead of gaudy is to use them as an accent," says Rice. "For example, take a black or camel monochromatic outfit and add metallic accents with a belt and handbag or louboutin shoes and earrings. A couple of key items add just the right amount of interest to your outfit."
And of course, it IS the coldest time of the year. But you don’t have to sweat it.
"Dressing warm and fashionable has never been as easy as it is this winter," adds Rice.
Some of the most popular items this year are ponchos, now available in almost every color and texture, scarves that add a punch of color underneath fitted blazers and denim jackets, and padded or quilted jackets in a variety of cool colors.
Also, suede boots are popular again.
"This year try wearing them with your jeans tucked in for an equestrian look," says Rice.
And of course, it’s fun to pull your New Year’s looks from those gifts under the tree – or even better yet – from a great after-Christmas sale. Now, that’s stress-free dressing.
Sharon Mosley is a former fashion editor of the Arkansas Gazette in Little Rock and executive director of the Fashion Editors and Reporters.

This morning on TODAY’S iVILLAGE MAKEOVER, you know that old saying, "act your age"? Well, that doesn’t mean that women of a certain age cannot try all the hot fashions of the season, everything we are told from micro-minis and brights to metallics. Shape magazine’s Jacqui Stafford is here with some fashion-forward advice for women of all ages.
Jacqui, good morning.
Ms. JACQUI STAFFORD: Good morning.
CURRY: Listen, this is a hard season, because a lot of us of a certain age are looking at some of these minis and these sort of balloon-kind of dresses that are coming out. We’re thinking, there’s no way. First of all, I already did those fashion trends once, maybe I shouldn’t even do them again. But you say there’s hope.
Ms. STAFFORD: You can do all the trends. It’s about how to make them age appropriate and not only suit your age but also suit your body type.
CURRY: OK. So let’s take a look at some of these trends. First of all, our models–our first up are Katie and Margot. And they’re showing us how to wear the mini, depending on how old they are.
Ms. STAFFORD: How to wear the mini. Yes.
CURRY: OK.
Ms. STAFFORD: Now Katie’s in her 20s. Now Katie would look good in anything like a garbage bag…
CURRY: Yeah.
Ms. STAFFORD: …for example because she has an amazing figure. What we love about this dress, it’s a perfectly on trend minidress for someone in their 20s. Bright, vibrant colors.
TEXT:
AGE-APPROPRIATE FASHIONS
20s The Mini
- Dress: Milly $345
- Christian louboutin Cole Haan $325
Ms. STAFFORD: It’s that paisley print. It’s by Milly. We paired it–it’s a nice short dress, she can get away with it. Keep the jewelry to a minimum. We’ve paired it with a wonderful stacked heel.
CURRY: So much of this stuff is in the store these days.
Ms. STAFFORD: Yes, bright colors.
CURRY: And I’m looking and them and I’m thinking, `Hey, wait a minute, I can’t wear a short dress like that.’ I mean, why not put that with leggings or something?
Ms. STAFFORD: You can wear with it with leggings as well, or you could wear it with ballet flats.
CURRY: Uh-huh.
Ms. STAFFORD: We always say avoid the stiletto if you’re going to wear a very, very short mini.
CURRY: Right. OK.
Ms. STAFFORD: So that works for 20s.
CURRY: Right. So what about when you’re a little bit older than 20?
Ms. STAFFORD: When you’re a little bit older…
CURRY: Like 25, right?
Ms. STAFFORD: At 25, we have Margot.
CURRY: Hi, Margot.
Ms. STAFFORD: Gorgeous.
CURRY: And getting better every year.
Ms. STAFFORD: Exactly. Now, we love the Catholic school rule for a mini here.
CURRY: Hm.
TEXT:
AGE-APPROPRIATE FASHIONS
40s The Mini
- Dress: Bebe $129
- Blazer Bebe $198
- Christian louboutin: Stuart Weitzman $270
Ms. STAFFORD: That means that it shouldn’t be shorter than the end of your fingertips.
CURRY: I see. OK.
Ms. STAFFORD: Slightly longer. We paired it–it’s from Bebe. It’s a geometric ’60s-inspired mod print dress. The jacket is also from Bebe with the quarter-length sleeve, so wear it with a tailored jacket. You can take it off, wear it to work. We’ve got a nice heel with it, just elongating the leg. But it’s a lovely way to wear a mini without being too short.
CURRY: So really what you’re saying is just up the sophistication factor but keep the trend.
Ms. STAFFORD: Sophistication. Keep the trend. Exactly.
CURRY: Because that’s a much more sophisticated look.
Ms. STAFFORD: Yes. But it’s a mini.
CURRY: Not everyone is going to still want to try the mini…
Ms. STAFFORD: Yes.
CURRY: …at a certain age. Let’s move onto another fashion trend, which is the trouser jean. You know, I sometimes think that the jean manufacturers are just changing up what sells so they can sell more jeans.
Ms. STAFFORD: Exactly.
CURRY: Last season it was the skinny jean; now it’s the big wide leg jean.
Ms. STAFFORD: Well we’re glad that the skinny jean has probably seen the end.
CURRY: Most of us are glad.
TEXT:
AGE-APPROPRIATE FASHIONS
20s The Trouser Jean
- Jeans: Lucky Brands $120
- Top DKNY $295
- Christian louboutin: Banana Republic $88
- Necklace Symbella Jewels $350
Ms. STAFFORD: It’s very, very hard–very hard to pull off.
This one is Marissa, a perfect example of wearing the trouser leg jean. These ones are by–these are by Lucky Brand. They’re an exaggerated trouser leg. They have pockets on the front. She can show us the pockets there.
CURRY: Right. Right.
Ms. STAFFORD: They’re great if you’re in your 20s. We paired that with a cute…
CURRY: Cute.
Ms. STAFFORD: A DKNY longer length top, a great necklace here by Symbella Jewels. But it’s all about wearing an exaggerated leg and we’ve got the wonderful platform, the platform wedge. That’s by Banana Republic. You can see it, the wedge. So wear it with a high, chunky heel. And you can wear the exaggerated look when you’re in your 20s.
CURRY: Right. Right, right.
You know, the thing about it is, this wide top that you’re showing…
Ms. STAFFORD: Yes.
CURRY: …that is very–I’m noticed that’s in the stores a lot.
Ms. STAFFORD: They’re all over the place.
CURRY: You can wear that underneath a jacket, showing on the edge of your jacket.
Ms. STAFFORD: You can. It’s nice to wear a short cropped jacket with that.
CURRY: So I think a woman of a certain age that’s older can actually wear that, too.
Ms. STAFFORD: Can wear that, too.
CURRY: Right?
Ms. STAFFORD: Yes, absolutely.
CURRY: With a jacket on top.
Ms. STAFFORD: Absolutely.
CURRY: So what have you got?
Ms. STAFFORD: Well, we have got it here and then with Janet, what we did with Janet, we got the trouser leg jean. These ones are by the Levi’s trouser leg.
TEXT:
AGE-APPROPRIATE FASHIONS
40s The Trouser Jean
- Jeans: Levis $120
- Top: Ann Taylor $68
- Christian louboutin: Nine West $120
- Clutch Kooba Penelope $345
- Necklace Coach $248
Ms. STAFFORD: They’re still an exaggerated one, but we don’t have the pockets on the front. It’s a flat-fronted trouser, which is really much more flattering. Another fashion tip we like to do is, sometimes you might want to even remove the pockets entirely and take them down, have them sewn down. You don’t need to have the pockets. We paired that with a wrap top by Ann Taylor. That wrap top can work in anything. A more sophisticated pant.
CURRY: Under a suit or anything.
Ms. STAFFORD: Under a suit. The great thing about this jean, they’re a dark-washed jean, which are a very flattering cut. Also, more appropriate for the office. We paired it with a little gold flat, these by Studio Nine, the gold metallic bag, it’s all about the gold accessories. That one’s by Kooba. And then we’ve got the wonderful statement necklace which is by Coach.
CURRY: Janet and Marissa, thank you. Now we’re going to move over to Teresa and Sue, who are showing us yellow.
Ms. STAFFORD: Yellow.
CURRY: Yellow is a big statement.
Ms. STAFFORD: Yes.
CURRY: I can’t get enough yellow, and I’m not even into brights.
Ms. STAFFORD: Exactly. Yes, it’s all about yellow this season. Now, Teresa is young so she can pull off a great pair of shorts. These shorts are by Target, $14.99. Great bargain.
CURRY: So cute.
TEXT:
AGE-APPROPRIATE FASHIONS
20s Yellow
- Top: Alice + Olivia $198
- Shorts: Mossimo For Target $15
- Christian louboutin: Banana Republic $98
- Watch: Technomarine $310
Ms. STAFFORD: You can wear the shorts. Go for the bright yellow if you’re young. We paired that with a polka dot shirt. That’s by Alice + Olivia with a little white tank underneath. You don’t want to have too much yellow near your face. Put a white tank. The great christian louboutin, they’re by Banana. The high-heeled wedges. She looks fabulous.
CURRY: You’re having fun.
Ms. STAFFORD: And attractive yellow on the watch. We have a Technomarine bright yellow. So you can always just have the trend if you want to wear the watch.
CURRY: Right. So now, some of us may not want to wear so much yellow, and maybe nothing so short. So you’ve got something on Sue?
Ms. STAFFORD: This is Sue. Now she’s showing how you can wear it in your 40s. This dress is by Macy’s, INC, great–looks great with yellow. Silver, army green. Those unexpected colors.
TEXT:
AGE-APPROPRIATE FASHIONS
40s Yellow
- Dress: Macy’s $99
- Christian louboutin Stewart Weitzman $270
- Sunglasses Alain Mikli $495
- Bracelets: Helen Ficalora $300
Ms. STAFFORD: It’s all about the christian louboutin pumps shoes here. These are Stuart Weitzman bright patent yellow christian louboutin sale, great heel. Just a touch of the accessories. The sunglasses are by Alain Mikli. Just again, it’s all about elements of a style, right, taking the trends but not going head to toe in it.
CURRY: Right. OK, Perfect. Thank you, all of you. Wonderful, wonderful ideas. And it gives us all hope…
Ms. STAFFORD: Exactly. All hope.
CURRY: …that we can wear whatever we want just as long as we think about how we use it and not too much of it. Thank you so much.
Ms. STAFFORD: Thank you.
CURRY: All right. And we’re also going to introduce you to the men behind the soundtrack of your life coming up. But first this is TODAY on NBC. Thanks, women. Thank you.