Posts with tag Anne Klein

Oh me. Oh MY.

I absolutely love this dress by Anne Klein, which surprised me because I have never thought of myself as a classy Anne Klein type of lady. I would say that I'm a little more a wild and flashy girl, but for the Holidays, I have been trying to expand my taste. Unfortunately, even though the Embellished Cutaway dress is Anne Klein, its shoulder-baring silky sleekness with an open back and shiny sparkly waistline is totally flash. Okay, flash in a lady-like way.

The dress comes in twig (shown) and a gorgeous coppery brown called terra cotta. In either case of color, the dress beckons for a pair of strappy sandals with sparkly embellishments. Of course, though the dress looks loose and flowing, and has a dropped waistline, make sure you CYA with Spanx to keep those (tiny) bulges where they should be.

Anne Klein's Embellished Cutaway dress is available for $210 at Nordstrom.

Inevitably, we all want to look amazing for our co-workers at least once a year, and there's no better occasion to "wow" our friends than the annual office holiday bash. But what is appropriate to wear? So many women have asked me this exact question in the past couple of years, and believe it or not, there is a fairly simple answer. So when in doubt, follow these few rules for easy holiday gorgeousness.

1) Buy a dress! I have nothing against skirt and top combos, but seriously, you have two separate pieces to deal with, and then once you add shoes, jewelry, and a jacket -- too many decisions! Stick with a dress, and you'll cut your stress in half.

2) Unless your invitation says "black-tie formal", a knee-length or just below knee-length dress is always appropriate. Look for richer fabrics such as velvet, silk, or stretch satin. Chiffon and lighter fabrics can work as long as they are in season-appropriate colors (think dark, saturated hues).

3) Sleeve length is totally up to you. You can go as bare as strapless, or as covered as full-length sleeves. As long as you like the dress and feel comfortable, you are going to look fabulous in any type of sleeve.

4) Bring a long coat, preferably in a black or in a print that picks up on the color of your dress. If you don't have a coat or would rather wear an item you don't have to check at the door, try a wrap. Wraps come in cashmere, silk, fur (real and faux), velvet, and just about any other fabric combo you could imagine. The best thing about wraps is that they can be twisted and pinned (with a pretty brooch) in limitless combinations. You can disguise almost all "lumps and bumps" with a cleverly placed wrap.

5) Sheer black or nude hose (Hanes' "Barely Black" are foolproof) work with almost any type of dress. If you want to be a little more daring, or are wearing a shorter dress, opaque tights can be a trendy look, but beware, as any opaque stocking tends to dress down a cocktail look.

6) You can wear open or closed-toed shoes with your cocktail dress. If you go with an open-toed option, make sure that your hosiery are made without the telling toe seam.

7) Try to match your necklace to the neckline of your dress. For example, if you are wearing a deep-v neckline, try a necklace with a simple drop. This ensures that you flatter (but don't take away from) your dress.

8) Have fun! Confidence is universally beautiful. Have fun and know you look great, because you do!

Taffeta.

The words conjures horrible images of hot pink, pouf sleeves, and bubble skirts. Did someone say "prom?"

Not to worry, Party Princess! The woeful days of taffeta are gone, thank goodness, and the semi-stiff, semi-shiny fabric has grown up into a sophisticated cocktail dress. Anne Klein's Lace Bodice Taffeta Party Dress is perfect for any evening soiree. The skinny little spaghetti straps are a touch of modesty for bare shoulders. The sweet lace bodice gives way to an iridescent taffeta skirt in a deep, rich copper color, which is layered from underneath with tulle for fullness. The ruched sash at the waist means you can snack all you want on hors d'ouevre without worrying about a bulge. For this little dress, I'd go with gold accents all around to match the shine of the dress.

The dress is $198 at Nordstrom.