Hello Darlings,
Holiday season comes with pressure to have statement party dresses to wear. With so many occasions, I set out to find my own “must-have” holiday cocktail dress.
“A white dress she had on. She was carrying a white parasol. I only saw her for one second. She didn’t see me at all. But I’ll bet a month hasn’t gone by since that I hadn’t thought of that girl.”
– Citizen Kane
So I checked my trusty fashion books for tips on how to find that ideal cocktail dress as well as how to decode a party invitation. I am sure everyone has encountered an invitation that left you dazed and confused as to what is expected of your attire.
Before hitting the mall, keep in mind….
(Victoria Beckham, That extra half an inch)
Goal: The perfect party dress is one that gives a hint of sexy, and shows off the best of your body shape, but is also comfortable so you don’t spend the whole evening fidgeting with it and you can concentrate on being sparkly, witty and fabulous.
♥ Be careful not to get one that’s too obviously in fashion at the moment because party dresses can be expensive and you’ll spend a lot of money on something you can wear only a few times before it dates.
♥ It’s best to go for something in a classic shape.
♥ Be wary of sheer fabrics. Keep in mind how it will look under certain lights.
♥ Go easy on embellishment. It can be tacky, weight the dress down and make it very expensive at the same time.
♥ Make sure that the fit is correct. Do not fall for a too small curse.
♥ Same rules apply when deciding on bridesmaid dress or a wedding dress. No need to look like frumpy cupcake 
Before leaving home, decode that invite….
(Nina Garcia, Look Book)
Casual: Whatever you want, within reason of course; it’s still a party.
Business Casual: Office attire.
Festive: Think cocktail with a tad more whimsy ad glitter.
Cocktail: This calls for your LBD or other equally fabulous party dresses.
Business Formal: Basically semiformal, but err on the prim side.
Semiformal/Informal: Same as cocktail.
Formal: Wear an evening gown or very dressy separates.
Black-It Optional: As the name implies, slightly less formal than black tie.
Black Tie: For women, black tie equals formal; for me it means wear a tux.
White Tie: The most formal of formal wear is required. Men must wear a white tie, with vest and the whole nine yards. Women are expected to wear evening gowns.
I decided on a LWD (“little white dress”), which as Nina Garcia points out is the unsung hero of the dress department. I figured the creamy white was perfect and looked great with my red hair. The long sleeve made it a perfect choice for colder weather and I just adored the simple style of it.
I am wearing: ♥ Wilfred Shirt Dress—from Aritzia ♥ Marc by Marc Jacobs Coat in Sandshell Khaki—from Holt Renfrew ♥ Marc by Marc Jacobs ” House of Cards Court Harem” ring set ♥ Michael Kors Watch ♥ Marc by Marc Jacobs “New Q” Wristlet— from bluefly.com ♥ YSL “tropper” pump—from Holts Last CallI wore this outfit to a party at the Thompson Hotel. To add color, my Marc by Marc Jacobs clutch with complimented my trench coat’s lining.
Wishing Everyone a Beautiful Weekend!!!
With Love…
Marta
18 Responses to How to Decode a Party Invitation
Leave a Reply
Lovely look, especially like the clutch!
Thank you Leia!
I am actually looking for a white dress at the moment. I’m going to LA, and well, I love white
Want something with long sleeves too, maybe a wrap dress.
Anyhoo, other than that I have a ton of party dresses all begging to be worn (some haven’t even seen the light of day) but you know what? I HAVE NOWHERE TO WEAR THEM TO! lol. I need to get some parties going!
Good luck with the search
I love that ure utilizing the LWD for a holiday soiree! Yes, they’re definitely the “unsung heroes”
You look fab and those heels are killer, Marta!! Thank you for sharing ur tips with us! I think I may need a copy of Nina Garcia’s book. I enjoyed browsing through it at the bookstore! With holiday shopping ahead, I think I may have to recycle dresses this year and accessorize! Oh and also, utilize my rent the runway credits teehee Have a great weekend!!
TheOwlsCloset.blogspot.com
I adore her books, always very well organized and useful…definitely, give them a try
Thank you for the lovely comment 
Love this look on you! Chic, effortless and fabulous!!!
http://www.misscheriefleur.blogspot.com
Thank you!
Like the dress and the clutch, both very stylish.
Hugs
Thanks
Love the dress and the clutch, very stylish.
Hugs
Thank you Tereza
Great tips! Def things to keep in mind while shopping
Dorogaya Marta,
You look wonderful in that dress! Brava for wearing winter white! It’s a bold and beautiful color. And really does showcase your hair. Could you please do a post on your hair care routine? I have long hair, there’s a lot of it, but its thin and I am always trying to figure out ways to style it. How often to you wash it?
Also, the finances post was great!
Spasibo Yuliaa
But I definitely will do an extensive post on styling it.
I will definitely do a beauty post and include the hair routine. To be quite honest, I wash my hair everyday and add Moroccan Oil in damp hair before blow drying. I like to stay away from using too many products
Forget about the LBD…white is where it’s at! Looking fab.
Btw - just got my hands on a copy of Nina Garcia’s book. So handy, isn’t it??
Hi Sharon,
I definitely love the book
[...] The event invitation will usually specify the dress code. To decipher it, check out this post. [...]