Metallic Nights: From Style Beginners to Fashion Pro’s!

This season, metallics were all over the runways offering everything from the delicate nude sparkly shift dress to the full-on head-to-toe gold suit. It seems almost every designer out there had a glint in his or her eye! Here, we will use the runways as our inspiration for holiday party dressing – from the beginner to the experienced fashionista!

Amateur

Paul & Joe and Hakaan both kept metallics simple, pairing a bold piece with a basic top. I am head over heels for these 10 Crosby metallic wide leg trousers that would elongate legs to another level. I have a feeling I would wear these long after the holidays were over, too. To up the “Ooooh” factor, I have added a little glittery peep-toe shoe, which are under $1000HK and a stunning fan bag with an art deco feel. The pearl bobbles are by Kate Spade and would be equally gorgeous over a black shift dress for work.

1: Shirt, 2: Tree, 3: Mascara, 4: Nail Varnish, 5: Trousers, 6: Shoes, 7: Clutch, 8: Ring, 9: Necklace

Semi-Pro

Style is amped up a notch when these shimmery stunners gain a bit of texture. Giles and Giambattista Valli demonstrate how to be flashy in fringe while Moschino keeps the twinkle tame with a basic dress and a pile of accessories.

Here we have a sequin strapless stunner by Dolce & Gabbana. Because this is a longer dress, sky-high heels are needed to lengthen the legs. I added a white tux jacket instead of the common pashmina which would only snag on the gorgeous gown. How striking is this McQueen feathered clutch?!? Truly a work of art and I love that it adds even more texture to the look! Don’t be afraid to wear more than one shiny piece. You can strike a balance by making sure that each piece includes a different material  – as seen here with the feathers, beads, sequins, and metal collar.

1: Nail varnish, 2: Diary, 3: Shoes, 4: Clutch, 5: Dress, 6: Jacket, 7: Necklace

Pro

Are you yawning? You’ve seen and worn this all before, you say? Well, let’s take a peek at a few other designers and see what they offer up to knock our ruby slippers off!

It looks like the brains behind the brands have gone bananas for mixing their metals with yellow! Let’s try it for ourselves. This gleaming Topshop shirt is paired with The Row’s ‘Dashford’ pant in canary yellow.A stack of mix-and-match bracelets and a studded clutch bring a little rock and roll vibe to the party. Why stop there? Have your iphone join in on the excitement with this zipper case. And if you can muster a bit more luster, then check out the Louboutins! No need for New York’s Times Square Ball. We’ll just lower you from above!

1: Top, 2: Earrings, 3: Shoes, 4: iPhone Case, 5: Trousers, 6: Lipgloss, 7: Eye palette, 8: Nail Varnish, 9: Clutch, 10: Stack of bracelets

Sabrina’s Ultimate

Ask any of my friends and they’ll tell you I’ve never been one to blend in.  I stand a proud 182cm and have no problem throwing on a platform heel. So why should dousing myself in dazzle be any different? Bring on the bling, baby!

This holiday season, I’m taking my cues from the likes of Givenchy, Marc Jacobs, and Just Cavalli in mixing my metals. My base is a simple black sequin mini that you can score at almost any high street store. To add even more pizzazz, I have topped it with a mirrored piece from Moschino. The real stunners here are the beaded Balmain booties. If only Santa would hear my plea! I’ll be such a good girl next year if only I could find these under my tree. But alas, they are only available spring/summer of 2012 and they may as well be made of pure gold for how much I’m sure that price tag will be.

1: Jacket, 2: Earrings, 3: Eye Palette, 4: Boots, 5: Skirt, 6: Candle, 7: Lipstick, 8: Clutch, 9: Ring

So there you have it, folks, your girly guide to all that glimmers! And now that I have run out of all synonyms for sparkle, I leave you with this thought. Whether you dip one toe into the shimmer pool or jump in head first and come out gleaming, it’s the holidays, so get your shine on!