During
the holiday season there are always occasions when you want to be
casually dressed during the day and sparkle up in the evening or for a
lovely lunch. I thought it would be fun to take a few standard wardrobe
staples such as a black suit, a LBD, jeans and a sweater etc, and
explore how to dress them up or down simply with a change of
accessories.
Transforming a wardrobe item from a casual daytime outfit into a 'ready to go out' look is also a perfect solution for busy days when a wardrobe change is out of the question. You can always go out with what you've been wearing and create a fabulous look by throwing on some different accessories.
Transforming a wardrobe item from a casual daytime outfit into a 'ready to go out' look is also a perfect solution for busy days when a wardrobe change is out of the question. You can always go out with what you've been wearing and create a fabulous look by throwing on some different accessories.
For
the capsule pieces I've chosen mainly dark neutrals, simply because
these are the easiest to adapt from day to night. But if you prefer
color, then rich jewel tones such as emerald, sapphire or ruby all work,
as well as light neutrals such as silver, cream, champagne etc (except
that my skin tone is too pale for these in the winter).
Black suit - day time
Capsule pieces: leopard print shirt and black suit
Accessories: Hermes Carré en Carré (tied in a reverse basic bias fold) with a Grand Apparat printed enamel bracelet and an Evelyne 33 in Etoupe.
Black suit - for a night out
Wearing the scarf as a sash and replacing the Evelyne with a Kelly Pochette. Necklace my own.
Jeans and blazer - daytime look
Capsule pieces: Jeans, cream shirt and navy blazer
Accessories: Hermes Evelyne 33 in Etoupe, Kelly Dog bracelet in black croc and belt (Muse buckle with gris-t strap).
Jeans and blazer - for the evening
As above, but replacing the Evelyne with a studded clutch (Zara) and adding a sparkling necklace (my own).
Variation - with a stole and sparkling necklace
Little Black Dress - daytime
To
style a LBD from day to night is mainly a question of how to make it
look casual for day time wear. Here it is teamed with a cropped
cardigan, a Tigre Royal giant silk, Birkin 35 in Gris-T and Clic-Clac H bracelet in Bleu Indiens.
Little Black Dress - evening
You don't need much to style a LBD for the evening, a fabulous necklace and a clutch will give your dress an instant sparkling and festive touch.
I bought this long-sleeved black dress when in Amsterdam last summer
and have worn it quite a lot in a casual tunic style and with long
necklaces. Dressing it up for the festive season with cool and warm
sparkling accents.
as worn in the summer
Cool accessories: Hermes Chaine d'Ancre enamel bracelet and studded clutch by Zara
Warm accessories: Hermes Caleche enamel bracelet, a La Réale 90 carré and a Kelly Pochette in black croc.
Jeans and sweater - casual
Parures des Samourais in a cowboy knot with a Clic-Clac H bracelet in Bleu Indiens and a Picotin 18 in Bleu Sapphire
Jeans and sweater - dressed up
As above, but with the scarf in the basic bias fold and with the addition of a sparkling necklace.
Variation with a La Reale 90 scarf
Variation of the above with a black sweater instead of the navy.
Left:
Hermes Courbettes et Cabrioles 90 carré tied in a cowboy knot. Clic H bracelet in black and
Kelly 32 in Ebene.
Winter dress - daytime
I
bought this dress a couple of weeks ago and I couldn't be happier. It
is soft and cosy which makes it perfect for winter ('Loretta' by Max
Mara, available here).
Styled here it in a casual way with a Cavalleria d'Etriers CSGM in a
looped basic bias fold, Hermes Picotin 22 in Etoupe and Chaine d'Ancre
printed enamel bracelet.
Winter dress - dressed up
With a Hermes Kelly Dog bracelet in black croc and a sparkling necklace (my own). Clutch by Zara.
Variations - cool tones
Left:
Mythiques Phoenix in an asymmetrical knot, Clic H bracelet in black and
Kelly 32 in ebene.
Right: Clic H bracelet in black and Kelly Pochette in black croc. Necklace my own.
Variations - warm tones
Left: With a silk/wool stole (my own) and long necklace. Hermes Charniere bracelet in black lizard and Kelly 32 in Ebene.
Right: With a sparkling necklace (my own), Hermes Charniere bracelet in black lizard. Studded clutch by Zara