At a Christmas party, nobody wants to be the wallflower in the LBD. I love a bit of sparkle, some love a sweeping maxi and some love a little pop of colour. This season, though, it's time to turn that colour pop into a splash!
A bright dress can make everyone look that little bit more alluring- especially when it comes to decadent jewel tones. Taking cues from S/S 2011 shows like Gucci, the high street is currently awash with little vibrant cocktail dresses ranging from amethyst to emerald in silky fabrics and sexy shapes.
There are some really cool ways to put a twist on these little dresses and there is one to suit every shape, every skin tone and every personality! So here are my pick of the most gorgeously gleaming dresses out there at the moment and how to find one to suit you!
Click the images to enlarge!
If you want something really fresh and edgy- sapphire blue is the jewel bright for you! It works with all hair colours (perhaps not red hair however, emerald is more your thing!) and is a flattering shade if you are body conscious as it is quite a dark shade. It's all in the shape when it comes to sapphire- it can look sexy like this Asos number or elegant like this Reiss one (which I have totally fallen in love with! It's amaaazing on!). This is perfect for you if you like to make a statement but still keep the look nonchalant- like Alexa Chung who rocks a little Versace number. I would juxtapose the femininity of your dress with some edgy shoe-boots (I love the simplicity and versatility of this pair- PLUS they are a flattering shape so as to elongate your legs) and keep it individual and edgy by layering it up with gold pendants (gold works so well with blue) and other cool accents to add your own style while still playing with the jewel trend.
Amethyst purple is the perfect colour to try if you are having difficulty pulling away from that old faithful black dress! The shade is quite dark while still luscious- it also has all the flattering qualities of black while being that little bit more exciting. This Asos.com shape is lovely and subtly sexy with that flirty shape; the Whistles number is a little more conservative and a more mature slant on the jewel-bright trend, it's also a great investment as it would work for the office too with a good jacket. This deep shade of purple is beautifully complimented by black and it's really easy to add a bit of edge like this gorgeous clutch or a splash of gothic lipstick (if you dare!). This colour is great if you are a bit self conscious stepping into something yellow or green- it's flattering while still luxurious!
Ruby red dresses are all over the shops at the moment but these two are my total favourites! The Lanvin H&M offering is the DREAM- I absolutely adore it as it is just the right balance of quirky and elegant! The Asos.com one is sexy without being overtly so and shows just the right amount of flesh to stay elegant- that subtle draping is beautiful and would hang so well on a more boyish frame. The Zara offering is gorgeous for a party, but it is also demure enough to work during the day- it's very Victoria Beckham, I think. These dresses just go to show that a red cocktail dress can work for people of all ages and styles- but it takes confidence because red is such an alluring and eye-catching colour. Red is definitely one for you if you want to command a room and attract all the right attention! A really stylish way to work this jewel bright this season is to pair with leopard print- it sounds as though it may verge on bad taste, when in fact it just makes a really cool and striking look! This is definitely one for the brave- just add a slick of red lippy and channel your inner Hollywood starlet.
Magenta pink is such a beautiful and rich colour, despite connotations of pink lying with tacky Barbies and brassy blondes! As Chloe Sevigny shows, pink can actually be one of the loveliest colours to wear at a party. Reiss have done some totally fabulous party dresses this season and these silky pink numbers are the cream of the crop! I loveee them, especially the £169 pound one, which is just like the Balmain number. To avoid that Paris Hilton-esque look in magenta, keep it grungy and edgy with lashings of gunmetal and silver- and banish your St. Tropez for this one, please! I would team with really statement shoes- these River Island ones are quite extreme and would be hard to pull off, but they would look fantastic against the dress. If you want a youthful twist on the look, try these Topshop or Urban Outfitters earrings because they are both quite cool and finish with smudgy kohl eyes and messy hair.
Yellow is a notoriously difficult colour to pull off, and I often find it near impossible to find a nice yellow dress out there on the high street; but this season is an exception as everywhere seems to be doing some! I fell in love with yellow diamonds when I saw Tiffany's recent campaign (this ring is the stuff of dreams- it's absolutely dazzling) and yellow seems to be more appealing now than ever. However, it will never be an easy colour to pull off. It works best on darker skintones but can really wash out blondes and the pasty among us! It's also not the most forgiving of colours- but when it's good, it's really good! The Lanvin at H&M collection is full of vivid jewel brights and this yellow dress is my favourite- when I showed it to my mum in the recent Sunday Times Style magazine, she said it was the "only nice yellow dress i've ever seen!". It is a really statement piece and is sure to get people talking! The Aqua at Asos.com number is much more youthful and daring, but could look fantastic when pared down with minimal jewellery and nude heels. This is one for you if you are always wanting to try something a little different!
Emerald green is a totally stunning shade! It looks particularly beautiful on redheads (which is set to be the hot hair colour for S/S 2011) but also works really well on blondes! The most beautiful emerald dress I have ever seen is the Balmain one that Natasha Poly is rocking with edgy studded sandals at the height of Balmania. For this season, the high street is awash with beautiful shades of emerald- especially H&M. This dress is such a bargain as it is such a delightful colour and a lovely cut with that draping and gathering- I loveee it! The Roksanda Ilincic at Whistles dress is a more decadent alternative which is really demure and sure to get you dozens of compliments wherever you may take it. This dress is perfect for almost everyone as it is edgy and youthful, but can still be really demure and elegant. To keep it cool and fashion-forward I would pair with quite a contrasting shoe- like these studded boots at Asos.com which would give it that Balmain style while still complimenting the jewel bright.
Definitely the looks to get you noticed this season, ladies!
