46 - Sunday, December 6, 1992 - North Shore News

Party-perfect
party dresses

Holiday finery is simply cut

and more refined this season

Carol
Crenna

FASHION STATEMENTS

THERE ARE moments that

every woman delights in
during the Christmas party
season, when the lights dim
and‘ the mood goes from
getting dressed to dressing
up. :

But the arrival of a party in-
vitation doesn’t mean you have to
cover yourself
crinolines or layers of gotd lurex.
These items may be fine for glitzy
one-night performances, but a
simply cut, simply stunning little
dress is all that most women want
to take thems through the holidays.

Party-perfect dressing {s easier
and more refined in 1992. Fluid
dresses and sophisticated evening
separates replace overly detailed
and contrived ball gowns.

Topping the trends are evening
looks that focus on romance,
menswear influences, and
Hellywood starlets. Fabrics that
feel as luxurious as they look are
cut into. simplified shapes that
steal their beat from daywear.

_ Hf the thought of hitting the
party circuit without the fuss of a
‘frill or the rustle of a crinoline
seems dull, read on. The spare,
provocative shapes shown this
Christmas vou can wear again and
again, lowg after the frothy party
frock has been pushed to the back
of the closet..

’ / Designers show flirtatious
bustiers,. mile-high slits on
ankle-sweeping gowns, long,
whittied waistlines, sheer pants
and skirts, feminine tuxedos, fit-
ted and flared jackets, and lots of
solid ‘viack ensembles, which pro-
vide a’ perfect backdrop for
glamorous accessories.

Suits are reconstructed for night
wearing in rich fabrics tike velvet,
brocade, silky (extures and .wool
crepe, and may be accented with
beading, soutache trim, lace or
embroidery.

Extra-long dandy jackets fit
close to the body, and could
almost be worn as a dress, but
are paired with sheer pants,
long, sheer skirts or decorative
knee-length skirts. Tuxedos
return, carrying the fashionable
menswear trend into evening, and

they are worn with velvet or lace”

vests and mufflers.

Tough street chic also accents
jackets for those brave enough to
carry off the Brando-goes-to-
the-ball look. Biker jackets have
inspired a bevvy of leather
beauties ranging from bustiers to
Chanel jackets that are dotted
with both heavy metal hardware

in sequins, -

and rhinestones.
However, a simple black leather
skirt added to your evening

ensemble is ail you really need to’

suggest the theme.

Dresses are ever-so-clegant.
Hundreds of little black numbers
filled the runways at designers’
fall/winter collections. They are
cut in everything from velvet and
crepe to jersey knit, and reach to
the knee or ankle.

Modern dresses gently skim the
body and cither fall straight or
sweep out at the hem. Spaghetti-
strapped slip styles, slightly
gathered and bowed dresses,
long-sleeved versions with sheer
or face insets also make an en-
trance.

Body-hugging separates add to
the long linear styles for evening
and include catsuits and
bodysuits. These items are made
of stretch lace, stretch velvet and
jersey in midnight. black, of
course.

Unitard-like catsuits and
shorter bodysuits slide under tux-
edo jackets for a sexy version of a
man’s suit. They add a little
modesty under high-slitted skirts,
and can be worn as sleek tops
with full skirts.

Metallics don’t cover entire out-
fits as they did in previous years,
but they do make a statement as
part of an ensemble.

A silver camisole may be slip-
ped under a jacket. Gold threads
cover evening sweaters. Metallic
mufflers wrap necks and hang
down the back. Gold patterns on
fabrics add glitz to simply cut
separates.

For those who like to twinkle a
little after dark, ornamenta! ac-
cessories go from the legs to the

‘wrist, decorated with gold, lace

and rhinestones.

Belts become an evening essen-
tial, since waistlines are given the
focus, and because fonger skirts
look more finished with a blouse
tucked in. at the waist, com-
plemented with a belt.

Romance is shown through
feminine hair accessories and little
hats. Vintage-look chokers are
popular items. Gems aren’t just
on ears, they crawl up the wrist
and cover the neck.

Darling little: opera bags,
pouches and structured boxes are
embellished with pearls and
stones. And even velvet neckties
add dressiness to menswear-
inspired suits. These accessories,
in short, never see the light of
day.

If you are looking for an outfit
that will carry you through all of
the festive bashes from now until
next year, choose separates that
allow for quick changes and can
be mixed for several different
looks. :

Team a black bustier with a
long full skirt for one evening. On
another evening, top the bustier
with a sheer chiffon blouse, worn
untucked, and slide a knee-length
velvet skirt beneath.

Even if you are making your
second appearance in some party
circles, your next outfit will not be
identified if you remove the chif-
fon blouse and add a black jacket
with a large rhinestone brooch at
the lapel.

Vary your evening accessories
for each wearing.

FESTIVE EVENING looks for Christmas ’92 focus on romance. a :

Plan a fashionably festive bash

TALKING PARTIES ...
You’ve heard about them,
probably have been to one
or two. They are the truly
great parties that become an
item of conversation a year
later.

But if the last time you gave a
party it had a guest fist of 40 and

attracted four, and if it started at
10 p.m. and ended at 11 p.m.,

then you need to learn the basics-

of stylish bashing.

What is most important when
planning a festive party? Lots of
planning, down to the last detail.

Decide in advance what type of
atmosphere you want and wark to

‘create it. Consider the nature of

the crowd when you plan the at-
mosphere. If it creates closeness
among guests and ‘‘breaks
ground,”’ it is bound to be a sty-
lish success.

Resist making it overly formal
because that makes people feel
restrained. Chrisimas is a time
when guests will be in a good

mood just because of the season.
If it’s not too formal, they'll let
loose, relax and enjoy the spirit of
Christmas.

You have to set the example,
and feel like you’re an invited
guest, too. Be prepared so that
everything is totally under control,
and you're free to mingle with the

* crowd. If you aren’t relaxed and
- enjoying yourself, they won’t be.

The invitations should sell the
event. If words and pictures aren't
enough, add something fashion-
ably fun like sequins, miniature
streamers and confetti, pine nee-
dles or a tiny chocolate Santa to
each envelope.

Be sure to follow up with phone
calls. It’s more difficult to decline
over the phone than it is to let the
invitation get hidden under a pile
of alternative plans. Talk about
the party beforehand, to get peo-
ple excited. :

The next step is planning deco-
rations. Organize them around a
Christmas theme that will please
guests and complement the food
served, according to available

whether it be a turm-of-
tree-trimming party
beach

space,
the-century
or a Christmas-in-Kauai
party. . :
To create a theme, base it on
the five senses. This includes the
scents associated with Christmas,
the right music, pleasing visual
displays, good food, and little
gifts or souvenirs for each guest to
touch.

The old-fashioned Christmas
with totally natural decorations is
popular. Bows of greenery and
branches, holly, fresh cut flowers,
fresh fruit, a wood-burning fire,
and wonderful scents of tradi-
tional mulled wine, cinnamon,
cloves, oranges, and roasting
chestnuts all add warmth to: the
occasion.

Decorate the tree with wooden
ornaments, large lace and ribbon
bows, cherubs and tiny twinkle
lights. Streara the twinkle lights
around the bows of greenery in
the room, too.

Group bunches of long white or

See Plan page 17