Moving along to the actual topic of discussion… Hopefully someone out there remembers the bling bling title as a line from a somewhat famous rap song circa 1999. What awesome musical taste did I have as a teenager? Well, unfortunately my ‘bling bling’ headline is not in reference to a highly extravagant gold dollar sign necklace or a large diamond studded pinky ring, but I am talking about my most favorite types of bling, sequins, sparkle and shine! While I dare to wear all things sparkly any time of year, this is obviously the most important sequin-donning day of all. For starters, others are actually wearing head to toe glitter also, so I don’t stand out like a sore disco ball (as I sort of did last Sunday). This of course leads to my second point, which is that a little healthy competition never hurts. Mirror, mirror on the wall, who has the fairest sequined ensemble of them all?
This season, it’s all about color (or lack thereof)! While the traditional approach to New Year’s Eve looks stick to mostly shimmer of the silver family, this year is drastically different. Dresses, tops, and bottoms of the glitter family come fully equipped with lots of bold color and/or patterns. I love the bright jewel tones right now, especially when offset with black. To try this look, keep it {relatively} simple. Stick to one show-stopping piece, such as a bold colored sequin dress, or a brightly colored shoe studded with some rhinestones. Offset these jewel tones with some black, and you’ve got a fantastically festive look that’s not overdone. If you have been reading since July, you may remember a how-to I did on renewing a pair of old shoes with glitter. How perfect would this be for New Year’s? Head over to the Dollar Tree and pick up some loose red (or any other color) glitter and get your sparkle on for a few bucks! To revisit this tutorial, head over to http://www.goodnpretty.com/2011/08/renew-shoe-or-two.html for the complete run down.
Another new trend to try this year is mixing metals. If bold colors aren’t your thing, you can still stick to basic metallic shades and be very fashion forward. Who said gold and silver don’t make a killer combo? I’ve sort of always bent the rules in fashion, but there’s no better time to try on a sparkly trend than New Year’s. Try pairing a gold tone dress with bold silver accessories and shoes. This look can be extremely chic if pulled off correctly, so don’t be afraid to take it for a test drive. The key to success with this look is to make sure it looks intentional. If you opt for a black dress with hints of gold and want to amp it up with silver, make sure you amp it up (i.e. chunky silver necklace and silver glitter shoes should do the trick), otherwise it could end up looking a mess.
Here are a few of my favorite sparkly pieces to try this New Year’s Eve:
- Gold Sequin Shorts, Joe Fresh, $69. Pair these shorts over some black tights with a sheer blouse and black blazer for a festive look that is still {somewhat} professional. To go a little rock star, throw on a pair of chunky black platform booties. Sequin shorts available at www.joefresh.com
- Leopard Sequin Jacket, Mango, $199.90. Rawrrrr. This jacket would look insane with some black skinny jeans for a casual look, or a pair of black tuxedo wide leg trousers for a more polished party crasher. Either way, throw on some platform wedge booties for a night of ferociousness. Jacket available at Mango stores and www.mango.com
- West Village Fete Dress, ModCloth, $104.99. Make fellow party-goers green with envy when they see you in this one. Green is such a hot color right now, as is the one shoulder trend. Emerald has always been one of my all time favorite colors (especially emerald jewels) and this dress is no exception. I would wear this with a silvery-white, cropped fur and some pumps. Oh yes. One shoulder dress available at www.modcloth.com
- Swing With Me Draped Dress, The Purple Zebra, $58. Fresh from my sewing machine, seriously. This one of a kind dress would be killer to try out the metal mixing trend on. Pair it with a bold chunky silver sparkly necklace and silver glitter heels with sheer black tights. I’m also accepting orders for custom NYE dresses! Stop in during business hours to inquire about a made to order dress, or check out www.purplezebrashop.com for more info.
- Glitter appliqué blouson, Mango, $59.90. I love basically any blouse, but this one takes the cake. The glitter appliqué makes it edgy and fresh. Pair it with gold accessories and some leather, like the model pictured, and girl you mean business. Blouse available at www.mango.com
- ASOS Multi Sequin Hardcase Clutch, ASOS, $31.82. A good clutch is necessary for any NYE look, and I’m in love with this rainbow sequined one from ASOS. It’s got a long shoulder strap and a unique pyramid shape, which makes me jump for joy. Plus it’s on clearance. Find it at www.asos.com
- Colin Stuart Bootie, Victoria’s Secret, $98. These suede and glitter booties will be the perfect accessory to nearly any of the items on this list. I would totally buy these, except I will probably transform and old pair instead. Colin Stuart booties available at www.victoriassecret.com
- Mirror Abtract Necklace, Topshop, $40. Umm, hello? The perfect necklace to try out the metal mixing trend. Wear it with the Swing with Me Draped Dress and some Silver heels. Indeed. Head over to www.topshop.com to find this necklace
For more fashion wholesomeness, check out my website at www.purplezebrashop.com and follow me on twitter @goodnpretty. Merry Christmas!