Chic for a cocktail hour
Start with your own black tank and trousers…
Besides mingling with colleagues or chatting with old friends, one of the best parts of a cocktail hour is getting to nibble on yummy hors d’oeuvres (who can resist those franks in blankets!) and sip bubbly drinks. But all that indulging can be a recipe for belly bloat. To prevent puffiness from coming into focus, celebrity stylist Dawn Del Russo suggests wearing an all-black base. “The line of dark color from a black top and black pants creates a slimming base that helps you look 5 pounds thinner from the get-go, giving you leeway no matter how much you eat or drink as the night goes on.” And black-on-black is the perfect backdrop to give standout accessories the spotlight.
Update the look with…
GOLD DANGLING EARRINGS: Linear drops cause the eye to scan vertically for a face-slimming effect.
FIRST pick: Panacea, $32 (Nordstrom. com, Shapes Drop Earrings Gold)
ANIMAL PRINT BLAZER: A statement blazer adds a colorful edge to a black ensemble, and one with a playful animal print distracts the eye from any trouble spots.
FIRST pick: Zara, $70 (Zara.com, Snakeskin
Print Blazer)
METALLIC GOLD CLUTCH: The mirrored shine adds instant luster.
FIRST pick: Swanky Swans, $21 (SwankySwans.co.uk, Arizona Metallic Clutch Bag Gold)