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You see it all the time. Women
dressed up, out for a nice dinner at a fancy place or
attending a black-tie fundraiser, swaddling their
expensive cocktail frocks in pastel pashmina wraps that
are just all wrong. A wrap breaks up the lines of a
structured dress, and it isn’t really warm enough for
the chilly evenings of fall and winter. Though this is
far from the most serious fashion offense, the look and
silhouette come off as dated.
A pashmina is more passable with a
long, flowing, boho-chic kind of dress when attending an
island wedding or as a layer over a light dress as the
sun is setting at the beach. When wearing a cocktail
dress, especially in these colder months leading up to
the holidays, go for structured, sexy and classic.
For an example, think about Kate
Moss, who wore a tailored black tux jacket with
three-quarter-length sleeves over her strapless black
velvet dress when she arrived at a recent event (via
helicopter). Chances are it was a chilly ride in the
chopper and she needed something to keep her warm until
she hit the red carpet. The combo looked chic and
unfussy with a touch of masculine tailoring to temper
the sexiness of the dress. This formula is a no-fail way
to add a practical and stylish layer to an evening
ensemble.
A tux-style jacket is versatile
enough to throw on over a fancy dress, and you can get
extra mileage out of it by wearing it with slim black
cigarette pants and simple black heels. Traditional
black is the best investment because it’s the easiest
to wear with a black or dark-colored dress. Or try an
ivory jacket with a black lapel ($108 at Express) to
draw a nice contrast and add drama to a simple black
dress.
For a pop of holiday color, an
emerald green charmeuse fitted blazer is festive and
eye-catching ($229 at Talbots). It pairs well with
black, gold, ivory or even certain shades of smoky gray.
Balance out the strong color with bold accessories that
might have subtle hints of a similar shade of green.
A velvet tux jacket takes the
cover-up into fancier territory. A midnight blue version
($150 at Topshop) feels rich and a little less expected.
If the tux look is too tailored or
buttoned up for your taste, a cropped jacket with
sequins or faux fur detail is an option. Express carries
a sequined moto-style jacket ($128) in a shrunken fit,
and it can be left open over a dress. (Stick with a
nonmetallic colored dress if you wear a sequined
jacket). Another metallic option, but with a more
elegant appeal, is a gold jacket from Lanvin ($3,280 at
Net-a-porter.com). If that’s too pricey for your
budget, look for something similar at a lower cost in
vintage boutiques.
A cropped sequined jacket by Michael
Michael Kors ($195 at Net-a-porter.com) strikes a nice
balance among the pieces mentioned here. It’s a great
length, and it’s neither too fitted nor too boxy. A
smattering of sequins keeps it dressy-looking, and the
dark hue pairs well with a variety of dresses and
prints.
There’s no need to shiver as you
wait in the valet line after an evening event. Ditch the
pashmina and go for something that pulls your look
together and also keeps you warm.
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