Cindy Newstead, from Style with Cindy, shares her tips on holiday fashion trends – and how to shop for them!
Tis’ officially ‘the season’ and many of us will begin the quest for the perfect holiday outfit. Be it your end of year work party, Christmas day itself or a New Years celebration, fashion is at its finest this season with an abundance of trends and styles to choose from.
From our observations, we’ve also seen a return of the traditional office Christmas party, perhaps not as lavish as pre 2008 recession, but companies have begun to invest again allowing for a more spruced up dress code.
Unless you’re at a casual party or Christmas/New Years Day we suggest you leave the denim and Haviana’s at home and opt for something a little more festive.
Holiday Fashion Trends
1. It’s All About The Dress
This season, the dress is the go-to choice for holiday parties exuding a sense of fun and frivolity. In Australia, dresses are most suitable as it is generally hot this time of year and never before have we seen so many length options (maxi, midi, short and mini): hourglass body shapes will be thrilled!
While many of us will reach for the stylishly safe and effective LBD, if there is ever a time to explore colour, it’s now. Now I’m not suggesting you wear a combination of red, white and green in a Christmas tree/Italian-esque kind of way but have fun with your colour and patterns.
The hottest colours this season include a monochromatic palette of black and white, white on white (detailed in point 3), a touch of cobalt blue along with neutral hues and textured metallic’s through accessories.
In related news, PANTONE, a global colour authority, has just revealed the 2014 Colour of the Year, Radiant Orchid (a lavender type hue). So why not source out something with a purple or pink vibe and be ahead of the crowd. (Watch for this colour throughout the next range of fashion and beauty collections as well).
2. The Jumpsuit
I’ve fallen in love with the jumpsuit and it’s such a beautiful alternative to the maxi dress. They’re also a great choice for cooler evenings or should the weather turn (two years ago Melbourne delighted us with a hail storm on the afternoon of Christmas day).
This season sees the jumpsuit embedded with prints, small polka dots, baroque patterns and a play on textured fabrics.
In terms of your body shape, petite frames should opt for a more structured jumpsuit and can play with fitted fabrics and lighter colours. Curvier bodies should ensure the pants of the jumpsuit do not taper in at the ankle, keep away from strapless (unless you sport a smaller bust) and for both body shapes, a cinched in waist is a good thing.
3. White on White
When this trend was revealed a few months ago, it brought a severe panic to many of my clients, most of them thinking they would be wearing tight white pants.
However it’s not that frightening. White and its neighbours – cream and eggshell – can be incredibly flattering when worn correctly. The hue also brings a sense of crispness to your wardrobe and is a beautiful colour for summer.
We’re seeing white on white ensembles, tailored tops and pants, floating maxi dresses and an abundance of white accessories.
You can opt for a completely minimalist look but for something more, source out fashion pieces with textures and embellishments including lace, white leather and pearl embellishment for an evening look.
4. The Sweet Life (La Dolce Vita)
Consider an evening by the Italian Riviera in the 1950’s. Think full skirts, 60’s shift dresses, capri pants and cotton sundresses that exude a sweet and sophisticated look.
This trend offers styles and cuts to suit all body shapes. Hourglass (balanced hips and shoulders) and inverted triangles (broader shoulders, smaller down the bottom) will love the A-line skirts cinched at the waist with a tucked in polka dot shirt teamed with cat-eye sunglasses.
For your feet, take to the espadrille or sandal to complete the look.
5. Skilled Shapewear
Faux body sculpting is very in and the likes of Spanx and Nancy Ganz shapewear continue to be celebrated by women every day.
When it comes to dressing, your foundation counts and if you’re looking to feel just that little bit more confident in your holiday outfit, you may like to look into some shapewear.
It will smooth out any lumps and bumps (we all have them) and effortlessly accentuates a feminine silhouette.
Shapewear has changed from its original girdle-type reputation where you’ll find underwear with stomach support, full jumpsuits and slips.
6. For The Gentleman
We are loving the move from black to navy in this seasons men’s suit. Men’s fashion has (finally) been embedded with some key trends and this season they’ve taken a page out of La Dolce Vita and sailed to the Mediterranean.
There is a little touch of nautical as navy suits and pants are teamed with crisp white shirts, from plain options to those with checks and stripes. For the quirky, the hat returns complemented with clever cufflinks and suspenders.
Even denim has become cleaner and more structured for the gentlemen with suits exuding impeccable tailoring.
Holiday Shopping Guide (For You)
The month of December can be a stressful time to shop if you’re not prepared. Shops are generally busier and many of us are on edge, trying to find the best Christmas gift for our family and friends.
So before you battle for the change room or register line, here is my guideline to enjoy shopping for Christmas with heart.
1. Wandering aimlessly through busy holiday crowds is not ideal so have a plan of attack. Firstly, you need to know your approximate clothing size (this varies minimally from store to store) and have in mind any stores, styles or colours you might like to try.
2. Understand your dress code for the event you’re dressing for and if it’s an office party, try to find an outfit that offers a professional yet festive feel. It can be as simple as teaming a blazer with your party dress or jumpsuit.
3. Stick to your budget – always. It’s a lot easier to shop when you know what you’re after and without having a post-purchase meltdown when you receive your credit card statement.
4. Try everything on and don’t risk buying something that “may” fit you because the queues are too long. Place the item on hold for 10 minutes and return to the store a little later – it’s surprising how crowds can reduce in such a small amount of time.
5. Always research bargains and sales, this saves you time and money. I have an email address dedicated to receiving sale information from my favourite stores. Before I shop, I have a quick peruse through to see who is doing what and when sales are valid till.
6. If you can, shop early. Around 9am or 3pm (pick up time) is generally the quietest time to shop. This is also a great idea for shoe sections in department stores where it can be difficult to find an assistant.
7. Shop with heart. The outfit you are seeking is for the holiday season: a time of giving and togetherness. Whether you are shopping for others or for yourself, put yourself in the holiday mindset, even sing a Christmas Carol or two if you need to!
Cindy Newstead is one of Australia’s most sought after personal stylists and early pioneers in bringing personal styling to the everyday Australian. Cindy Newstead has carried out over 6,000 personal consultations over the last 13 years and has provided inspiration and motivation to men and women from all walks of life across Australia and beyond.
Cindy’s impeccable skills as a stylist are enhanced by her qualifications as a certified colour consultant, an NLP Master Practitioner and an educator and facilitator of Australia’s finest and most respected styling academy.
Cindy is also the creator and presenter of the bi-annual Style Review runway, a real world fashion parade that is fast becoming a highlight on the fashion calendar. She is Chadstone – The Fashion Capital’s ‘A’ list stylist and is the author of “You Are More Than Just Your Bits” a book that helps people with the emotional issues that surround their appearance while helping them through their style challenges to find a style that suits their personality, body shape and lifestyle.
You can check out Cindy’s website here and Facebook Page here.
