Now back to the article: How to dress up for a Fashion Show or Fashion Event.
Your primary concern is to showcase the latest fashion trends but never in a vulgar manner.Sometimes, a simple on trend accessory is enough, other times you may need to go full on depending on
a) What sort of event it is-there is a huge difference between a black tie super chic exclusive event and a locally produced fashion show.But in both cases, you need to be dressed perfectly.
b)Who will be invited/hosting. This is made easier if the event is made public-say on Facebook.The people invited and the people hosting all give a general perception on to what degree you should dress up.
c)Where it is and how the general atmosphere will be. This is perhaps the most important part-you do not want to be in stilettos at a beach party,for example.
From left to right: Tatiana Santo Domingo, in Valentino Haute Couture,Margherita Missoni, and Daphne Guinness in Alexander McQueen at the White Fairy Tale Love Ball.Photos courtesy of Style.com
Here are 10 guidelines here to help you:
Guideline Number 1: You do not want to wear more than one obvious trend at a time if it is a major part of your outfit. For example: Animal prints were huge for 2011, and you have an amazing loose chiffon leopard print dress you want to wear. The dress is already such a huge statement in itself that to pile on other trends on top of it will be too much.When wearing a dress like that, the accessories are the next key player, so you want to go minimal but with still some impact-a simple thin gold necklace/earrings, a bracelet or a ring (I am always of the opinion that its either the necklace or the earrings, and either the bracelet or the rings but that's because I am minimalist) with an awesome clutch and shoes should be enough.
Sometimes though, wearing more than a trend at a time if it is in a subtle way is the way to go. For example: If I chose to wear my Dharna Hassija long purple-wine coloured dress to the C Beach Club for the So Chic So C Fashion show, it would already be two trends in one because of the colour and the length. However, it needs to be accessorised with subtle jewellery and a great handbag or clutch-my choice is my mum's vintage Gucci Bamboo bag (incredibly when they came out, Gucci wasn't the powerhouse it was today and they were such a steal) and a great pair of heels, though I haven't found the perfect pair yet. You should make the look interesting-like a cake with different layers,each of them delicious. Layering is the way to go for adding different visual dimensions to your look but don't go overboard.
Launch of The Row's new handbag collection: from left to right Harley Viera-Newton, Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen.Photos from Style.com
Guideline Number 2: You want to show your fashion knowledge. For accessories, this becomes very important-clothes are too easy to get right on target, accessories are harder. The 1960s are back-you can go the Modernist (MOD) route in clothing, but black eyeliner drawn on the top lid a la Twiggy shows that you have truly understood the trend. Platform heels have been ruled out-Tom Ford said they look as if you have a dictionary under your sole-so don't wear them!(here of course, that won't happen).
"You Can't Fake Fashion" campaign launch party held by eBay and the CFDA at the Dream Downtown.Left to right: Sofia Sanchez, Jason Wu,Sophie Théallet,DJ Sal Morale and Maryna Linchuk.Photos courtesy of Style.com
Guideline Number 3: If you can, honour the designers presence-this is obviously not a rule in any way, but I think it's a nice way to support a designer especially if they are starting out.
For example, if you know that the designer at the event will be Sweetie Ramlagun, either wear one of her creations or simply wear something that celebrates the designers sense of aesthetic, in this case wearing something maximalist.
Style.com " Designers, couturiers, models, and entourages all made their way to Louis XIV's palace last night for the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture's valedictory fete, which served as well as the vernissage of Le XVIII au Goût du Jour, an off-site exhibition of Paris' Musée Galliera fashion museum."From left to right: Didier Grumbach, Vivienne Westwood,Andreas Kronthaler, Farida Khelfa, Christian Louboutin, and Dita Von Teese.
Guideline Number 4: The place where the event is held.
Trust me this says a lot apart from the obvious location itself. Once you receive the invite, you should be asking yourself:
1. What kind of events are held in this area?
2. What kind of people go to this sort of place?
3. Where is this place exactly in geographical terms-are there paths which you can walk on or is it all mud/sand?
Those three questions basically become the skeleton of your outfit-you already have a general idea of what you should wear. If you know this is going to be held on the beach, it will be very difficult to navigate in stilettos and a long dress.
Guideline Number 5: The time it is held.
This impacts especially on your accessories. Swap stilettos for wedges, and favour lighter coloured clothing for day as the mood is also important to take into consideration. For night, you can go for drama but taking into account all of the factors elaborated above.
Kate Moss for her 30th birthday.
Guideline Number 6: What other people are wearing.
I should make clear what this title means-it does not under any circumstance mean that you have to follow the pack. In fact, don’t do it. This guideline is to help you in the worst situation where you really have no clue what is appropriate-just ask a whole variety of people (not just your friends) what they will be wearing. Its simple enough using facebook, right?
The Met Gala 2011:Liv Tyler, Marina Abramović, and Mariacarla Boscono, all in Givenchy Haute Couture by Riccardo Tisci, with the designer.Photos courtesy of Style.com.
Guideline Number 7: No matter if you are sure the outfit you are wearing is just perfectly composed...
DOES IT LOOK GOOD ON YOU??People often forget that part whilst trying to look like the most amazingly sophisticated reincarnation of Isabella Blow. If you feel ridiculous, or uncomfortable in what you are wearing because it does not truly express who you are, take it off right now. Same thing goes for your accessories and make-up. Red lipstick may look amazing on you, but your soul may be squirming to take it off.
Glamour of the Gods: Hollywood Portraits.Elizabeth Taylor, 1948 by Clarence Sinclair Bull © John Kobal Foundation, 2011
Guideline Number 8: In the same direction as Number 7, use your common sense.
Forget about fashion events-I'll come back to that. Let's talk about everyday life in general.Imagine this:You are going to look for an amazing dress in Port Louis. To go there, you have decided to wear a pair of 6 inch heels to walk across the cobbled pavements. Apart from the safety risk of falling and severely injuring yourself, your heels will be damaged, and no-one looks good walking in an awkward way.Same thing even in shopping malls-unless you are there for about 10 minutes, why would you wear such high stilettos? You will not look good at the end of the day hobbling about because you have burst sores and blisters on your feet. Fine, I understand you need a heel to make your legs look longer etc.Then why not wear wedges, that are both super comfortable and give you height, or wear a slightly lower heel?
Now when you are not in an event, making a fool of yourself because you committed one of these mistakes above is forgiveable-you have learned from your errors (trust me I am the queen of wearing high heels out shopping and then falling over, and over, and over again. My record was in Jumbo Phoenix when I was 16 where I wore these super high platforms and fell down not once, not twice, but five times) and probably no-one is going to remember it. But in an event? That's completely different. You will be meeting and greeting lots of people.And one stupid error and people will remember it and remind you of it.
I would like to add this too: If you can't walk in heels properly, do not attempt to do so.It's a safety risk in that you could really injure your back, and in addition it looks awful. There are plenty of beautiful flat shoes available until someone teaches you how to truly walk-shoulders arched back, tall as if you are being pulled upwards by a piece of string, one foot in front of the other etc.
Lastly, it is an incredible insult to turn up at an event that has a chic,stylish dress code in jeans and a T-shirt.It just says to the host that you do not care about the person or of this event and it means **** to you. Why come then? Make the effort.
Roberto Cavalli Party:Range Rover Outside Arrivals PFW S/S 2011 at Les Beaux-Arts de Paris on September 29, 2010 in Paris.
Guideline Number 9: All looks good from the outside, but what's going on underneath?
Underwear is PRIMORDIAL. For more information read : http://stylemauritius.blogspot.com/2011/07/999-emergency-underwear-drama.html
Victoria's Secret.
Guideline Number 10: Forget your Poker Face.
Even though you may be screaming "get me out of here" inside, sitting in a corner waiting for someone to talk to you is both unsocial and stupid. Even if you are the most awkward person imaginable, make the effort to go up to someone and say hi. This is probably the most important guideline-be natural, meet lots of people,start up conversations, and do not act like an ice queen. It's just not worth it.
Coco Rocha and Isabeli Fontana at the Modelinia party in 2009.
Have a great weekend and amazing week!
xoxo
Alex.
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/StyleMauritius
