Entertaining for Christmas: What and wear
Dear Lucy,
I am hosting a slew of Christmas dinners and I feel overwhelmed about what to wear. Can I just be comfortable in slippers or do I have to wear heels while I entertain? I am just home after all.
Are shawls still in fashion? How can I update the use of mine? I have lots, from way back 10-15 years ago when pashmina was all the rage.
Mau
What to wear during the Christmas dinners you are hosting is up to you, really. As the host, you set the mood or the theme. If you are hosting a barbecue, then you can be relaxed and ask your guests to come in casual clothes. But if you set the table formally and you know that your guests will make an effort to dress up, then it is but proper that you also put a little effort into how you are dressed. That said, you need not suffer through the night in clothes or shoes that don’t make you feel comfortable. Flat shoes are perfectly fine, but do put on something nice and wear lipstick and earrings or something festive and nice like that.
If it is a sit-down dinner and you have hired a caterer and you do not see yourself running around the house getting this or that to make your guests feel comfortable, then you can afford to wear shoes with a little heel.
The point is, you are gathering friends to have a lovely time together and all else (including and especially obsessing about how everything must be perfect) should be secondary. The reason for the season is to have time to reconnect over food and memories. That said, I wish you a very merry Christmas.
Re shawls, I don’t think they are ever in or out of fashion. I love shawls, they were made for a purpose, to provide comfort and warmth, and you should be happy to have them at the ready always. When you travel, you can use them as scarves. At home or in the movies, they give you a cozy warmth in a beautiful and classy way. Shawls are for keeps.
Lucy
How To Look Slim For Christmas
Good Day Ms. Rissa!
I always read Style SOS in Philippine STAR. I just want to ask for advice because I always have a hard time thinking of what kind of clothes I should wear for the Christmas parties I have to attend. You see, I’m a little bit chubby and, unfortunately, I’m not tall.
Karen
Dressing well for your figure is all a matter of illusion. The right colors can transform your look. We all know that dark colors help make heavy areas look smaller. If you have big hips, opt for darker skirts, pants, and bottoms.
For top-heavy women, a tight sweater is your worst enemy. The next is a light top worn over a dark bottom. If you’re top heavy, wear darker colors for your blouses and avoid tops with details like ruffles, wide collars, and pockets on the chest. Yes, aside from color, texture can make you look bigger, too! So take fabric and trimmings into consideration because these visually increase your size.
Velvet and metallic fabrics are big trends now. Be careful how you wear them because the thicker texture and shine can make you look heftier. Avoid wearing these fabrics on the bigger areas of your body. Scarves and lightweight jackets, which are perfect for today’s weather, also instantly provide a slimming effect. The vertical lines they create along your body cut your size and make you look thinner.
Lastly, I love how accessories help downplay flaws. The key is to accentuate the positive and draw the eyes to more attractive parts. If you love your toned arms but not your legs, focus on them with pretty sleeveless tops so that they draw the attention. Or if you like your eyes, go for a dramatic eye shadow color or tons of mascara. A bold lip color can work wonders, too! By playing up what you feel good about, you downplay what you don’t.
Rissa
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Send e-mail to Lucy Torres-Gomez at ltg@pldtdsl.com. E-mail Rissa Trillo at stylesos_rissa@yahoo.com or follow her on Twitter @RissaMananquil.
