Welcome back to the (not quite) weekly column reviewing Genevieve Antoine Dariaux's book, A Guide to Elegance. An introduction to this series of posts can be found here and previous posts can be read here. Today we will be discussing the appropriate attire for a cocktail party to see if the traditional fashion rules still apply today. Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments!

I love a cocktail party. It is a great opportunity to meet new people or chat with those you only slightly know. You have some freedom to move between conversations and, unlike a more intimate dinner party, the whole group is not forced to talk about the same topic. Basically it is the perfect way to expand your social circle. 

For most of us, cocktail attire is also a pretty easy dress code to abide by. We don't have to worry about the hassle of finding a floor length gown for a black tie event and we aren't left wondering just how casual is casual. The Little Black Dress with a great piece of statement jewelry is the easy outfit option, but you can also pull off a pair of ankle pants or a skirt with a silk blouse. Most of us aim for the "dressy, but not overdressed" look and luckily there is a lot on that spectrum that is appropriate for a cocktail party.

Madame Dariaux doesn't exactly agree with me. 

While most of us in the year 2015 determine whether a dress is cocktail attire by the length, Madame Dariaux makes her decision based on whether the neckline is low cut. This point seems even more outdated when she explains that low cut dresses are not appropriate for cocktail parties but should be worn at dinner parties. Few of us "dress for dinner" and if we are enjoying a nice dinner with friends or family, chances are we are using cocktail attire as the rule of thumb while getting dressed. 

Since the stark lines between dress codes for events have blurred (at least for the many of us), we are given more options in attire for semi-formal events, like cocktail parties. This means that no matter your body shape or your personal style, you can find an ensemble that makes you look and feel elegant.

References
Dariaux, Genevieve Antoine. A Guide to Elegance. New York: William Morrow, 2003. Print.

Superbowl or Puppy Bowl? Regardless of which one you choose to watch next Sunday, you will need a casual party outfit that is comfortable enough for a long afternoon of lounging on the couch and gorging on game day food. I suggested a simple (and machine-washable!) outfit last year, but this year I'm in the mood for something a little more festive.

This season I keep stumbling across sweaters featuring dogs and the Puppy Bowl is the perfect time to show your love of canines. Boden has a terrier sweater (as well as slippers available in the pink puppy print) and LOFT has an adorable schnauzer sweater. Layer under a cozy down vest and pair with denim and your favorite ankle boots. For a finishing touch, add a fun piece of dog-themed jewelry.

A game day outfit doesn't have to include a team jersey, especially if you are only watching to see the commercials. Take a unique approach and use the leather of the football as your inspiration. Start with a brown leather jacket and brown riding boots. Then play on the word "jersey" and slip on a jersey dress in your favorite color or pattern. Lastly, don't forget a pair of thick tights or leggings to stay warm (it is February after all)! You'll have a football inspired look that is chic and cozy.

P.S. Do you need a great chili recipe to round out your game day menu? Try this one!

 You also shouldn't hold onto pieces that you wouldn't wear today if you could fit into it. This might be because it is a trendy (but now outdated) style or because the color or fit was never very flattering on you. I have a camo mini skirt that I got for a Halloween costume and would never wear in my everyday life. It is not improving my wardrobe, current or future, to keep it and needs to be discarded.

If an item is more than two sizes too big or too small, you should also remove it from your closet (unless you have VERY positive feelings of a sentimental nature towards it). Having options when your weight fluctuates is different from having an entire size run of all the basics. 

When cleaning out your closet, I suggest doing it in several stages. First, remove everything that is no longer in a wearable condition. That is the easy part because it is very objective and it will give you a better sense of what pieces you have and what space is available. Then remove any cheap basics, pieces you wouldn't wear, or items that are more than two sizes off from your current size. This will take care of everything that has two strikes against it (the first strike being that it doesn't currently fit). After this take your time going through the remaining pieces to see if they fit into any of the "to-keep" categories.

The blog will be on hiatus until next Thursday, January 22. I will be out of town for a funeral until then and will not have the opportunity to post during that time. If you are desperately looking for style advice, please check out the archives!

When was the last time that a piece of clothing brought you joy? Not relief that you had something appropriate to wear to an event or satisfaction that your layers kept you adequately warm, but actual happiness from wearing an item. If you can't think of an example in your own life, you might need to refocus your shopping game. Clothing, like food, lets us cultivate our own tastes while addressing one of our needs, but sometimes we overindulge on things we don't actually like that much. 

The idea of choosing items that bring joy has been rattling around in my head since reading an article about home organizer Marie Kondo in the New York Times. My first reaction was that there are plenty of things in my apartment that don't bring me joy, but that I need to keep around for practical reasons, like a step ladder so I can change a light bulb. But clothes are something that we can and should expect to get joy from. There are so many options that it seems silly to spend money on pieces that you don't like.

I recently got a wonderfully warm and absolutely gorgeous scarf (that is big enough to double as a blanket) from Boden and I definitely feel a sense of joy when I put it on. The bright colors make the dreary January days feel a little less glum, the wool keeps my neck nice and toasty in the Chicago wind, and its large size makes it more versatile. A scarf, which is a need in the Midwest in winter, has become something that adds value to my day by improving my mood. 

But how many pieces do I have in my closet that aren't needs and don't bring me joy? Probably too many