Valentine's Day is right around the corner! If you are brave enough to brave the crowds and the snow to go out and celebrate, you will need an outfit that is both stylish and warm. However, you don't need to buy a whole new look just for one dinner. The great thing about Valentine's Day is that is only a short time after the December holidays which means that your party wardrobe should be refreshed and ready to wear. (Check out this post for more details.) So take a trip to your closet and start creating your perfect outfit.

1. Choose the practical option for February: pants. Start with a well-fitting pair of ankle pants in a dressy fabric and pair with a lace or embellished top. Slip into your favorite heels and add a jacket. Add just a glint of sparkly jewelry and finish with a bold red lip.

2. If you are excited to have an opportunity to wear your favorite party dress, don't let the cold weather dampen your spirits. Find a pair of tights in a coordinating pattern or color so that your bare skin is not exposed to the elements. Embrace your glamorous side with statement jewelry. I suggest chandelier earrings and a bracelet so that there is nothing to interfere with the neckline of your dress.

3. Make your skirt the center of your outfit by pairing it with a black sweater and black tights. You can continue the neutral backdrop with black heels or add an extra pop of color on your feet. The skirt you choose should feature bright colors in a bold print so that it stands out against the black.

Are your Valentine's Day plans more on the casual side? Read more about my favorite weekend night out look here and here.

One of my favorite things about blogging is getting comments and notes from my readers. I especially love when you all tell me what style issues you need addressed because it gives me an idea for a post that I know will be useful. Today I will be answering one of your questions about holiday outfits:

Although I do tend to suggest glitzy pieces around the holidays, most of my holiday season is spent in more comfortable basics since the dress code at most of the events I attend is fairly casual. There is a joke in my house that your Thanksgiving outfit needs to include elastic waist pants so you can stuff yourself silly with mashed potatoes and pie. I do try to wear a ponte dress instead of yoga pants, but my look is far from being featured in a magazine spread.

Before I give specific suggestions about party pieces, I want to talk about shopping for pieces that aren't the most popular style for a season. Pretty much every store will start getting in a collection of glitzy dresses for the holiday so it can quickly feel like there are no other options. But if you approach your outfit search from the right angle, you will be able to find a great look without a lot of stress.

First, check out the sale section. All the fall pieces (with their lovely autumnal colors) are going to be marked down and put together in an overwhelmingly crowded section at the back of the store. It takes a little bit of patience, but there are often gems back there. When shopping the sale rack, be willing to try on multiple sizes. Sometimes pieces end up back there because their fit was slightly different than the brand's normal sizing and other people were unwilling to try a size up.

Second, shop at department stores. They have a much wider selection because they need to cater to a large audience (and also because their larger physical space means they have room to display more pieces). You can also try a store that focuses more on vintage-inspired or bohemian fashion, such as Anthropologie, because the color palettes there tend more towards the earth tones. 

Now onto answering the original question. My immediate thought when I read this question was that bronze would be the perfect party color. It is earthier and more subdued than gold or silver, but it is still in the metallic family so you have a bit of shine. Plus, the great thing is that bronze comes in many variations as some lean more towards rust red and others to chocolate brown. 

If bronze still feels too glitzy for your tastes, instead focus on the fabric. Taupe or olive green may not seem like party colors, but if your dress is made of flowing silk or delicate lace you will look appropriately dressed. For the holiday season I absolutely love jacquard and flocked fabrics because the texture adds visual interest and since they are thicker fabrics, they feel seasonal.

Do you have a question you would like me to answer? There are lots of ways to contact me and I'd love to hear from you! 

When you get a wedding invitation in the mail, there are lots of things that need to be done: accommodations and travel arrangements, choosing the perfect gift, and of course, deciding what to wear. Since dress codes are more of a dress spectrum (and a vague one at that), it is tempting to just wear a variation of what everyone else will be wearing. A dress that hits just above the knee, usually in a solid color or a subdued pattern, heels that are much too high to dance in for hours, and a pashmina to keep the evening breeze at bay. While I love all of those pieces, I don't love wearing the same formulaic outfit over and over. Fashion should be fun and when you have an occasion to dress up you should not be limited! Wedding season is winding down with the summer, but you may still have a few left to attend. And depending on how packed your social calendar is, you may be running out of solid colored, knee-length dresses to wear. 

I am not by any means suggesting that your footwear does not matter, but rather that because it is part of your outfit you should choose shoes that you can last all night in. Metallic flats have an extra bit of pizzazz just based on their color, but there are plenty of other ways to make a statement, such as perforation (such as the pair pictured above), contrast coloring, shape. Look for a style with clean lines and stay away from loafers (which look business-y) and thick rubber soles (which look casual). Peep-toe flats are also a fun option because then you can choose a matching or contrasting nail polish color for your toes! You'll get to dance all night and not suffer from sore feet the next morning which is the perfect stylish success.

I love shopping for new dresses, but during wedding season it can be a little overwhelming. Imagine you are invited to three weddings this summer, as well as the accompanying bridal showers and rehearsal dinners. You now have a total of nine events that require you to dress up (in varying degrees). Wouldn't it be nice if you could wear the same dress to several different events?

Looking for a few more options? Here are some other dresses I love that will be a hit at parties that you are invited to: