help me decide what to wear to the christmas party!

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was talking about this with a few of you last night. my boyfriend wants me to go to his big work christmas party. i don't know what to wear (not working there and never having been to an english work party before). his receptionist says it's 'smart casual'. it's a city-ish job.

i figured, and kate seemed to agree, that this is dressier than he seems to think.

so what should i wear? i could wear something i already have or shop tonight. here are fashion elements that could come out of my wardrobe...(i wish i had pictures of each so you could flip each section over to make an outfit!)

the pink & black miniskirt with black tights and black top (the outfit that i wore for thanksgiving)
or the same thing with (matte) silver fake leather skirt.

various black tank tops with sparkles on.

purple off the shoulder top with a few sparkles.

(both of those tops-- wear with what?)

help!

― colette (a2lette), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 10:09 (twenty-two years ago)

pink and black is sooo now as fleicity will testify. It will probably be a big deal if it's any kind of traditional office. Partner's showed off, one upmnanship and the like, bleaurgh.

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 10:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Any of those sound good Colette! I like the sound of the black sparkly top with the pink & black skirt!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 10:13 (twenty-two years ago)

ah, i've only worn the pink and black with a pretty covering/plain top (it's faux mod, quite short and with a pattern) so i wouldn't have thought of wearing it with a sparkle top...i'll have to try that on to see if it's too busy.

― colette (a2lette), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 10:17 (twenty-two years ago)

It'll be cool & if it's not, just say it's the height of fashion in [insert obsure place name]!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 10:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Failsafe for these things = black dressy (maybe velvet?) evening trousers. Any of the tops you mention will go with a pair of plain black trousers. Maybe with a scarf round the waist if it all looks too black?

I bought these last year for the same kind of party. Bargain sale type offer too at M&S online if you have time to order them
http://www.marksandspencer.com/Images/Catalog/Product/B/T503715TB.jpg
(they look better on, trust me)

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 10:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Ooh they look nice! If you wore those, you could wear the purple top!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 10:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Go to www.marksandspencer.com - bargain at only £19!

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 10:41 (twenty-two years ago)

I've just checked (am still checking actually!). They have a whole section on v-necks!! I am so excited! I appreciate I should not be getting this excited about M&S, but hey, I'm allowed! Thanks Ailsa!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 11:10 (twenty-two years ago)

i do like those, and such a bargain, but it's tomorrow night, so i don't think i'll have time. i went to the M&S near angel last night, but they don't have much party wear...

but i might order something just because i like it and wear it to something other than the christmas party! online shopping is dangerous. i bought two cashmere sweaters yesterday. i figure they'll be marked down after christmas and i can get the price adjustment. sneaky!

― colette (a2lette), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 11:12 (twenty-two years ago)

You need to order before 6pm this evening if you want it before Xmas!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 11:14 (twenty-two years ago)

oh, i meant that i ordered something at marshall fields online delivered to my parents' place in the states, and i'll pick everything up there.

do they do price adjustments here? i was telling someone about this, and they seemed amazed!

― colette (a2lette), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 11:18 (twenty-two years ago)

They have sales right after Xmas, I guess that's a similar thing!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 11:19 (twenty-two years ago)

http://starstarstar.net/reddress.gif

me, xmas party 1997 I think? hahahahaha!

― teeny (teeny), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 15:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Getting the price adjustment is universal: you buy nice fall sweater you want at full price, save it (unworn/tagged) and receipt until after Xmas, return it in gift amnesty after it has been marked down, but they've got to give you what it says on receipt so you get money, buy sweater on sale at other branch and keep/shop with the change.

― suzy (suzy), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 16:02 (twenty-two years ago)

I like all the sparkley options.

I want to wear this sexy red dress to my work Christmas party, but I don't know what to wear over it. Surely, I'll freeze without something on my shoulders...? But red is so Christmasy. Hmm...

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 16:02 (twenty-two years ago)

but at marshall fields they actually go a step further-- you don't even have to pretend to return it! just show them the receipt that has the higher price, and you get the difference back. i love it.

― colette (a2lette), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 17:26 (twenty-two years ago)

oh yeah. and back on topic, i went to next on my way back from xmas lunch #1 and tried on this kind of halter-neck top thingy. it was dark purple with sparkles around the neck. i was surprised that it actually looked kind of good, but didn't buy it. maybe i'll go back tomorrow. i did, however, buy a pair of black velvet trousers that are long enough. maybe i'll wear them tomorrow night...

sarah, could you do one of those faux-fur wraps that are so trendy right now? they come in black and white normally, and are really pretty...

― colette (a2lette), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 17:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't know. I might look a little too over the top. Does anyone wear shawls these days?

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 17:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Hundreds of kittens.

― El Spinktor (El Spinktor), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 17:49 (twenty-two years ago)

i think people wear lacy shawls to things like this. but obviously i'm not an expert at holiday fashion!

― colette (a2lette), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 17:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Sarah, re: over the top, that's why I posted that picture! There is no such thing as over the top at a xmas party! Someone is just going to get drunk and do the freaky dance with the boss's spouse's wife so your outfit won't compete.

― teeny (teeny), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 18:26 (twenty-two years ago)

oops, boss's spouse's wife, wtf, you know what I mean.

― teeny (teeny), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 18:26 (twenty-two years ago)

OMG i was so wrong.

while i was getting dressed, boy texted me to say 'err on the side of smart rather than casual'. i called him and asked what girls were wearing. he said some were wearing sparkly things, but lots were wearing trousers. i asked if my mini/boots/velvet top would be appropriate, and he said yes.

got there and everyone was in black tie.

spent about 45 minutes there, very uncomfortable, and finally left.

sigh.

― colette (a2lette), Thursday, 18 December 2003 11:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Sorry, colette. :-(

I ended up wearing my red hottt dress and my tall boots, so I looked a bit like Santa. I was warmed up by a screwdriver and part of Nick's gin and tonic. But they didn't have any vegetarian food, so we were outta there in about an hour cuz I was starvin'.

Happily, though, most of the outfits I saw there were horrid.

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Thursday, 18 December 2003 14:26 (twenty-two years ago)

I knew this would be a Colette thread! I am so smug! Go me!!

― Markelby (Mark C), Thursday, 18 December 2003 16:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Aww, now that I've read it I feel an insensitive boor. Sorry Colette :(

― Markelby (Mark C), Thursday, 18 December 2003 16:42 (twenty-two years ago)

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