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Q. I have to go with my husband at his office Christmas party. Any suggestion what would be appropriate to wear? I’m 28 yrs old and size 4.

A. For your husband’s holiday party, you want to strike the balance between festive and fun yet conservative. You want to impress your husband’s colleagues without giving the office gossip something to chatter about. Since you didn’t mention whether this is a casual or formal affair, we are going to assume that the attire falls somewhere in between. Here are two chic yet understated looks to try.

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The first look pairs black pants with a sequin tank and velvet blazer for just the right amount of festive sparkle. A rhinestone cuff and platform pumps finish the look. The second look starts with a simple and conservative timeless black dress. Swap out the belt that comes with the dress and add a sequin bow belt, along with a bauble necklace and cocktail ring to turn your understated dress into the perfect party look.

Q. I’ve been eyeing the Tuxxedo shoes from Steve Madden for a while now. I absolutely adore them in black and white, but I wonder if they’re too formal looking for every day wear? How I could I rock them or the ones in cognac?

A. Menswear-inspired Oxford shoes can be worn casually many different ways. Take a cue from Selma Blair, Taylor Swift and Sienna Miller by pairing your Oxfords with everything from dresses and skirts to skinny or boyfriend jeans.

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The black and white Tuxxedo does have a slightly more dressy feel, but you can still wear it casually - and it would look great with a boyfriend blazer and leggings. If you’re unsure about whether you can pull it off or not, then go for the cognac color like the pair Taylor Swift is wearing above.

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Q. I’m dying over the new sequin blazer trend and want to buy one to wear to a few holiday parties. However, I don’t want to spend a lot on such a memorable piece. Can you recommend some options that are around $100?

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A. We’ll do even better than that - how about a few options for much less than $100! Here are several sequin blazers in various silhouettes that are well worth the money.



Q. I purchased this dress to wear to a holiday party, birthday party and a wedding this December. For the birthday party, I was thinking of wearing it with black leggings and black ankle boots and a black cardigan, to dress it down a bit. What do you think of that idea? For the holiday party and the wedding, what shoes? Maybe a black chunky pump or gray suede ankle boots? I’m having a hard time deciding!

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A. Great dress! And I love that you’ll get at least 3 wearings from it. Your birthday party pairings sound perfect, alternatively you can try a black blazer or motorcycle jacket. The holiday party and wedding call for glam accessories that are a bit more special than a black pump or gray suede ankle boot (though these would be fine too). We suggest swapping the black belt that comes with the dress for something dressier, like a metallic or sequin belt. Add metallic shoes and festive accessories and you’ve got a look that will turn heads.

Here, we show three ways to style the dress (click on the accessories for buying info):



Q. Is it still ok to wear bell bottom jeans? I have some from the Gap that I got in the spring that are the dark wash and like new.

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A. True, all we seem to see are skinny jeans these days, but that doesn’t mean you can’t wear other jean styles. Celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe is a huge fan of ultra flared jeans, proving that it’s always chic to march to your own beat. Since flared jeans have a ’70s vibe, we’re loving them with faux fur vests, belted shirts and leather jackets. Whatever you wear on top, make sure it has a slim silhouette to offset the wide hem of your jeans. Here are a few looks for inspiration:



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