New Year's Eve Style Guide

I don't know about you, but for me December has seemed to have flown by within the blink of an eye. Perhaps I feel this way just because December has been quite the busy month for me, from modelling in my very first fashion show, to John visiting, and of course all the yuletide styling I've been doing on Instagram. With this being said, I have to admit that I've overlooked one holiday that everyone (myself included) enjoys making a fuss over, and that holiday is none other than New Year's Eve.

Like everyone else, year after year I tend to set my expectations for New Year's Eve incredibly high and later end up disappointed. From plans falling through, to not getting that kiss at midnight, there are quite a few things that can turn watching the ball drop into a total bust. However, over the years I have learned there is one thing that you can make sure goes right on New Year's Eve and that is having an on point outfit to ring in the new year! So in case everyone has been caught up in the Christmas whirlwind as much as I have been, I decided to make a quick style guide featuring perfect outfits to celebrate the coming of 2017 in. 

Shine Your Brightest

One big trend this year for holiday looks is definitely metallic material. Which when you think about it, it makes perfect sense. What better way to step into the new year than to gleam and glisten? So for my first pick, I chose this absolutely show stopping rose gold metallic gown from my sponsor SheIn. This gown, is the perfect choice if you and your beau decide to do something a little extra special to watch the ball drop this year. This gown would be perfect attire for a night of dinner and dancing at an upscale restaurant. Lastly, the pretty rose gold color of this dress also adds just touch of romantic flare which is more than fitting for a night out with your sweetie.

 

 

Of course, a gown as gorgeous as this one needs equally dazzling accessories. So the first accessory I chose to pair with this gown are these beautiful gold drop earrings. The reason I chose this pair of earrings is because I adored the mod look of them. I felt that their feminine shape and subtle edge was the perfect match for this gown. The reason these earrings work so well with this gown though is because though they are drop earrings, they are simple and not overly dramatic which means they will not take away from this rose gold gown's eloquent beauty.

 

The second accessory I chose to further style this gown with is this gorgeous gold choker. Originally, I considered a simple drop necklace due to this gown's plunging neckline but then thought better of it because I was concerned it'd be a little much. However, much like the earrings, this choker gives just the right amount of extra shine and looks incredibly sophisticated without taking away from the gown.

 

 

Lastly, to finish off this eloquent and romantic look, I chose these pretty, pink, fur toed heels to add even more of a dreamy and feminine touch to this gown. As you know from my last style guide, fur and velvet are huge this year for holiday looks. With that being said I thought that these heels would add a very soft and pretty touch to this dress.

 

 

Perfectly Sequenced Sequins

Another big trend you will be seeing a lot of this year for New Year's Eve is loads of sequins. Much like metallic fabrics, sequins are a perfect choice to wear for a night out on New Year's Eve due to their gorgeous shimmering. This dress however, is more suitable for a night out with friends and would be quite the conversation starter at a New Year's Eve party. This dress would also be a great choice if you and your girls decide to go to a club and dance until the New Year begins. (And then maybe even some for after!!) 

 

 

Though this shiny dress does not require a necklace, I thought these laid back metallic earrings by Elise M would be a perfect fit! The reason I chose these earrings (which you can find on my sponsor Rocksbox's site) is because I thought that the gold complemented the greens and blues of this dress but due to the black metallic center, wouldn't take away from the dress or make the outfit look too busy.

 

 

 

Of course, since you'd definitely be gearing up and heading out to a party of some sort in this wild sequined dress, you know you will need a trusty purse or handbag of some sort to keep your necessities in! So I chose this pretty gold clutch because the gold would stand out beautifully against the greens and blues of the dress and I just thought this clutch and this dress would make a lovely pair.

 

 

Lastly, you would need some fun and funky shoes to accompany this mini sequined dress, and I thought these gold metallic heels would do just the trick! Of course I naturally chose these heels because they matched the gold clutch and compliment the dress, but I also love the cut out design on them. These strappy beauties are the final piece of the puzzle for this sexy New Year's Eve party look. 

 

 

Red Velvet

For this next look, I decided I should add a less sexy look for a semi-formal New Year's Eve party at a relatives. So, for this look I chose this darling velvet and lace dress from my affiliate and sponsor, StyleWe. The reason I love this dress is because it has a feel of simple elegance and has a soft and pretty feel for a family gathering. The dress is a great choice for a gathering such as this because of it's modest length and because the sweetheart neckline paired with the three quarter length lace sleeves give this dress a timelessly chic feel. 

 

 

To add a little extra shine to this dress, I decided to pair it with this gorgeous pair of Elle burgundy earrings by Kendra Scott. The reason I chose this pair of earrings is because the gold frame of them pairs nicely with this dress' vintage feel and the gorgeous burgundy center matches the soft and pretty red velvet of this dress perfectly. 

 

 

Another great accessory to pair with this timeless dress, would be this simple Aida bangle by Gorjana. The reason this is, is because this bangle would add a touch of shimmer without being over the top.

 

To finish off this darling and sophisticated party look, I paired this cute classic dress with a classic type of shoe: the Mary Jane pump. Though this pump is a modern twist on the classic Mary Jane, it was still a no-brainer choice to me due to the the classic style of the dress. I mean really, what's a more classic shoe than Mary Jane's? This shoe also plays well off of the black lace at the top of the dress and also adds a sweet playful feel to the outfit due to it's fun cutouts and the buckle at the ankle.

 

The Cat's Meow

To finish off this style guide, the last look I chose was for those of us who will be attending a casual New Year's Eve bash with friends. For this final and more casual look, I chose this chic cutout jumpsuit. The reason I chose this jumpsuit is because of it's fun and playful (and strategically placed) cutouts. This is the perfect choice for a causal holiday party because it's just the right amount of sexy without appearing over dressed. This piece would also be a much more comfortable choice for a night in opposed to sitting around in a cocktail dress.

 

 

 

To further style this jumpsuit, I felt that these gold bead drop earrings would be the perfect choice. Much like the jumpsuit itself, these tassel earrings have a flare of playfulness. The black beading on them also tie in perfectly with the jumpsuit adding a nice balance. 

 

 

 

Of course, a playful outfit calls for a playful purse! So I paired this fun and fearless cutout jumpsuit with this adorable cat shaped purse! This little bag is perfect for a casual evening and will surely be the envy of your girl friends just because of how adorable it is! Obviously this purse is adorable but the reason it works so well with this jumpsuit is all because of it's playful nature. The gold face of this feline bag also compliments the tassel earrings that are part of this fun ensemble. Another reason why I loved this purse is because though it's a bit on the smaller side, it is also very spacious which would make it perfect for everyday use as well!

 

 

 

The last piece I chose to top off this look, as well as to add a pop of color, are these pink and gold glittery heels. Let's face it, though this jumpsuit is fun it could use some color to really make it pop to ring in the new year. So I figured what better way to do that than to pair this jumpsuit with some wild high heels? These heels are a great choice for a casual party due to their fun and funky vibe. The gold in these heels also play off of the gold on this outfit's purse and then the pink adds just the right amount of color to make this outfit really stand out.

 

 

So what are you going to be wearing to welcome 2017? I'd love to chat about it, so tell me all about your New Year's Eve style choices in the comments below, or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic. Have a photo you want to show off? Feel free to tag me on Instagram at @StarkRavingChic!

Also, if you're curious about what I'm wearing for New Year's Eve this year stay tuned for my holiday outfit of the day coming January 1, 2017! Later babes.

Xx, Bree

P.S. Psssst! Remember if you like the jewelry you see from Rocksbox in this post, you can try Rocksbox for a month 100% FREE when you sign up using my promo code "starkravingchicxoxo"treat yourself dolls!

#BLOGMAS: Holiday Style Guide (Feat. SheIn)

Aside from all of the happiness and cheer that comes along with the holiday season, another aspect I have always loved about this time of year is all of the holiday events that require dressing up. As a child I never had the opportunity to dress up and actually go out often due to the fact the school I attended required the students to wear uniforms. However at Christmas time my mother always would put me in my holiday best to attend holiday dinners, parties, and even to go out shopping with her just because she new I enjoyed it. It was like a little month long treat every December.

Obviously, this isn't a phase I grew out of, in fact if you saw my last #BLOGMAS post or follow me on Instagram, you would know this year I'm taking my holiday styling to a whole new level. This being said I decided it would be fun to share some of my favorite looks for every occasion this holiday season ranging from office Christmas parties to New Years Eve. And it gets better: Everything showcased in this article is from my sponsor SheIn, meaning you can look absolutely stunning without breaking the bank. 

Holiday Happy Hour

Personally, when I'm headed to a holiday happy hour (or any happy hour for the matter) I generally lean towards subtly sexy but sophisticated looks. Mainly because many of the places my girls and I enjoy going to downtown for holiday events are a a bit fancy (unless we happen to hit up South Side for a Pens game) just because we prefer a more quiet and relaxed atmosphere for our ladies night get together.

Photo Credit: SheIn

Photo Credit: SheIn

This being said, if you and your girls are like my girls and I, this cocktail dress would be the perfect for your holiday happy hour! The reason I say this is firstly, because of the color combination of this pretty little dress. The most obvious  thing that stuck out to me was the gorgeous green, red, and gold embroidered pattern, making this dress perfect for wearing the colors of the season without looking over the top and tacky. Secondly, I loved the way this dress was designed. I thought the gold slip was genius and that the read and gold detailing on the collar and sleeves were an adorable finishing touch. I mean I know its a small thing but in my opinion, it's the smaller details that can truly make a garment. Lastly, this dress also works as a subtly sexy piece due to its perfectly placed mesh detailing. Though this piece shows some skin and is sexy in it's own right, it's not over the top and give this sophisticated piece tiny bit of playful flare.

Photo Credit: SheIn

Photo Credit: SheIn

 

Since every girl needs a trusty bag for a night out on the town, I thought I would include this darling, velvet, emerald clutch. The reason I chose to pair this velvet clutch with the dress above is because much like it, this clutch's look is soft and pretty, also because velvet is a huge trend this season.

 

Photo Credit: SheIn

Photo Credit: SheIn

 

Finally, to top of this holiday happy hour look, I chose to pair this set of stylish, velvet platformed, heels with the dress and clutch. The reason I feel these shoes are a great way to complete this outfit isn't just because they are velvet and emerald green like the bag (though that did play a part in my decision), but because these heels and the bag both play off of the gorgeous green embroidery of this dress

 

 

 

The Office/Work Christmas Party

Photo Credit: SheIn

Photo Credit: SheIn

The next holiday occasion I've decided to to tackle is none other than the office/work Christmas party. I know for me personally, trying to figure out what to wear to any office related party can be a bit challenging. Considering at DSG corporate's dress code is pretty relaxed, so I am always worried that I'm either going to appear entirely over dressed or that my outfit might come off as too casual. However, need not fear because as always SheIn has something perfect for every occasion (and dress code). So for the holiday office party look, I decided to go with a gorgeous red, three quarter sleeve, t-length dress. The reason this garment is perfect for an office or work Christmas party is simply because of it's professional length and shape. However the color of this dress, along with it's fringe and cutout detailing add a festive and fun feel to it for a party type situation.

 

Photo Credit: SheIn

Photo Credit: SheIn

In my opinion and I am sure many other working gals agree, one thing I must always have with me while at my office is my purse. Not that I don't trust my fellow employees, but leaving my phone or iPad alone in a building that employs over tow-thousand people just doesn't seem like a wise idea. This being said I always have my essential electronics with me and of course I won't just carry them in hand, so here is where a chic purse comes in! The reason I chose this purse specifically is due to the its polished look and classic shape. Due to both of these factors, it pairs perfectly with the perfectly professional dress I chose for this occasion.

Photo Credit: SheIn

Photo Credit: SheIn

 

Lastly to put the finishing touches on this outfit, I decided to pair these classic patent faux leather pumps with this pretty office party look. Much like the bag  I paired with this look, the patent faux leather pumps are just an effortlessly chic and classic office choice. These pumps are work appropriate due to the fact they are closed toe meaning they are office safe (because dropping a camera on your foot while in opened toed shoes is not good), they are versatile so you'll definitely get more than one wear out of them, and to top it off they're not sky high, making them a relatively comfortable choice to wear daily!

Holiday Brunch

Photo Credit: SheIn

Photo Credit: SheIn

I don't know about all of you, but my family's Christmas traditions rock for two reasons: The first one being, my dad is Russian and he practices the Russian Orthodox faith, while the rest of my family is Methodist, so we actually celebrate Christmas TWICE! (For those curious, once on December 25th and then again on January 7th.) And the second reason is because my dad loves to cook (and is an excellent one at that) so basically the months of November through early January are filled with a lot of food and family gatherings, including brunch. So for those of you with family situations similar (or just enjoy a holiday brunch alone) this dress is perfect for the occasion! Though it is a bit dressy, this piece still a great choice for holidays with the family because of it's festive color combination as well as it's pretty lace detailing. This dress would also double nicely for Christmas morning festivities. 

 

Photo Credit: SheIn

Photo Credit: SheIn

We all know most of us aren't attending brunch in a dress as cute as the one above with out a matching pair of shoes. So, to further style this dress I chose these fun and adorable scalloped red pumps! As I stated earlier the garment above is a little dressy, so to add a fun finishing touch to this look I figured what better way than with some cute shoes? Due to their playful nature these shoes balance out the dress' formal feel.

 

Christmas Eve Party

Photo Credit: SheIn

Photo Credit: SheIn

As some of you may remember, one color I've been trying to add to my wardrobe this season is the color blue. With that said I figured what better way to show off my new love of cool tones than to incorporate them into this list! In my opinion, blues are so underrated in holiday color schemes, even though it definitely belongs in them, use this dress as proof. The reason I chose this dress is due to the blue detailing on it. The blue pattern against the red bodice really pops and makes this piece very eye catching. And though it isn't all blue, the red is a nice touch to keep this piece festive for the holiday season. (Not to mention this dress will be quite the conversation starter with friends and family!)

 

Photo Credit: SheIn

Photo Credit: SheIn

 

 

Since this dress is such a fun and unique piece, the only thing I could think to pair it with were these awesome, royal blue velvet heels! The reason this is, is not only due to the fact these shoes match the detailing of this dress almost perfectly, but because of the fun pompom on the toe. To me, these heels just add a fun little pop to this already festive look, because if we are honest, what would Christmas Eve be without all the fun?

 

New Year's Eve

Photo Credit: SheIn

Photo Credit: SheIn

You know they say what happens to you on the first of the year is supposed to predict how the rest of your year will go, so if anything you might as well be well dressed! For my New Year's Eve pick, I chose this lovely, black, lace  cutout dress. The reason I chose this was due to the fact no matter what you are doing to ring in the new year, this dress is a great choice for you to watch the ball drop in! I say this because it is fitting for a night on the town, it's wonderful dress for a New Year's Eve dinner date with your beau, or just enjoying a New Year's Eve party at home with your loved ones. I say this because the cutouts give this dress a fun and flirty feel which doesn't make it too formal to stay home, and obviously it's perfect for a night out for that reason as well.

 

 

 

Photo Credit: SheIn

Photo Credit: SheIn

And as it was mentioned earlier for the holiday happy hour look, if you are going out on the town for New Year's Eve you know you need a cute bag to keep all of your necessities in (Tylenol for in the morning anyone?). So for this gorgeous dress, I decided to pair it with a purse that was just as elegant! The reason I chose this simple bag is due to the fact the dress itself is very busy so I didn't want to have the two pieces competing with each other, so this low key bag is this dress' perfect match. 

 

Photo Credit: SheIn

Photo Credit: SheIn

 

Lastly, to finish up this glam New Year's Eve look, I thought these fur trim shoes would be the perfect match. Though I wanted to down play the bag, the reason I feel that these shoes work perfectly with this dress is due to the fact they are wild and play off of the dress' flirty cutouts. I also chose fur trim heels because much like velvet, fur trim is a huge trend with bags, shoes, and outerwear accessories this year ranging from Fendi to Chloe.

 

 

 

Okay babes, so before I sign off I have two questions for you all, the first being what are some of your favorite ways to doll yourself up for the holidays? 

And secondly, with my blog approaching the two year mark (Only three more months!!!) I would like to change as well as add a few more monthly features come the first of the year (post coming soon, along with an exciting announcement) and one of them would be scrapping my monthly Wish-list Wednesday posts and replacing them with monthly Style Guides such as this one. The reason I feel this would be a good change is because I feel the Style Guides are much more cohesive since they actually put together an entire outfit, instead of me just listing a hodgepodge of items I'd like to style.

So, what do all you lovely people  think? Tell me your thoughts about the Style Guides VS. Wish-list Wednesdays in the comments below, and feel free to chat with me there too about your holiday looks! Or tweet me about the latter at @StarkRavingChic. Have a photo you just have to show off? Tag me on Instagram @StarkRavingChic! Later babes.

Xx, Bree