Tag Archives: Holiday parties

Classy Is the Holiday Trend

woman in red dress with a glass of champagne

What’s going to make you the “it” girl at your next holiday party? This holiday season, it’s all about the drama. Structured silhouettes, textured fabrics and over-the-top heels are the look of the season. Venture to the subtly sexy side and add some shine (not sparkle) with big, bold metallics. For holiday parties, pick an outfit that’s chic and classy. Stores like Macy’s carry some amazing dress brands, like BCBG and Michael Kors, that are timeless, but push the envelope a little bit.

This season, a large ruffle at the waist, sheer high necklines and cutout dresses are everywhere. While you might want to stick to black, many designers are mixing it up with jewel tones, lace, mixed textured fabrics and metallic hardware added to dress necklines.

For seasonal inspiration, page through a celeb glossy to spot the trends on the red carpet. You can also browse dresses online to get ideas about the look you want to achieve. What’s also helpful is to think about all of the parties you have on your calendar and buy pieces that you can mix and match to create more than one outfit. For example, if you buy a form-fitting jewel toned dress, pair it with a jeweled statement necklace or gold cuff for a dressy work party, then pair it down with more subtle jewelry and a leather jacket for less formal parties.

Knee-length and maxi dresses are the look of the season. If you’re going for a knee-length dress, go for a structured, form-fitting outfit that shows off your curves. If you don’t want something that’s straight up and down, party dresses that are tighter on top and flared at the bottom are also a classic choice and can be paired with a blazer for a little extra layer of warmth.

Although a little harder to pull off, maxi dresses are also popular. Maxis are also an easy way to go super glam and dressy. This season, many have cutouts, are lined with jewels and have detailed patterns. One thing to remember when picking out a maxi is to either go for a classic silhouette or go for a mixed-fabric with a sturdier, intricate top and flowing bottom.

Whatever dress you choose, the key is to make sure you feel comfortable and gorgeous in whatever you are wearing. With confidence and a killer dress, not only will your personality shine, your pictures from the night will be amazing. Remember to spend the extra money to get a dress hemmed if it is too long and make sure the dress is not too big or too small. Shape and fit are the most important things when it comes to picking out a dress that fits your body and looks elegant and put together.

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The Socialite’s Guide To: Choosing The Right Cocktail By Cristal Carrington

I love a good cocktail just as much as any blue blooded New Yorker. In the city that never sleeps and never drives, we take the after work cocktail to another level making Manhattan just as much a drink as it is an island. At the age of 26, I’m slowly becoming a more sophisticated drinker which is why I recommend reading The Socialite’s Guide To: Choosing The Right Cocktail by Cristal Carrington, Cocktail Columnist for Examiner.com and Washington D.C. Socialite.

The book serves as a guide to personal branding that profiles the 5 different types of female drinkers (The Party Animal, The Conservative, The Maverick, The Light-Weight, and The Connoisseur) explaining the messages they are unconsciously sending when socializing at bars, restaurants, and parties based on their drink choices while a tequila drinker can be seen as a party girl, a champagne drinker such as myself can be viewed as an elitist.  For the young and ambitious professional looking to make a positive impression at upcoming holiday parties, The Socialite’s Guide To: Choosing The Right Cocktail is a must-read.  Aside from great advice on personal branding and finding your signature drink, Carrington also provides excellent drink recipes that I can’t wait to try.

Keep reading for my exclusive cocktail Q&A with Cristal Carrington: 

What should you drink when you have top shelf taste on a waist-high budget?

My best advice for ladies or gents on a budget when at the bar is:

Step #1: Order a shot of chilled vodka or gin (order the drink in a snifter, so you can still look classy, however, don’t throw it back, savor it).

Step #2: Follow up with a glass of Pinot Grigio or Riesling with a splash of Chambord.  The trick is to look great while drinking, not necessarily to get drunk in public.

Belvedere or Grey Goose?

Definitely Grey Goose, but I also recommend the always delicious and timeless brand Stolichnaya.

You certainly seem to have a dream job as the Cocktail Columnist for Examiner.com. How did you land such a great gig?

In graduate school at Georgetown, I came up on an opening for writers with Examiner. I originally wanted to be a food writer, but the position was already filled.  I had to think about what I liked as much as food and the answer was cocktails, so I applied with a lengthy article application and landed the gig.  I thought, now I have a license to drink all the best cocktail creations and couldn’t be happier with the choice.

Since I prefer the finer things in life, my go-to drink is champagne. But, if you were to make an Aspiring Socialite cocktail, what would be the recipe?

A great Aspiring Socialite cocktail would have to be a creation that a bartender made for me on a whim called The Thing: (feel free to call it A Socialite Thing or Glamorous Thing or whatever)…but it contains:

Cherry Vodka, Cranberry Juice, and Ginger Ale

I like it because it was easy to make, tastes great, is unisex, and certainly not hard on the Aspiring Socialite’s pockets.

To make the perfect cocktail, what is the ideal amount of times liquor should be distilled?

I like any liquor distilled over 3 times and if we are speaking of aged liquors anything over 10 years is acceptable. I think at that point the liquor can be consumed neat or mixed.  Also, don’t be afraid to ask what the rail liquor is at the bar.  Often times, it is a quality brand; it’s just not Ciroc or Patron. Last note on this is to remember that the higher quality the brand, the less likely you are going to want to dilute it with additives such as juices and liqueurs.  This rule includes Champagne.

Can people fall into more than one drinking category?

Absolutely!  I personally fall into the Maverick/Connoisseur category.   However, I tend to lean more to the side of the Maverick.  The categories listed in The Socialite’s Guide To: Choosing The Right Cocktail were simply ways to identify stronger drinking habits/patterns.  There is nothing wrong with any of them as I do offer ways for all the personality types to strengthen and refine their behaviors, even the Connoisseur who seems to do no wrong in their own eyes

Fall/Holiday 2011 Preview at the Adrianna Papell Showroom


Tis the season for holiday dress previews. The sparkles lighting up the showrooms have everyone asking what will the socialites wear to the ball this fall? Even if this modern-day aspiring Cinderella never makes it to a society ball this season, assuming of course that they still hold balls, I got to have an Adrianna Papell dress. As I learned on my lunchtime visit to the Adrianna Papell showroom this week, the Adrianna Papell family is divided into five divisions: Adrianna Papell (versatile more casual day and evening outfits,) Adrianna Papell Evening (high-styled formal eveningwear,) Aidan Mattox (sexy glam evening gowns,) Adrianna Papell For E! Live From the Red Carpet (old Hollywood glam,) and Hailey Logan (an affordable juniors line perfect for the prom.)

You can find these exquisite designs at my favorite socialite hang outs including Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, and Lord & Taylor.  Every socialite has a soft spot for red carpet style.  Every girl can shine like a socialite in Adrianna Papell For E! Live From the Red Carpet with the line’s classic Hollywood glamour full of ruffles, sparkles, and plunging necklines.  Plus, since Joan Rivers is on the E! payroll, anyone wearing anything from Adrianna Papell’s Red Carpet line is bound to to get a rave review from the Fashion Police.  Not that you need any sort of leverage to get best-dressed in these chic dresses.

Classic Adrianna Papell design

All the pretty dresses

This picture hangs outside the Adrianna Papell showroom and it is so glam. I especially love the chandelier, it reminds me of my logo.  So socialite!