You

After Eight

By Sadaf Jabeen

19 September, 2017

Wearing evening dresses is one way to feel instantly elegant. This week You! features Saira Shakira’s stylish evening ensembles...

Evening dresses are a staple of the modern woman’s wardrobe. From parties to wedding receptions, women need evening dresses for formal and semiformal events. A flattering evening attire lets the wearer relax and allows her personality to shine at any party or social event. Innovative designs and quality crafting make some designer wear almost like a work of art. However, finding the right dress that will suit you perfectly can be very challenging. Some may tend towards the same old classic look they have always worn while others may blindly follow the latest trends, regardless of whether it suits their body type. Neither approach is ideal. Fret not, keep on reading our styling tips that we have lovingly complied for you that will help you find the perfect evening dress...

After Eight

Be open-minded: There are so many women who say that they had a style in mind when shopping for a dress and that they were shocked to end up with something completely different. It is important to be open and try new things. After all, a special occasion should be just that: special. So if you never wear bold colours, give them a try.
Wear it and do not let it wear you: While crazy colours and patterns, like animal prints, routinely make a comeback, these trends should never persuade a woman to wear colours or prints that simply do not match her skin tone or hair colour. Not only is it important to consider skin tone and hair colour when choosing colours, but one should also keep one’s height and figure in mind. Petite women in particular can be overwhelmed by a loud print or pattern. Solid colours are a safer bet, but make sure the colour is complementary. Finding colours that complement one’s skin tone is an art in itself. Those who try to mimic a trend without actually liking the look usually end up looking like their clothes are wearing them.
Do your designer shopping wisely: You should always keep a check on the ruling fashion trends in order to know what is in fashion and what is not. There are some styles that can never go out of fashion. It is always best to go with these styles. Even embellishments and design lines can have a huge impact on drawing eyes towards your best features. Moreover, while shopping for designer evening wear, keep the quality and fabric in mind. Make sure you select the best fabric that is durable so that you don’t have to throw away your favourite designer wear.
The right fitting: You should also remember to get the right fit. You can have a gorgeous style, colour, design and the right size as well, but if the evening dress is excessively tight in places or hangs poorly, you will feel uncomfortable and others will come to know. In a nutshell, when you try to select an astonishing evening dress, make sure that you choose one that complements both your looks and personality.
Dress it up and dress it down: Today, evening dresses are not just for evening parties. They can be dressed up for receptions and other formal evening events too. An evening dress is dressed down by pairing it with other garments that are more casual. On the other hand, some common mistakes are made when wearing an evening dress to a formal event. One accessory to avoid with eveningwear is the large handbag. The more formal the event, the smaller the handbag should be. If in doubt, use a clutch purse. A versatile evening dress can be worn on formal and semiformal occasions, just by pairing it with different shoes, jewellery, handbags, and makeup. Casual accessories include large handbags, glam jewellery, and casual shoes. Cotton, linen, and jersey dresses are generally worn casually. Characteristics of formal wear include clutch purses, darker colours, longer hemlines and muted jewellery. Satin, silk, chiffon and velvet are all formal dress materials.
Accessorize it with care: Also apart from choosing the dress, it would be very important for you to carry yourself well, particularly when you wear something as expensive and classy as an evening dress. Many women think that accessorizing means wearing all the accessories that match a certain dress. Accessorizing is actually a key to achieving a certain look, and an evening dress can change dramatically based on the accessories one wears. When buying an evening dress, imagine it with large earrings, glittery lipstick and several bangle bracelets for a glamorous look. Then imagine it with low-key make-up, dangling earrings, and more formal heels for an evening look.
Carry a beautiful clutch: For a cocktail party, you need to carry a small purse or clutch. A metallic or beaded clutch will perfectly complement your outfit. A beaded clutch can make a simple evening dress look perfect for night. Go for a clutch with removable or concealable straps for added function. Use metallic hues, white and black to complement a colourful dress.
Belts: Adding a belt to your formal look defines the waistline and helps create that flattering hourglass silhouette. Just make sure you wear your belt at the smallest part of your natural waist, right above the belly button. For a dark-coloured dress, try a slim metallic belt. Choose silver, gold, bronze or rose gold based on the metals in your jewellery. Don’t go for a belt if you’re wearing a long necklace, since they will overlap. A fabric belt should either perfectly match or contrast your dress. Try a wide black belt with a bright red dress, but avoid prints and leather.
Let the statement piece speak for itself: In most cases, it’s best to have one really bold piece of jewellery and pare down the rest of your look. For instance, if you are wearing your hair up, or have a high neckline, you may want to wear bold earrings. In this case, you most likely don’t need a necklace, and if you do, make sure it’s subtle.
Be realistic about your shoes: We have all been guilty of wearing uncomfortable shoes at one time or another. Before you decide to go with the 4-inches, make sure you are able to stand for a long period of time without your feet throbbing. If you never wear heels, opt for a low 1 to 2 inch kitten heels.
Don’t go too experimental with hair and makeup: If you have the time and money to experiment with your look, by all means, go for it! However, if you never wear hair up, this is not the time to try a fancy up do. If you are set on wearing a new look, go to someone you trust and always bring pictures of hair and makeup styles you like. It’s easier for the stylist when you have a visual.