Chances are, if you're at all social, you'll be going to a party this holiday season.
One style that's always trendy is the classic little black dress, first brought to the forefront in 1926 by iconic designer Coco Chanel. For many women, the dress - affectionately known as the LBD - is the go-to fashion for any dress-up occasion. This holiday season, while trends range from a retro jumpsuit to sequined cocktail and floor-length gowns, it's still the LBD that many prefer.
"I love the LBD," says local clothing designer Julie Novak, owner of Jules for Kids Unique Threads. "It's perfect to dress up or down and is never out of style. I especially love how you can use it as a blank canvas for your accessories. If you have a fun pair of shoes, unique jewelry or beautiful scarf, they stand out with a black dress."
The LBD is also slimming, which "doesn't hurt," she says.
Former Chattanooga and author Deb Hunter, now living in Atlanta, says one reason she's a fan of the black dress is it's advantageous for the woman-on-the-go because she can take it straight from the office to evening simply by adding an accessory or two. "You can never have too many little black dresses," Hunter says.
Maddie Kertay, owner of Spool, a sewing/quilting fabric shop on McCallie Avenue, says she loves any excuse to get dressed up. And while she's an LBD fan, she also enjoys trying out trends.
"My daily life and career let me dress just about any way I want. I tend to choose stylish but comfortable," Kertay says." I am not a sweatpants sort of girl, so comfy for me means leggings, big swingy tops and accessories. When I dress up, I tend to wear something more form-fitting to play up my curves but still within my normal style set, just a dressier version of it."
Kertay acknowledges, though, that some women may feel out of their comfort zone when getting too dressed up for a cocktail or formal party.
"I think a lot of women, when they dress up, tend to feel fake or uncomfortable since they go so far out of their normal comfort zone. They don't feel authentic," she says. "I once read that, you need to pick the outfit that you feel your best in, then use that shape to help guide you in picking things that are dressier. That idea often works for me, even when I am looking for something super-fancy."
She likes the idea of a retro jumpsuit.
"I love anything retro as long as the person wearing it has what it takes to pull that look off," Kertay says. "Again, it is back to being and feeling authentic in what you wear. If you end up feeling like you are wearing your grandmother's stuff, and not in a good way, it is not the right look for you."
And then there are the ladies who like to scream bling.
"For me, holiday is all about sequins, the color red, jumpsuits and palazzo pants (long trousers with a loose, wide leg)," says Suzanne West, owner of Frankie & Julian's fashion boutique on Frazier Avenue.
If you'll be attending multiple parties this season, you may want to spice up your wardrobe with something red, she says.
"Red is very on trend right now - red dresses, tops, clutch and cross-body bags and red lipstick," West says.
But if the trendy jumpsuit catches your eye, make sure it fits, she advises.
"Jumpsuits can be a bit of a fit issue, as far as the stride/inseam situation. Meaning, if the inseam is too short, it won't fit right, or if the inseam is too long, it is also a fit problem."
Contact Karen Nazor Hill at khill@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6396.