Joie Silk Georgette Blouse: This top bids you to write me poetry, serenade me, massage my feet, etc.

I know I’m jumping the gun here.  Chiffon is a Spring fabric you say. 

Close your eyes.  Envision a warm summer day, you in your chiffon parachute top, skinnies, accessorized with a statement necklace, bangles up to there and those wooden peep-toe platforms you bought for a song.  Your hair is done in that perfectly unperfect tousled way and the sun is hitting your hair in all the right places.  Suitors swoon and fall over on the sidewalk.  You nonchalantly walk over them without missing a beat.  See, now you want to wear chiffon…like right now.

If you didn’t guess, I’m partial to chiffon.  It’s the bohemian in me, the one that likes the translucence, the floral print, the casual draping and peekabo of a shoulder.  Right now, chiffon tops can be layered with gauzy knit cardi-wraps, with a fitted blazer or a little bolero.  Here is my favourite styling au moment…Volume on top begs for tight on the bottom.

Perfect for an afternoon of heartbreaking: Forever 21 Flowers & Heart Top

Haute Hippie Tee in my favourite colour, champagne. Hrmm...I wonder why.

Black Legging Addiction is the new Crack: Paige Premium Ponte Leggings. I myself swear by my BCBG black legging-pants fusion.

Classic Carrie Bradshaw: The pink ballerina tutu

Ah November.  Is your social calendar filling with invites to birthday soirees, holiday parties, and BFF dinners?  My favourite after-dark attire is ‘Cocktail,’ not only because it alludes to the consumption of alcoholic beverages but because in my books it’s the most fun look to pull together.

The ‘Cocktail’ hour bridges the truly formal (black tie) and ready-to-wear (skinny jeans).  In your wardrobe, ‘Cocktail’ is the life of the party.  She’s ready to get down with a few rounds of champie, dancing shoes and she’s not ready to come home until the break of dawn.  You like her already.

This party season, I am throwing my support behind Tulle.  Tulle everything – in dresses, in skirts, in your hair!  Voluminous tulle in a fine gauze or larger open weave adds a flirty and youthful playfulness to any outfit.  All of a sudden, Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’ sounds off in the background.  It’s the rustle of a petticoat, the use of your hem as a dance prop, the way a tutu makes you galavant carelessly in the street.  Tulle is the absinthe of fabrics, a party aphrodisiac.  Let’s get drunk, shall we?

Alice + Olivia Tulle Party Dress: If you saw this girl in the room, you know she's gonna have a good time. One shoulder & jagged edge hem. Seriously!

Wearing this BCBG Tulle Tutu in blush pink is like pirouetting down a sidewalk singing Mandy Moore's 'I Wanna Be With You' a la Center Stage. Did you get my obscure 90's teen ballet movie reference?

Goodness Gracious: A lightweight way to make a statement, RJ Graziano Lucite Necklace

Gearing up for a jewellery (that’s jewelry for my readers south of the border) party that I am hostessing, I painted my fingernails an outrageous, iridescent blue green hue from OPI for Sephora called ‘Mermaid to Order.’  Blue is the colour of creativity, so I did this to bolster my creative juices.  haha.  Only half-kidding.

I have always been an accessory person.  If I happen to step out the door without at least one (earrings, bangle, necklace or ring), I feel a smidge naked.  Only recently did I discover my knack for making jewellery after pondering taking up an activity I might enjoy that combined my love of fashion and my crafty, nimble fingers.  There really is nothing better than digging through fabric rolls in archaic stores where one false move into the threads and buttons, and the shelves may topple on your head.  Danger.  Kind of like dating a bad boy.

Did someone say Bad Boy? Gratuitous shot of Chuck Bass & his fave accessory the pinky ring. Kiss it.

• Lucite – Don’t be fooled people.  Lucite is a fancy way of saying plastic, however, it is a lightweight and less expensive alternative to crystal.  Clear lucite is all the rage for Spring/Summer and the best versions I have seen have been mixed with multi-strand gold chains, smokey matte or made into facetted chunky bracelets.  Lucite also comes in a variety of bold colours.  Don’t be shy.  Be daring and experimental since you won’t be paying a fortune. 
• Petal Pusher -  We’re having a romantic season and nothing says it like a bouquet of roses or leaf motifs.  You will see the trend on enamel jewellery (painted and lacquered) or in the design of semi-precious stones bordered with rhinestones.  Lovely brooches fashioned out of gold metal or with filigree are extra sweet and dainty. 

Juicy Does it: Oh delicate cream flower with pave accent.

Ridiculous: BCBG enamel bird ring has invisible flowers on it, but you love it anyways.

•  Pave -  Pave isn’t really a trend because it’s a style of setting usually associated with diamonds.  The design is achieved by taking tiny stones and embedding them into the metal.  This can be applied all over or as an accent; the end effect is radiantly sparkly. 

How I articulate how much I love these Starfish pave posts from Urban Outfitters: "Dude...Sweet." "Sweet...Dude."

This time of year calls for merriment, champagne popping, tunes non-stopping.  Perhaps I shall pursue a new career in rapping? 

My wardrobe has a disproportionate amount of cocktail and party frocks.  It’s an embarrassing 4:1 ratio dresses to pants.  Truth be told, girls at holiday parties always want to be one of the most sparkling and radiant diamonds in the bunch.  It’s social mortification (“Gasp! OMG, she is wearing the same dress as you!”) to show up with the exact same outfit as someone else.  This inevitabley leads to consciously staying by the punch while she is on the dancefloor.  Too much labour!

I would like to share a few thoughts about what makes a striking statement dress that will get you “High ROC’s” (return on compliment) in the Snapbox (a la Elle Woods, Legally Blonde 2).   

Put your hands up in your hair for Alice + Olivia's LBD

• Little Black Dress – Truth:  I am not a big advocate of party dressing in black.  If you really must LBD it, pleasex3 make it interesting and exciting by adding rhinestones, some leather and a heaping serving of tulle.  Subtle does not exist in my fashion dictionnaire.  This version is so fun and flirty, you will be KB-ing with your choice of suitors in no time.  And why not punch up your dress with some flashy stilettos in a cerulean blue or a layered ruffle fuschia?

Robert Rodriguez sequin floral dress

• Colour Me Gorgeous – Bright solids like this cobalt blue chiffon assymetrical mini dress from R-Rod will make a statement.  Colour is one of the easiest ways to flatter your skin tone.  With sequin appliques and an interestingly slouchy dolman sleeve, people will take notice to your attention to details. 

Violet BCBG: Swag me in mauve fabric

• Grecian goddess – BCBG is my go-to for the best cocktail dresses.  Here we have a lovely pale mauve ruched mini dress with one-shoulder and rhinestones appliques.  Super flattering and you don’t need much jewellery because the dress is fairly embellished in a bib necklace style.  Draped chiffon is so pretty in photos, especially in action shots.

DVF Maxi Dress: It's a party on my dress!

• Beach Optic Floral – If you keep up with the resort trends, floral prints will be in bloom for Spring.  Pardon the cheesy pun.  Be the first fashionistah on your block to sport the look in a Pop Art, colour kaleidoscope, graphic maxi, like this version from Diane von Furstenburg.  If you are fortunate enough to spend the holidays away on vacation, this one should be packed in your suitcase.

“Rainy days and Monday’s always get me down.”  Don’t you love the Carpenters?  It’s no wonder people suffer from the winter blues.  Grey skies and downpouring rain is akin to giant teardrops.  Sadness.  Whoa, whoa, whoa. 

Fashionistah avant-garde: Miss Richie working her silk romper like 2 years ago.

This week while leafing through January 2010 issues at the magazine stand, I was renewed with hope and optimism.  Spring fashion does it for me.  The explosion of vibrant colours, trend reports in accessories, new silhouettes re-invented and above all, the promise of warm weather to sashay these hottt styles in.  Luckily, Resort wear comes out to bridge the gap between Winter and Spring, much like Fall Trans (transitional).  Don’t you love all this fashion lingo?

For me, one trend which I will embrace with loving arms is The Romper.  Similar to the bubble skirt, the romper flies below the radar, waiting patiently in the wings for the mainstream to take hold of the trend.  Maybe this trend will never ignite but it’s a style that I recommend for the fashion risk-taker.  By definition, the romper is a loose-fitting one-piece garment having short bloomers, worn especially by children for play.  Sounds delicious, non?

Glamour Vacationistah – For rompers which have the versatility of day to night, there are styles in silk, light floral chiffons or printed cottons.  Sometimes high heels look off with miniskirts, however, the platform with romper works veryx3 well indeed. 

A Patterned Romper to Write Home About: Tibi Coral Reef

Utilitarian Romper – Imagine a loose fitting cotton style in a khaki or a soft denim to trek through city streets and a pair of embellished gladiators.  I have seen some very fetching versions from BCBG and French Connection – so freakin’ cute.

Charlotte Ronson romper. Would be so cute with multi-chain coral necklace and fringe sandals. You die!

Tonight I am attending a birthday party for my dear friend H.  She has a very girly, cotton candy-colour, preppy sweet style.  The crowd will be fashionistah heavy thus inspiring many photoshoots.  This evening’s festivities starts at her brother’s hipster pad, followed by cocktails and dancing at a swank cocktail bar (picture glossy black lacquered tables, velvet flocked wallpaper and white faux deer head as decor).

It’s always fun to kick up your style for birthday parties.  I love it when a dress code calls for “Cocktail attire.”  If you’ve been following the LC, I often gently influence outfit co-ordination of the masses.  Power in numbers!  I took a poll and word on the street is that I will probably see a denim mini-dress with tulle, a sexy sequined shift, liquid leggings and a hot pink tulip dress.  Sounds exciting, non?

For my evening look, I draw on many inspirations.  Here is what I am wearing tonight:

• Black Sequin Beret – I have kiboshed shopping temporarily but I could not help myself.  I saw this black sequin beret and I tried it on.  It was over!  I shut it down, especially with my bangs.  It reminds me of the scene from the SATC movie when Carrie goes over to Miranda’s house on New Year’s Eve in her fur chubby, silk pajamas and sequin beret tilted just so.  You die.  So French. So glamour.

Black sequin beret! OMG, can you handle it?

• Watercolour Painted Full Mini – My friend A showed up to her Champagne Bridal Shower in a watercolour circle skirt by Erdem.  I was inspired by this romantic, artsy style so I thought I would adapt it for a ‘going out’ look.  Erdem went to Fashion School with us.  He’s such a talented designer and we always knew he would be a star. 

Erdem's creation as seen on Style.com

• BCBG Ma-Nisha Stilettos – These shoes are killer Statement Shoes.  They mix glossy patent with black kid leather and are finished with a giant pull up gold zipper.  Intricate design and details are what count.  Fashion contrasts are so interesting. 
• Dance Prop – We are using our friend Y as a dance prop.  We get so excited over her petite Asian cuteness, we can’t help but pick her up and hug her on the dancefloor.

Carrie knows. Statement shoes finish a great outfit. I covet the Patricia Field stud belt.