Guest Blogger Elena Daciuk
Visit her at: http://www.fabulousfinds-elena.blogspot.com

The lovely Miss Princess Dominique asked if I would write for her blog, “Princess Dominique Dishes Fashion”. I was honored…and then my mind started racing…what to write about?  My first thought was to talk about shoes…I mean…isn’t that the norm? But instead, I opted for…with the holidays coming up…and the invitations piling up…RSVP’s to respond to…formal wear!

One of the things I love about being a woman, when it comes to fashion, are all the options we ladies have. Formal wear is simple for men–black tie, white tie. It’s a pretty specific uniform. For us, the invitations might as well read: look classy, elegant, and just plain incredible.

We do this in any number of ways. We glitter and shine. We show our most breathtaking expanse of skin with plunging necklines or swooping backlessness…for dramatic entrances, we tend toward black or white or cream or midnight blue – sometimes red.

We dress long in a grand ballgown or an understated sheath. We dress short -  a martini glass is, of course optional. With the occasional exception of white tie, we don’t necessarily need a dress – Marlene Dietrich and Catherine Deneuve both dabbled in androgynous black tie and Yves Saint Laurent made le smoking feminine by designing dinner jackets to be worn with collarbones bared…a timeless long black skirt worn with an unforgettable evening jacket or blouse gives us flair and flexibility.

And whatever you do, don’t forget the formal accessories. Cinderella had a Fairy Godmother to thank for her instant formal attire, glass slippers and all. Again, those little details are what make an outfit memorable or mundane. A tiny satin bag to put your lipstick in, earrings, a necklace perhaps, and maybe a bracelet…of  course…I always say yes to a cocktail ring…think high, sexy heels – they did wonders for Cinderella… =)

Whatever the trappings, our basic aim is the same:

glamour, sophistication, elegance, and the feeling that we are exquisite…

A Few Notes:

Simple elegance: As a rule, formal wear is not something many of us want to shop for often. If that’s your situation, then consider buying classic; elaborate dresses inevitably date quickly. Buy quality and workmanship, and with the proper care, a formal dress should last for years. If the design is spare and the color neutral, it will be easier to transform with accessories and different hair styles. You’ll be able to wear one dress to several parties and dazzle differently each time.

Alternatives to Buying New:

Vintage-clothing stores, rent-a-gown stores, borrow from friends with good taste, take a couture design to a seamstress, rummage through the attics of stylish relatives =)