Sequins are inherently sassy - a grandiose fashion statement which demand attention. (That’s why they're such a New Year’s Eve and holiday party style staple for women.)
We have roughly one month to go before we ring in 2014, which is ample time to find our very own wearable disco ball. When wearing a sexy sequin dress for a party, keep in mind a few key styling tips to avoid looking like a Vegas showgirl.
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Sequin Party Dresses
1. Keep Accessories Minimal And Minimalist
A sequin dress need not be heavily accessorized. Flashy plus flashy doesn’t up the style quotient. Keep accessories low key and minimal as demonstrated by actress Molly Sims who wore a gold sequin mini dress with peep toe heels and her hair up in an elegant bun.
2. Classic Silhouettes
A classic sheath dress is the perfect shape for a sequin dress because it’s not a trendy silhouette. We can’t all pull off ultra trendy looks the way Carrie Bradshaw can for various reasons, including we’re not all writers for Vogue and this is real life people!
English television presenter Fearne Cotton also nailed the sequin dress look by not overdoing it, opting to wear a long sleeve ombré dress with a minimalist silhouette paired with simple black heels.
3. Mix And Match Textures
It’s also a good idea to select accessories in different textures when wearing sequins. “The Great Gatsby” star Carey Mulligan did just that in a Chanel sequin dress paired with suede booties, which created an interesting contrast that we dig.
4. Short Or Revealing: Pick Just One
If you're going to stick to one rule, make it this: Keep it classy. Beyoncé showed exactly what not to wear in a short, tight, cleavage bearing dress with matching sparkly hoop earrings. While this outfit is great if you're a pop superstar performing on stage, it's simply not appropriate to wear to a party with your peers. Our tip? Show off just one part of your body that you're proud of and cover up the rest. Take Celine Dion who wowed in an Aquilano Rimondi dress which flaunted her legs but hid the rest of her with white silk sleeves and a high neckline.
5. Toned Down Hair And Makeup
It can be easy to look garish while wearing sequins (see Honey Boo Boo). Much like accessories, keep your hair and makeup to a minimum and let that dress shine like it was meant to.
For some inspiration, check out Thandie Newton who did a bang up job with her gun-metal sequin sheath dress, a slick pompadour and barely there makeup.
6. Pair With Neutrals
If you're afraid the sequins will overpower you, pair your sparkly dress with a neutral element that will balance out your look. Sequin newbies may want to opt for a look like Sandra Bullock’s, who wore a sleek black blazer over a flashy All Saint’s sequin dress.
If the occasion arises where a floor length sequin gown becomes necessary, perhaps you’ve just been nominated for an Oscar or Ryan Gosling invited you to accompany him to the SAG Awards - all the same style rules apply. Follow country singer Carrie Underwood’s lead, who accessorized sequins with earrings, a simple satin clutch and a subdued hairstyle. (No necklace necessary!)
Good luck dress hunting!