You received an invitation to a Christmas party: found out the time and date work well with your schedule, realized the venue is accessible from your place, and knew that some of your closest friends will be there. But you sank down in your seat when you saw the required attire for the shindig—“Red carpet-ready.”
“Why don’t they just let us spend three hours munching on food, drinking booze and participating in parlor games in our half-drunk, comfortable self, wearing the clothes that we want?”
Themed parties are here to stay. So instead of being labeled “the grinch” and missing your chance to celebrate with family, friends or colleagues, you can be resourceful in putting together your “party look” and still have fun.
Theme: Red Carpet
An Oscars- or Emmys-themed party can be overwhelming when you think about the essentials you need to have and the preparation you ought to do to look like the Hollywood actors we see on the red carpet.
But even if you don’t have a glam team and designer sponsors to help you achieve that red carpet-ready look, you can still RSVP to that invitation wearing a fool-proof black dress–for the female. Up the ante by picking a bejeweled or sequined dress so you’ll sparkle and stand out from the crowd. Pair it up with stud earrings, bangle, a silver clutch and black pumps. Finish the look with messy updo and rouge lipstick.
For women who value comfort above everything else or want to try something new and young, can cop Sarah Hyland’s look during Emmy Awards 2016, in which she wore sleeveless, floor-length bodice and black capri pants.
Men can wear tuxedo and leather shoes or play it up a little, ala Mark Ruffalo, and pair a royal blue jacket with traditional black pants, or do it like Chris Rock and don a white jacket and black bottoms. Keep the hair sleek or play it up a little to tone down or put a rebel touch to a rather classy and stiff look.
Theme: Fantasy/Superhero/Sci-fi
Dressing up like your favorite non-fiction character is exciting in thought but exhausting in application.
The fun of such theme is diffused by the fact that most, if not all, of the elements to look like a Stormtrooper or Jon Snow are not yet available in your closet. Thus, pick a character whose look or outfit you can re-create using things you already own.
Choose a human character who worn an iconic ensemble, like Eleven‘s pink dress, blue jacket and blonde wig. Or repurpose a gray blanket, and wear it with brown belt, trousers and boots to cop Rey’s look in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Got a black trench coat and navy blue scarf? If your answer is yes, you only need a Deerstalker hat to attend the shindig dressed like Sherlock Holmes.
You can always wear a Spiderman costume to this kind of party, though, but where’s the fun in that?
Theme: Nineties
Decade-themed parties are also popular during Christmas celebration. The good thing about this is that many trends from the past are coming back today. It also helps that your older folks most likely have these decades-old items in the back of their closet.
Invitation requires you to be “Dressed to the Nineties”? That should be easy.
Choker is one of the iconic accessories of the 90s and is currently on a comeback trail, so take advantage of that. The ever-present Doc Martens shoes are another icon, as well as leather biker jacket—them together will give you a Winona Ryder circa 1990 vibe.
Wear a flannel shirt to channel the 90s grunge. Or sport accent braids or pigtail buns for a teeny bopper look.
