The Art of Fashion with Market America’s Loren Ridinger

[highlight_text] When looking at the new, sexy, bold, and glam styles it’s important to keep balance in mind. You don’t want to over-accessorize an already embellished dress just as you wouldn’t want to wear all black. [/highlight_text]

While holiday parties have long been filled with glitzy gowns and heels, I’ve never seen so great an homage to classic Hollywood glamour as I’ve bared witness to this season. Unlike previous years, designers are not all about the trends, but rather about polished, sexy, classic looks that are perfectly accessorized.

It’s funny to see how women have changed from generation to generation. When I was a teenager, my mom laid out to tan with me. Now, my daughter is the one reminding me to put sunscreen on! There are so many wonderful products currently on the market to keep faces youthful and skin radiant. When you combine this with the popularity of fitness awareness, it is no wonder that women today are looking better than ever. Consequently, we’re seeing trends that compliment ladies at their finest. Stilettos are growing higher, low-cut tuxedo jackets being worn in a new femme way, and dresses-short or long-are adorned with embellishments. Jewelry is getting bigger and bolder, and festive embellished clutches are quickly becoming a must-have in every woman’s wardrobe. Since these new styles pay tribute to classic Hollywood, now is the perfect time to explore vintage options. Throwing on a retro mink can add just enough panache to almost any outfit. This season, designers are expoloring new uses of color and playing with radiant and bold palettes, even those whom are best known for their love of black and white, such as Prada and Marchesa. Lastly, I cannot emphasize enough how huge embellishment is this season, providing spice to any outfit. Give your favorite blouse some versatility by experimenting with bold cuffs and cocktail rings; Roberto Cavalli, Erickson Beamon, and Christian Lacroix offer some fabulous pieces.

With all of these new and exciting trends, it is easy to become overwhelmed and even easier to make impulsive buys. When looking at the new, sexy, bold, and glam styles it’s important to keep balance in mind. You don’t want to over-accessorize an already embellished dress just as you wouldn’t want to wear all black. Simple becomes the new sexy with some jeweled arm candy or a fabulous embellished clutch to top it all off.

While my all-time favorite is Chanel, I chose the following three labels, whose designs embody this season’s trends, to help you maneuver the vast array of fashions currently being offered.

Halston I’ve sung his praises before, and I’ll continue singing. Designer Roy Halston Frowick is the pioneer of American luxury, and his namesake design house is the ultimate when it comes to classic glamour. He designed the hat that fashion icon Jacqueline Kennedy sported at her husband’s inauguration in 1961, and in the subsequent decades his designs became the de facto uniform for the country’s jet-set elite. His gowns were integral during the Studio 54 glamour-fueled era, and his influence on women’s wear is timeless. The design label has proven its strength, surviving near demise in the mid-’80s when Halston created a low budget line for JC Penny and lost the loyalty of his high-end clientele. Though many fashion gurus have looked after the house of Haltson, last January, to the excitement of every fashionista, Harvey Weinstein teamed up with Jimmy Choo founder Tamara Mellon to relaunch the brand. The modern day Halston pays homage to the iconic designer by offering luxurious apparel that reflect his original aesthetic of sensual, effortless dressing. His creations for this season can be appreciated by women of all ages, shapes, and sizes, and are absolute essentials. You can’t go wrong with Halston, ever.

Emanuel Ungaro It’s important that when you venture out for the evening, whether it be a holiday cocktail party or gala, you feel absolutely comfortable in what you are wearing (but you don’t want to kill the desired chicness!). It will reflect in your attitude and add confidence. Grecian cuts are the most forgiving, and thus are incredibly comfortable yet sexy, making them the premier choice for the holidays. Esteban Cortazar has mastered this cut in his first collection for Emanuel Ungaro. Cortazar is lauded as a fashion genius, and rightfully so. He completed his first nine-piece collection when he was only 13. His collection for Emanuel Ungaro is comprised of beautiful draped Grecian gowns, and everyone who views the collection falls in love with it. I would highly recommend that every woman invest in one of his gowns for this season. You’ll look and feel great wearing the latest looks from Cortazar.

Pierre Balmain Hollywood glam has been elevated to new heights, and Balmain is the perfect embodiment of this newfangled style. His namesake Parisian fashion house dressed the likes of the famed Ava Gardner and Brigitte Bardot. After his death in 1982, many designers took the helm, including Oscar de la Renta and, more recently, the elegant French designer Christophe Decarnin. Bringing a distinctly modern vibe to the label, fashion enthusiasts are hankering after his sleek tuxedo jackets, cropped jeans, and modern mesh-embellished looks. Wearing one of his dresses makes you feel sexy and beautiful, and the detailing is just impeccable. You can dress his designs up or down, making them perfect transitional pieces for the holidays and into the New Year.  If you’re lucky enough to get your hands on his simple-but-sexy modern black dress with the silver mesh, you won’t even have to think about the finishes-you are all set!

Dressing has become redefined and is better than ever. We’re seeing the perfect balance of sexy, classy, and glamorous designs that collectively have made dressing up fun again. You can look just as haute in a low cut tuxedo blazer and bejeweled Blahniks as you can in a Grecian Ungaro gown. It’s time to take it up a notch this year, invest in the best, mix in some vintage, and keep your favorite pieces fresh with big accessories and bold colors. Dressing up should be fun, and this season and into the New Year, you can go from boring to bombshell by adding all the right finishes.  It is all about the Art of Fashion!