Office Christmas Party: LBD

Q. Hey Jordan,

I’m writing because I have a fun office party to go to in December and want to look particularly nice. I picked out a dress on Rent The Runway (pictured at left), but am just awful at choosing accessories (and I have hardly any except my everyday things.)

I’d love some ideas for jewelry that’s fun without being overwhelming, as well as cute shoes that I’ll be able to wear with a lot of things afterward.

Thanks in advance!

Meg

A. That is a really good dress: fantastic shape, sexy without being over-the-top, and beautifully detailed (love that lace neckline). And with a dress that good, I’d keep the accessories classic.

“Classic” doesn’t have to mean “boring”, though – the key is just to make sure that whatever you choose enhances the dress rather than pulling focus from it.

As an example of what works and what doesn’t quite hit the mark, check out the three lovely ladies pictured above. They all look great, but for me Taylor Swift is the hands-down winner: her retro hairdo, simple-but-striking makeup, and minimal jewelry make the look fun while keeping it sophisticated.

I don’t love Emma Roberts’ dress (a little witchy) or shoes (a little boring), but again she wisely kept her accessories streamlined, and her relaxed waves made the whole look pretty and casual.

And then there’s Amy Smart’s outfit – the dress itself is ornament enough, and the silver heels and bracelet are just too much: in addition to being oddly punky with that vintage-y dress, they’re just distracting. I’m all for adding fun – even weird – elements to an outfit, but sometimes it’s nice to let one piece shine.

What I’d do: take a page from Taylor Swift’s book and go for classic, elegant accessories with a slightly retro vibe. Add a red lip and soft waves (maybe accented with an art deco clip), a little bit of sparkle on your ears and your wrist, and that’s really all you need.

(As a bonus, not a single item pictured here is over $90, and you can wear every single piece again and again.)

Product info after the jump.