Jean Campbell is the senior editor of Beadwork and a
contributing editor to Beading Daily |
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I went through my closet this week to find something to wear to a holiday party I've been invited to between Christmas and New Year's. It's not a fancy party, just a Festivus-style celebration with a few friends, where we'll cut snowflakes, eat Russian teacakes, and sip champagne. Even though it's a low-key event, my closet experience still turned into a spelunking expedition as I dug through everything, becoming frustrated to find only things that just . . . wouldn't . . . work.
I'm guessing my experience isn't unique. Whether it's a work party, family gathering, or a New Year's Eve soiree, we want to spruce it up a bit more at this time of year, and I find that the workhorse dress I wore to Thanksgiving at my brother's won't quite cut it for this joyous time of year. Whenever I hit a fashion impasse like this, my solution is to pull out my little black dress and go to the beads.
By using my little black dress (or a black sweater and jeans, for that matter) as a simple backdrop, I can adjust my look very easily by making up a beaded ensemble that fits the party I plan on attending. For instance, a pearl bracelet speaks to sweetness and high society, while a full-metal number might come across as a bit rock and roll. Want some direction on how it works? Read on for some suggestions about fitting your beads to your party.
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