My liver is already aching in anticipation of all the holiday cocktails and parties to come.  My season started with pre-Thanksgiving cocktail party last night to be followed this weekend by a little do I’m hosting for my girlfriends while Immigrant Hubby is out-of-town and we can run rampant in our stilettos and sparkles without incurring any sideways glances or eye rolling.  The next couple months will wreak havoc on many a diet and skin regime so I thought it time to share my arsenal of secrets for powering through a bacchanalian season until we can resolve to be the most angelic version of ourselves again next year.

I know it’s cliché but what is more festive than sparkles?  You will see throngs of women decked in gold and silver glitter this holiday season but you know I like to throw proverbial curveballs; so rather than go for the predictable, I stock up on champagne-colored embellishments and champagne colored party frocks.  Its festive minus the fashion victim and champagne is a universally flattering shade on any skin tone.  Here are a few accessorized looks:

The Ingenue

Allsaints, Diaghilevi Dress, available here.  The name alone conjures up opulent images of the Ballet Russes.  I would wear it with the Asos Bee Door-Knocker Earrings and CC Skye Roma Cuff below:

Asos, Bee Door-Knocker Earrings, available here.

CC Skye, rose gold-plated Roma Cuff; available here.

The Downtown Girl

Allsaints, Embellished Ombre Tank; available here.

Helmut Lang, leather leggings; available here.

Ben Amun, Crystal Angel Wing Clip-on Earring; available here.

Shourouk, Phoenix Cuff; available here.

The Legs for Days Girl

Acne, Silk Crepe Blazer; available here.

Allsaints, Embellished Dreamcatcher Skirt; available here.

Fallon, Microspike Earrings; available here.

Joomi Lim, Rose Gold Necklace; available here.

Asos Spike Gem Cocktail Ring; available here.

The Sohpisticate

For those of you who don’t ‘do’ light colors, Allsaints Opulence Dress packs some understated pizzazz; available here.

Asos, Mirrored Jewel Drop Earrings; available here.

Angel Court, Trace Cuff; available here.

The Siren

Finally, for a little champagne-hued va-va-voom, Allsaints Contour Dress; available here.

Dannijo, Cecile Earrings, available here.

Erickson Beamon, Crystal Triple Strand Square Rondelle Bracelet; available here.

 Non-Negotiables

Choosing an outfit and accessorizing it is important but no magic outfit will save you if your basics are sub par.  By basics I mean stockings, nail polish, make-up and post-party routine.  Here is what I SWEAR by:

1) Essie Nail Polish in Jazz; 2) Nars blush in Albatross, I use it as a highlighting powder; 3) Dior Addict Extreme Lipstick in Black Tie, a super lush deep berry color (I’m obsessed with berry lipsticks this season); 4) YSL Touche Eclat covers up any bags and dark circles and leaves you looking sprightly; 5) YSL Vernis a Levres in Rouge Laque is the only red lip you will need (although once you try it you won’t be able to resist collecting all the colors–it’s the best lip product I’ve discovered in years); 6) Wolford Twenties Tights in Honey, a nude fishnet that airbrushes your legs something miraculous; 7) Sunday Riley’s ‘Juno’ Transformative Lipid Serum is a dry oil that I slather on before bed after a rough night out (I’m telling you, you will be nothing short of radiant the next morning–this stuff is magic!); and last but not least, 8) a tablespoon of Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar in hot water after a bout of hedonistic munching and boozing to keep the bloating at bay (it is also excellent for digestion and keeps blood sugar in check).

 Big Kiss and Bigger Diamonds,

JZP