Key Piece: The Little Statement Skirt
fashionHoliday parties are the perfect excuse to pull out all the stops and get glammed up. We love hunting for that pretty and sparkly special something to wear out on the town, but this season, rather than reach for the usual little black dress, we’re changing things up a bit and saying yes to the little statement skirt! Not only is it full of personality (like this patterned lace version from BCBGMAXAZRIA), but as a separate, it offers a lot more style mileage. “We all love to dress up, but very few of us can afford to purchase a piece that can only be worn to one event per year,” says stylist Allana Schmidt of F2SE.ca, who put together these looks for us. “A holiday party outfit needs to be festive, but not so special that it can’t be layered (or de-layered) to be worn at work or out for dinner with friends.”
Here’s how we’ll be taking this piece from mingling to meetings: 


Friday evening @7:00pm for the holiday office party: Mixing business with pleasure can be a little tricky – you want to look dressed up and festive but still keep it appropriate. This intricate pencil skirt is a real standout, and we added impactful but tasteful pieces to play it up. A sheer colour-blocked blouse with an embellished collar complements the patterned skirt, without competing with it. Bare legs and lace-up shooties add after-hours glam. “The holiday season is the perfect excuse to go outside of your comfort zone and try an embellished or statement piece,” says Schmidt. “A bold necklace or dramatic skirt can add a lot of fun to an otherwise typical holiday outfit.”
Monday afternoon @1:30pm for the weekly department meeting: Why save such a gorgeous key piece for special occasions only? To fit the nighttime glamour of lace into your workday, you want to lower the volume, rather than turn it up. “By incorporating neutral work basics, like a black blazer and white collared shirt, “says Schmidt, “you draw less attention to the boldness of the skirt and more attention to the outfit as a whole.” Add opaque tights, a structured bag and a work-appropriate shoe to complete your daytime look.
Tell us about your holiday dressing – do you plan to attend any holiday parties? How do you keep your look fresh? We’d love a peek…tag us on Instagram (@stvitalcentre) if you share your holiday look.
Does one of our styles catch your eye? Visit these St. Vital Centre retailers to shop the looks:
Look #1 (Holiday party)
Dusty rose blouse: RW&CO, $69.90
Lace pencil skirt: BCBGMAXAZRIA, $229
Black wedge laceups: Clarks, $180
Silver stretch bracelet: Le Chateau, $15
Grey long drop earrings: Silverstone, $129.99
Silver ring: Le Chateau, $12.95
Black purse: BCBGMAXAZRIA, $229
Look #2 (Department meeting)
White button up blouse: Le Chateau, $49.95
Lace pencil skirt: BCBGMAXAZRIA, $229
Blazer: Hudson's Bay (Vero Moda), $59
Black pumps: Sears (Nygard), $59.95
Gold/silver beaded necklace: Laura, $14.99
Grey purse: BCBGMAXAZRIA, $229
Rose gold/silver rings: Michael Hill, $399
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