Video: Cocktail Party Dress Ideas

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About the Expert

Erin Busbee

http://www.busbeestyle.com/

Ever since Erin Busbee was a little girl she has had a passion for fashion and beauty… dressing her friends and family, including her poor baby brother and styling hair for any and all willing participants. It’s a love she has carried into her professional life. For years, Busbee worked as an award-winning producer for WCBS-TV in New York, where she routinely researched and wrote about fashion trends. She also collaborated closely with top magazine editors/writers from the most elite fashion publications like “Vogue,” “Elle,” “In Style,” and “Lucky” Magazines. In 2005, she founded Hewitt Media Consulting through which she personally trained CEO’s, entrepreneurs, magazine editors and TV reporters. Her consulting sessions always included fashion and beauty pointers, helping clients shine for their major TV appearances. Erin didn’t stay behind the scenes; she has been front and center with extensive experience on camera. She worked as an anchor/reporter in Watertown and Rochester, New York. She also became the entertainment/fashion reporter for WCBS-TV where she kept up on all the hottest trends. In 2007, she took on the role as host and producer for Hotnewz.tv, a revolutionary Internet news program focused on the young and hip college crowd. Erin created and wrote a weekly segment for Hotnewz called “Fashion Fix.” It gave viewers the inside scoop on, what else, fashion! Recently, Erin moved to the Texas Hill Country and started her image consulting business “Busbee Style”. Busbee Style is her newest baby, a passion for sure! Through Busbee Style, Erin does personal shopping, fashion styling and closet organization. Now, Erin is dressing and styling all types of Texans from cowboys to socialites.

Transcript

Hi, I'm Erin, and I'm a fashion stylist. Unless you live in Manhattan, you probably don't go to cocktail parties all that often. So, when you get an invite, don't just dust off an old dress in the closet, you should put thought and care into your look. Here is one fail safe cocktail party dress idea. Check out our gorgeous model, Heather. She is sporting one of my favorite looks, sequins. Sequins are eye catching, festive and oh so girly. The sparkly scoop neck mini dress Heather is wearing has a subtle leopard pattern which I think is really cool. If sequins seem like too much for your soiree, you could always tone them down with some layering. First, I cinched the waist and broke up the sequins by adding a black waist belt. then I took the sparkle down a couple more notches and added some edginess by pairing the dress with this light gray Moto jacket. The sassy ankle boots and tights give it even more of a downtown feel and create a long, lean look. It's hot, hot, hot. Lose the jacket and swap the boots for pumps, and you have a more traditional less rock and roll party outfit and don't forget about your little black dress. When in doubt, bust it out. Just be sure to wear some fabulous accessories to give it some punch.