Sure, when dressing for that after-5 soiree, the little black dress always will be a respectable option.
But how boring.
Trust us on this one: There are more imaginative ways to adorn yourself when cocktail hour rolls around.
Why not be a little daring?
Why not try white at night?
OK, so it takes a little getting used to. Black is safe. Black is slimming. White is so, well, white. Hard to miss. Harder to hide behind.
We have news for you: This season, white is the New Black.
On runways from Milan to New York, white was the color du jour for the spring ready-to-wear collections. Fashion editors gushed over its freshness. So brace yourself. This means that in stores from Poughkeepsie to Schaumburg, white is everywhere.
Of course you could always sit this one out. Or maybe you should live a little. Change is a good thing.
“For some people, black is the color they’re going to wear for evening, and that’s it,” says Gina Tovar, regional fashion director for Nordstrom. “But white is a great new option for the warmer months of the year.”
Joy Perreras, designer for Rialto, a Los Angeles-based clothing manufacturer, is so enamored with the pearly shade that she designed an entire line of white clothes for day and night and dubbed it Blanc. The collection includes varying shades of white in sheers, striped sheers and pure linen.
“White evokes freshness,” Perreras says. “It looks crisp and clean. It’s a back-to-simplicity feeling. It’s a color that everybody understands, and it’s pure.”
If you’re stepping out at night this summer and you prefer covering up, opt for a tunic and evening pants in a fluid fabric such as chiffon or charmeuse.
Feeling a little more adventurous? Pick a short little dress in a fabric that moves, or, for a shaped effect, try it in a double duchesse satin.
Going to a pull-out-all-the-stops black-tie affair? Go for broke with a column gown in chiffon, or pick a satin ballgown for a formal effect. White-on-white beading, with either clear, opalescent or pure white beads, is stunning. And no, no one will mistake you for a bride–just leave the veil at home.
With accessories, there’s just one rule of thumb: Keep it simple. And as for that thornier issue–shoes–there are two schools of thought:
“White pumps are for the bridal set,” Perreras says. “At night, it’s nice to offset white with metallics like bronze, silver or gold–as long as it’s not gaudy.”
“Head-to-toe white is more impactful,” Tovar says. “It’s stronger than just a item or two on its own.”
You might as well practice now. For fall, white leather is tres chic.
Picking the right white
White is one of those rare colors that looks good on just about everyone. And in the summer months there’s nothing better for showing off a tan–the safe, fake kind, of course.
Still, there are shades that will flatter certain complexions better than others.
Stark white sets off olive skin best, while ecru flatters a pale complexion with a pink undertone. Really dark skin looks great with either a warm ivory or a stark white shade.
