Get Polished for the Party By Retha Hill Washingtonpost.com Staff Thursday, December 11, 1997

Evening separates can be mixed and matched in the same way sportswear is during the day. Illustration by Anne Maika for WPC

Laura
Gaithersburg

Dear Laura of Gaithersburg,
This is not the time for extremes in dress. No matter how tempted you are to inject a little diva drama into the affair, don't do it. Save the hip-hugging lycra dresses and the cleavage-bearing bustier for the New Year's Eve party that, hopefully, won't feature anyone from the office, unless it's that cute guy from R & D you're dating on the hush-hush.

Of course, you could always go with the little black dress and a string of pearls. It's a classic and it always works. And for that reason alone, practically all the other women in the office will likely wear a variation on the theme. But wait a minute. This season there are many alternatives to the black dress that can help you stand out from the crowd yet are practical enough that you could be wearing these pieces for seasons to come.

DressMe asked two experts, Heather Femia, corporate fashion director for Nordstrom, and Greg Scott, vice president for merchandising at the trendy bebe stores, for suggestions on how to update and extend a woman's evening wear wardrobe. For the office party, says Femia, try pairing an elegant daytime black or gray suit with an embellished top in a camisole shape or with either cap sleeves or three-quarter-length sleeves. Fabrics could be in burn-out velvet or with touches of sequins, embroidery or lace. Perhaps the top could be two layers, with the outside layer in a sheer, wispy fabric. "This is a very feminine item that can dress up and soften those suits," Femia says. A black top with a black suit always works well. Other colors to try include deep, rich jewel tones like aubergine or perhaps one of the newer metal-tone colors such as silver or gold.

Another option would be a sweater with a fur trim or a blazer-shaped jacket in velvet that could be paired with silky pants or the long, narrow skirt.

"These pieces can work like sportswear does for day. They can be mixed and matched to [give] a woman a lot of versatility," Femia suggests.

Scott, of bebe, recommends a fur-collar jacket in black knit with a black knit knee-length A-line skirt or a fur-collar woven brocade jacket and a short 15-inch brocade skirt with a slit. Both suits work best with a simple camisole, he says. "Adding fur to anything instantly makes you a fashion guru," Scott insists.

Another look Scott suggests goes for the glamour: a short beaded dress, such as a black knit dress with black beads, paired with a three-quarter-length sleeve cardigan. A great pair of boots to the knee -- or if you dare, strappy stilettos -- complete the look to "knock 'em dead."