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When the leaves start turning, it’s time to start thinking of winter – especially of those winter formals and parties. Before you know it, it will be Thanksgiving and then the holidays. Now is the perfect time to shop for a formal dress for all the parties and special events of the next few months.

Start by checking out your favorite stores. Then, look at what your favorite designers are cooking up for the next few months. If you want to save cash by ordering your formal dresses online, order now for the best selection and to give yourself plenty of time for delivery.

For the winter season, little black dresses are always in style. Jewel tone dresses also look spectacular against the paler months of winter. Metallic formal dresses are another popular choice and look fabulous with all the decorations and festivities of the winter months. As for fabrics, think thicker fabrics than your winter dresses. Rich satins and velvets not only look fabulous in the winter months, but they can be worn in colder weather without making you wilt.

Look for designs that are simple and classic and consider buying a wrap, formal coat, or cover up to go with your formal dress for winter. If you opt for a sleeveless design, you may want to cover up in warmer months.

If you’ve got a formal event coming up, you’re likely intimately familiar with this issue. You pick up one fashion magazine and read about all the outrageous “must-have” dresses the celebrities are wearing to film openings this week. You see the same styles in stores. Then, you read other articles that tell you to dress classic and simple for formal events.

So, who’s right?

Celebrities are paid big bucks (and are usually given or loaned free designer formal dresses) to stand out at big events. That’s why they wear what is hottest and trendiest. They are out there to get seen and to make a statement. The average woman who goes to two or three special events a year probably does not have a celebrity budget and needs a formal dress that takes her to several events. A little black dress or a classic formal dress will look timeless through plenty of seasons, so that’s the obvious choice.

What about you? Well, that depends on your budget and your formal dress needs. If you can afford it and you only go to one formal event (or less) a year, there’s no harm in getting something trendy for a formal dress and really having fun with it. For ultra-special events like the prom, it is also fun to get a once-in-a-lifetime trendy dress you love. If you want a dress that will see you through more than one event, however, you will need a classic formal dress. Something in a classic color and flattering shape will see you through several events and will always be ready in your closet when a special evening comes along.

Sorority Competition:  Better your community with Better Closet and win a Spring Formal dress

Instructions:  Sisters are invited to write a one page essay on how they are working to better their community by lending a helping hand. Email the essay to stylist@bettercloset.com.  The deadline is March 31. Include on the one page, your name, email address, Sorority, the date of your Spring Formal and the essay.

Grand Prize: A free Spring Formal dress; or $300 towards a purchase of any style. The winning essay will be featured on the internationally recognized BC Style Source, bettercloset.com/blog.

Additional Prizes: Every Sister from the Sorority with the winning essay will receive a $25 gift card from Better Closet to use towards any Spring Formal dress purchase.  Additionally, all participants will receive free ground shipping on their Spring Formal dress purchase.

Selection Process: As essays are submitted they will be ranked and a winner will be contacted by email by midnight, 12:00AM EST, April 3.

* FAQ

Q: What classifies as a “Spring Formal” purchase?

A: Any dress that is recognized in the Shop More Styles tab, under any of the categories; designer prom dresses, evening dresses, formal dresses, formal gowns, pageant dresses, prom dresses, plus size evening dresses, and short prom dresses is applicable for the discount and the promotion applies.

Q:  Who can participate?

A: Any Sister in any Sorority may participate.

Q: Must the essay be submitted through email?

A: Yes, the only way to submit the essay is by emailing it to stylist@bettercloset.com

Q: What if the dress I want is more than $300?

A:  If the dress you want is more than $300, you are responsible to make up the difference in price.

Q: Can I check the status of my essay?

A: No, the winner will be notified by April 3, 12:00am EST.

Q: If I submit an essay, how long before I receive my free shipping on a Spring Fromal dress style?

A: Within 1 business day of submitting your essay you will receive a promotion code for free ground shipping on any prom dress purchase. The discount may not appear as free shipping but will deduct the amount of shipping costs from your total purchase.

Q: If the winning essay is selected from my Sorority, how long will it be before I receive my $25 gift card for a Spring Formal dress purchase?

A:  You will receive the $25 gift card towards any Spring Formal dress purchase by April 4, 12:00AM EST. *Remember to note your Sorority on the essay so we know to send you the discount.

Q:  How many entries can I submit?

A: Essays are limited to one entry per person. If someone is found to have submitted more than one entry, that person will be excluded from the contest.

*The Sorority noted on your essay may be contacted to confirm your participation. 

If you’re hosting any events over the holidays, you need a fabulous dress that makes you look like the star of your part but you also need to be comfortable enough to take care of all the details of actually hosting a party. Worse, you may have already spent a ton of money on the party itself and may have a limited budget for your dress. In addition to these considerations, your dress needs to be simple so that you can toss it on after you’ve taken care of the food, cleaning, decorations, and other details before the party. While that’s a tall order, you can get the perfect hostessing dress by:

1) Considering appropriateness. If your party is for your office coworkers, make sure that you dress is formal and not too revealing. If your party is for group of friends, you may be able to get away with a dress that is sexier.

2) Playing with texture. Look for dress fabrics that are resilient, since you’ll likely be hugging, kissing, and moving around great deal as the hostess. You’ll want a fabric that can stand up to a lot and doesn’t stain easily when you’re preparing the meal or the appetizers. Fabrics such as velvet and silk are very touchable and make you look welcoming.

3) Going for short sleeves or sleeveless outfits. If you’re working over a hot stove or running around, you don’t want visible sweat stains. Look for breathable fabrics, and sleeves that won’t dangle over your food. Wear an apron over your dress when you’re preparing food, as well.

4) Looking for comfort. Avoid tight clothes, short hems, and low necklines. These will make it easy for you to get into embarrassing situations as you’re bending, serving, hugging, and moving around. A hostess moves around a great deal more than guests, so make sure that what you wear is comfortable and doesn’t reveal too much. Comfort should be the byword for shoes as well. Make sure you have shoes that are well broken in and have a low enough heel so that you won’t be in pain at the end of the night. As a hostess, you’ll spend most of the night on your feet, so think appropriate footwear.

If you want to put together a good wardrobe that sees you through semi-formal business lunches, formal events, and some special events, this is what you will need:

• One day skirt that can be worn year-round. This should be business-formal, with simple lines, a neutral color, and a fabric that is not too heavy or thick. A fine silk blend, light wool, cashmere, or very fine cotton will all work. This will be the most flexible item in your formal wardrobe and something you can mix up with your work wardrobe, even.
• One summer evening skirt. This can be a floral skirt if it is a small print or a solid color. Look for light fabrics such as silks and lines that flow elegantly.
• One winter evening skirt. Velvet is the classic winter skirt fabric and it looks wonderful for years. However, cashmere and wool are also wonderful fabrics, as long as you choose formal styles of skirts.
• One fun day top. This can be a blouse in a fine material such as silk or a scooped neck top that works under suits as well as with skirts.
• Two flirty night shirts. These can show a bit of skin and can include flirty details such as beading or lace. You can wear them with a skirt or under a suit.
• One day dress that can be worn year-round. The classic cocktail dress or little black dress works wonderfully as a very flexible part of your wardrobe that you can throw on in a pinch.
• One summer evening dress. This should be made from a soft material and may include spaghetti straps.
• One winter evening dress. Again, velvet is a classic material of choice for winter, although you can choose other fabrics. Generally, the fabric will be heavier and thicker than your summer dress and the colors darker as well, although jewel tones are a nice choice for winter as well, as they complement a paler winter complexion.
• One pair of evening pants. Look for impeccable cut and a nice quality that will take you to “formal” style easily.
• One daytime suit. Make this one business formal, a power suit that you can wear to many types of events.
• One evening suit. This one should have softer, more fluid lines than your daytime suit. Wide-legged pants and a longer jacket are a nice choice, or a skirt suit with a longer skirt work well.
• One pale-colored dress jacket for summer. This should go over your dresses.
• One velvet or rich wool jacket for winter.
• One light wrap or shawl.
• One evening clutch. Make sure it matches all of your evening wardrobe.
• One pair of dress sandals. Metallic or basic black are a good choice.
• One pair of closed toe evening shoes with a heel.

Keep in mind that you don’t have to buy everything at once – you can gradually build your formal dress wardrobe. Also, many of these pieces are a good value because they can be worn in many ways, and can even be paired with less formal clothes for everyday. If you rarely go to formal events, you may need fewer of these items, so feel free to adjust the list to your lifestyle.

At this time of year, we are all thinking about formal dresses and party dresses for the holidays. Most of us are also thinking about upcoming events in the spring that will require some form of formal dress or semi-formal attire. The problem is that it is easy to spend your entire budget on one outfit that you will only wear once.

If you have a budget, you want to make sure that you get your money’s worth from your formal clothes. Here’s how:

1) Budget the most for clothes you wear most often. If you work in an office every day, you want to make sure that you spend plenty of your budget on work clothes. If you rarely go to formal events, you may want to spend less on your formal dresses so that you have more cash left over for the items you actually wear.

2) Shop your own closet. Pull out the items in your closet that you have worn to semi-formal or formal events before. Could you wear them differently or change them slightly so that they suit your current holiday needs?

3) Don’t buy. Consider borrowing an outfit from a friend (be sure to return the favor). It’s an easy way to get a good dress for free. Just remember to take very good care of the dress and have it professionally cleaned (ask your friend where she gets her clothes cleaned) before you return it. Also, consider renting a formal dress from the same rental stores where men rent tuxes. For a fraction of the price of a new dress, you can gave a great gown to wear to that special event.

4) Refuse to pay retail. Check out sales racks, local consignment stores, second-hand clothes stores (such as the Salvation Army or Goodwill) and online stores. All can mean great bargains. However, if you do decide to go this route, give yourself lots of time, since you will have to sift through lots of stuff you don’t want to find the gems. Also, remember that you may have to spring for dry cleaning and some altering before you wear your dress.

At this time of year, all of us are thinking about what to wear to parties and other festive events. This means that in addition to gift shopping, most of us are keeping an eye out for pretty clothing for special events, as well. The great news is that December and November are great times to shop for eveningwear and formal wear because stores are well stocked up on party dresses, formal dresses, and accessories. Most stores will mark these items down in January, so this is the time to shop around for the pieces you might want to buy after the holidays are over.

If you need to put together some party dresses and outfits but your budget is feeling the pinch of holiday shopping, consider shopping consignment stores and even second-hand stores. These retail stores always have some dresses on hand that will give you that unique sparkle at upcoming parties. Look for dresses that are in good condition and are timeless or classic in style.

Another good option is to buy online. Lots of online retailers offer rush delivery at this time of year or even are able to guarantee that your finery arrives before a specific date. Online stores often have a huge selection and are able to offer very low prices, even on designer formal dresses.

Retail stores offer their best selection of formal and eveningwear dresses in November and December. While these dresses are often not on sale at this point, you can choose from a wide selection. If there is a dress you need for an upcoming special event and you are willing to pay full price for it, retail stores will be able to help. If you need to build a nice eveningwear wardrobe for later in the year, mark your calendar: most of the formal dresses go on sale in January. If you are shopping for a special holiday dress for the spring or summer, buy in January for the best deals.

Even if you don’t go out to parties or formal events a great deal, having an evening wardrobe of at least a few pieces is a good idea. It’s just part of being prepared for anything life has to offer.

Are you missing out on fabulous events because you have nothing to wear? Most of us are given at least some notice for formal wear events such as parties or special events, but life can sometimes throw you a curveball, especially at this time of year. During the holidays, it’s important to have an eveningwear wardrobe ready to go, “just in case.” Whether you are asked to a last-minute dinner party or a ballet, you will be far less stressed – and far less likely to miss out on something wonderful – if your closet is ready. Best of all, once you put together an eveningwear wardrobe, you will be ready for any fun things that come up in the new year.

All you need to look great after dark are 5 basic pieces:

1) An evening blouse. A dressy top for evening wear should be made from “dressy” fabrics such as lace, satin, silk or sequined material. From camisoles to blouses, the only criteria is that it look great with suits and other evening pieces you own.

2) A little black dress or other dark dress. If you don’t like black dresses, opt for plum, wine, red, navy or brown colors. However, do go for dark, which often looks more dramatic and formal. Look for a dress with some sleeve and the simplest lines possible so that you can make a statement with accessories. Simpler dresses can also work well at both formal and semi-formal events, so simple will stretch your clothing budget further.

3) Shoes to go with your eveningwear. Look for slingbacks, pumps or sandals in rich fabrics such as lace or satin or in gorgeous leather. Make sure that they work with your formal wear.

4) Evening pants or skirt. Again, look for fabrics that are considered more formal – velvet, lace, or chiffon work well. Simple evening separates can be dressed up for many events and can be used to create a variety of evening looks.

5) Evening pursue or clutch. Look for a tiny purse or clutch. Large purses scream daytime. Also, look for pretty detailing such as sequins or beads.

Rachel Stevens, Mariah Carey, Megan Fox and many other fashionistas have been seen in the hottest dress this season: the little red dress. The little red dress is quickly replacing the little black dress as the “it” item to have this season. A fresher version of the little black dress, the little red dress is eye-catching and bold and fun.

But beware: it’s not for everyone. The wrong style or shade could leave you red-faced, so look for a wonderful red dress that suits your body shape and your skin tone. If you have very fair skin, look for satin or silk dresses in deeper shades of red. If you have darker skin, rich ruby reds and bold vibrant shades will work well. If you have reddish tones in your skin, go for plum or wine colors that won’t highlight the ruddiness of your skin.

If you have a pear shape or larger hips, highlight your bust line with empire-line red dresses. A bandeau will also draw the eye upwards, away from hips and stomach. If you are slim, look for elegant slip-style red dresses with a sash or belt that highlights or creates curves. In general, try on many silk dresses in lots of colors to get a sense of what looks best on you. Also, since red looks very different in different lighting, try to see your dress in several different types of lights before you decide a particular red dress is for you.

If you can’t find a red dress that looks great on you, paint the town red by choosing vibrant red accessories for your little black dress. It’s the perfect way to overhaul your little black dress and really make it current.

While you may wear a simple purse in everyday life, slipping on an evening dress means that you can go Cinderella with your evening handbag, too. Rather than thinking of your evening handbag as functional, think of it as jewel that brings your outfit together. Here’s what you need to look for:

1) Size. You do not want a large purse with large straps. Think small. Most of the most beautiful evening handbags hold a bit of money and a lipstick. Anything else you need for your evening out you may want to slip into your car or your coat pocket.

2) Materials. Organza, taffeta, softest leathers, sateen, brocade, silk and velvet are all great options for evening handbags. Your bag does not have to match your evening dress fabric, so experiment until you find a fabric that makes you feel luxurious.

3) Detailing. Many evening boast stunning embroideries, boas, feathers, glass beads, fancy clasps, or gemstones. Look for a purse that has detailing that makes you smile.

4) Color. Look for a bag that is similar in color to your evening dress or contains a color that is in your dress. If your evening dress is an unusual color, go for a black bag.