Sometimes it’s the little touches that take your outfit from average to enviable. Celebrities have stylists to calculate all the complicated nuances of putting together a look, but we aren’t all so fortunate. Luckily, tFS has put together some celeb-inspired styling tips and tricks to help you put together a look that’s got that extra oomph! This week, Karen Gillen, Ali Hilfiger, and Michelle Trachtenberg show you how to wear velvet, winter’s plush fabric that adds a festive feel (literally) to any outfit.
Tip #1: Dress up or down a wintry velvet frock like Karen Gillan
Photo: Will Alexander/WENN.com
Doctor Who actress Karen Gillan left the London theater where she’s currently starring in Inadmissable Evidence wearing an embossed velvet dress. The plush piece could easily be dressed up with black tights, pumps, and sparkly jewelry for a holiday party, but we love the way Karen dressed down the luxurious look by layering it over grey tights and slippers and throwing on a charcoal leather shearling coat and quilted bag. Hint: when choosing close-fitting or stretchy velvet pieces, stick with black or dark blue to avoid the ice skater look.
1. BCBGeneration Stretch Velvet Dress – $78; 2. Topshop Velvet Tunic – $47; 3. Tights for Every Occasion in Light Grey – $14.99; 4. Night Driving Flat – $44.99; 5. Gabriella Rocha Rozalia Jacket – $109; 6. Ajito Quilted Bucket Bag – $48
Tip #2: Kick up your heels in velvet shoes like Ali Hilfiger
Photo: C. Smith/WENN.com
These are one pair of party shoes you won’t want to spill your drink on. Velvet footwear in all colors and heights is taking shoe-philes by storm; Elizabeth Olsen, Lady Gaga, and Peaches Geldoff have all been spotted in this season’s update of the disco classic. At the RxArt Party in NYC, Ali Hilfiger slipped into a pair of blue-green platform velvet mary janes to kick her denim shirt, black satin skirt, and leather bag up a notch. You don’t have to brave sky-high heels to try the trend; look for boots, flats, and brogues in velvet.
1. H&M Denim Shirt – $32; 2. Great Plains Dolly Satin Black Skirt – $94; 3. To Be Announced 11FiftyNine Velvet Boots – $149.95; 4. T Shirt & Jeans Structured School Bag – $38; 5. Plumstruck Flat – $69.99; 6. Topshop Strut Metal Heel Platform Shoes – $105
Tip #3: Try a sumptuous velvet smoking jacket like Michelle Trachtenberg
Photo: usmagazine.com
Gossip Girl actress Michelle Trachtenberg didn’t let an arm sling stop her from styling a dynamic look. At the Folli Follie store opening at Lord & Taylor she appeared in a forest green velvet smoking jacket. The preppy blazer gives a casual night out look a Ivy league-approved air—just keep the rest of the outfit simple like Trachtenberg did, with just a large onyx pendant and gold watch as accessories.
1. Gap Velvet Blazer – $98; 2. Topshop Chiffon Side-Tuck Blouse – $70; 3. J. Crew Schoolboy Blazer in Velvet – $168; 4. White House Black Market Patent Pump – $98; 5. Dorothy Perkins Black Tux Super Skinny Jeans – $43; 6. House of Harlow Large Sunburst Pendant – $68
