top 5 tuesday: basic party circuit staples

And so begins the Christmas/New Year party circuit. I've discovered that there are a few basic staple items that will come in handy as you make your way from gala to gala. :)

1. LBD (or top). A Little Black Dress will do wonders. It can be dressed up or dressed down. Or, for the more casual party, a black v-neck shirt can be worn with a skirt, jeans or dress pants. Dress it up or down with shoes and accessories. You can wear the same thing at every party and still look different!

2. Wine. As you float from party to party, it's essential to have a host/hostess gift for most events. And, if you don't want to slave over the oven to make 6 dozen sausage balls, this is the next best thing. Keep a few bottles of wine and a couple of cute wine gift bags and you have an instant, portable hostess gift.

3. Appropriate accessories. This is what can make an outfit...the right accessories. Beg or borrow stuff from friends/family so you don't have to buy new. Among essentials are a bright handbag, sparkly earrings or large cocktail ring, red beaded necklace (for more casual functions) or a beautiful cashmere scarf. Please though, don't allow anything that resembles Christmas lightbulb earrings, reindeer headbands or light-up necklaces make their way into your ensemble.

4. The day's headlines. Okay, so maybe it's not necessary to be up-to-date on that EXACT day's headlines, but you should have a pretty good grasp on what is going on in the world or locally so you can make the obligatory small talk. :)

5. Your conscience. A necessary yet sometimes forgotten staple. The holidays are times when people "let loose", so to speak. Make sure you're keeping in line with your own conscience and not doing anything you'll regret once January 2nd rolls around. That includes anything from trash talking your boss, mother-in-law, or friends, over-eating or over-drinking. Moderation is key. In just about everything...except for chocolate. But, I digress.