woman christmas dress How To Style a Santa a gold buckle belt Christmas Cocktail Dresses for Women

Fabrics to Avoid Lightweight jersey, cotton blends, thin casual chiffon, and stretchy knit materials dont meet formal standards

Because the neckline frames the collarbone, a delicate necklace resting at the base of the throat works beautifully, or a guest can leave the neck bare and let earrings draw attention to the framed shoulders

High-Neck: Drop Earrings For a gown with a high neckline, Julie Sabatino of The Stylish Bride recommends pulling the hair back and going for a drop earring

Bazaar spoke industry hair experts to glean their advice for transforming your tresses and avoiding any red flags

Mastering this practice is also a great way to get more use out of your formal clothes

December 2008 Jolie swept her hair back and let her Versace dress do the talking for the Los Angeles premiere of then-boyfriend Brad Pitt's film, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button