At  black-tie events all Fall, I've noticed women - both young and older - whose attire screams "I don't get out much".  Even when the garment is completely occasion-appropriate, the effect is spoiled by daytime shoes, an oversized everyday handbag and short, casual coat. 

We all deserve to feel special for life's special occasions.  Make this the year you treat yourself to a pair of evening shoes - peau de soie (fabric) in your Key Neutral or your best Metallic.  Or pearlized leather sandals in a shade similar to your hair color. Ordinary leather and suede just aren't evening looks, no matter how nice the shoe. 

The styling doesn't need to have a heel as high as the examples below, but the look needs to be light and delicate, not sturdy or chunky.

Then find a dressy little bag to coordinate. Look for satin fabric, metallic or sequined.  Tiny is just fine, since you won't need to carry much more than a car key, gratuity cash and a lipstick.   This won't be a wear-and-tear item, so quality isn't critical. You might find one for under $30 and use it for years to come. 

When you key these accesories to your personal color pattern, they'll probably work with all your dressy clothes for a decade or more, so you'll get real value from your investment.  The examples below are just to illustrate the look -  images from zappos.com.

Dressy outerwear isalso a puzzler for many women.  Unless you're in the frozen north, a pashmina shawl can keep you cozy enough to get from the car the the event and back again and keep you stylish too. A pashmina with metallic accent threads looks especially festive.          

Or try a little shrug sweater with some sparkle in the yarn.  Or a faux fur shortie jacket.  If you own a nice below-knee-length fabric coat, that can be fine over a cocktail dress, but not over a longer formal gown. 

Enjoy partying in style