Clyde Moore: Up your fashion game

If you’re someone who likes to stand out a bit in a crowd, you’re already aware of what I’m about to write: When it comes to the end of the year holidays, especially Christmas, it’s time to up your fashion game. You’ve got new competition to get noticed, and it includes Christmas lights, tinsel and more. Turn it up, or simply prepare to enjoy the show. That said, do it in way that magnifies and amplifies who you already are, just a brighter, more colorful version.

With that attitude in mind, I hit Park Avenue last week to ask local fashion gurus what’s in this year. Many of the words I heard were like music to my ears.

My first stop was Liz’s & Bebe’s for a chat with Liz Sheppard. What’s the word here? Liz tells me about gowns customers purchased for a recent ball. “Old time glamorous is what they were,” she says. “Rita Hayworth, Eva Gardner. The girls wanted to look sexy, but they wanted to look glamorous at the same time. They wanted the big slits up the side, they wanted it flowing, and they wanted all the glitz and glam that went with it.” She continued, “They’re trying to make women looked glamorous again, you know, that old world glam that we used to have.”

I remark about her eyewear, encrusted with tiny Swarovski crystals. She says they sell lots of them. “Women want to have that look.” She speaks of crystals, rhinestones and sequins, “It’s a better class of glitz.”

Over at Siegel’s, John and Robin Siegel talk of “really fun, festive, Christmas pants, Christmas shirts.” A rack of shirts with embroidered Christmas trees is just beside me, a table of cords as well. “Got them out of the box yesterday and already sold four,” Robin says.

John says purple is a predominant color, “Anything in the bright tones is always real good.” As for a gift idea, Robin shows me “Happy Everything” plates, which can change by the season with various ceramic embellishments that attach via Velcro. There’s a turkey and, of course, Santa.

Down at John Craig, Cheryl Arbutine immediately takes me to see holiday offerings from Robert Graham. Always colorful, the mix of shirts, vests and jackets here is amazingly festive. “Robert Graham does all these novelty vests and shirts,” she says. I’m especially taken with the stained glass print that reoccurs as a lining, under collars and cuffs. Their Sand label shirts are a great way to do a more conservative look, in red and dark green plaids.

Owner Craig Delongy adds, “This fall we’re seeing a lot of soft coats layered up with quarter zip sweaters. Beautiful colors in magentas and lavenders, purples, some great looking deep oranges.” He says a “soft coat” is one that resists wrinkling and is great with jeans.

Next door at Current, Shana Goldman talks of vintage. “A throw back where it’s going to be kind of James Dean, Mad Men, 1920s, 1930s style; that’s been in, but a new version of it. Everything’s a little bit more tailored, a little bit brighter, lots of metallics, lots of leathers, lots of layering and lots of plum and burgundy colors.” She shows a big smile as she says, “Bowties and pocket square are coming back in a big way.” She describes it as “Great Gatsby meets the 2000 era.”

On to Lilly Pulitzer, Melissa Caligiuri gets me back to sequins. “We have lots of dresses with sequins,” she says. I see lots of black, ivory, and glitter, a gold clutch with an unexpected wishbone embellishment. “Sequins are big everywhere this year,” she says, also mentioning metallics. At the front of the store are some great more typically Lilly coral prints in black and white, and red and turquoise, along with their Wilda resort wear dresses in bright pink and turquoise, and navy and white.

At Downeast, Don Sexton shows off new dresses from Milly and Shoshanna. One has a satin top and a unique detail on the skirt. “That’s what Milly’s all about. She’s doing things no one else is doing,” he says. The Shoshanna dresses are in a bright Christmas red, one with large bow. For men, he says, “Bowties are really a big hit.”

He then shows me their new “Echo Touch” leather gloves, with smartphone compatible index finger tips, enabling use of a smartphone with gloves on.

At Sultre, Traci Kabran says, “Don’t be afraid to do a lot of bright colors, even neons, which were typically used for spring, now being incorporated into the holidays as well. Glitz is back as well, you’re seeing a lot of sequins, sequin jackets paired with leather accents, leather pants. Vintage jewelry is really strong. Leather and lace, it’s really strong. You’re seeing everyone from Kelly Ripa to people on the news are mixing that trend. A leather sleeve paired with silk. Leather and lace is really, really popular.”

At Tuni, Brittnie Gallo says, “Big trends for the holidays would definitely be fur, fur vests since we’re in Florida. Fur vests, silk blouse, skinny jeans, printed jeans right now, especially wax denim, are huge. Leather and lace is back in full effect, which I love.” She mentions reversible jeans I’d seen recently on their Facebook page. She says sequins are great, “As long as you match it with something else, not too much sequin. I think if you break it up it looks holiday.” She suggests ankle booties for a holiday party, “to edge it up.”

“And killer statement bags are in,” she notes, suggestively. “And great weekender bags. I love that, too, just in case you’re wondering what to get me.”

Clyde Moore operates local sites ILUVWinterPark.com, ILUVParkAve.com and LUVMyRate.com, and aims to help local businesses promote themselves for free and help save them money, having some fun along the way. Email him at [email protected] or write to ILuv Winter Park on Facebook or Twitter.