With wedding season at its peak, most office goers struggle to get the perfect look for evening parties. After a long day at work, most of us neither have the time nor the energy to change into a party outfit.

The Week’s Swasti Gautam spoke to Binita Shah from GlowtoGlow, The Beauty Studio in Hadigaun, Kathmandu to find out a few hacks for easy transitioning from formal wear to party wear. 

Makeup on point 

The best way to do your makeup when you fall short of time is to keep it simple yet trendy. “You can skip a few initial steps and start directly by applying foundation on your face. Make sure you choose a foundation that is thick as foundations with higher density are effective in hiding the pores of your skin,” says Shah. Likewise, highlighting and contouring are not necessary if you do not have much time. Shah suggests taking a bronzer and applying it on your forehead, nose and jaw line to get the edgy look. 

“The best way to compliment your formal outfit at a night party is to add a bright red lipstick. A red lipstick can enhance your look in no time,” says Shah. For the eyes, you can just apply a thick winged liner and a mascara. 

Enhancing formal shirts

“Avoid wearing cotton formals when you have to go for a party in the evening. Cotton shirts tend to get crumpled by the end of the day, making you look tired and dull. Try formal shirts that are made of materials such as chiffon. A chiffon shirt can help you achieve an elegant as well as trendy look,” advises Shah.  

A cropped pair of formal pants can also make a good party wear. “Cropped formal pants are parallel three fourths that are slightly above your ankles. They look simple and formal at the office and if you pair them with heels in the evening, they can transform into an extremely trendy outfit,” she adds.   

According to Shah, you can also wear a pencil skirt to office below your formal shirt. Pencil skirts look classy at work and extremely glamorous in the evenings. Skirts that are slightly below the knees tend to look really nice too. 

A black dress

We all know that a black dress can never go wrong in any occasion. “The best part about going to office wearing a black dress is that we can make it glamorous in no time at all,” says Shah. A black dress can be transformed into a party outfit by simply adding a gold and black or a colorful statement necklace. 

“It is definitely cold outside and if you wish to look glamorous and keep yourself warm at the same time, you must pair your dress with a pashmina shawl or a leather jacket. You can also wear good long boots,” says Shah adding that boots can keep you trendy and comfortable in this chilly weather.   

Accessorize right 

Accessorizing is the best way to elevate your formal look. Adding a soft scarf with colorful prints will make your formal outfit look a lot dressier. Also, nothing can enhance your office look during the winter season better than a nice long trench coat. Throwing a good trench coat over your formal pant or skirt and pairing it with good heels is the best way to get an extremely glamorous look. 

“Make sure you carry a good perfume in your bag. Because if you smell good, you look good,” says Shah. Another way to get a party look is by carrying an oversized clutch or a bag that has a little bit of shimmer on it. A good bag with a slight shimmer will make you party ready in a jiffy.    

According to Shah, choosing well-polished and elegant accessories is the primary trick to getting the perfect party look. Thin bracelets and diamond or platinum colored necklace can complement any outfit. “To finish up your look, you can add a pair of sparkling earrings, a good pair of heels and you are good to go,” says Shah.

 
• formal
 
• minutes