Be the belle of the party

Dec 13, 2011

December is definitely my favorite month. This is the month of great things like my birthday (I turned 44 last week and yes, I look much younger!), annual leave, lots of partying and the biggest celebration of all, Christmas.

STYLE COUNSEL: By Keturah Kamugasa

December is definitely my favorite month. This is the month of great things like my birthday (I turned 44 last week and yes, I look much younger!), annual leave, lots of partying and the biggest celebration of all, Christmas.

I just feel so excited although only a handful of party invitations have come my way.

The thing about a party season, especially in a small town like Kampala, is that you’re likely to bump into the same people on the party circuit. As such, you don’t want anyone to walk up to you and say, “Oh, you look as lovely today as you did last week in that ensemble!” 

Vary your look with accessories, hairstyling and make up. Yes you can wear the same outfit to a few parties, if you apply a few tricks like using scarves, brooches, chunky jewellery, funky hair accessories and mixing and matching different garments to create a new look.

Black is by far the best colour for this sort of thing. If you are gifted with the needle, you could even add a few sequins or beading on the neckline or and hemline.

Use what you have and only add to your wardrobe what you can afford. If it is only a pair of shoes, go for one that makes a statement and is able to match with a few items in your wardrobe. You could try animal and jungle prints, which are very much in vogue You don’t have to go broke just to impress others.

Parties are as varied as their dress codes. Some require a simple cocktail dress, others ask for beachwear and there are the black tie events where nothing less than a ballgown or elaborate evening dress will do.

Occasions that stipulate a specific dress code can be both exciting and challenging. For instance, this year’s Girl Power Convention has an Indian theme.

Guests will be expected to turn up at Rubaga Miracle Centre in a sari or sharara or Punjabi. The colours for the December 20th event are red, gold and green in keeping with the Christmas season.

The excitement comes from having a good reason to buy a new outfit, especially one that is unique. Indian wear is rich, bold, feminine and elegant. But nothing is as sensual as the sari as it shows off the waist and accentuates every curve.

Moreover it suits every shape, size and figure. If your waist is hardly there owing to your shape or size, try enhancing it with shapewear or make a top that can camouflage it. A sari is easy to make and can take only a day or two. You need a cotton underskirt for modesty’s sake and in which to tuck the pleats.  alt=''

So what if you cannot afford a new outfit and yet you have an invite to the Girl Power Convention? I would say, wear an evening gown and use Indian accessories to spice it up. No event is worth missing simply because you have nothing to wear.

All it takes is a little creativity and thinking outside the box. For instance, you could jazz up a red evening dress with Indian style chandelier earrings with green stones (in a hue that matches the shade of red) and lots of Indian bangles.


The office party deserves a whole paragraph of its own. Some companies go all the way and hire plush hotels for the end-of-year party. Admittance is by invite only and the dress code is written on the card.

This is not the kind of party where corporate shirts and sandals will do. You need to go all the way out and acquire a decent evening garment as befits the occasion. 

However, if your CEO loves to turn up to parties in jeans and T-shirt, perhaps you need not put too much effort into your ensemble as you might appear overdressed and stuffy.

Still, whether your office party is black tie, business casual, or to-whom-it-may-concern, avoid revealing clothing. Remember, you are partying with your bosses and colleagues and they will remember how your boobs spilled out of your top long after you’ve forgotten.

Remember to behave with decorum. Therefore, drinking too much, talking loudly or dancing in an unseemly manner all add up to a negative image from which you might never recover.
Happy partying!

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