Casual evening wear

As the party/event season approaches we start to search in our wardrobes for something suitable to wear. I find that these days I very rarely have a formal event to attend, if I did I would probably hire rather than buy. I do not want a garment hanging in my wardrobe gathering dust. Casual evening wear is all I need.

Details of above:

Cream tie neck blouse MarksandSpencer / Pearl drop earrings Jigsaw / Pearl and silver bracelet at JohnLewis&Partners / Faux fur jacket Hopefashionuk (It looks black in the image it is actually chocolate brown) Hope do ship internationally / Black spot trousers JohnLewis&Partners / Black low heel shoes Peter Kaiser at JohnLewis&Partners / lipstick LookFabulousForever / Silver clutch bag JohnLewis&Partners.

I am more likely to be invited to casual drinks or dinner with friends than a formal do. I like to have a few versatile pieces in my wardrobe that I can mix and match and dress up or down depending on the occasion.

We all want to look our best for a festive occasion. Half the thrill of an evening out is the preparation. Putting on our make-up and choosing our outfit. We want to look chic and elegant but not too overdone, if you know what I mean.

If we are buying something new it is good to give a nod to the season’s trends. This year it is sparkles and glitter all the way. Sequins can be a girl’s best friend. When worn near the face they add light and glow. As well as sparkly tops this year many brands are offering sequin or sparkly trousers and skirts. These are best co-ordinated with a plain top and simple accessories. These trousers can also be worn during the day with a chunky sweater perhaps for brunch or lunch.

There are also a variety of faux fur coats and jackets. They are ideal to add that final touch of glamour for an evening out. They are also extremely versatile and can be worn with jeans or trousers during the day.

Casual evening wear mix and match options:

Chicatanyage

I write a fashion and beauty blog for women over 50 with the aim of inspiring mature women to continue to enjoy and have fun with their fashion choices. I have spent most of my working life in some way connected to fashion. I started my career in Fashion PR and then trained as an Image Consultant when my children were young. I subsequently worked in the corporate world running seminars, doing private coaching and speaking at conferences. I started my blog in 2009 as I wanted to share my years of experience working in the world of fashion. I truly believe we can continue to have confidence in the way we present ourselves. Our style may evolve with time and changing lifestyles, yet with a little knowledge and inspiration, we can all continue to have fun with fashion. As women of a certain age we are a growing demographic let us prove that we can also be a chic one.

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View Comments

Eleni says:

15th November 2019 at 18:01

The white blouse from M & S looks really nice and practical, a thought, as I have not worn a white blouse in years. Love the accessories.
- Chicatanyage says:
  
  17th November 2019 at 10:26
  
  Hi Eleni
  I have the blouse and it is more cream than white. I find that a slightly off white can suit a wide range of women.
Brenda Chell says:

15th November 2019 at 18:03

Love the whole casual evening package. It's simple and smart. Thank you Josephine.
Laura says:

15th November 2019 at 20:16

Some fun ideas here but...I look like a cadaver in black and wash out in cream, as do many fair-skinned blondes. Any suggestions for alternative color combinations?
- Chicatanyage says:
  
  17th November 2019 at 10:35
  
  Hi Laura
  I find that now my hair has gone silver grey black is back in my palette however I do understand that it does not work for everybody. In fact it never really left my wardrobe I just avoided it near my face but continued to wear black trousers. I have some alternative colour combinations coming up in the near future.
Heather Moses says:

15th November 2019 at 21:21

Love your casual evening look. So simple, so elegant, so versatile. Great sparkly trousers.
- Chicatanyage says:
  
  17th November 2019 at 10:28
  
  Hi Heather
  I found the trousers surprisingly flattering. You will see how I wear them in an outfit post shortly.
Gillian says:

16th November 2019 at 00:39

Simply perfect!! Luckily I have most of these items already in my wardrobe, except the clutch, so I'm now looking forward to putting the outfit together for Christmas. Thanks Josephine !!
Shirley Davey - Vancouver.B.C. says:

16th November 2019 at 06:33

Very nice choice for Christmas casual, love the pants. I do believe less is more and practice it. Thank you Josephine this is very well thought out.
melmi says:

16th November 2019 at 16:50

Beautiful and classy outfit, Josephine...so smart and "workable" Love it.
Chicatanyage says:

17th November 2019 at 10:29

Thank you for all your comments. Glad you liked the outfit. I have a few more posts on this subject so do pop back again soon.
Jasmine says:

18th November 2019 at 09:33

Thank you Josephine. I rarely go out these days but have been invited to an evening event in the next couple of weeks for which your suggested outfit will be perfect. I've got similar items in my wardrobe already with the exception of the trousers which I've just ordered from John Lewis. I'm just hoping that they are true to the size details published on their website. Trousers are such difficult things to buy online.