It’s the most wonderful time of the year! And as we approach 2018, get excited about a year of wonder and awe. This is the year to have confidence in your own unique style and trust that you have it right.

One of the core ideas of VirtuChic is to bring classic back for all ages; to remix timeless looks with a modern edge.

As you prepare to step out for New Years Eve/Watch Night services or stay in with family and friends, consider bold statement accessories to glam up your look for the festive occasion. They accent your existing wardrobe and can completely refresh any outfit. Not to mention make any outfit your very own.

They add bling. They add color. They add pattern. They add surprise.

This holiday’s style accessory tip: Remix the throwback brooch!

It’s a forgotten luxury item worn by everyone from royalty (think Duchess Kate Middleton) to first ladies (Michelle Obama, Jackie Kennedy) to anyone else with the creative eye to see the potential in the little pin on its back. They’re traditionally worn on lapels, but there are so many more ways to wear them!

See if these ideas spark a new thing, for the holiday and anytime:

Wear them on a...

Skirt. Belt. Scarf. Hat. Necklace. Coat. Sweater. Shirt (as a button). Shirt (as a cuff link). Strands of your hair.

Monica-Beatrice-Welburn-How-To-Wear-A-Brooch-Detail-Shot-2.jpg

Or any of the above, in a group of two or more.

And wherever your imagination leads you.

What’s better, they don’t have to cost a dime! You can raid your mom’s or aunt’s or grandma’s jewelry box and come up with a dozen. Or try the thrift store.

Check out young Sasha Obama in a brooch.

I wonder who styled her? ;-)

Send me your best brooch looks this season, and I’ll feature them on the site!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours.

Pop Quiz

That covers it, right?
Not quite. There’s an essential missing piece that many young ladies overlook:

The slip.

That’s right. The layering piece of the satin, silk, or nylon variety in various lengths and neutral shades, worn under sheer, lightweight, or clingy skirts and dresses. You wear this little number as a skirt beneath your skirt, and voila! You’ve got an instantly smoother rear silhouette.

Here’s how, and why they’re a must-have:
-Panty lines virtually disappear
-your behind is fully covered from all sides
-you’re protected from a wind-induced wardrobe malfunction
-the feeling of just one extra layer somehow makes you feel more fully dressed, no matter the season. I don’t know why, but it’s like wearing a camisole under a blouse.
-it’s a sign of a lady

If you missed the memo you’re not alone; I remember seeing slips growing up but only my mom, aunts and grandmas wore them. I saw them as something old women wore until I ran into an issue many of you can identify with: many of the dresses I bought to wear for church weren’t lined. As a result, it seemed like no matter what type of underwear I wore, you could see everything. A friend of mine put me on to them and I don’t know how I ever did without.

They instantly forgive any unlined or thin or see-through bottoms with that extra little layer. They’re always appropriate. Every young woman should have at least one. I was in Kohl’s one summer day last year and walked up to the counter with two nude colored slips. I was stunned when the cashier asked as she rang them up “What is this?” With a smile, I politely responded “a slip” and suggested she get one.

The slip: Don’t get caught outside without it.