You`re Invited - melissarosefaulkner.com

Pink/white lace dress and
pearl necklace from Under the
Palm Tree. Taupe linen jacket,
handkerchief and pink gingham
boutonniere from Paolini.
14 •
THE HILLS
YOU’RE
INVITED
5 o’clock By the Pool
Cocktail Attire
PRODUCED AND WRITTEN By MELISSA FAULKNER • Photography By ANGELA BOND
HAIR AND MAKEUP BY STACI BROSKI, www.7throw.com
Behold the cocktail party, the mingling
extravaganza between the hours of dusk and
twilight, where social butterflies unite and shy
ones take flight. Not as fussy as a formal, and
a notch or two fancier than a ho-down. The
festivities may take place in a hotel lobby, a
club’s ballroom, around a pool, or in someone’s
cozy kitchen.
It is an ambiguous affair, and often hard to
decode. For those that don’t easily go with the
flow of their wine spritzer, cocktail party invites
can be hard to navigate, preparations hard to
execute (Eat before or dinner reservations for
after? Sitter for an hour or sitter til dawn?) and
dressing just madness (Flip-flops or heels? Tie or
tie one on with no tie at all?), tempting some to
just stay in, have a cocktail straight from the bottle
style, and play pin-the-tail on the dress code.
The truth of the matter, especially these days,
is that there is far more room to dress right than
wrong, a liberating newsflash for those who let
their moods dictate their dress and daunting for
others that find the whole dress-cavation process
leaving entirely too much open to the imagination.
Take the cocktail glass half full approach knowing
that “Billy buttoned-up’s” guess is just as good as
“Betty’s with bells on.”
We’d be wise to take some style inspiration
from both Billy and Betty’s closets, to cover all
the bases. Wear what’s comfortable, respectful
enough and with a touch of personality, in the
way of bling, a charming printed tie, corsage,
handkerchief, a hair knot, a hairdo, a knot of
pearls or a what-not. A little effort goes a long
way. And a lot of effort goes too far, putting
those kicking back on edge, which is never where
a party host or guest wants to be.
If one thing is for certain about a cocktail party,
it is meant to be enjoyed. So flash your pearls, the
other ones. No matter how Dapper Dan you may
be, you’re never fully dressed without a smile. And
you’re never smiling whilst itching, sweating and
suffocating in ill-fitting, unseasonable threads.
So, spiffy up some and be the first to arrive
in style. Or, if all else fails, go fashionably late —
when the soiree is in full swing, everyone has had
a round of drinks, and everyone feels great, no
matter what they’re wearing. We’ll toast to that.
SUMMER 2015
• 15
Turquoise silk top
and white pants from
Under the Palm Tree.
16 •
THE HILLS
Satin abstract print
sheath dress from
halls. orange linen
shirt, khaki chino
pants from halls.
Brown leather belt
from Paolini.
SUMMER 2015
• 17
Turquoise check
button-down
from Under
the Palm Tree.
Brown belt and
denim trousers
from halls.
18 •
THE HILLS
Turquoise/green
cotton maxi
dress, bangles,
and metallic jack
rogers sandals
from Under the
Palm Tree.
SUMMER 2015
• 19
Blue jacket, pink
polo shirt, white
denim jeans,
handkerchief
and leather belt
from halls.
20 •
THE HILLS
Multicolored
with white silk
maxi dress with
abstract design
from halls.
SUMMER 2015
• 21
white oxford shirt
and plaid bow tie
from Paolini. jeans
and belt from halls.
jeans and belt from
halls, Turquoise with
gold embroidered
trim and gold metallic
sandals from Under
the Palm Tree.
22 •
THE HILLS
vineyard vines
check shirt from
Under the Palm Tree.
knit tie with anchor
embroidered detail
from Paolini. denim
jeans from halls.
SUMMER 2015
• 23