Holiday party season is upon us. For me, it started the night after Thanksgiving with a dinner party for 13 at my house, followed by a Saturday night dinner for roughly the same group at a friend’s home. And with that, I am two outfits down in my lineup, and it’s not yet December.

I always think black and white are a chic choice for winter, no matter what the climate. Accessories can punch up a look if you’d like a shot of color, or add a metallic shoe and some jewelry. I am a purist, however, and generally like to keep color out of this combination.

Above are my picks for what to wear over the next weeks. What do you like?

From top:

Dolman sequin top available here

Belted coat available here

Sequin dress available here

Vegan leggings available here

Embellished cardigan available here

In order to introduce our new series, Love Her Style? Shop Her Look, who better to feature than Vogue editor and fellow entrepreneur, Lauren Santo Domingo. LSD, as her own column at Vogue.com is called, is one of the coolest girls in town. Her sartorial choices are always chic and elegant. For that reason, I am loving her look here, featured on Vogue.com's column, 5 Days, 5 Looks, 1 Girl.

I think this look, taken at NY Fashion Week in front of the Lincoln Center fountain, works for numerous occassions – work, lunch or casual dinner out, running around town, you name it. Here is a similar look you can purchase now for less.

Pants, available here

Shoes, available here

Sweater, available here

Bag, available here

Source credit

Elie Tahari is a department store favorite, the fashion equivalent of broadcast TV, if you will (I have worked for 2 broadcast networks….I love the current programming!) compared to the edgier designs of more niche brands. You can buy current offerings from Elie Tahari here.

The line is consistently wearable, on trend but not too far so the interpretations really work season to season. Tahari breathed an easy spirit into the spring 2012 collection with softer colors and pieces that will work with other items in your closet…. always a plus!

Above are my top picks from the show this week.

Cue up the 70s cozy vibe: up and coming designer Timo Weiland was channeling some great themes from the decade that everyone is referencing these days – the 70's. It has finally been long enough that fashion is ready to revisit the decade that brought us wide-legged jeans, vests, long scarves and layering. I, personally, find this decade a very friendly one to most women as the options for being on trend are myriad. Throw on a long scarf, or a pair of wide legged trousers with a crisp jacket and you nod to the decade without looking like you have been ripped off a Carly Simon album cover (but doesn't she look fabulous?!)

Weiland's knits, graphic patterns and dreamy layers convey a thoroughly modern sensibility that works well in a woman's wardrobe from work to play to gala. I am looking forward to seeing what he does next.

While some designers look back to influences of previous decades and even centuries, Nicole Miller is surely one step, or decade, ahead.

We sent our intrepid intern Maria Willis to Lincoln Center to cover the Adam show at this year's New York Fashion Week. She got the scoop from the Adam team about inspiration, influence and what themes they are channeling this year.

From Adam: Recently, I saw a small but breath-taking exhibit at the National Museum of the American Indian in lower Manhattan. The show highlights art and objects from Native peoples ranging from Alaska to Argentina. I have long felt the American Indian culture to be one of the most beautiful and I walked away from this visit inspired. This led to the colors, textures, and details that are the foundation of this collection.

TRENDS: Lace, plaid, 70s, feathers, mohair, knits, loose trousers, knee-length and mid-calf skirts and socks inside heels!

COLORS: cobalt, currant, claret, grey, thistle, gold, alabaster

Photo Credit: Dan Lecca

File this under possibly too much of a good thing – on the chocolate side, that is.

The New York Chocolate Fashion Show was just held in New York and pastry chefs and chocolate makers went all out – couture style – and created entire outfits made of chocolate. I guess it's a girls dream come true, but all I can think about is what M&M's always advertised – that they melt in your mouth, not in your hands. Can you imagine what's happening here?

The full report can be found on The Daily News. Click here to see more photos.

By Aihui Ong. Aihui recently launched Love With Food, a epicurean community where food lovers (and eaters!) share what's tasty and connect directly with their favorite brands. Aihui's other job is as Tech Strategist here at CC. She is by far my favorite lunch companion when I am in the Bay Area.

The New York Spring 2011 shows have just concluded here in NYC. We had a new location for the shows in Lincoln Center, which was ok, certainly cleaner and nicer and more protected from the elements than the Tents at Bryant Park. But I missed the convenience of the central mid-town location and the larger variety of vendors outside the tents like Starbucks and 'Wichcraft which make getting through days of standing in lines to get in and then sitting around waiting for things to happen more managable.

Forgive my digression, and here are my top picks from the Tibi show this season. The two main themes (as they are most spring collections) were whites and prints. Tibi did the whites very well and I also really liked the above copper jump suit. I would wear a cardigan over this jumpsuit because I always get cold, but I think that would compliment the shape of it, rather than hiding it. And the beige jumpsuit with palazzo trousers does well alone or again with a smart jacket or wrap over it as shown and a fun necklace or cuff. The tunic and capri pants is a staple for spring and summer for any age woman and again it is very flattering to most body types. Thank god for a tunic that covers the derriere, right?

When I look at the collections of a designer, I process it through the prism of my life and how I am busy and what is missing from my closet that would either stand alone really well or breathe new life into other old pieces. The Tibi choices I like best were more of the stand alones, but the cuts and styles are flattering for a number of different shapes of women. How would you wear them?

One of the topics we hear a lot about is what to wear during the daytime if you are attending an event that is a little dressy. Hitting the right note for the ladies who lunch circuit, or just an appointment where you want to shine.

In the front row of Elise Overland, we found a couple of different of examples of how to do daytime right.

Top: Artist Hope Atherton looks polished and professional in a silk two tone jacket that is perfect for daytime. She has paired it with a mini and tights, but if you needed a more conservative look, this jacket would be great with a pair of chocolate brown trousers and a pump.

Middle: Designer Minnie Mortimer pulls off an eclectic pattern and school girl combination – the key is in her tailored jacket that has a pattern that is a slightly smaller scale to her dress beneath, but they are in the same color palette. She has added knee socks and oxfords for a retro look, but if that is too much for you, tights and pumps would also work.

Bottom: Socialites Nicky Hilton (left) wears a NYC casual staple outfit, black jean leggings paired with a T shirt and black leather jacket. The collar of the jacket makes the look chic and dressier than a usual jeans and leather combo. Amanda Hearst (right) is wearing a trench coat and what I can only assume is a dress underneath as it's tough to see in this photo. But the effect is good- polished, tailored and perfect for daytime.

Glamourous gals in bejeweled attire were spotted everywhere this morning in the crowd during the rush before the Michael Angel show (which I attended, more on that later) and the Duckie Brown show.

Here are three examples of how to rock your daytime sequined look, from top:

High flame – top: a full on Harem pant in silver sequins. She paired it with a navy T and pumps for a tailored look. And old school shades. If you can dare, I just loved her look overall – it was like a “Who me? Sequins?”

Medium burner – middle: a chic vintage jacket embellished with pink and blue and green rhinestones with an all black supporting outfit made this a good daytime look. You might be able to wear it to the office, but you'd better be a designer or another creative, otherwise, evening for sure.

Simmer – bottom: A gold lame jacket is worn with a gold chain necklace to pump up the texture on this jacket. I would wear this jacket out to dinner with a pair of army green cargos and lots of gold jewelry.

Any of you planning on bringing the sequins and rhinestones out to play soon? Discuss!