LJ Brainiacs - Help!

[ladysprite]

This isn't my usual sort of help request, and I don't know if anyone here will have a decent answer, but I figured I might as well at least put the question out here for any fashionistas or etiquette mavens who might read this.

I'm going to a fancy-dress party this weekend, and I have a truly faboo fancy dress to wear to it. The dress has a very highly decorated neckline, bodice, and straps - it's all over tiny copper and smoke and gold seed beads, and embroidery, and shimmery fabric, and I've always been told that with highly-embellished dresses, one shouldn't wear a necklace in order to avoid being too over-decorated.

However, the dress is also fairly low-cut, leaving me with a vast expanse of bare white neck and chest that looks pretty plain and nekkid without something else there.

So - necklace, or no necklace? Do I take the risk of gilding the lily and blinding people with sparklies, or do I try to be understated and maybe wind up too much so?

(And let me also take this moment to state that, while I love my job, I had thought of better accessories to my dress than the collection of scratches, abrasions, and lacerations currently covering my hands, forearms, and stomach. Luckily, the latter will be covered by the dress, and I think I have a pair of gloves that can hide the rest of my damaged flesh......)

Comments

[melissaagray.livejournal.com]

While I'm horrified to admit this, I'm actually kind of good at this fashion junk now. The reality is that you need something on you neck, regardless of the "gilding the lily" rule. With your red hair and the copper of the dress and your lovely alabaster complexion, I am sure you'll be quite the lovely and striking sight. They key is to play up this lovely stark contrast and not overwhelm it. A carefully chosen pendant (not too large) on a delicate gold chain hanging equidistant between the bottom of your neck and your dress neckline should be just enough to say “notice my lovely shin and delicate collar bones” without fighting with the dress. Costume jewelry should allow you to find something copper / burnt orange to keep you from adding too many new colors. I know I bought something like this at Bijoux Terner at Logan for very cheap. The sets that come with matching mild drop earrings should do you :)

[deguspice.livejournal.com]

"notice my lovely shin and delicate collar bones"

How do you expect her to be posed such that someone would be admiring her collar bones and shin at the same time?

(I hope that was a typo :)

[wcg.livejournal.com]

What she said.

(Though I'd emphasize your lovely skin. Your shins are lovely too, but I think you'd be tripping over the necklace at that length.)