Suits in the spotlight

Suits are also showing up on the party scene more and more. One suit shop that  attests to this trend is Los Angeles' The Suit Closet (thesuitcloset.com). "Suiting for women is definitely going through a revolutionary movement," says owner Vani Kumar.

"A suit no longer has to be straight-laced," she notes. "It can be dressed up or down," she begins. "Either a skirt or pant suit is fine for a casual cocktail party," says Kumar, whose preference is for solid colors such as black or sexy red.

When it comes to designers, Feldon suggests that Eileen Fisher is good for creating wardrobe basics. "Eileen Fisher usually comes up with simple shapes that can be jazzed up and down," Feldon says. "She uses good fabrics and allows room for your personality to enter. The garment doesn't rule, the person wearing it does.

"Another option is fabrics such as satins, silks or even cashmere wool," she says. What to avoid? "Pinstripes, which have "work" written all over them."

Good go-to fabrics include wool georgette and gabardine. Add a beautiful silk blouse of a soft color, such as an earth tone, or even a festive shell, she says, and you've got a great look with little effort.