From career woman to holiday hostess - Beauty and Style For the New Black Woman

YOU'RE a professional Sister, a go-getter who knows exactly what to wear and how to wear it when you're climbing the corporate ladder or when you're schmoozing with coworkers at the annual office party.

But what do you wear when your home--condo, house, apartment, townhome--is the official party headquarters for a few hours? As party hostess, you will be the one floating around your abode serving hors d'oeuvres (or directing your hired help), initiating conversation with the wallflowers, and keeping the party line going.

You want to look good, but comfort is also most important.

According to seasoned holiday hostesses such as Tracey Hughes, associate product manager of the U.S. Fabric Care division of Colgate-Palmolive, your at-home party attire should be fashionable and functional.

"When I'm entertaining, I'm focused on ensuring that my guests are well-fed and having a wonderful experience," she says. "One minute, I'm in the kitchen cooking and serving; the next minute, I'm in the party area visiting with friends. I'm definitely on the move until the last guest has departed. You will find me in a sleeveless top, comfortable slacks or a long skirt with a comfortable pair of mules or heels."

New Yorker Nadja Payne, special events manager for Macy's department store, says her personal style and comfort level are never compromised when she's hosting a party.

"My everyday style doesn't change when I am a guest at a party; but when entertaining, I am most comfortable dressed in slacks, moderate heels and a nice, flowing blouse, simply because I'm also the most active," she says. "The constant moving to make certain that everything is presented well and that all my guests are taken care of keeps me on my feet, and I need to be comfortable and fashionable."

Chicagoan Anita Green agrees. As president of Anita Green Relocation Management, she regularly introduces newly relocated professionals to various Chicago-area neighborhoods that are compatible to their lifestyles. And she often entertains clients in her home.

"Many times, I feel that my neighborhood would suit a client best, and I'll throw a dinner party or take them out on my patio for lunch," she says. "When I am the guest at a party, I like to wear unusual conversational pieces, such as jewelry that I've collected from trips abroad. But while entertaining at home my preference is casual. I like to feel natural and wear easy, elegant attire. It makes people feel more at home in my home and that is very important."

What you wear will instantly convey your mood to your houseguests, experts say, so achieving the right look is an essential part of making your big night a success.

Achieving just the right look and adopting a hospitable mood begins with advance preparation. Some experienced party hostesses suggest laying out your entire outfit (including accessories) the night before, and allowing yourself at least a full hour to get dressed before your party. This will help to keep you calm and to appear confident and at ease when your guests arrive.

It is also important to select shoes and accessories to meet your specific needs. For instance, if you anticipate that you are going to be standing on your feet for the majority of the night, save the high heels for another time. But don't make the mistake that some Sisters make by wearing socks or dingy footwear. Keep in mind that having guests over for dinner usually requires putting something fashionable on your feet, be it a pair of sexy, feathered slippers or a pair of classy, low-heeled sandals.

Functional and comfortable hosting attire doesn't mean that you should walk around in that old Santa jogging suit. You can be comfortable and sexy, too, says New Yorker Audrey Batts-White, director of urban marketing for J Records.

Batts-White says that attending parties is a must in the music industry, and "there aren't very ninny `no-nos,' since most of our parties are at nightclubs."

But when she's the party hostess, the music exec prefers to tone things down a bit--and she accomplishes this without muting her sex appeal altogether. "When I'm entertaining guests, I keep it simple with slacks or nice jeans coupled with a seasonal top," she explains. "I like to put a sexy, spin on everything."

Caution: If you're planning to show off your curves, choose an outfit that will be conducive to the constant hugging and maneuvering that your job as patty hostess will demand. You don't want to spend the majority of the night feeling self-conscious about your attire.

When choosing your accessories, less is more. If you choose to wear your chandelier earrings, don't wear additional dangling pieces that can become a distraction. If you're partial to wearing bracelets, make sure they don't move around too loosely on your wrist; if you're handling expensive glassware keep your rings to a minimum to avoid scratching your wares.

Above all else, the single most important accessory to wear is a smile on your face, advises Green.

"It's up to the hostess to create the mood of the patty," she says. "You should listen to yourself, know what makes you feel good and go with the flow. No one wants to party with a scrooge."