Rising to the occasion (From Dudley News)

Rising to the occasion

7:00am Saturday 4th July 2009

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Glam up for summer occasions with our dressing-up box tips.

Who says the dressing-up box is out of bounds for adults? Forget fairy princess and think oversized corsages, fancy frocks and head-turning fascinators to fulfil your event dress codes.

Whether you spend your working days in comfy casuals or stiff suits, it's always a refreshing change to get glammed up to the max for a special occasion.

The Royal Family and society ladies may practically live in posh frocks and big hats but, for the rest of us, dressing to the nines in daylight hours is a rare thing.

It's time to head for those hat stands. Check your social calendar and get set to dazzle at this summer's events.

:: Race day It's all about making a dramatic statement with your headgear at the races, whether you're watching the gee-gees from a corporate box or waving your betting slip beside the track.

A day at the races isn't complete without a huge hat or over-the-top fascinator.

"It's the perfect opportunity to really go all out and experiment with colours and silhouettes, but don't mix too many colours so that you make more of a statement with one bold shade," advises Alain Mehada, head of personal shoppers at Debenhams in Oxford Street.

"Accessorise with wedges - so that you don't sink ungracefully into the grass,- and delicate jewellery in order not to distract from your hair piece."

Try: Hobbs monochrome Lilly wide brim hat, £75; Aldo blue Test head piece, £15; ASOS yellow one shoulder ruffle dress, £65.

:: Garden party It's important to bear in mind the unpredictable British weather when dressing for a garden party.

Pack both sunglasses and umbrella in your clutch... You never know if you'll end up eating soggy cucumber sandwiches or basking in the sunshine with Pimms.

"Make sure you carry a shrug or wrap, which will add interest to the outfit and can be slipped on or off dependent on temperature," Alain recommends.

The garden party look is all about English rose-style florals, whether you go for bold blooms or chintzy delicate prints.

"A floaty chiffon dress in a beautiful floral fabric will ensure you look super-feminine," says Alain. "Accessorise with pretty corsage detail peep-toe shoes."

Try: Per Una paint flower prom dress, £49.50; Dorothy Perkins yellow floral dress, £35; Marks and Spencer 40s blue tea dress, £49.50.

:: Traditional wedding With church bells ringing and a crowd of guests gathered for the happy couple, the bride is the only woman who should be centre of attention on the big day.

Ensure you don't steal the limelight in a too short/low-cut/extravagant number and steer well clear of white.

Alain advises: "Opt for delicate pastels or gorgeous nudes which will create understated elegance.

"Alternatively, monochrome is a key look at the moment, which is great as it's both flattering and catwalk hot. Accessorise with killer heels and a bold bright clutch bag for added punch."

Try: Debenhams Betty Jackson jacket, £60, and matching dress, £55; Matalan monochrome polka dot dress, £28; Wallis asymmetric wrap dress, £50.

:: Summer ball When you've received a gilt-edged invite for a summer ball it's a licence to turn up the glamour and switch to evening wear.

You have all winter to turn to boring black, so make the most of the high summer climate and experiment with opulent colour, teamed with a golden glow.

"A ball is a fantastic opportunity to make like the red carpet stars and really go for a full-on Hollywood glam look," Alain says.

"Go for sweeping full-length gowns in one of this season's striking rainbow shades. Mid-height heels will ensure that your feet are still up for dancing by the end of the night. A gorgeous wrist held clutch completes the look."

Try: Evans Grecian purple maxi dress, £60; Monsoon Merena blue embellished maxi dress, £225; Coast Luisa floral maxi dress, £175.

:: Stockists Aldo: 02078367692/www.aldoshoes.com ASOS: www.asos.com Coast: 0845 899 1119/www.coast-stores.com Debenhams: 08445 616 161/www.debenhams.com Dorothy Perkins: 0870 122 8801/www.dorothyperkins.co.uk Evans: 0845 121 4516/www.evans.co.uk Hobbs: 0845 313 3130/www.hobbs.co.uk Marks and Spencer: 0845 302 1234/www.marksandspencer.com Matalan: 0845 330 3330/www.matalan.co.uk Monsoon: www.monsoon.co.uk Per Una: 0845 302 1234/www.marksandspencer.com Wallis: 0845 121 4520/www.wallis.co.uk :: Ask the expert Q: I have tickets for a major festival in a few weeks' time and I'm looking for funky waterproofs with a designer edge.

A: Copy the celebrities and pack a mac from MandMDirect.com. Who cares if it's raining or not? The Designer Splashmac collection in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust features exclusive head-turning designs from Christopher Kane, PPQ and Sienna Miller's label, Twenty8Twelve. Sure to give you festival street cred, celebrities such as Jade Jagger, Jenny Frost and Jodie Harsh have all been trying them out for size. Each limited edition Splashmac is £9.99, available from www.mandmdirect.com now.

:: Buy it now Wimbledon fever is causing a commotion, or rather a racket, in fashion. Get into the champagne and strawberries spirit with this fruity necklace, £19.50, from www.whatsabouttown.com Fashion flash :: Tartan fashion army Stars and designers took to the tartan red carpet for the Scottish Fashion Awards, in association with Vogue.com. The fourth annual awards saw Jenni Falconer win the top spot for Style Icon, while Michelle Mone's Ultimo brand scooped Scottish Retailer of the Year. In Caledonian catwalk land, Graeme Black won Scottish Designer of the Year, while Paul Smith picked up Best Use of Scottish Fabric. For a full list of the award winners visit www.scottishfashionawards.com :: Bump bikini Coleen Rooney gave the paparazzi a sneak peek of her baby bump during her holiday to Barbados. She chose to sun herself in Mama-la-Mode's exclusive Melissa Odabash three-piece bikini/tankini set in coral. Available in sizes small to large, you'll need to splash the cash like the Rooneys - her beach outfit will set you back £165, available now at www.mama-la-mode.com

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