What's in your closet?

Fashion guru Kensei Takeda offers tips on sparkling at holiday parties by mixing and matching accessories

By Nadine Kam

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Dec 13, 2012

~~<p>The holidays are stressful because, in defiance of the laws of nature, the two months between Halloween and New Year's Day seem to compress into two weeks. On top of that, even if you've been good about watching your cash flow in these lean times, peer and familial pressure tends to lead people to spend more than they can afford on gifts and holiday cheer.</p>
<p>Like modern-day Bob Cratchits—Ebenezer Scrooge's underpaid clerk in Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," who wrapped himself in a tattered comforter because he couldn't afford a coat — we'll head to the season's dinners and parties in our year-round togs without even thinking about picking up a festive new dress or top. Few can afford to be so frivolous as to purchase something they might wear but once a year.</p>
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The holidays are stressful because, in defiance of the laws of nature, the two months between Halloween and New Year's Day seem to compress into two weeks. On top of that, even if you've been good about watching your cash flow in these lean times, peer and familial pressure tends to lead people to spend more than they can afford on gifts and holiday cheer.

Like modern-day Bob Cratchits—Ebenezer Scrooge's underpaid clerk in Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," who wrapped himself in a tattered comforter because he couldn't afford a coat — we'll head to the season's dinners and parties in our year-round togs without even thinking about picking up a festive new dress or top. Few can afford to be so frivolous as to purchase something they might wear but once a year. Login for more...