Wrap yourself up in fun details for a holiday party

NEW YORK -- Any good gift-wrapper knows that a satin or velvet ribbon tied up into a perfect bow can elevate otherwise ho-hum wrapping paper. Why not apply this principle to holiday party clothes?

Ribbons, bows and vintage touches are inexpensive, easy ways to add sparkle to any outfit, especially this year, when the runways are full of girlie-girl touches.

"The one thing that is a great thing to buy is a lot of really soft vintage-y looking satin ribbons," says fashion designer Cynthia Rowley, who suggests wearing ribbons around the neck, as a belt or tied as a bow in a T-strap shoe.

Holiday glamour

Rowley and best pal Ilene Rosenzweig, a former style editor of The New York Times, draw inspiration from everything from the flapper to "That Girl" in creating their irreverent, sexy "Swell" style, which has led to book deals, a Glamour magazine column and a line of products at Target.

In "Swell Holiday" (Atria Books), their fifth book, they offer ingenious ways to be festive, flirty and original when putting together holiday party outfits.

You'll need confidence and style to spare to pull off some of their ideas -- like covering the front of a dress in jingle bells, wearing a vintage nightie with satin ribbon around your waist or topping off an outfit with a tiara -- but you won't have to worry about running into your doppelganger at the punch bowl.

Vintage stores and fabric stores are potential treasure troves of adornments: boas, brooches, button covers, feathers, men's ties, lace, costume jewelry and scarves.