What to Wear: Business Dinners

I've had to go on a lot of business dinners lately, usually straight from work, but sometimes I get the time to go home and change and refresh.  It sounds like it would be great to get that time, but all it does it stress me out!  To me, it means that there are higher expectations for what I'll look like when I reappear later!

My idea of business dinner appropriate means keeping it classic and conservative, but stepping it up a notch by playing with color, cuts, patterns and fabrics. I've been keeping my eye out for inspiration:

From left: Emmy Rossum in an amber Amanda Wakeley dress with gold accessories including Coomi jewels, Rene Caovilla heels and a Jimmy Choo bag; Kate Walsh in a bold red Salvatore Ferragamo sheath, Anita Ko jewels and Jimmy Choo booties.

I love the mustard shade on Emmy above, as well as Kate's bold red sheath. There's also the "shiny" element to both of their looks, which is always a night-time standout.

From left: Sienna Miller in a Twenty8Twelve LBD with sparkling platinum shawl; Carla Gugino in a rosette-embellished sheath, patent leather peep-toe heels, a blush clutch, Tito Pedrini earrings and a Carla Amorim ring.

If you don't want to spend a lot of money on a new look, another idea is to invest in a fun sweater or shawl like the one Sienna is wearing above, making the traditional LBD more night-time appropriate. Also, don't be afraid to have some fun with your attire, like wearing a bold rosette pattern like Carla's.

Here are a few fun styles that I've been looking at online:

From left:  Forever 21 Ponte Rosette dress, $19.80; ASOS Halter Drapey Dress in Celariac Lime, originally $68.13, on sale for $53.79;  Laundry by Shelli Segal cerulean leopard jersey quilted neck belted dress, originally $175.00 , on sale for $71.19;

I think each would be a great choice for any business dinner.