It’s that time of year when the Christmas parties are fast approaching and the thorny question of what to wear rears its ugly head. So, here are our tips for How to dress for the party season.

woman in silver v neck long sleeved dress

How to dress for the party season

It’s not always that easy to decide on what to wear and how formal/ dressed up/ casual to be. It’s a thin line between boring and over the top !

Here are just a few ideas of outfits to give you some inspiration for the festive season, and to take you from the office Christmas party through to New Year’s Eve !

Dress it up!

Bewitch in black

I’m a great fan of dresses and you can’t go wrong with a LBD. You can choose how much to dress it up or down, and you can even make some last minute changes when you arrive at the party!

For example, pop a statement necklace or some dressy earrings in your bag and when you arrive at the party if you feel underdressed just add some jewellery.

You can dress it up with a sparkly clutch and some heels too!

dress for the party season

My first option is a very simple black dress (above, from ‘The Kooples’ (last season), which you can choose to accessorise as much or as little as you like.

dress for the party season

My second pick (from ‘Sandro‘ a couple of seasons ago), already has a jewelled belt built in, so keep the rest of your accessories minimal.

Glitter in gold

dress for the party season

If you can’t wear gold at the Christmas party, when can you ? So , my next pick is this muted metallic dress (from ‘Michael Kors, again a few seasons ago), which has a hint of gold.

Rebel in red

dress for the party season

Red is always a good option for this time of year, and the dress above in simple red silk (‘Whistles‘ – last season) can also be dressed up or down. If you want to wear this in the day, just throw a black jumper over the top and pair with some boots for a dressed down version!

Opt for separates

dress for the party season

If you’re not a fan of party dresses, and/or the party takes place during the daytime, you may feel more comfortable choosing glamorous separates.

You can pair an elegant pair of dressy trousers, or a dressy skirt with a glamorous silk, lace or sparkly top.

I recommend black, wide leg trousers or a lace, pencil skirt as this classic silhouette is very flattering and glamorous, and you can then dress up or down with a sparkly top or a simple silk shirt.

Similarly, a dressy skirt with a simple black top has the same impact.

Dress up your jeans

If all of the above are too dressy for your taste, you can even choose to glam up your favorite jeans.

In this case, I would opt for sophisticated dark blue or black jeans and follow the tips above for black trousers.

It’s all in the details

A simple matter of updating your accessories can also transform your look. Here are a few ideas you might like to try.

Shoes

red and brown peep toe heeled sandals

Dress up your outfit with a great pair of heels – the simpler your oufit, the more you can experiment with heels. (for example, pairing bright red stilletos with a LBD).

Bags

A statement clutch, such as the one above will instantly make your outfit more dressy.

 Statement jewellery

A statement neckace or earrings will transform a simple daytime look to a more glamorous evening look

Make-Up

This is also the time you can have fun with your make-up, especially for an evening event. Try a gold eyeshadow and/or a bright, red lip.

I hope you find these tips helpful and that you have a fun, festive period and have a look here for more of our style features.

Happy Holidays!