Tis the season to get glam - and after all the cancelled celebrations and lockdowns last year, we are ready to make the most of Christmas for 2021.
Opportunities to dress up have been limited for a lot of us, and working from home means casual comfort is still top of the agenda most of the time, so I couldn’t wait.
Getting ready is definitely one of the most fun parts of the night for me.
There's a special pleasure in taking the time out to do skincare, a full glam make-up look and something different with your hair, accompanied with a glass of pre-game fizz and a mood-elevating playlist before slipping into an Uber to drink and dance the night away somewhere.
It's the decadence we're all so ready for right now.
The company I work for hosted a big Christmas party in a casino and after a full-on year of team restructures, I was set on making the most of it.
It was the Christmas party that almost wasn't, though, as the UK seemed poised for another lockdown to be announced at any moment. Every day I expected an email cancelling, but thankfully, it did go ahead in the end.
'Samantha' black sequin wrap dress | French Connection
'Julia' clear studded sandals | Amina Muaddi
'Lily' medium in 'Mushroom Grey' | Mulberry
'Fireworks' baguette bracelet | Suzanne Kalan
'J12' black ceramic watch | Chanel
'Sally' black faux fur coat | Topshop
The key to choosing the right Christmas party outfit lies first in gathering a little intel on the vibe. What setting is your party taking place in? What are you going to be doing? What is the company culture?
When I worked at a university, the mood was quite low key and tended to be more about Christmas jumpers than dressing to the nines - but there are still ways to style your Christmas jumper that are a little more edgy.
Or it could be a Christmas night out with friends where you want to get your glam on.
The second thing to consider is your body shape. What celebrates your best features? When you look good, you feel good and you can focus on having the best time.
Dressing up can feel a little bit overwhelming, especially if you don’t do it often- but the most important thing is just to have fun with it. Knowing the shapes that reveal and conceal in the right places for you and help to celebrate your best bits is a great strategy.
As an apple shape, I like to choose cuts that show off my legs and skim over my tummy area to feel my best. This dress of dreams is literally perfect for me.
The wrap style and v-neckline create a shape that draws the eye away from my midsection. The shorter hem length showcases legs and great heels. The covered arms with padding on the shoulders create a strong silhouette. It's pretty much ideal.
I also loved the fact this is an LBD (helllooo, comfort zone) with a difference (that megawatt sequinned finish).
The right dress is half the battle done. What else?
I love to go all out with accessories - they can take a party look to the next level, even if you choose a tshirt and jeans. The power of add ons to completely change a look is one of the most interesting and unexpected elements of styling.
In day to day life, I don't wear heels very much at all, but some occasions demand them. These crystal clear 'Julia' sandals from Amina Muaddi are an investment piece that will work for every outfit, thanks to their clear design.
The sculptural heel not only looks interesting, it also helps distribute weight better, making them a shade more comfortable than a lot of heels.
The ankle strap and clear spike details create that perfect mix of elegance and edge that really speaks to me (a former Emo kid now trying to be a bit more sophisticated!). They truly are my dream party shoes.
Adding in a simple and classic luxurious watch and a sparkly bracelet finished the look off. I also chose to carry my beloved Lily bag - mainly because it's one of the only smaller bags I have with silver hardware. But it's also an elegant and classic design that works well for any occasion. The grey leather works well with the black dress and silver toned accessories.
Wishing you the best and brightest festive season possible whatever you wear and wherever you go!
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