How the fashion editors do festive (no turkeys here!)
Just one more week of that special but sartorially challenging time of year to go. take a moment to congratulate yourself on negotiating those office parties, drinks with school mums and formal festivities in whatever combination of sequins, Lurex, spangles and crushed velvet got you through.
this week, however, the style game changes somewhat. In place of the ritzy Christmas gatherings come ‘ casual’ drinks with neighbours and family get-togethers which — I would submit — are the very hardest festive events to negotiate in style.
My point is this: at a formal Christmas party you can be reasonably sure your to-the-floor spangled, semi-sheer confection will strike the right note (even if you did have to wear your Heattech vest underneath it).
But what about the dress code for the gathering in next door’s conservatory? A dress? trousers? Heels? How much jewellery? You don’t want to be the one swishing about in a lace midi and chandelier earrings while everyone else is in jeans, Christmas sweaters and novelty antlers.
And when your hostess offers you a pair of those heel-protector thingies (that stop bridesmaids sinking into soggy lawns in their stiletto heels) to protect her newly done floor . . . ouch.
DRESSING in the week before Christmas is a special challenge, and terrible fashion calamities can befall even the most confident and experienced of grownup dressers.
I’ve had my fair share of disasters. I had to endure an evening in a pair of ropey pop socks once when my beautiful, outfit-making Jimmy Choos were relegated to the hallway.
then there was the house party at which our hosts insisted we ate while seated on Moroccan cushions arranged on the floor — which would have been perfectly fine, save for the yards of sticky-out tulle in my Lanvin x H& M party dress, which arranged itself around me like a giant nest and managed to knock over my neighbour’s champagne glass.
Just to ramp up the style stress even more, you will no doubt be thinking about how you can re-purpose your Christmas party outfit for new Year’s eve. You don’t want to wear the same thing twice but, then again, who wants to spend even more money at this late stage in the game?
that’s where years of experience editing fashion comes in. Here, editors from the top glossies — grazia, elle, Marie Claire and myself from red — share their Christmas dressing rules. My own absolute golden rule? never forget what you really like wearing, which is so easy to do when the Christmas style pressure cooker is on.
Step away from ‘bad sparkle’
As A Bit of a magpie dresser myself, I could probably write a confessional memoir on this subject. But let’s take a few moments to tease out some of the issues. the stores are crammed with all manner of sparkle, glitter and shine at this time of year, but all sparkle is not created equal. sequins in particular can easily look very cheap and nasty indeed.
Marie Claire fashion editor Lucia Debieux advises seeking out sequins that are slightly matt, as they look more expensive than full-on sweet-wrapper shine.
I am inclined to agree. In fact, there is a fabulous gun-metal blouse at topshop right now, pictured below left (£26, topshop.
com) that would be perfect for a casual gathering with trousers and a stack-heeled boot.
similarly, I can’t tear my eyes away from a black and multicoloured sequin striped midi skirt at Zara, which puts me in mind of Missoni(£49.99). the understated way to wear it this week? With a black polo-neck, knee boots and oversized hoop earrings.
Layer a look for casual elegance
You can make items you already have look less dressy simply by layering them together. It’s a simple style trick that won’t cost you anything, says elle fashion editor Felicity Kay.
try a short dress over cropped trousers, a wrap dress worn open like a robe, or a slinky coat over a shorter dress — but don’t layer so much that things get fiddly.
We have all worn things we think work so long as something is tucked here or pulled there. Don’t do it. You don’t want to be pulling at your outfit all night, you’ll just look uncomfortable.
Use the appliance of foot science
Now you’re less likely to be attending dos-with-a-dancefloor, give your feet a muchneeded break. I am a notso-secret fan of Marks & spencer’s Insolia heels, which are unbelievably forgiving even when you’re standing for ages. the design — which is approved by the UK College of Podiatry — cleverly redistributes your weight away from the balls of your feet, reducing pressure and increasing ankle stability.
Just so you know, I particularly adore the Cinderella stilettos currently in store in hot pink, with giant diamante pilgrim buckles — pictured above (£35, marksandspencer.com).
Bare arms? There’s no need to freeze!
GRAZIA editor natasha Pearlman says she can never understand why some people wait until the coldest months of the year to strip down.
Her favourite dresses have long
sleeves and she prefers to add interest with a statement sleeve or a print — as with the cosmic dress from rixo.co.uk, that she is wearing in our main picture.
Not only will a longsleeve dress stop you shivering all evening but it’s easy to dress down for a casual party or up for New Year. Similarly, says Natasha: ‘Open toes, freezing cold weather . . . absolutely not!’
I would add to this that it is — in my opinion — better to put layers over than under.
I’m a chilly mortal so I have done plenty of experimentation. After all, if you’re too hot with a coat slung over your shoulders, you can just shrug it off. This isn’t so easily achieved (at least not while retaining any dignity) with a pair of thermal cycling shorts.
Tone down shine with texture
MIXING sparkly pieces with different, more ‘day’ textures — be they brocade, wool or leather — is the creative way to calm down a sparkly look so it doesn’t look too much like overkill at a casual gathering.
I love the idea of a fabulous ruffled shirt over black sequined trousers from Coast (£39,
coast-stores.com, pictured right), a black silk bomber jacket and embellished velvet mules from Boden (£88.20, boden.co.uk).
Forget faux fur stoles ...
I OWN several and have never satisfactorily integrated one into my outfit. I always seem to end up carrying them around like some random soft toy.
... banish those boleros ...
WHILE we’re on the subject of things to simply banish from your Christmas wardrobe, says Marie Claire’s Lucia Debieux, add boleros to the list. They never look good.
If you want to cover your arms, find a dress with sleeves or choose a blazer. There are so many amazing velvet blazers out there, such as the one from Boden that Grazia editor Natasha has picked out (see main picture).
… along with any so-called cover up
IF IT’S described as a ‘coverup’ then leave it on the rail, says Elle’s Felicity Kay. Much less staid and formal to pick out a blazer or just a beautiful coat and wear that over your dress.
Dare to wear clashing earrings
WHAT I mean is, don’t match your outfit to them — it’s fine for them to match each other as a pair. Matching earrings to your outfit, though, can look rather ageing, so go for something contrasting such as the showstopper H&M danglers I am wearing with my L.K.Bennett dress here (main picture, far left).
Yes, you still have the same body
Your body does not change shape radically just because it’s Christmas — a little extra padding courtesy of the mince pies and prosecco, maybe, but that’s it.
Natasha Pearlman agrees, advising women against suddenly venturing into previously uncharted fashion waters just because it’s that time of year.
‘That is one of the big lessons I’ve learnt from being in fashion,’ says Natasha. ‘ Stick to the shapes that work for you — change the colour, change the material but don’t change the style.
‘If you wouldn’t wear a short skirt in normal life, then why would you try one now?’
Give as much thought to the bag
PEOPLE get so wrapped up in their Christmas wardrobe choices, says Lucia Debieux, they can totally forget about the bag.
A casual gathering with friends often means standing around without a table on which to put a clutch down, so a crossbody bag is the perfect answer. When New Year parties come around, it will also be the perfect companion when you’re dancing.
Uterque’s ribbed velvet bag, pictured here (£95, uterque.com) or Massimo Dutti’s mini leather crossbody bag with mock croc finish (£59.95, massimodutti.com) are both very stylish.
And if you want to clutch something
THEN, says Elle’s Felicity Kay, try one of the beautiful silk pouches that are in the shops now. They look much cooler and less formal than a boxy clutch, plus they are a fraction of the price and easily available on the High Street. Mango and Zara have both done lovely ones.