‘I’m dreading his office Christmas party’
My husband has been promoted so I need to impress his bosses at their Christmas work do. I’ve been at home looking after our children for the past five years and rarely go to parties any more, so I feel out of the loop about fashion. How do I overcome my
First, you need the perfect outfit that’s chic, not too sexy and won’t leave you feeling over- or underdressed. Then you’ll have the confidence of knowing you look the part. I love this black velvet dress – it’s elegant and sophisticated. Wear it with a great pair of statement earrings and 70s-style platform sandals. Finish off with this incredible handbag, which will be a talking point in itself – it will draw people to you.
Drinking is a very personal thing, but you might want to have a fortifying cocktail before you go, so you’re not in a rush to get a drink at the party. Once you’re there, it will be up to you to make sure you have a good time, as your partner may be busy working the room. Smile, introduce yourself to people and don’t worry that you don’t know what to say; you’ll soon find that there’s plenty to talk about. Ask other guests whether they work with your husband and how they fill their days (rather than what they do for a living, in case they’re self-conscious about their job or they don’t work). And offer other women compliments about their outfits, which really breaks the ice.
Sometimes if I don’t know anyone at an event, I’ll challenge myself to get to know three people; or, as I sit down to dinner, I try to guess about the people at my table (are they married, divorced, what do they do for a living?), and then see if I was right. Remember, all the other plus-ones at the party are in the same situation and will be as keen as you to chat and meet new people. So go forth and have a great time!