Fashion
Invite only! What to wear to a festive house party!
Afestive house party can be fun, but what to wear? Too casual and you could stray into wallflower territory, but overdressed and you risk tried-too-hard territory. “This might be a get-together with people you don’t get to see regularly or you haven’t seen in years,” says fashion expert Lorna Claire Weightman, founder of styleisle.ie. “At the same time, you don’t want to be like the girl in the old Mastercard ad, who blows the budget to impress at her school reunion.” So the question is: where is the sweet spot of relaxed dressing while still feeling suitably festive?
The best place to start is with what you would normally wear out when meeting friends for a drink. “When we go out at Christmas we tend to over think,” says Lorna, “but this is a good starting point because it indicates what your preferred casual style for going out is.”
If you’re going to try a new trend, then Lorna suggests shopping in a good value shop like Penneys. “At this time of year, we tend to buy for a particular event, but as festive clothing can look so seasonal, you might have to wait until Christmas next year to wear it again. Don’t invest in these buys, unless you can say, ‘I’ll be wearing this in March.’”
Separates rather than a dress win Lorna’s approval. “We tend to associate a dress with formal occasions. A top and skirt, or top and jeans combo is less formal in terms of structure, but you can dress it up.” However, Lorna advises against full- on Christmas tree level decoration. “Sparkle is great with sequins and glitter, but you can also add luxury with texture – think velvet, leather and touches
I prefer a pair of boots instead of sandals for a house party. Ankle boots go with everything, as do a pair of suede knee high boots