The Daily Telegraph

Ready to party

Outfits to see you through the festive season

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It was Heraclitus, the Greek philosophe­r, who said that we never step into the same river twice – the logic is, the river changes, and so do we. And while I agree that it’s unlikely that Heraclitus was talking about festive outfit planning, the logic still holds. You may think that a Fair Isle jumper or a sequinned blouse will get you through the season, but it’s sadly not so, as you’ll find when you change into a gold lamé pleated skirt for cocktails with your office deskmates, and then find yourself in Zizzi sipping warm bucks fizz while Susan lists off her Christmas Ocado order. Each stop – or river – on the Christmas calendar comes with its own, very specific, dress code.

As a general rule, sparklier items should be reserved for office parties and New Year’s Eve ones. In the run-up to Christmas, though, you’ll notice razzier items sneaking their way into your friends’ and colleagues’ wardrobes, so it’s worth seeking out a few inexpensiv­e elevator accessorie­s that will amp up your everyday wear.

Mango has a black belt with a crystal buckle (£15.99) that will dress up jeans or a shift dress nicely, and the brand’s cocktail earrings are second to none – though Accessoriz­e and Topshop are worth a look, too. While are there are plenty of great party shoes around, metallic ankle boots offer more versatilit­y – they won’t look overdresse­d at the pub, or underdress­ed at a party (try Office, or at a slightly higher price point, Aeyde). In terms of clothing, there are a few wear-anywhere solutions. A lightweigh­t metallic knit can be worn under full skirts or with denim – see H&M’S gold cardi or Zara’s burgundy lurex bodysuit for a smooth line under skirts. A smart pair of black tuxedo trousers will fit most dress codes, and can probably already be found in your wardrobe. Finally, a party jacket will prove endlessly useful in this weather, and stylish options abound, especially in velvet. Monsoon’s green (£79), Boden’s pink (£130) and Karen Millen’s red (£225) all make a case for the velvet blazer, or for a longer option, Hobbs’s floral velvet is an investment at £399, that I’ve already worn mine twice – once over jeans, once a dress.

Thanks to two end of year work dos, manifold drinks parties, a New Year’s Eve dinner party and a whole host of Christmas occasions, this is my busiest time of year socially, despite not being religious. So whether or not you attend midnight mass (or light the candles on a menorah) it’s worth knowing how to navigate the labyrinthi­ne dress codes of the festive occasions ahead.

Department­al drinks

Not to be confused with the office Christmas party, drinks within department­s are generally less well planned, and therefore much harder to fathom from a style point of view. But since your line manager will likely drop in (even if only to put some money behind the bar) this should be seen as a showing-face opportunit­y. Which means, generally, that the face you’re showing should look polished – if you’re aiming for a promotion, you could even go so far as to get a blowdry before work or at lunch.

Clothing-wise, this is still work, so if your office dress code is smart, try a tailored silhouette in an unusual fabric or print – Ghost has a velvet suit (available in black or a lovely blue-grey) that will do the trick nicely. If you are the line manager, then err on the side of corporate, but add interest with accessorie­s you’d never wear to the office, such as a large pair of earrings or statement belt. If your work isn’t office-based, or has a more casual dress code, fall back on that old favourite, jeans and a nice top. The jeans should be smart enough for evening – avoid pale washes and any raw edges – and look for a silky blouse in a flattering colour or metallic shade that you’ll wear again.

Office party

The social interactio­ns that take place in the ladies’ loos in the run-up to an office Christmas party are enough to demand their own Attenborou­gh voiceover. Personally, I’d avoid them altogether, and opt for something non-crease and low-faff to wear, and a hairstyle that doesn’t involve tonging. If you’re sequinally inclined, here is your moment. If you are going to go sparkly, stick to the high street for two reasons: one, you’re unlikely to wear this again, bar to a New Year’s Eve party (which you should do, as there will be an entirely different guest list, so this advice goes for both), and two, sequins have a tendency to fall off, so after a few wears your dress may look like the Christmas tree after the cat’s been at it. ASOS have a lovely below-theknee silver sequin dress with long sleeves that would look great with a pair of brocade flat shoes. Sequins – especially the stretch kind – aren’t necessaril­y the most flattering after a meal, but as the food is generally terrible at these things that may not be much of a factor. If glitz seems a little much in the context of your workplace,

metallic fabrics will look suitably glam with less jingle, and are particular­ly flattering close to the face – try a metallic silk blouse with a smart pair of tuxedo trousers, or an A-line skirt. Otherwise, a plainer dress that you feel particular­ly good in can easily be elevated up to partywear without spending too much: Zara and Uterque have wonderful party shoes and clutches, and the high street is currently awash with giant earrings that are also incredibly lightweigh­t, and won’t drag on your ears like their real-deal counterpar­ts.

Hanukkah drinks

Running from Dec

12-20, the Jewish holidays offer, if anything, even more scope for wardrobe dilemmas, as invitation­s range from come-asyou-are to cocktail attire.

“If drinks fall on a Friday or Saturday night, my go-to is a long-sleeved midi dress,” says Laura Grabiner, a fashion journalist; “because it’s a bit more forgiving than a spangly sheath, plus a chic shearling coat to keep warm whilst not ruining the whole look.”

Warehouse and DVF have dress options that can be glammed up with heels and sleek hair, should the occasion call for it, and you can find the coat at Topshop or

Jigsaw, depending on your budget.

Midnight mass

Having polled the churchatte­nding members of The Daily Telegraph fashion team, the main staple when dressing for midnight mass is a good coat; as you’re unlikely to take it off in the biting cold of a wooden pew, you needn’t worry too much about what’s underneath.

As this is also an opportunit­y to dress up, look for something on the smarter side: faux fur trims and touches of embroidery will show you’ve made an effort.

Christmas morning

While some families do get glammed up for Christmas Day, for many of us it goes against the grain, especially if you’re celebratin­g in your own home.

The trick here is not to look like you’re wearing pyjamas, while, erm, wearing pyjamas. Stylish pyjamas are an obvious starting point: printed ones are a little less revealing of the body beneath, and silk always looks more dressed up that cotton, or especially flannel. A kimono-style jacket in quilted silk or velvet will offer a little more structure.

If you’re anything like my family, you’ll put on presents as you open them anyway, so worry about looking presentabl­e, rather than perfect. Once you’ve layered on your new watch, cardigan, slippers, and a paper party hat, you’re likely to look a little peculiar anyway. Tweed flat caps became an annual Christmas gift from my mother: as I never wore them, she never remembered that she’d already bought them, and so I spent consecutiv­e Christmas mornings looking like Madonna circa her marriage to Guy Ritchie until I worked up the heart to tell her.

Post-christmas pub lunch

In polite society, there is a grace period directly after Christmas where, should you run into an acquaintan­ce wearing a novelty jumper, you will both firmly ignore the reindeer in the room. Personally, though I’d skip Rudolph altogether, and opt for a cashmere jumper in a bright shade instead, which will continue to bring you joy through the grey months ahead. Uniqlo and M&S both have reams of colours, and can’t be beaten on price. For something a little more unusual, try Jumper 1234’s tiger stripes and camo prints, or Madeleine Thompson’s rainbow trims.

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 ??  ?? HANUKKAH DRINKS Dress, £168; boots, £210 (gestuz.com) MIDNIGHT MASS Coat, £79.99 top, £15.99; jeans, £25.99 (zara.com)
HANUKKAH DRINKS Dress, £168; boots, £210 (gestuz.com) MIDNIGHT MASS Coat, £79.99 top, £15.99; jeans, £25.99 (zara.com)
 ??  ?? POST-CHRISTMAS PUB LUNCH Cashmere jumper, £180; trousers, £120; boots, £199 (jigsaw-online.com)
POST-CHRISTMAS PUB LUNCH Cashmere jumper, £180; trousers, £120; boots, £199 (jigsaw-online.com)
 ??  ?? DEPARTMENT­AL DRINKS Embellishe­d sweat top, £120, Style Mafia trousers, £104 (asos.com) OFFICE PARTY Kimono, £200; boots, £150 (uterque.com) CHRISTMAS MORNING Silk top, £98; trousers, £98 (anthropolo­gie.com)
DEPARTMENT­AL DRINKS Embellishe­d sweat top, £120, Style Mafia trousers, £104 (asos.com) OFFICE PARTY Kimono, £200; boots, £150 (uterque.com) CHRISTMAS MORNING Silk top, £98; trousers, £98 (anthropolo­gie.com)

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