How dress to really up frumpy without feeling

Are your old standbys for instant glamour not cutting it any more? clare coulson unravels the new rules for party dressing…

Party dressing should be the fun part of the festive season – a chance to primp, preen, dress up and relax after all

the hard work. but the quest for the perfect party outfit can become just as fraught as all the other christmas prep… and it’s often coupled with the panic of wanting to look glamorous without being laden down with more glitz than a freshly trimmed tree.

so where to start? First of all focus on just one thing – a beautiful new dress, a spangly pair of party shoes or some statement-making jewellery. it’s a much more modern approach – and a lot less stressful. then forget about the traditional “festive” shades like garish red and instead opt for rich jewel colours – forest green, inky dark blues, deep burgundy or burnt orange – which are a far softer and more flattering alternative. and finally think about including something sparkly – it could be a cluster of shimmering jewelled brooches or the full-on sequinned dress – in the atmospheric glow of christmas there’s nothing better.