The best party outfits for the festive season

If you’re looking to invest in just one piece that will see you through party season after party season, year after year, then it has to be the little black dress. It’s been iconic since the 1920s for a reason: it goes with everything and is inherently elegant and timeless. Pair it with black accessories for the full look, or add pops of colour with your shoes and jewellery.

Red is a fashion trend that is not going to go away anytime soon, and it just happens to work perfectly for Christmas too. Try John Lewis’ short-sleeve asymmetric dress, M&S’ bow detail mini dress, Mango’s red sequin dress or Massimo Dutti’s slip gown. Try accessorising with metallic court shoes and a red clutch bag.

If there’s a time of year when it’s perfectly acceptable to wear sequins from head to toe, from morning to evening, it’s the festive season. So if you want to go all out and shine, we’ve found some great styles for you from the likes of Zara, Matalan, Reiss and Next. Sequin dresses deserve to shine (excuse the pun), so keep the rest of your outfit as minimal as possible thanks to paired-back accessories.

Not everyone loves dresses, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other options to dress up for a party or event. A great suit, co-ord or jumpsuit works just as well. We love Primark’s waist coast and skort, Pull & Bear’s denim jumpsuit, Reserved’s elegant black jumpsuit and Zara’s knit cardigan with matching pleated skirt.

Don’t underestimate the finishing touches that will absolutely make your outfit. A good pair of shoes can elevate any outfit, from a little black dress to a suit or something a bit more casual. And if you don’t like wearing heels, that’s not a problem either. There are plenty of pretty flats that will have you hitting the dance floor all night.

When it comes to party bags, it’s time to downsize and swap your usual tote bag for something a bit smaller, like a clutch or crossbody bag. If it happens to be embellished with a sequin or two, then even better. If you’re looking for an investment purchase, then the JACQUEMUS clutch is one you will not regret making. Shrimps’ beaded bag is great for parties but also wedding season. Other great buys include Russell & Bromley’s silver clutch and Stradivarius’ mini beaded bag.