Fashion: Christmas sparkle

By LYNNE McCROSSAN
Published on 10/12/2012 12:00

The season of excess is upon us so it is time for more advice on how to indulge in a little dress decadence.

Last month we highlighted some of the main looks of this party season but now it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty of your outfit.

As invitations come flooding in for parties, lunches and festive get-togethers, there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to dress code.

Number one, you are never fully dressed without some short of shimmer. There are a ton of ways to take this, from full on sparkle to much more subtle accessories. Bead work on frocks is always massive come Christmas so it’s easy to get a hold of on the high street. Try a tame little black dress decked out in a spot of sequin to sass up the look. Remember, if your dress is embellished, try and keep accessories to a minimum with hair and make-up following a much more simple style.

If opting for a sequin dress is a bit too daring, there are other options out there. Piling a heap of accessories together to create a statement neckline is a sure-fire way of preventing bumping into someone wearing the same outfit as you. Pay no 
attention to the “less is more” fashion mantra and marry several pieces together to create one collective piece.

This is great for tarting up an older garment in the back of your wardrobe. By adding a few different accessories in strategic places you can create the illusion of a different dress for a fraction of the cost.

Metallics are always milling around at this time of year. Dare to be a little different by butching up a mini with some intense biker boots. This will counterbalance the sexiness of a skin-tight dress and give a much edgier feel to the overall aesthetic. Plus your feet will thank you for not forcing them into sky scraper heels when you are dancing the night away.

Studding is still a strong trend and it’s one which won’t be going anywhere come next season. Again the key to this is investing in a couple statement accessories. A studded shoe or belt can transform the look of an outfit giving it longevity in your wardrobe. Go girlie with a full-on sequin maxi dress by throwing a belt around the waist and finish it all off with festive feathers. Just remember it’s the only time of the year you can get away with excess, so fill your fashion boots.

Related Articles

• The king of bling

  There was Emily Mortimer in long, slinky black, plunged at the front to below her waist. Leah Wood looked uncommonly demure in midnight-blue satin, and then turned to reveal a totally bare back, a gleaming golden sun beaded across her tightly draped bottom. Mohamed al Fayed’s daughter Camilla struck gold in a brightly printed sheer satin top and skin-tight jeans. So whose glitzy party were we at? Versace’s, maybe, or Dolce & Gabbana’s?

• Three key looks for autumn

  WORKING OUT what to wear can be tricky at the best of times. It’s that time of year when the season’s fat fashion magazines pile up around the house, causing equal parts excitement - the clothes are so tempting and gorgeous - and stress - how on earth will you be able to translate catwalk couture into a wardrobe that you can actually wear, much less afford?

• Go for girlie glam this Christmas . .

  THE tree is up, the lights are on. With tinsel, mistletoe, greetings cards and mince pies everywhere, it's impossible not to feel full of Christmas spirit.

• Summer of love

  HOW many of you are on acid right now?" asked rock critic Joel Selvin of the crowd assembled in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park in January to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the summer of love. Then, "How many of you are on antacid right now?"

• Fashion: A state of tux

  IT'S AN enduring and universal fashion favourite, super-chic and disarmingly powerful. And like so much of the lexicon of modern style, it is rooted in the directional early work of the mighty Yves Saint Laurent. I'm talking, of course, about menswear's black-tie standard, which, for four decades, has been inspiring the wardrobe staples of the world's best-dressed women. I'm tempting you into the world of tux-redux.