How to dress for the Christmas party season

Whatever you wear, remember to stay true to your personal style

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Tis the season to be stylish but for many of us Christmas parties tend to pose a sartorial dilemma. After all, it’s scarcely a one-time thing - there’s the annual work do, festive drinks with friends, Christmas Day and then New Year’s Eve. What’s a girl to do?

The conflict between fashion and the festive season is an enduring one as the lure of looking Chrsitmassy straddles a fine, albeit gittering, line. Put down the sequins, the novelty knits and the wobbly antler boppers and instead, dress to thrill.

In the face of pre-bash hysteria, there really isn’t much to it. Party dressing is far from the fashion quandary of the year so have fun with it but remember to stay true to your personal style.

Kimono Jacquard Suit, £100, Asos

Whether you have a penchant for amped up glamour, prefer to keep it sleek or want to ditch the idea of a dress altogether, the festive season is the perfect opportunity to try out a bold new look.

A little black dress is always going to look great. It’s simple, effective and easy to put together for the party period but in an ocean of LBD’s how can you stand out? First of all, it doesn’t have to be meek and unassuming – choose a style that packs a little punch. Go asymmetric, strapless, semi-sheer or, our favourite, full on goth-glam.

Wearing black is a great opportunity to let your accessories do the talking too so skip the sequin dress and work the festive beads into your look with a statement bag. Of course, if you really can’t resist the temptation to invest in a little seasonal bling opt for metallics instead.

If you don’t do dresses at any other time of the year, don’t feel obliged to do them now. Luckily, a smoking suit is always on par for the party scene and the more androgynous the better. If you’re feeling really adventurous try out a snazzy jacquard print or the must-have material of the moment – velvet.

Festive dressing might not be about sparkly dresses anymore but that doesn’t mean it should be wishy-washy so switch up your holiday look and give those old favourites some serious oomph. The braver, the better. It’s party season after all.