What to Wear to the Christmas Party

Know which party it is

December rarely brings one Christmas party. It brings three: drinks after work, where you arrive in whatever you wore to the office; a dinner, where you sit for most of the evening and are seen mainly from the waist up; and the party proper, which goes on until someone turns the lights on. Each one rewards a different kind of outfit.

The common mistake is to treat them all the same, either by wearing sequins to the office or by wearing work clothes to the party that matters. Decide which kind of evening it is, then dress for the part of you people will actually see.

Straight from the desk

For drinks after work the outfit has to look right at nine in the morning and at seven at night. Velvet is the answer, because it reads as festive without looking as though you changed in the office toilets.

The Jeanne velvet blouse (£89.00) is black velvet with a ruched gold tone trim at the neck that ties into a long bow, and wide gold tone cuffs at the wrist. Under a blazer all day, it is a smart blouse. Take the blazer off at six and it is a party top. Wear it with tailored trousers, or with the Flavie velvet wide-leg trousers (£69.00) for something more deliberate: a high waist and a leg that sweeps the floor, in a ribbed velvet that catches the light.

Velvet on velvet works when the textures differ. A smooth velvet blouse over a ribbed velvet trouser looks layered and rich. The same velvet top and bottom can look like a costume.

The party proper: sequins, done well

Sequins are the most festive thing a woman can wear and the easiest to get wrong. The rule is simple: one shining piece, everything else matte. A sequin dress with a satin bag, metallic shoes and a statement necklace stops looking glamorous and starts looking like a tree.

The Constance sequin dress (£99.00) is a full-length mermaid shape covered in sequins worked in swirling florals, so it sparkles from every angle without looking flat. It holds you through the waist and hips and flares at the knee, with a plunging V softened by a sheer insert and a built-in bra, so there are no straps to worry about. It comes in burgundy, champagne, dark green, navy, pink and royal blue. For a Christmas party, burgundy or dark green looks seasonal without trying too hard.

Wear it with plain black shoes, small earrings and your hair off your shoulders. The dress is the outfit.

If you would rather not wear a dress

A jumpsuit is the modern alternative, and at a party with dancing it is often the better one. You can sit, stand and move without thinking about a hem, and a good one looks as dressed up as any gown.

The Margaux printed jumpsuit (£99.00) has a plush velvet-feel finish, an ornate floral print that climbs the legs and frames the neckline, and a front zip you can wear high for dinner or open into a deep V later. The wide legs lengthen you, especially over a heel, and there are pockets, which every woman who has spent an evening holding a phone and a glass will appreciate.

Boots for the walk home

In December the outfit has to survive the journey. If your dress is short, over-the-knee boots keep you warm between the taxi and the door and make bare legs look intended rather than brave.

The Thaïs boots (£99.00) are soft faux suede that rises over the knee, with a sharply pointed toe and a slim heel. Wear them high with a short dress, or fold them down into a cuff with a midi. Honest advice: a stiletto is for an evening of standing and sitting, not for ten hours on your feet. Choose them for the party, not the long day before it.

Let the bag be the jewellery

With a plain black outfit, one extraordinary bag is all the decoration you need. The Lisette clutch (£129.00) is shaped like a cluster of roses, every petal set with crystals, on an openwork frame that lets the light through. It holds a phone, a lipstick and your cards, with a slim chain if you want to wear it on the shoulder.

With a bag like that, keep your ears simple. The pavé huggies (£39.00) hug the lobe closely, with tiny stones set into starbursts around a polished band. They add a glint when you turn your head and never compete with the clutch.