And just like that (sorry for the SATC reference) here we are again. December has winged its way around and I’ve already heard Mariah for the billionth time this year. But who doesn’t love getting dressed up for a party! It’s definitely one of my favourite parts of the festive season, when done right!
But I totally get it, it can feel so overwhelming, especially as we are currently in the midst of Black Friday and Cyber Monday offers. It might feel like you need to have every new trend in your wardrobe, a different party look for each occasion plus all of the novelty jumpers and pyjamas. Trust me when I say that YOU DO NOT!
So in today’s blog I’m giving you a rundown of some party styles you can try and how to style them. But first I want to take you through the beauty of second hand!
Second Hand Shopping
Ever walked down your local charity shop and been made to stop in your tracks by an unbelievable steal in the window!? Well that’s because second hand is where you need to be shopping. Especially for your festive wear looks. Too often, we have one event to go to and buy a whole outfit for it, to then only wear it once, tossed to the back of the wardrobe not to be seen until the next festive period. But then when we come to hunt it out again the trends have changed and so our interest and love of the piece has completely disappeared. So we head to the shops in hunt of the new festive look for the season and toss the other into recycling. This never ending cycle is what is leading to the climate crisis we are facing. But we can make small changes to help this. Here my three top places to buy second hand.
1. Charity Shops
I’m telling you, that high street charity shop that you ignore every time has some hidden gems! The number of times I’ve walked past the ones on my high street and been forced to enter because of something new I’ve seen is unbelievable. You’ll often find that charity shops will have freshly washed pieces and sometimes there will be new pieces still with tags on them. I would highly recommend giving Kavita a follow from @shewearsfashion who is the queen of charity shop shopping! She’ll fill you in on all of the top spots, ways to make your money go further and how to spot a bargain.
2. Vintage Stores
Especially for my city based girls you’re sure to find a vintage store gem. And the beauty of vintage is you know that no one else is going to have the same look as you. That retro feel where a lot of the old trends are making a come back means the vintage store is your best friend. One of my faves in London is Good in Covent Garden who have a range of second hand, vintage and one off designer pieces!
3. Online Platforms – Vinted, Depop, Ebay
Vinted is my go to. When I have done my own personal wardrobe clear outs, if pieces are in a good condition they will always end up on vinted and sell super quickly. So if your style has changed or maybe your body is different to how it was last year and you can no longer wear last seasons festive look, then why not try to sell it on Vinted and share the love. Once that sale is made and you have that pot of money, you can go on to buy something else on the platform and sleep well at night knowing you are making a little bit of difference in making fashion more circular!
Ok I think I’ve made my point. Now on to some festive wear ideas.
Sequins
So personally, I prefer a smaller sequin and if I were to invest in them I would try to look for a retailer that at least uses recycled sequins.
When picking your sequins there are a few key things I would look out for:
- Where are you planning to wear them? Sequins are so reflective and will bring a lot of attention to the area in which you wear them. For example, if you are more conscious of your bust area, you might want to avoid wearing sequins here to not bring further attention.
- Does the item have a good lining? Sequins can be itchy! A good lining means you can dance the night away without being scratched to death!
- Can you dress the item up and down? Sequins don’t just have to be for party wear. They can often work well with other items in your wardrobe like sweatshirts and trainers as more a dressed down alternative. That way the item can work just as well for a kids party as it would for a night out on the town.
And if you don’t want to go the full hog and wear an entire piece of sequins, why not try them in an accessory like a bag. There are loads of great options around and you are probably more likely to wear them in other ways with other looks.
Slip Dresses/Skirts
Now if sequins aren’t your thing and you would prefer something simpler and more versatile in your wardrobe then a slip dress or skirt is the perfect choice.
You can style them with pieces already in your wardrobe like a cashmere knit layered on top and they can easily work with a pair of heels or a flat shoe like the studded or diamante flat that are currently trending. Or if you prefer a casual look add on a pair of trainers.
The beautiful movement of a silk slip skirt or dress is so elegant and if you want to add a point of difference try going for a colour like a pop of cobalt blue or fuchsia pink.
If I were to wear a slip dress or skrit I would go for a head to toe monochrome look and wear a similar coloured knit and a heeled boot to keep me warm.
If you want to be a little dressier then you could add another texture like a velvet blazer to add further interest and dimension to the whole look.
Velvet
Velvet gives another option fo this time of year. You can even try a mix of velvet and sequins together like in a pair of trousers or opt for a velvet blazer in a deep and rich winter colour.
Velvet also works really well in accessories like handbags and because of the nature of the fabric you’ll have a really rich colour and regal feel to the look! Plus it will keep you nice and warm too.
If styling something like a black velvet dress I would work in another element like an interesting hosiery detail such as a spot print or vertical line paired with some black heels.
I really love party season but not the overwhelm that comes or feeling a pressure to always have something new. I have invested in a pair of trousers this year with a feather trim and have already decided on 5 different ways in which I’ll wear them. Plus I know I’ll be wearing them in to next year and beyond!
Need some further inspo? An oldie but a goldie, here’s one of my older party season blogs.
Or if you need some last minute help I have a few spots left for a festive shop, book in for a free Style Call and lets chat!
Have a stylish festive season!
