In my annual and unashamed return to classic Christmas movies and enjoyable Hallmark fluff, I always love the outfits. Velvet, sequins and lashings of sparkle make each character party-ready. I don’t live in Vermont and I’m not invited to any picturesque castles for Christmas, so dramatic outfits aren’t really required. Add the potential for Christmas Day to be over 30 degrees C, and velvet sounds downright unappealing.
However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of functions that require a bit of Christmassy dressing. Read on to find some tips to make finding the perfect outfit as easy as watching A Christmas Prince.
For the office Christmas party
Office Christmas parties are always a little tricky. Generally speaking, whatever you chose has to go from office to party seamlessly. It’s also good to keep in mind the professional side of the situation, so you might save some of your more casual or more dramatic looks or later.
For a daytime do, a 40s inspired look with high-waisted trousers and red and green accents are the perfect way to go. Dress up your sensible heels with fun tartan bows, or sneak in a cheesy Christmas earring. The opportunities are endless.
In your work party is a more formal, evening affair you can’t go wrong with a red dress. Pair it with a professional bolero and you can take it from day to night in one easy swap. And have fun with your accessories and shoes, ladies. It’s an easy way to add the Hallmark sparkle, without going overboard.
For Christmas lunch with the family
As I mentioned before, gingham dresses are all the rage at the moment. Dramatic sleeves and relaxed but figure flattering shirring make for the perfect Christmas lunch outfit. I made myself another Romantic Dress, this time in red and white which I plan to bring out for the day.
The great thing with this dress if you can make it lean casual or dressy through shoes and accessories. For running around the kitchen doing prep, white sneakers will be perfect, but pairing it with some fun heels and dramatic earrings can bring the glam.
For your NYE plans
Confession: I have always wanted to go to a super formal NYE event and bring out all the sparkly things. However, the reality is usually a big family gathering. We eat leftover Christmas food while wearing glo-stixs, before running around telling ‘haven’t seen you since last year’ jokes. And that is a very good time. It does not, however, call for floor length sequins.
A comfy, cool dress is a good choice for warm Australian NYEs. A black, halterneck midi in linen is a chic option, especially paired with some dramatic earrings and a pair of heels.
Very casual do? High-waisted, relaxed jeans and a statement top will serve you well. I like to add sparkle with on my nails and jewellery, so there’s still a touch of special occasion to the whole look.
You could very easily recycle any of the above looks for your NYE plans. After all, if you’ve found a winning formula, why change it?
