Have you thought about what you’re going to wear over the festive season yet?

This may just feel like one more pressure on top of all the others – present buying/wrapping, menu planning, where to seat/sleep everyone etc – but if you give some thought to what to wear now, you can save yourself  a last minute panic and know you’ll look and feel your best during the festivities. Having said that, though, everyone is different, so if your Christmas is a very relaxed affair and your idea of bliss is to be able to  snuggle up in a cosy onesie or pyjamas, go for it!

For many of us, this is typically a sociable time of year, what with work do’s, lunches and nights out with the girls etc.  I know that a lot of us enjoy the opportunity to dress up a little over the festive period – myself included.  If you find yourself fretting about what to wear though, here are a few tips.

You certainly don’t need to get a new outfit for each event. There’s bound to be plenty of pieces in your wardrobe that could be dressed-up. A few well-chosen accessories can make virtually any outfit more occasion-ready. You might like to take a look at last year’s blog post Using Jewellery To Elevate Your Party Outfit for some inspiration.

If you are on the lookout for something new though, here are a few suggestions for key pieces that could mix and match with existing items in your wardrobe to take you effortlessly through several occasions over the festive season and well beyond.

The midi slip skirt

This silky skirt can be dressed up or down. Wear yours with a chunky knit and boots by day and dress it up with a sparkly top and heels for the evening.

The sequin/sparkly skirt

More dressy than the slip skirt, this will pair well with simple tops in luxurious fabrics such cashmere and silk for formal occasions. Depending on your preference, it could be a slim pencil skirt or a full swishy one. Again, it can be dressed down by wearing it with chunkier knits and footwear you already have in your wardrobe.

The velvet blazer

Velvet is a sumpuous fabric to wear in the winter months. If you’re not a girlie girl (or even if you are!) a velvet blazer will earn its place in your wardrobe over the festive season and beyond. Not only can you wear it with skirts and tailored trousers; you can also team in with jeans for more casual occasions. There are several brands offering matching trousers which make this an even more versatile option. A sharp, tailored jacket will work well for straightish body shapes, whereas curvier figures may prefer a more relaxed fit. Wearing your jacket undone can be a great way of disguising a big tummy.  You could wear your jacket over anything from a silky cami, to a cashmere sweater or pretty blouse.

A velvet jacket will also be useful as a throw-on over a dress for to get you from car to venue on New Year’s Eve.

The interesting/dressy top.

A nice top – whether sparkly, ruffled or just in a fabulous fabric or print –  can elevate plain bottoms. For example a silk blouse with tailored velvet trousers is a classic, timeless look. Adding jewellery and statement shoes will make it that much more dressy.  Equally, you could just wear it with jeans for a more informal look.

These basics will cover most of your Christmas dressing requirements. Because they are so versatile and can be dressed up or down, you will also be able to wear them for many occasions for years to come.

Take a look at my latest online catalogue for some ideas of where to buy them and how to put different looks together.