Festive Dressing 101: Four Dance Friendly Party Outfit Ideas

With thanks to Bromley Picturehouse for the wonderful location! You can check them out here.

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Despite having a pretty fruitful wardrobe when it comes to dressing up this time of year- often, if I haven’t planned ahead before some Christmas drinks or an evening of dancing, I’ll knee jerk my way into a ‘jeans a nice top’ scenario when there are sequins, lamé and tulle in my wardrobe that have been COUNTING DOWN the days until December- quelle horreur!

So today I present you with four festive party and dance-friendly outfit ideas that’ll see you from pints at The Queen’s Head to a slouch on the sofa at the end (or the beginning) of the evening- because who said a two piece suit needed to leave the house at all?

Whether you’re having a night on the tiles or a night cooking on your tiles- dressing up is what you make it of it this time of year- and there’s no need to save any of these ideas for best- I promise.

The Little Pink Dress

Let’s be honest- can one ever go wrong with a little pink dress? Smocked? Check! Metallic? Check! A GREAT SCALLOPED COLLAR? Check! It’s great dress bingo with this Stine Goya number– and whether you’re wearing it with trainers (for a Lily Allen inspired get up), ankle boots or something a little more girlie like these Rouge Matilda Mary Jane’s- it’s what my dad (and I) would call a solid all rounder- and something I know I’ll be wearing from winter until summer. It’s sugary sweet and contains every element of a brilliant party dress. TEN POINTS.

(dress and Sophia Webster bag loaned for a project from Fenwick)

The Little Vintage Studio 54 Number

…or cooking turkey chic if you’re having a self deprecating day- WHICH WE ARE NOT FRIENDS. I picked up this dress from Depop in the summer, and although it was far too short for me then- I’m still clinging on to it in the hope that because it’s party season people will un-see that even for my short legs, it’s more like a silver tunic. BUT! It’s what Twiggy would have done! I’m using it’s shortness to embrace an era of liberal mini-skirt wearers and disco dancers- because at the end of the day, what looks better reflecting off of a disco ball? MORE SILVER!

(dress from Depop)

The Silk On Silk ON SILK

And finally- the grown up dinner get up. If your party season consists of more seated affairs, I thought I’d throw in some sassy mature silk- and a double whammy of it too. Although the dress looks beautiful styled solo, layered with a big collar it says BUSINESS. I love the tonal look of mixing two shades of purple, and in my opinion this says Quality Street fancy like nothing else. Eat, drink, be merry and wear purple!

(dress gifted from Ghost, shirt from Emin and Paul)