The New Rules of Party Dressing

How often have you arrived at a party only to discover it’s on a rooftop, in a garden or even on a boat, and felt a large twinge of regret that your gorgeous outfit is going to be covered by grey wool all evening? Well, if you purchase this golden brocade coat by Prada, the only thing you’ll regret is attending a festive event in any room warmer than 20°C. Fabulous with anything, or nothing, underneath.

Warning: this dress is not suitable for wallflowers. But for anyone who wants to be talked about on the party circuit this season, it’s hard to beat this 1980s Christmas cracker meets Alice in Wonderland extravaganza, courtesy of Gucci.

Is there anything more insouciantly sexy than a casual scarlet slip? Is it underwear? Is it a dress? Who really cares? (Answer: every man in the room.) There are a few rules about wearing such an out-there piece of clothing: it must be relatively loose and ideally paired with minimal make-up and sparkly flats.

Tom Ford is the master of all things sensual, so it’s no surprise his latest collection focused on the most glamorous fabric of all – velvet. With a sneaky slit up the back and  matched with a plunging jacket, this skirt somehow manages to be regal and sexy at the same time. Wear it with a black silk negligee and killer heels.

Who says florals have to be confined to the summer months? After all, there’s nothing like a good bouquet to cheer up a gloomy winter day. This Marni dress strikes just the right note between sunny brights and sultry nights, cleverly contrasting a burnt sienna background with a deep purple floral foreground – a shade that will look fabulous with your winter accessories. See more beautiful floral fashion here.

If you’re going to break out of black, why not ditch the dress part as well and go for a hot pink sequin jumpsuit. Yes, you read that right. Trust us, this is a look so fabulous, people will soon start declaring you the winner of Christmas. The cool kids have been pairing it with battered trainers (yikes!) but it would look just as good with black stilettoes and a blazer.