If there's one piece of advice I can dispense this festive season, it's that you spare your sequins. I'm serious. Nothing is worse than showing up to a Christmas party and being blinded by the sight of seven silver dresses. It's an amount of sound and light that is frankly excessive. Yet come October the shops are already brimming with the stuff, signalling that this is an essential item in the festive wardrobe. I’m here to tell you that it is not – and fashion’s insiders and “it girls” agree with me. “Don’t be tempted to compete with the Christmas tree,” says fashion designer Amanda Wakeley. “There is only one winner there and it won’t be you.”
Christmas party dressing has been “a thing” for as long as I can remember. At least on the high street, anyway – no designer in their right mind would ever send anything resembling tinsel down the runway. And yet, every festive season this lurid, mawkish way of dressing suddenly becomes ubiquitous. There are those cartoonish jumpers with slogans that make me wince. “Sleigh the patriarchy,” anyone? Then there are the ludicrously bright greens and reds, which, when worn together, are deeply unflattering. And then, as mentioned, there are all those damn sequins. Not all of it is terrible – I’m a firm fan of crimson hues and all things velvet. But most of it absolutely is. And nobody who has any sartorial sense will be caught dead in any of it.
This story is from the December 04, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 04, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
How a 'tone deaf' decision plunged the RFU into crisis
Anger over the payment of a large bonus at a time of financial strife has imperiled the governing body’s chief executive
Young Lionesses dominate with win over Switzerland
Grace Clinton’s early finish proved the winner as England concluded 2024 with a 1-0 victory over Switzerland in a friendly at Bramall Lane.
The Arsenal model United must follow under Amorim
In preparing for Arsenal's fixture against Manchester United, Mikel Arteta faces a problem. He must try to anticipate what Ruben Amorim might do, which is difficult when the United squad are still in the early stages of adapting to the manager’s approach.
Why Shein is no worse than some firms listed in London
The fashion retailer has been attacked for using forced labour and tax dodging. But, says James Moore, the LSE is full of firms despoiling the planet. Where do we draw the line?
Journalists set to strike over proposed sale of Observer
Journalists at two national newspapers are launching a 48-hour strike today in protest at the planned sale of one of the titles. Members of the National Union of Journalists NUJ) at The Guardian and The Observer are walking out for the first time in more than 50 years.
'The people brought it back'
Gala's Eurodance classic 'Freed From Desire' is everywhere, from football matches to protests. She tells Kevin EG Perry about the song's meaning and her fight to reclaim her work
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
Mocked for her weight, talent and 'poshness', a decade of fame for Keira Knightley has been trial by media. As 'Black Doves' hits TV, Katie Rosseinsky says enough is enough
Labour says the railways can only get better. We shall see
A week is a long time in the Department for Transport (DfT).
JINGLE BELL FROCK
It might be December but that doesn't mean your outfit has to compete with the Christmas tree. Olivia Petter is here to help you ace office party season dressing - minus the sequins
Boys will be boys - what matters is how we react
We call them 'bros' and criticise their behaviour. But is it that simple? Steve Biddulph, an expert on raising boys, thinks it is something deeper and tells Lorraine Candy that we need to look at our own behaviour before criticising theirs