Festive Fashion Fun
For some of us, the ‘Season of Goodwill’ is a welcome chance to have fun with fashion. For others, choosing an outfit for a work Christmas meal or a New Year’s Eve party can leave us with yet one more thing to worry about. I don’t believe in fashion rules, but if you’d like some guidelines, read on.
‘My True Love’: Stay True to your Style
Whether it’s a formal do with the boss, a chance to let your hair down with friends or a cosy meal with family, it can be tempting to think we have to don a specific ‘festive’ style.
If your usual look is natural and casual, wearing a sequin dress because it’s Christmas may leave you feeling more fake than fabulous. Instead, stick to your usual style. If you’re happiest in jeans and a tee, wear your smartest jeans and ‘nice top’ plain tailored shirt, or simply swap your puffer coat and trainers for a blazer, smart biker jacket, or a wool coat. Even ‘heels’ don’t need to be high to be dressy and popular choices in women's wear this year are kitten or ‘micro’ heels or try flats with pointed toes.
‘Slip a Sable* Under the Tree’: Choose Festive Fabrics
One way to feel more Christmassy whilst staying true to your individual style is to choose fabrics with a more luxurious feel. Popular choices for festive nights out are silk, satin, velvet and sequins. If your style is more natural or classic, then you may find sequins too fussy. If that’s the case, keep any bling to your lower half, the colours neutral and the lines sleek and classic.
Another temptation when it comes to Christmas is to forget that not every trip out or venue will be warm so your short-sleeved polo shirt or strappy top isn't necessarily the way to go. Keep it luxurious but cosy with knitwear, suede and leather (or vegan equivalents). A simple jumper with a satin skirt, or a knitted dress or co-ord will keep you warm and festive.
‘I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas’ – Choose Festive Colours
As with style, don’t feel that you have to wear colours you’d not be seen in the rest of the year. If you’re going somewhere smarter you might be tempted into the traditional LBD (little black dress), but black is a fabulous colour on very few of us. If you’ve had a colour analysis, stick to the best colours from your palette so that whatever style you wear, you’ll be looking your best.
If you do like to shine, a professional colour analysis will help you to choose between silver or gold. You can even do a rudimentary check of whether your complexion, hair and eye colour are likely to suit gold (warm) or silver (cool). Let me know if you’d like to do my free 5-question quiz. Even if you do know your seasonal palette, be aware that many of the golds in the shops may be more of an antique rather than bright gold, perfect for Autumns but which could make Springs look sallow … only useful if you want to get out of one of those social events by pleading illness!
Of course, red and green are the colours traditionally associated with Christmas, and as the ‘true red’ – that sits in the middle between cool and warm shades – suits every skin tone, wearing red is a foolproof way of having some festive fun with your fashion whatever your gender whilst still looking fabulous. This year, I think I’ll opt for my dark neutrals for a little sophistication and simplicity which for me are bright navy and a dark, warm chocolate brown.
‘Five Gold Rings’ – Elevate through Accessories
I’ll also be brightening up my festive outfits with some golden bling. Accessories are a fun and useful way to elevate our everyday looks for party season. Add some earrings, some lip colour, a gold chain to your cross-body or shoulder bag and you’re good to go.
‘Greensleeves’– Keep it Sustainable
As a sustainability stylist, I’m aware of the difficulties of trying to have a ‘green’ Christmas. All too often, outfits are bought to be worn just once; even with good intentions when the next Christmas comes around we may find last year’s special purchase no longer fits. It’s also the time of year when we’re most likely to buy clothing as gifts, only to find that they remain wasted and unworn.
Fabrics with embellishments like sequins also present risks to the environment. Usually made from petroleum-based plastics, they have a negative impact on the environment and human health when microplastics enter our waterways. Concerned? Buy preloved to rescue from landfill or source sustainable alternatives: Aspiga for instance use sustainable sequins.
And finally…
Have some festive fun with your fashion, but don’t stray far from your best colours, your preferred style, the brands you usually buy from or your ethical principles.
*For the record, I won’t be asking for a ‘sable’ (animal fur) under the tree.
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