No, of course not. Although lots of your fellow party-goers probably will – Kurt Geiger recently reported that sales of their 12cm-plus heels had quadrupled. But there is a growing movement towards the flat party shoe. Alexa Chung has made this her thing. Party flats are for the footwear connoisseur – too-high heels are a bit “here come the girls” ads. If you go flat then the rules of sartorial balance say that they must be fancy and embellished. Look for leopardprint gentlemen’s slippers or a bejewelled toe.
Jewelled ballerina, £49.99, by Zara, zara.com Photograph: PR
Yes, but you’ll feel more on trend if you go for an all-singing, all-dancing pair of cocktail earrings. Seek out bows, chandeliers, pearl drops or vintage-looking pieces, but draw the line at novelty or Wagner-ish dream catchers.
Gold-plated zig-zag earrings, £54, by House of harlow, asos.com Photograph: PR
Faux fur. True, the Mad Men trend didn’t really take off but the Joan-arriving-in-the-lobby-in-fur image is the one look being referenced in real life. Asos.com says that fantasy fur is doing “amazingly well” on its site. In fact it’s big everywhere from Asda to Marks & Spencer to Chanel. A short jacket makes the perfect party coat, since it looks a bit special while you’re warming through in the way that a wool Crombie just can’t. Embrace mittens, stoles and fake fur trims but draw the line at Dr Zhivago hats, which are just that bit too Pippa Middleton.
Jacket, £29, by George at Asda, asda.com Photograph: PR
Then you’re in luck because pretty much the same trends that were around last year still have mileage. Case in point: black lace, which is holding its style value well. If you bought a lace dress last year then do nothing but feel smug. Other ways of party dressing for free: knot a skinny belt over an old tunic dress, wear every bit of leopard and polka you own at once, or tackle the ultimate in party hair 2010: bunny-ears hair a la Cheryl.
Leopard clutch, £55, by Nine West, from Kurt Geiger, kurtgeiger.com Photograph: PR
Yes. The closer-knit the gathering, the more you should dress up. Full-on fashion looks work best with those within a four-metre radius of your workstation. A full-on Studio 54-meets-Isabel Marant look (very next season) will be read as fashion-forward by immediate colleagues and bonkers try-hard among a bigger crowd. Context.
Fringed dress, £97.50, by Phase Eight, from Johnlewis.com Photograph: PR
For Christmas 2010 it most certainly is. Red says fashion not Santa this year – primarily because it has been touted as the way to liven up verging-on-boring minimalist looks. Try not to wear it with black, which looks too harsh; wear with navy instead. Head-to-toe red is good, as is Rihanna-style red hair dye, which is undeniably this month’s flash-in-the-pan chic.
Red top, £175, by Sandro, sandro-paris.com Photograph: PR
The posh jumpsuit has momentum this December. Insiders at online boutique mywardrobe.com say that it’s “all about the jumpsuit” this year, with sales up 147% on last year. The key to the night-time jumpsuit is to go for an old-school party fabric, as jersey looks too scruffy. Go for silk, a velvet panel or lace for maximum style points. Wear with a tux jacket and don’t hold back on the costume jewellery.
Lace jumpsuit, £420, by Tibi, from mywardrobe.com Photograph: PR
There was a moment a few years when wearing jeans to a party was akin to wearing taffeta, ie massively outdated. Thankfully, that hiatus is over. But the rules have changed. Neat indigo jeans, heels and a “nice” top is beta. Making jeans look 2010 party-appropriate means going a bit rock’n’roll and clashing loads of different fabrics and accessories. Choose worn-in jeans, some leopard-print, jewellery, bright shoes and silky tops and wear together. Don’t be minimal and don’t go near diamante.
Red frill shoes, £60, by Topshop, topshop.com Photograph: PR
Will people get the irony if I wear a bow-tie?
Louis Walsh will. He’s become quite the polka-dot dickie wearer of late. If you fancy the look, try Austin Reed’s silver one. There is a worry though – as The X Factor has become a bit panto, taking sartorial leads from it is dicey. If you didn’t buy the now sold-out Lanvin for H&M supersized one, it’s all about a sensible-width tie – the super-thing blade is totally naff, as are skinny silk scarves. A hot LA look now is an open-top buttoned shirt with a suit blazer: very Jake Gyllenhaal.
Tie, £19.99, by Zara, zara.com Photograph: PR
Unless you’re wearing a full-on traditional tux, patent shoes are a bit 2007. To be down with the dudes you’ll have likely moved on to something with a flash of leopard. But not everyone’s party is in east London. If you’re wearing jeans, add either a neat brogue or a chelsea boot. With suiting or more formal trousers, a classic oxford never fails and a tasselled loafer is the ritzier 2010 proposition. Lastly, even though it’s a “look”/snowing, the hiking boot with tucked-in trousers is not the thing for any respectable party. Sorry.
Tasselled loafer, £130, by Asos Made in England, Asos.com Photograph: PR
Something you wouldn’t ordinarily wear to work and therefore makes you feel a bit fancy. Witness Mohamed Al-Fayed’s triumphant patterned number. Note: Jaeger has some of its best autumn patterns on sale right now. Equally it could be a posh check or a simple block colour. The high-street fashion party shirt of 2010 is polka-dot in persuasion and everywhere from River Island to French Connection.
Shirt, £80, by Libertine-Libertine, urbanoutfitters.co.uk Photograph: PR
Yes but never on your legs – are you a curtain? For jackets, think sleek. Velvet is heavy, so avoid anything too bulky of shoulder and boxy. Opt for one or two buttons only and never wear with a white shirt and jeans – far too Euro (white shirts are too high-contrast against the gloss of velvet). Wear with a tonal shirt and dark indigo jeans (the only acceptable party denim). And this is so not the jacket to wear with a party shirt.
Velvet blazer, £99, by Marks & Spencer, marksandspencer.com Photograph: PR
