Party dresses: 50 of the best frocks for the Christmas season - in pictures

Fuchsia organza dress, £289, antipodium.com Photograph: antipodium.com

Skater dress with pearl neckline, £45, riverisland.com Photograph: River Island

Maxi lace-sleeve evening dress, £295, whistles.co.uk Photograph: Whistles

Gold sequin maxi, £279.20, hobbs.co.uk Photograph: Hobbs

Red embellished skater dress, £58, yumidirect.co.uk Photograph: Yumi

Open-backed sequin dress, £109.99, mango.com Photograph: Mango

Sequin lace maxi, £195, aqaq.com Photograph: aqaq.com

Embellished green shift, £119.20, boden.co.uk Photograph: Boden

Black silk mix dress, £89, cosstores.com Photograph: COS

Diamante top dress, £295, lkbennett.com Photograph: LK Bennett

Maxi with gold lace neck, £64.95, by Dark Pink, from nelly.com Photograph: Nelly.com

Striped mini-dress, £299, by By Malene Birger, from net-a-porter.com Photograph: net-a-porter

Two-tone dress, £228, by Carven, from my-wardrobe.com Photograph: mywardrobe.com

Mesh insert dress, £208, by DKNY, from my-wardrobe.com Photograph: my-wardrobe.com

Embellished shift dress, £30, riverisland.com Photograph: River Island

Crinkled metallic dress, £35, dorothyperkins.com Photograph: Dorothy Perkins

Blue sequin dress, £160, frenchconnection.com Photograph: French Connection

Wraparound dress, £24.99, hm.com Photograph: H&M

Deep red ruffle-front shift dress, £111.75, from Havren at John Lewis Photograph: John Lewis

Embellished neckline maxi dress, £40, wallis.co.uk Photograph: Wallis

Embellished peach crepe dress, £310, hossintropia.com Photograph: Hoss Intropia

Silk jacquard dress, £275, by J Crew, from net-a-porter.com Photograph: net-a-porter

Rose applique frock, £200, frenchconnection.com Photograph: French Connection

Metallic dress, £250, jaeger.co.uk Photograph: Jaeger

Velvet applique prom dress, £235, karenmillen.com Photograph: Karen Millen

Striped jacquard dress, £245, lkbennett.com Photograph: LK Bennett

Diamante collar ponte dress, £49.50, marksandspencer.com Photograph: M&S

Chequerboard sequin maxi dress, £65, motelrocks.com Photograph: Motel

Rose-print frock, £89, marksandspencer.com Photograph: M&S

Oversized apricot sequin dress, £55, aftersshockplc.com Photograph: Aftershock London

Beaded silver mini dress, £109.99, mango.com Photograph: Mango

Beaded lace dress, £195, missselfridge.com Photograph: Miss Selfridge

Sparkly black shift dress, £200, frenchconnection.co.uk Photograph: French Connection

Beaded maxi dress, £95, missselfridge.com Photograph: Miss Selfridge

Strapless multi jacquard dress, £89, monsoon.co.uk Photograph: Monsoon

Maroon lace dress, £75, next.co.uk Photograph: Next

Frill sleeve dress, £42, asos.com Photograph: ASOS

H&M, £49.95, on sale at the beginning of December Photograph: August Eriksson

High-collar red lace dress, £85, oasis-stores.com Photograph: Oasis

Fruit-print long-sleeved dress, £200, by Paul by Paul Smith, from harrods.co.uk Photograph: Harrods

Embellished dress with lace sleeves, £65, debenhams.com Photograph: Debenhams

Silver knotted maxi dress, £45, riverisland.com Photograph: River Island

Lace insert dress, £265, by Tara Jarmon, from harveynichols.com Photograph: Harvey Nichols

Sequin panel dress, £199, tedbaker.com Photograph: Ted Baker

Fluffy dress, £50, topshop.com Photograph: Topshop

Satin skater dress, £70, topshop.com Photograph: Topshop

Embellished neck dress, £80, warehouse.co.uk Photograph: Warehouse

Leopard and lace dress, £39.99, zara.com Photograph: Zara

Embellished long-sleeved dress, £79.99, zara.com Photograph: Zara

Mint, £240, by Day Birger Et Mikkelsen, from my-wardrobe.com Photograph: my-wardrobe.com