The two greatest Christmas style icons of modern times are obviously Will Ferrell as Buddy in Elf and Mariah Carey in the 1994 video for All I Want For Christmas Is You. On that much, I am sure, all agree. And what key festive accessory unites these two looks? Well, actually, almost everything, from the silly hats to the cotton-wool colours and contrast tights. But, most importantly, it’s the fancy ankle boots. Mariah’s are high-heeled and furry-trimmed; Buddy’s are black and have a kind of sleigh-bell thing going on at the toe. Both are ridiculous and yet slightly glamorous, in that fairy-lit way that works only at Christmas.
Caveat: I am assuming you are a Christmas Person. If you are not, I have nothing further to say to you this week. Walk away calmly. Don’t worry about the mince pie. You can leave the mince pie where it is. I’ll take care of that, thank you.
Anyway. Where were we? Christmas, and what to wear. As far as I’m concerned, people who don’t get dressing up for Christmas basically don’t get Christmas. Father Christmas is on one gruelling nightshift, up and down chimneys, but does he wear any old pair of tracky bottoms? No, he most certainly does not. He wears cosy but snazzy red velvet set off by a wildly impractical snowy trim.
Christmas is not about cocktail-hour glamour. Those adverts where couples stand around clinking champagne flutes – strapless dress for her, velvet blazer for him – do not look anything like any Christmas scene I have ever seen in real life. The ideal Christmas piece is one that adds sparkle to a cosy outfit, which is why fancy ankle boots are as much a part of a Christmas scene as a pile of tangerines. You can wear them on the 25th, with a sweater dress. You can wear them on the day of your work Christmas do, with a trouser suit. For now, you can wear them with jeans and your favourite new jumper to go gift shopping. You never know, if you’ve been an angel all year and you click your heels together, the presents might even wrap themselves.
• Jess wears jumper, £36, and jeans, £40, both topshop.com. Glitter boots, £215, bimbaylola.com.
Styling: Melanie Wilkinson. Hair and makeup: Laurence Close at Carol Hayes Management.
