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Party wear

8 WAYS TO DO PARTYWEAR 

8 WAYS TO DO PARTYWEAR

Our fashion editor’s top-to-toe-tapping guide to dressing up for party season.
Our fashion editor’s top-to-toe-tapping guide to dressing up for party season.

Words: Thea Bichard

Between all the Christmas dinners, office parties and New Year’s Eve celebrations, we’re spoilt for opportunities to get dressed up. Read on for eight ways to see out the rest of 2022 in style: the go-all-in party dresses, OTT accessories and tip-top tailoring.

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Partywear

1.RENT YOUR LOOKS

1.RENT YOUR LOOKS

If you have invites to more events than there are days in December, that’s a lot of party outfits. Enter: Selfridges Rental. You can celebrate in a Simone Rocha creation one night and Jacquemus the next, guilt free and without filling your wardrobe with styles you might not be into next year. Having rented dresses for fashion week, I can also personally attest to how many compliments you’ll field throughout the festivities.

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Rotate Birger Christensen dress
ROTATE BIRGER CHRISTENSEN - Leiza dress 
Simone Rocha dress
 SIMONE ROCHA - Floral organza dress
Jacquemus midi dress
 JACQUEMUS - La Robe Saudade midi dress
Harmur party dress
HARMUR - Pink sequin mini party dress
Partywear
16Arlington AW22

2.DRESS FOR DRAMA

December is always the season for showing off, but many designers went full sleigh bells and whistles with their AW22 collections as they embraced a return to glamour. Jonathan Anderson’s surrealist prints at Loewe and the never-ending shimmer at 16Arlington caught my attention – there’s no such thing as too much.

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3.PICK UP A PARTY BAG

3.PICK UP A PARTY BAG

This season’s OTT mood applies to accessories, too. The likes of crystal-obsessed brand Gedebe and NYC label Kara got the memo. If it’s dripping in pearls, covered in crystals or otherwise lit up like a Christmas tree, you’re on the right lines. And, just like your tree, you can bring out one of these bags every December and know they’ll be the life of the party.

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Gedebe shoulder bag
GEDEBE - My Love satin shoulder bag
Kara shoulder bag
KARA - Embellished brass and crystal shoulder bag
Vanina brass bag
VANINA - Les Nuances gold-plated brass top-handle bag
L'alingi clutch bag
L'ALINGI - Pearl acrylic clutch bag
Partywear
Alexander McQueen AW22

4.BLAZER TRAIL

The return of tailoring now that we’re (sometimes) back at the office has coincided with a turn towards expressive style. Velvet suits will always be a favourite at this time of year, but this winter they have worthy rivals. For the likes of Alexander McQueen, that means highlighter hues; at Mugler, razor-sharp shoulders and equally impactful cutouts. Go big, go bright, go with nothing but a bra (or corset) underneath.

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Partywear
Alexander McQueen AW22

5.CONSIDER THE CLASSICS

5.CONSIDER THE CLASSICS

At the opposite end of the sequinned spectrum, this season, deceptively simple style – that is, aesthetically understated but impeccably made clothes – has also been on the rise. Black dresses appeared on countless AW22 runways. You don’t need me to explain the concept of an LBD – instead, for your partying pleasure, let’s cut straight to the likes of Saint Laurent (the master of the game). Short, floor-length, cutout or minimalist – it’s up to you.

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Rick Owens Lillies maxi dress
RICK OWENS LILLIES - Brooke cowl-neck velour maxi dress
Saint Laurent dress
SAINT LAURENT - Corseted sweetheart-neck mini dress

 

Rasario cut-out dress
RASARIO - Cut-out halterneck crepe midi dress

 

Madga Butrym mini dress
MAGDA BUTRYM - V-neck cut-out mini dress

 

Partywear
Valentino AW22

6.SHINE YOUR SHOES

At Studio 54, diamond dust fell from the ceiling onto the iconic crowds on New Year’s Eve. Ready to see in 2023, this time the shine is settling on our shoes in metallic, patent and crystal form. Valentino keeps the hot-pink party going, while Mach & Mach adds strings of pearls and crystals to its sandals. The dancefloor won’t know what hit it.

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7.FIND THE FINEST JEWELLERY

7.FIND THE FINEST JEWELLERY

Before people put tinsel on their trees, back in the 1600s they used actual silver to make the Christmas candles more spectacular. We’ve been obsessed with festive sparkle ever since – for our décolletage as much as our décor – and this year our buyers are introducing a treasure chest of new fine jewellery designers. Get to know the likes of Suzanne Kalan’s signature ‘firework’ diamonds and Yvonne Leon’s joyful jewellery.

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Suzanne Kalan bracelet
SUZANNE KALAN - Firework rose-gold and diamond bangle
Suzanne Kalan earrings
SUZANNE KALAN - Frenzy yellow-gold, diamond and pastel sapphire earrings

 

Yvonne Leon ring
YVONNE LEON - Oval yellow gold, diamond and onyx signet ring

 

Yvonne Leon necklace
YVONNE LEON - Collier yellow-gold and diamond necklace

 

Partywear
Versace AW22

8.TOP TIER

Despite butterfly clips and low-rise jeans addling my brain during my formative years, I’m getting more into the 00s revival as it evolves. The return of going-out tops (with jeans or without) and the advent of bodycon 2.0 have beckoned corsets back onto the runways. Find the one that suits your style: Barbie pink by Versace or Nensi Dojaka’s bare-boned tulle?

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Partywear
Versace AW22

Not found your perfect fit?

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Images courtesy of IMAXTREE.COM, Launchmetrics.com/spotlight

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16Arlington’s party-ready pop-up

Keeping the party going long into 2023, London label 16Arlington has launched its first-ever pop-up, on 2 at Selfridges Lonon. Head in-store to shop the pre-SS23 collection – expect sparkle, snakeskin prints and micro-mini skirts.

Get inspired

The stories to feed your imagination. The conversations to get you thinking. The ideas to brighten your day. Read, watch and listen, right here.

 

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