What to Wear to Every Christmas Party (Without Panic-Buying a Sequin Dress)

You need something that works at your desk at 5pm and in a bar at 10. A satin skirt with the jumper you wore to work is the easiest win going. Swap trainers for heels, add earrings, done. More of a trousers person? Black tailoring with something sheer or sparkly underneath is so chic.

Gentle reminder: it is still technically work. Save the micro-mini for Saturday.

Someone's flat, too many mince pies, a sofa you'll end up sitting on the floor next to. You want comfy, but like you tried. Your best jeans and a fine knit with sparkly earrings, or a knitted midi and boots. A red lip does a lot of heavy lifting here.

Fine, this one deserves something special. But if you're buying, buy something you'll actually wear again. A black sequin top with jeans works for years. Rixo and Never Fully Dressed do gorgeous ones, and Mango is great if you'd rather keep it cheap.

Long lunch, lots of sitting, and someone always has the heating on 26. A slip skirt and a soft cashmere jumper looks lovely in the photos and still leaves room for seconds. And thirds.

The one night where more is more. A sequin top with black tailored trousers looks sharper than a full sequin dress and lets you sit down in the cab. A satin slip under a big faux fur coat is the other easy win. Wear shoes you can stand in at midnight, outdoors, possibly on cobbles. A block heel or a pointed boot beats a stiletto every time.

Wear what you wore to work and change two things. Lose the cardigan, add the earrings, swap flats for the heels in your bag. Half an hour, one drink, a nice word with your manager, then home. If it's a team meal rather than drinks, a nice jumper and a bit of gold jewellery is plenty. Nobody needs a new outfit for that.

Start with what's already in your wardrobe. A black dress, a satin skirt and a sparkly top get you through most of December with the right accessories. If you do need something, ASOS has the widest range of party pieces at every price and quick delivery when you've left it late. Selfridges is the place for a proper treat, with Rixo, Ganni and Self-Portrait on one page. And Vinted is brilliant for sequins, because most party dresses get worn once and sold on almost new.

Order two sizes if you're unsure, and send one back the same week. Return windows get tight over Christmas.

A statement earring, a velvet hair bow or a glossy bag will make a plain outfit look festive faster than any dress. Keep them all in one drawer for December, so getting ready takes ten minutes instead of forty. Sheer black tights with a tiny polka dot or a seam up the back do the same job for your legs. Cheap, cheerful and very little faff.

A sleek low bun or a big claw clip looks polished at 7pm and still fine at 1am. Curls drop in a hot room, so pin them up halfway through if you need to. Pack a few kirby grips and a mini hairspray. A velvet headband makes second-day hair look like a choice, and it's the most festive thing you'll buy for under a tenner. No time at all? A red lip and a top knot. Done.

A coat you can actually wear over the outfit. Flat shoes in a tote. A charged phone and a working Uber account. And a glass of water before bed, whatever else happens.

Swap your everyday earrings for something big

A bold lip: red, berry or a glossy brown

One bit of velvet or satin, even if it's just a bow in your hair

Sheer black tights instead of opaques

Your nicest coat, because it's in every single photo

And re-wear everything. Nobody remembers, and if they do, they're thinking 'she looks great in that', not 'she wore that last week'.