The Evening Edit: Consider Party Season, Styled
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Time to read 4 min
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There’s a lovely moment when the festive diary starts to fill. A dinner with friends you’ve been trying to get together for months, drinks after work that turn into dinner, a Christmas party with a dance floor. Some evenings call for velvet and a little sparkle. For others, all you want is your favourite smart jeans and a top that makes the outfit feel special. We’ve brought both moods together in our Evening Edit, with partywear you can dress up for the big night and wear more casually the following weekend.
This season, we’re drawn to the way different fabrics come into their own after dark. Velvet has a richness that feels just right in winter, satin catches the light across a dinner table and a scattering of sequins makes even a familiar outfit feel festive. Start with the piece you’re most looking forward to wearing, then build the outfit around it.
Dress up Your Favourite Smart Jeans
For dinner with friends or a round of Christmas drinks, dark indigo or black jeans are a good place to start. Our Velvet Bardot Top brings a softer texture to denim, and its off-the-shoulder neckline is lovely with a pair of drop earrings. Wear it with straight-leg jeans, pointed flats and a long wool coat for a table at your favourite neighbourhood restaurant. If the evening calls for something dressier, swap the jeans for tailored black trousers and add a low heel.
For a lighter look, try our cream Satin Asymmetric Top with dark wide-leg jeans. The satin falls softly across the body and the angled neckline adds interest when you’re sitting across the table. Add a slim belt and a small shoulder bag for drinks, or wear the same top with a long black skirt for a Christmas dinner. Cream and dark indigo also work beautifully for an evening out once the decorations have come down.
Wear Sequins together or as Separates
A matching set makes getting ready for a festive party wonderfully straightforward. Our Velvet Sequin Bardot Top and Velvet Sequin Pencil Skirt bring together an open neckline, a slim skirt and the soft shimmer of sequins over velvet. Wear them together for a Christmas party or New Year’s Eve, with simple black shoes and small earrings. A long coat is an easy layer for the journey there.
Velvet Sequin Pencil Skirt
The pieces have plenty of life on their own, too. Give the Bardot top a more relaxed feel with smart black jeans and low-heeled ankle boots for cocktails with friends. For supper at home, wear the pencil skirt with a fine black knit and ballet flats. A soft jumper brings out the texture of the sequins and makes the skirt feel at home at a smaller gathering. If you’re packing for a weekend away, take the set and a pair of jeans. You’ve got an outfit for the main event and another for dinner the next night.
Choose a Party Dress for the Big Evening
When the invitation calls for a dress, our Flocked Spot Velvet Bardot Dress is an evening piece with plenty of movement. The stretch velvet bodice sits off the shoulders and meets a fuller skirt with flocked spots. That shape feels especially right for an evening that starts with dinner and ends on the dance floor.
For a Christmas party, try it with a pair of slingbacks and a small evening bag. If you’re wearing it out to dinner on a cold night, sheer black tights and closed-toe shoes give it a softer winter feel. Sweep your hair up to show the neckline or wear it down with a simple pair of earrings. The flocked spots bring enough detail on their own, so you can keep the rest of the outfit as simple as you like.
Let a Fringe Hem Do the Dressing Up
A statement skirt is a lovely option when you want the movement of a party dress with the flexibility of separates. Our Velvet Fringe Pencil Skirt has a slim silhouette and a fringe hem that sways as you walk. Wear it with the cream Satin Asymmetric Top for a festive dinner. The pale satin brings a little light to the outfit, while the velvet gives it depth.
For an evening at a friend’s, pair the same skirt with a fine-knit crew neck and pointed flats. If you’re headed somewhere with dancing, try the skirt with the Velvet Bardot Top and a pair of low heels you can happily spend the evening in. Keeping both pieces black makes the neckline and the fringe the focus.
Make Your Eveningwear Work Beyond Christmas
Think about the plans you look forward to throughout the year. If it’s dinner with friends, an evening top that works with your best jeans is likely to earn its place quickly. If you enjoy dressing up for birthdays and celebrations, a matching set gives you a ready-made outfit and two pieces to wear separately. A velvet dress can come out again for a winter wedding reception or an anniversary dinner, with a different pair of shoes or a favourite piece of jewellery. A favourite bag or a pair of earrings you wear often can make a dressier outfit feel more like something you’d choose anyway.
You can also make the switch from daytime to evening with a single change. Keep the dark jeans and blazer you wore during the day, swap your shirt for satin and slip on a pair of earrings before you head out. If you’re going straight from work to a Christmas get-together, wear tailored trousers and flats, then pack a velvet top to change into before you leave.
Whether you’re getting ready for a Christmas party or meeting friends for dinner, start with something that feels like you. It might be a sweep of fringing, a little sparkle or the simple pleasure of putting on a beautiful top with the jeans you already love.
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