Our resident guru provides more topical tips:
Q. The shops are awash with an abundance of party dresses for Christmas, but I've still not managed to find the perfect dress for me. How can I dress glamorously for the festive season and radiate a tough attitude without falling into the obvious sexy party dress cliché?
A. Party season is well and truly upon us now and if you haven't already sorted out your Christmas party wardrobe, you'd better get on it fast. This is the one time of year when we can embrace sequins, sparkle, shimmer and shine without reserve...but that doesn't mean we have to end up dressing something similar to a Christmas tree.
The party dress is the most iconic festive trend - take your cue from the runway and choose to wear an alternative LBD to the more traditional Audrey Hepburn classic styles.
Focus on fabric and cut and transform a simple velvet shift dress into a strong style statement by adding a PVC panel. If you want to catch everyone's eye instantly, make an unforgettable entrance in a show stopping shiny metallic cocktail dress in a bright colour.
And if you really want to prove party dressing is not all about that coveted dress, opt out and wear a lux shearling vest with an ornate brass chain, teamed with a wool mini skirt.
There should always be an element of pizzazz in party dressing and if you really want to edit out the prim factor and achieve tough glamour, you need to accessorize your outfit very carefully.
Statement costume jewellery is a must-have to accompany any party look. Embrace the biggest pieces that you can find but always adhere to the golden rule - wear a necklace or earrings, never both!
Embrace colour and texture, mix pearls with coloured jewels and silver and gold. Add a rock'n'roll element by adding a shocking pink snake print or leapord print calf hair clutch.
Wear fishnet or footless tights with heeled courts that give you plenty of height for a super cool raw edge.
LOOK 1
Kati velvet & vinyl body con dress by Jonathan Saunders £915 & gold and jet drop earrings by Iosselliani £180 both at Harvey Nichols Edinburgh. Sutra leopard printed calf hair clutch with detachable chain by Diane Von Furstenberg £335 at Jane Davidson Edinburgh. Resin cuff with embedded vintage pieces £120 & resin bangle with embedded vintage pieces £120 both by Magnus & Bella at Brazen Studios Glasgow. Superstud ring set with white mother of pearl crystal haze in sterling silver and gold plating £510 & Jewels Verne inlay ring with white mother of pearl inlay in rhodium plated sterling silver £430 both by Stephen Webster at Hamilton & Inches Edinburgh. Fish net tights by Jonathan Aston £6 at www.mytights.com Red suede pointed pump by Gianvito Rossi £410 at Pam Jenkins Edinburgh.
LOOK 2
Confection turquoise metallic dress with belt by Talbot Runhof £1495 at Jane Davidson Edinburgh. Diamond shaped Cry drop earrings by Kenneth Jay Lane £150 at Harvey Nichols Edinburgh. Resin bangles embedded with vintage pieces by Magnus & Bella £120 each at Brazen Studios Glasgow. Jewels Verne inlay ring with white mother of pearl inlay in rhodium plated sterling silver by Stephen Webster £430 at Hamilton & Inches Edinburgh. Soft chainmail necklace (worn on ankle) £29 & covered link chain necklace (worn on ankle) £19 both at COS Glasgow. Sheer footless tights with ankle spray by Emilio Cavallini £21 at www.asos.com Dempsey champagne glitter shoe by Jimmy Choo £595 at Pam Jenkins Edinburgh.
LOOK 3
Darya shearling vest with chain detail by Ralph Lauren Blue Label £1230 at Ralph Lauren Glasgow. Boucle wool skirt by Stefanel £125 at House of Fraser Glasgow. Crystal panther earrings by Iosselliani £190 at Harvey Nichols Edinburgh. Pink flirty lips clutch bag with detachable chain by Diane Von Furstenberg £255 at Jane Davidson Edinburgh. Resin bangles embedded with vintage pieces by Magnus & Bella £120 each at Brazen Studios Glasgow. Jewels Verne inlay ring with white mother of pearl inlay in rhodium plated sterling silver by Stephen Webster £430 at Hamilton & Inches Edinburgh. Sheer hold-ups with spots by Jonathan Aston £3 at www.mytights.com Grey suede ankle boot with gold piping by Casadei £699 at Pam Jenkins Edinburgh.
Styling: Lisa Ringrose
Photography: Jeff Mars
Hair: Isabella Watson Creative Director at Toni & Guy Glasgow using Volume Mousse & Resurrection Style Dust to prep hair, Session Brush to dress hair and Gloss Spray to finish all by Label M www.toniandguy.com
Make-up: Rona Skuodas using Illamasqua www.illamasqua.com
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