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2024 Christmas Party Dressing

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If you haven’t yet decided what to wear for this year’s Christmas party, perhaps this blog will give you some ideas! Dressing for a Christmas party is usually a once-a-year thing, (although you may have a few parties to attend and therefore want to wear different outfits). Are they daytime parties or evening, or both?

What’s “in” this 2024 Christmas party season?

Dress length

From the research I’ve been doing recently, it appears as if all lengths of dress or skirts are “in”. If you like short, they’re a few centimetres above the knee, plus we still have midi-lengths and of course ankle/floor length are equally what you may choose to wear this season. Think practicality as well as the visual, if, for example you need to climb over a bench to sit down!

Materials

There seems to be more sparkle this year (unless I’m imagining it). Luxe fabrics are in order for this 2024 Christmas Party Season. Fabrics to look out for are velvet, satin, lace, metallic, leather, suede (or imitation equivalents), fur, feathers and tassels (think Flapper dress). Good quality wool is on offer too.

Most of us still seem to be in buying mode (see “sustainability” below), but as people are expecting more for their hard-earned cash these days, we do not necessarily want to pay a high price for something (unless we can see future uses for it). Other materials are synthetic, which gives ease, so they are more comfortable to wear, often are easy to wash and don’t need ironing. If you have gone for sparkles or feathers, have you checked the label to see how to launder it if you want to wear it again?

What about colour?

You may think there’s only black, navy or the current “in” colour of burgundy around, which is normally the case at this time of year. But, I have found lots of alternatives. There are lots of neutrals, like cream or brown, plus also different shades of red, green and blue. Lots of choice, depending on what you want. Whether you know your best shades of colours or not, you can see what I discovered from viewing 8 major brands (Debenhams, Hobbs, M&Co, M&S, Mint Velvet, Phase Eight, Seasalt Cornwall and Sosandar) by ordering your copy here.

Patterns

If you are an animal print fan, you’re in luck! In fact, it has been “in” for several seasons, but this 2024 Autumn/Winter Season has taken it more to the core. You can’t seem to overdose on it, if that’s your thing.

Other patterns are Fairisle, Houndstooth, Paisley, flowers and Tartan.

Dress, separates, jumpsuit

New things regularly come into the shops (or online) throughout September, October, November and December, so you can keep visiting your favourite shops or brands online to see what’s new if you haven’t found the right outfit yet. When I’m shopping for a client I will typically view at least six brands/shops. You may know which brands you prefer. When you know the information about your body shape, quality, price point, and longevity that you desire from your clothes and accessories, you will be better placed to find the brands that meet your needs. I have clients who need to be aware of the materials for allergy or comfort reasons, and others who prioritise sustainability over other considerations. Certain brands have led the way on sustainability and others are catching up. You can usually find out that information on a Brand’s website if you are interested in that. Some Certified B Corporation brands are Aspiga.com, Baukjen and Seasalt Cornwall.

You may have something in mind, but I would encourage you to be open-minded. I recently shopped for a client who did not have a jumpsuit in her wardrobe. She was very pleasantly surprised with one that was presented (and it looked great). You do need to bear in mind getting in and out of them, though, when visiting the bathroom: speed, and whether you can do this yourself or will need a companion!

Christmas Jumpers

It depends what you are after – something festive or something to win a Christmas Jumper competition! Here’s a nice one in M&S.

Size

When you decide to buy, you may find that your chosen item isn’t available in your size! Don’t despair. If you’re on the brand’s own website, don’t forget to try others. For example, Marks & Spencer now has so many other brands apart from its own (Per Una and Autograph). You can find Accessorize, Baukjen, Fat Face, Ghost, Joules, Live Unlimited London, Ted Baker, Monsoon, Nobody’s Child, Phase Eight, Seasalt, Sosandar, Jaegar, White Stuff, and lots of others. You could also try M&Co and Debenhams if you want to see your chosen item somewhere else.

Sustainability

But what about sustainability? What might you already have in your wardrobe that you had forgotten about? Have you trawled pre-loved shops this 2024 party season? What about considering hiring your outfit this year? Here are some sites if you want to do that. Do you make your own clothes? If you are clever enough to be able to sew (or know someone who does), this can be the way to get something exactly as you want it: material, colour, style, patterns and adornments, and that will fit. At least you won’t find another person at your party wearing exactly the same as you.

Do you think you might be able to get some future wear out of your outfit if you buy or have it made? Excellent if you can.

Accessories

There are lots of sparkly earrings, handbags and shoes around, so if your outfit is a little plain, you can add the sparkle with your accessories. And, of course, changing your accessories can change the look of the outfit, so you may have more flexibility if you go for the sparkle in the accessories.

Finally, a note about returns

Whatever you decide to do this 2024 Christmas party dressing season, do read the small print about returns, so you know what the deadlines will be, the method and if there is any unexpected cost.

7 MORE THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN DECIDING WHETHER TO WEAR A HAT OR NOT (Part 2)

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JOINT BLOG, THANKS TO LYNN LEACH, Portsmouth Milliner, “LMJL Millinery” Facebook page. Telephone number 07803 316146

This blog is part 2 about formal hats, and is going to address the similarities and differences for men and women when deciding whether to wear a hat, what type will suit, and hat etiquette.  If you missed part 1, you can read it here.

Similar considerations for men and women:

1. SIZE – OF HAT AND YOUR HEAD

The size of hat that suits your outfit and your head will vary.  This is partly due to your unique body shape and head size, and partly what image consultants call your “clothing personality”.  Head size/shape does not have anything necessarily to do with clothing personality. A person with drama in their personality would likely need a big size/shape hat (but not necessarily have a larger head size), whereas another person may suit a petite hat or even a fascinator to show them at their best.

Another consideration is your height.  The taller you are, the more you will suit a bigger brim.

If you are getting a hat made for you, it is likely that the milliner will want to measure your head, in order to get the correct fit, and they will discuss what they think would suit you and the outfit.  Plus, they will discuss with you the type of attachment required for the size and shape of the hat, plus for your comfort.

2. HAIR (OR NO HAIR) AND HAIRSTYLE

Whether you have any hair, or fine or thicker locks, plus your hairstyle and length of hair will have a bearing on your hat.  Also, you should think about how your hair will look once you take your hat off, if you will be taking it off whilst still at the event. (See “etiquette” later.)

If you have fine, thin, or no hair, you may also like to think about the material of the hat, in case it would be irritable on you, and whether there is a lining that would prevent this.

3. ACCESSORISING WITH A HAT

Lynn advises her clients to minimise the jewellery when wearing a hat, so as not to detract from the hat, and says that some simple ear-ring studs, such as pearls, look very elegant. She also advises against wearing dangly ear-rings, as they will detract from the hat, especially if the hat adds height. Fiona agrees, but would discuss options and like to see the whole outfit before deciding what exactly might be best for the overall look, plus considering that the hat may be taken off at some point.  (Jewellery could be changed after a hat is taken off, and jewellery can usually easily be carried in a small handbag.)

Ladies who wear glasses with a hat often prefer elastic to keep the hat on, rather than a headband. (Elastic, by the way, is worn at the back of the head, not under the chin, and can be matched to hair colour to disguise it more.  It is worn under the hair, though.)

(Having an elastic fixing generally applies to button hats, hatinators and fascinators.  A brim and crown type hat wouldn’t have any fixings as it would be made to fit the head size, with the exception of some shallow crown boaters or cartwheel type hats that would need the assistance of elastic and maybe a comb for attaching.)

4. WEATHER

The weather (both temperature and sun or rain) will need to be factored into your choice of headwear, and whether you will be able to use an umbrella.  If it is too windy for an ordinary umbrella, for example, you may also need to think about how secure your hat will be, never mind what happens to it when it gets wet!  (You can get see-through umbrellas which are less prone to being blown inside out as they lower more around the head and upper body.)

Plus, if it is going to be hot, you may not want a heavy-based material (like thick felt) that will trap in the heat.

5. FACE SHAPE AND HOW TO WEAR THE HAT (SEE ALSO BELOW)

Oval face shapes suit any kind of hat really.  If you have a square face, you would be advised to choose something with softness to counteract the distinct edges of your face. Feathers on a soft small base, preferably worn to one side, will look best.

Again, with a round face, you should wear something smaller and to one side, but you could choose something that gives height to make your face look longer as an oval face is considered the most appealing shape.

If you have a heart-shaped face, it may be better to steer clear of wide brims or the hat will look like it is perched on the top and your face descends to a point.  In other words, it will look unbalanced.

You may like to think about how the hat is fixed to your head if you wear glasses too, and about keeping the hat clear of your specs.  Maybe, for the day, you could try contact lenses to save complications with the hat.

Formal ladies hats are generally better worn at an angle on the head.

6. TRANSPORTATION

A formal hat will need to be properly protected during transportation.  It is possible to get a suitable hat box or carrier, and to have sufficient tissue paper to protect it from being bashed around inside the box. Beware that hat boxes are usually quite big, if you are travelling abroad for example.

7. ETIQUETTE / RULES

There are rules about when to take your formal hat off if you are a male or female.  Males should take their formal hats off indoors generally speaking, but whilst in a public place such as a train station waiting room, or hotel lobby, it is not so important to take it off, unless you are in the presence of a lady.  Hats should also be removed during weddings, funerals, playing of the National Anthem, photographs and when being introduced to someone.  Ladies, on the other hand, are not considered rude when wearing their hats anywhere indoors.  The exception is where you may be blocking someone’s view, or it would cause inconvenience to someone else.  Ladies can keep their hat on during a National Anthem, or when being introduced to someone.

If you do want to remove your hat at a wedding, ladies etiquette is to wait for the mother of the bride to do so first.

When a hat is removed it should be held so that the inner is not visible to others.

Another rule is that ornaments (feathers, beads etc) on hats should be on the left side of the hat for men, and on the right for women.

When men and women used to wear hats often, it was accepted that men would wear their hats more on the right, and the lady would tip it to the left, as when they were promenading the male would be able to see the lady’s face.  Nowadays, that doesn’t seem such a consideration, but Lynn would recommend wearing the hat on the parting so there is plenty of hair that can be styled up on the other side.  Button hats are usually worn on the front of the head about an inch above the eyebrow.

Remember that Ascot has its own rules about the size of hat, especially in the Royal Enclosure, so be sure to acquaint yourself with the rules to ensure you’re not prevented from attending!

If you need assistance deciding on your hat, please contact Fiona, Your Colour & Style Consultant on 07469 246722.

LYNN LEACH, Portsmouth Milliner, can be contacted on 07803 316146.