Dress For the Party Season

****See our 2009 Top Pick Little Black Dresses
or Christmas Party & Cocktail Dresses ***


CHRISTMAS DRESSING TO IMPRESS
By Lisa Haynes

Whatever the trends are for autumn/winter 08 you can guarantee that Christmas fashions are guaranteed to be dazzling.

Whether you're hitting the dance floor, canoodling under the mistletoe, or enjoying some Christmas merriment, dress to impress with a new seasonal makeover.

It's time to wave the magic glitz-and-glamour wand over your wardrobe and give your make-up box a touch of sparkle.

We reveal our pick of the best Christmas wonders for you to shine throughout the party season.
PARTY GEMS

This season, you're going to need your sparkle sunshades on while you're out shopping for party frocks. If the dresses themselves aren't shimmering, then sequins and embellishment are at full dazzle.

Metallics are back in silver, gold, pewter and bronze so test your mettle in your favourite shade.

Try Principles black and gold mesh dress, £89 with feather marobou stole £29 , Freemans silver prom dress with bow waist, £65 or Emma Somerset Silver strapless dress £185 by Oky Coky. 

Sparkle is always big for Christmas, but this year keep your sequins super-sized to stay on trend. Think dazzling discs rather than subtle sparkle. Check out Warehouse sequin batwing dress, £120, Miss Selfridge sequin tux jacket, £60, or F&F grey sequin bow jumper £15 at Tesco.

If overt glitz is all a little too Broadway stage for your fashion tastes, get into the festive spirit with accessories. Look to rich jewel-bright bags and shoes in indigo, emerald green and electric blue. Dresses or tops in these shades will have a longer shelf life than New Year's Eve too.

Go for Dorothy Perkins Emerald jewel sandal £30, Next purple prom dress, £50, or Debenhams Debut sequin dress, £80.

You don't have to go the whole hog and buy a new outfit either - a new cape, wrap or cardigan will do the festive job. Throw a subtle cape a la Kate Moss over a tired dress to give it some party punch. Try Jane Norman sequin embellished bolero, £25, or Topshop diamond sequin bolero, £38.

BEAUTY BAUBLES

If your Christmas outfit is all ready for you to rock around the Christmas tree, make-up will supply the all-important finishing touches.

Banish your usual routines for the month of December. Either plump for extra sparkle on the eyes or cheeks or go sultry and sexy with your lips.

You're always guaranteed to mesmerise under the mistletoe with rich, ruby red lips. It's a hot beauty trend that will never fade out of fashion. Just ask Dita Von Teese!

Get into the festive spirit with lashings of glossy red lipstick such as Givenchy Rouge Interdit Red Shine, £16.50, or go for classic 40s red with MAC's Brave Red Cremesheen lipstick, £11.

If you want to shine on the party dance floor, head for metallic eyes, which were all over the autumn/winter catwalks.

Try The Body Shop's limited edition Sparkle range, from £7, should have all the shades you need for sparkle fever or 2True Eye Shadow Dazzlers, £1.95 at Superdrug, QVC Cargo Party Nights Collection palette, £24.25.

When it comes to hair, give hot irons the heave-ho - lank poker-straight locks just aren't going to cut it for the party season.

Hot rollers will help hair that has been blown out too straight. Try applying them to the ends of your hair to create a loose screen siren look. Or if you want to go wild, take inspiration from the catwalks with voluminous crimped locks. Try Babyliss Pro 200 Crimper, £14.99 available from Boots.

If you're looking for added super-shine to your tresses, go for products with a subtle shimmer - perfect for the party season. Dazzle with jewel-inspired locks using Toni & Guy Finishing Spray, £6.99, which adds a diamond-like shine to your hair, or try Pantene Ice Shine Hairspray to give hair some party season sparkle available from Boots.

Stockist Information:
Boots: Boots.com
Principles: principles.com
Freemans: freemans.com
Emma Somerset: www.emmasomerset.co.uk
Warehouse: www.warehouse.co.uk/
Miss Selfridge: missselfridge.com
Tesco F & F: www.clothingattesco.com/
Dorothy Perkins: dorothyperkins.com
Next: www.next.co.uk
Debenhams: www.debenhams.com
Jane Norman: www.janenorman.com
Top Shop: topshop.com
Body Shop: www.thebodyshop.co.uk
Superdrug: www.superdrug.com/
QVC: www.qvcuk.com