Five outfit formulas to get you through the festive season in style

The myriad events that Christmas entails can often feel tricky to navigate style-wise – what one outfit will take you from pub drinks to a country walk, or Christmas Day lunch to New Year’s Eve party?

Events run the gamut of indoor and outdoor, casual and formal, daytime and night-time, each with a different audience, activity and therefore dress code. It’s the season to break out your best cosy jumpers, yes, but also your head-to-toe sparkle. So how best to approach it?

Fashion maths dictates that within every outfit you should balance out any festive frivolity with something more low-key. It’s the sartorial equivalent of never doing a smokey eye and a red lip at the same time. Think smart jeans and a silk pussy-bow blouse, or silver flares with a black cashmere polo neck and oversized chandelier earrings.

Layers are important – especially if doing outdoor pursuits or tackling the Boxing Day sales – as are comfortable shoes. In fact, comfort in general is non-negotiable for the entire festive period.

Opt for classic pieces that you can wear year-in, year-out, such as pencil skirts or flared trousers. Accessories or jewellery can do a lot of the festive leg-work too – just add oversized earrings, corsage brooches and diamante-encrusted hair slides to make any look feel that little bit more special.

Here are five looks that will work hard this holiday season and beyond.

Christmas Eve pub drinks

A Christmas Eve trip to the pub requires elevated casuals, something comfy that also nods to the festive occasion — think jumpers or trousers in metallics or with a hint of sparkle. Fashion editor and author Erica Davies agrees. “I generally go for a polished casual kind of approach to dressing,” she says.

“Tactile fabrics feature heavily; a warm cashmere cream crew neck from Uniqlo or Iris & Ink, or a bright pink Wyse London cashmere tank top over a Cos satin blouson-sleeve blouse, worn with silver glitter cargo pants and minimal trainers. Or I might go for black wide-leg cargo trousers from Cos, worn with a festive Fair Isle knit from Essentiel Antwerp or Boden, red lipstick and statement earrings.”

Velvet blazer, £129, Hush; Wool trousers, £135, Cos; Wool blend jumper, £95, Boden; Gold plated earrings, £390, YSSO; Leather shoes, £65, Oliver Bonas

Christmas Day lunch

Christmas Day dressing divides the nation. One camp prefers pyjamas and onesies, while the other embraces dressing up. If you’re in the latter (and we think you are) you’ll want to ensure your Sunday best comes with a loose waistband. Opt for a chic yet simple velvet dress, with the added bonus of a festive scattering of glitter, and go all out on your jewellery, too.

Forget heels though – we are big fans of party flats you can kick off when you’re sat on the sofa watching the Strictly Christmas special but, crucially, put on again for any family photos.

Silk velvet dress, £325, Rixo; Brass earrings, £195, Cult Gaia; Clio Peppiat Crystal and satin hair clip, £125, Net-a-Porter; Velvet and crystal shoes, £189, Kurt Geiger

Country Walk

Insulating layers you can remove are essential when walking outdoors at this time of year – especially if you do end up popping in somewhere for a hot chocolate or mulled wine. A pretty blouse will look great layered with an on-trend knitted vest, and you can wear jeans, though make sure you can tuck them into boots.

Speaking of, the knee-high, flat kind are very glam, but you can’t go wrong with a sturdy lace-up pair either, and it’s worthwhile investing in proper warm hiking socks – you’ll definitely feel the difference.

The puffa jacket is nowadays a wardrobe staple, with some great ones available on the high street, so you don’t need to go to a specific outdoors shop. Finish the look with a knitted bonnet or balaclava, they’re chic and practical.

Silk cotton blouse, £175, ME+EM; Agolde high-rise slim leg jeans, £270, Net-a-Porter; Waterproof hiking boots, £180, Timberland

Raey ribbed cotton socks, £45, Matches Fashion; Balaclava, £15.99, H&M; Wool blend vest, £55.95, Seasalt

Boxing Day Sales

Tackling the Boxing Day sales, in person, requires a strictly comfy, no-nonsense uniform. Pieces that are easy to get in and out of in changing rooms, or hot shopping centres, are essential, as is practical footwear – leave any heels at home.

Think mom-fit Levi’s cords in chocolate, paired with a comfy polo neck like this one from Nobody’s Child and New Balance trainers. A tortoiseshell claw clip adds a frisson of glamour – and keeps your hair out of your face.

Ribcage straight cords, £100, Levi’s; Jersey top, £35, Nobody’s Child; Trainers, £100, New Balance; Resin hair clip, £26, Tort

New Year’s Eve

“I’m all about making a statement on New Year’s Eve,” says Kipper Club designer Sarah Corbett-Winder, and we are inclined to agree. This is the time to embrace your maximalist side, without sacrificing on comfort, and vitally, while still feeling like “you”.

This doesn’t mean you need to embrace bodycon or minis – in 2023 it’s all about party pants or statement tops in jewel or metallic tones with fun details like bows. “I’ll be wearing a gold trouser suit from my brand’s new collaboration with Aligne, and a With Nothing Underneath cream organza shirt, buttoned all the way up, with a wide satin ribbon (hopefully from a Christmas present) tied around my neck or tucked under my collar,” shares Corbett-Winder. “Plus some bow statement earrings to match and Penelope Chilvers Mary-Janes for chic comfort.”

Flared trousers, £220, Kipper x Aligne; Silk organza shirt, £275, With Nothing Underneath; Brass earrings, £270, Acne; Crystal bag, £185, Giarite; Velvet shoes, £219, Penelope Chilvers