“If I had to buy only one party piece, this would be it!”
It’s December. The diary is filling up with nights out with friends you’ve promised to “catch up” with all year… But hands up, after a long, stressful day at work, doing bath and bed with the kids, then a quick dishwasher unload and reload, who is full of enthusiasm for getting dressed up and heading out-out in the cold and rain? Not me! I’d secretly rather stay home and watch I’m A Celebrity to see who gets kicked off, but that’s not in the festive spirit of things! And I know, once I’m out, I’ll have an amazing time.
But why the lacklustre? I find it tricky deciding what to wear for “glam-casual” nights out. Forget red carpets or black-tie balls; it’s the understated “glasual” dress codes that throw me into a sartorial spin. How do I look like I’ve made an effort without actually making any effort? Two words: dressy jacket. And if I had to buy only one party piece, this sensational sequin cape from Marks & Spencer would be it!
Sparkly Cape
Yes, ladies, full confession time: GH’s fashion director is lazy when it comes to getting dressed up. I’m more of a low-maintenance kind of glam, and this shimmery cocktail cover-up is just what my “mum’s nights out” have been looking for. You can come straight off the school pick-up in your old jeans, white T-shirt and comfy trainers, then slip this dazzling beauty on over the top, add a swipe of red lippy and off you go – it’s as “glasual” as it gets.
True story: after the Friday GH Live event (wearing that Mint Velvet metallic dress), there was no time for me to pop home and change my outfit, so I went straight to the PTA “Quiz and Curry Night” at my children’s school hall. Big mistake. In a sea of mums in their “glasual” attire (mostly jeans and a nice top or a knit with a sparkly skirt), I looked absolutely ridiculous, way OTT, like a desperate mum who doesn’t get out much (to be fair, I don’t) and was wearing her “best” frock to the PTA do. Even the deputy head quizmaster made an announcement into the microphone: “Give a big hand to the mum who made a real effort tonight.” Oh, my God. I just wanted the ground in the school hall to swallow me up. I’m sharing this story with you to spare you the embarrassment of not going “glasual” this festive season – it’s all about relaxed glamour.
How to get dressed up when you like dressing down? Get yourself a cocktail cover-up. Here are my favourite party jackets to shop right now.
Rhinestone-embellished bouclé jacket
Davina Black Blazer
Florence Blazer
Cropped Metallic Jacquard Jacket
Knit Jacket With Ruffle Trim
Black Sequin Fringed Shrug
Leonie White Blazer
Jacquard Fringed Jacket
£175.00 at marksandspencer.com
Dark Blue Sequin Bomber Jacket
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