Standing out from the crowd is no fool’s errand — as the capital’s most decorated party guests can attest. But how to nail it, Monday to Friday, week in, week out until Christmas? Well, there are some rules.
Rule: Never wear head-to-toe designer
Mix your highs and lows. Head-to-toe designer is a no for me — a full Versace look is simply unimaginative. The magic is in the contrast. There is nothing better than your mum’s vintage coat, or that random £5 belt from Oxfam that somehow makes the whole outfit feel cooler and less contrived. You want to look like you’ve just thrown it on — even if you’ve actually tried everything in your wardrobe. Perfection is boring. Personality isn’t.
Dave Benett
Rule: Wear secondhand — and channel the previous wearers’ trouble
I love a gown, whether it’s a John Galliano bias-cut number or a major 1930s piece. It’s become a uniform for me. I love to lean into the romance of wearing something secondhand and imagine all the trouble its previous wearers got into and try to channel that. At the moment I also love a vintage 1920s feather wrap or shawl. Always good to dial up the drama. That, and a statement choker.
Juliet Mayhew, Real Houswife of London
Rule: Choose a spectacle piece — never an intrusive one
The truly stylish guest understands elegance is a conversation, not a competition. A spectacle piece may be a bedazzled cuff, vintage brooch or sculptural heel. This should intrigue and add personality without dominating the dialogue. An intrusive piece, by contrast, demands attention it hasn’t earned. Utterly gauche!
Munroe Bergdorf, Model and activist
Rule: Overdress, overdress, overdress
Don’t be afraid to do the most. Give them a moment! Try to get a feel for the vibe of the event and build a look from there. A great party isn’t just attended, it’s created by the energy of those in the room. Pay it forward and dress as the party you want to attend. Your host will love you for it and I guarantee you — and everyone else — will have more fun.
Be the most fabulous in the room — don’t worry about outshining your host, that’s their own damn problem
Rule: Dress to compliment your partner
Dressing as a pair is not about competing, it’s about understanding how to compliment each other. We are big on matching each other’s energy as opposed to style, but silhouettes are important — what works for you? We would always rather be overdressed than underdressed, so go with the mindset you could be the best dressed at the party — that comes with a lot of responsibility.
Dave Bennet
Sydney Lima, Model and writer
Rule: Wear a conversation starter
After your sixth Christmas do, you’re going to be struggling to care about why so-and-so moved from Hackney to Walthamstow, so why not incorporate a conversation starter into your outfit? This can be achieved with a slogan tee. I recommend my very own T-shirt, which ironically reads “Rich Parents”, because what screams bleak midwinter more than the state of nepotism in the creative industries?
Oliver Proudlock, TV personality
Rule: Don’t be bound to the dress code
When it comes to dressing to a theme, keep within the world of it but don’t be bound to it too tight. Comfort translates to confidence and if you feel uncomfortable, people can see straight through it. Look at A$AP Rocky: he will stick to a theme, but he always gives it that bit of A$AP, and that’s why he always stands out.
Henry Conway, Socialite & writer
Rule: Always try to outshine the host
In my decades of going hell for leather in party season, the one thing I have learned is that you must dress up. No one will thank you for arriving in sweats and a gym top. Embrace colour and remember there is no time of day in December when sequins are inappropriate. Aim to be the most fabulous in the room — don’t worry about outshining your host, that’s their own damn problem. Make like our party spirit guide Princess Margaret and dress every day in December as if it were the best day of your life.
Shorthand for do too much, duh. I used to exclusively wear heels as tall as a four-year-old and coats that would take up as much space as possible, regardless of circumstance or unpredictable weather. Now I try to stick to things that suit me in a way that feels aligned with the context of the event. Avoid birthday make-up, Skims shapewear as a cocktail dress and extreme low-cuts for a 10am brunch.
Jazzy de Lisser and Lady Lola Bute, fashion designers
Rule: You cannot go wrong with a red lip — and a high heel
Full black outfit, bit of lace, bit of fur and a red lip — love. There is nothing sexier than a little bit of black lace, which we have plenty of at DeBute, our partywear label. Show up with your biggest cheerleaders, never be shy. Oh, and never forget a good, good heel.
