Now Halloween is officially over, it’s time to turn your attention from scary to sparkly. With Christmas around the corner, that means one thing: the dreaded Yuletide party. Fear not, as beautifully embellished evening-wear and vintage furs are on trend this season.

Sequins have been all over the catwalk, from high-end couture gowns to metropolitan wardrobe staples shimmering with jewels and sequins. This festive trend is perfect when preparing for Christmas party season. Look for red-carpet-ready gowns like those created by flamboyant British designer Julien Macdonald. Or, for a statement piece that can become a night-out favourite, consider fun and flirty silhouettes with high hemlines and swing skirts – black tights come in handy here for keeping your legs cosy! Meanwhile, glittery playsuits keep the look on trend, and will doubtless become a festival staple next summer.
To bear the brunt of the winter chills, splice modern flashy partywear with old-school glamour courtesy of faux-fur stoles and accessories.
The contrasting fabrics lend an air of retro formal-wear, conjuring a slightly operatic sophistication. Fur muffs and bags can also recreate this look. They can, in addition, be stored as investment pieces to be retrieved and reworn each winter. Fur gilets in particular look fantastic teamed over dresses, and jewel tones keep the look warm and modern. Later in the new year, these can be combined with leather-look jeans and killer heels for an edgy rock ‘vibe’.
Shimmering separates, for their part, make for fantastic investments and may be styled up or down: examples include Anisha Gunta’s sparkling, distressed jeans and urban hoodies. Embellished skirts can be teamed with chunky knits for an unexpected and artistic combination while sequined tops can dress up a great pair of jeans for an effortless evening look.
For those who prefer their palettes on the muted side, John Rocha showed sequins and shimmer can evoke a sombre sexiness. His floor-length dresses and skirts in monochrome palettes were intricate and subtly dramatic and adorned with rose appliques and lace for extra impact.