From festive drinks with friends or the office party, to shopping trips, winter walks and Christmas Day itself, this month demands a great deal from your wardrobe. Deni Avramova-Bastable of Identity Fashion, offers some tips on festive fashion choices
Well-designed and well-made clothes should reflect current styles but ultimately stand the test of time – lasting well beyond just this December. With the right styling, you can wear a few choice items in different ways, for different occasions, and get the most out of them.
Seasonal style
This season the mood is all about super-oversized pieces, considered layers, great tailoring, chunky jewellery and neutral tones. Use this as your foundation for building a fun but functional winter wardrobe and you can’t go wrong. You don’t need cupboards crammed full of fast fashion to hit the mark.
You need a few key accessories – namely jewellery, shoes, bags, hats and coats – that take casual pieces and elevate them from day to night. Take an outfit and add gentle sparkle, brooches, big earrings, chunky rings, an oversized jacket and you can transform the whole look into a far edgier, fashion forward style, fit for the festivities.
December day-to-day
It’s all about layers and, done well, wrapping up at the height of winter can be a masterclass in multifunctional dressing. Make those layers BIG; an oversize shirt over oversize trousers, topped off with an oversize blazer takes your outfit from run-of-the-mill to a ‘look’. By layering your outfit, it can take you from dawn to dusk while still looking polished.
Neutral colours are rising in popularity. A-listers are embracing the 'latte look’ (a term that has racked up over 90 million views on TikTok!). From warm browns to soft caramels, this colour palette offers shades that suit all skin tones. Neutrals are versatile and play nicely when you team them with other pieces in your wardrobe. Layer shades of taupe for a particularly sophisticated look.
A party classic
Dressing for a party, consider the words of the late, great Karl Lagerfeld who once said: “One is never over-dressed or underdressed in a little black dress.” It works for low key gatherings, elegant evenings, hosting festivities, or glitzy parties – it’s all about picking a beautifully designed and made dress, that fits perfectly and reflects your personality.
At Identity Fashion, the clothes – including classic black dresses – have a distinct style, with fluid draping, asymmetrical shapes and relaxed silhouettes. The vibe is classic with a twist, stylish but edgy and customers are urged to play with the pieces and dress them up or down. A little black dress is a statement in itself and also a canvas – team it with strappy heels, sling a jacket over your shoulders, and pop a clutch under your arm for the ultimate in festive chic.
Hosting Christmas
Hostess with the mostest on the big day or New Year’s Eve? Mix fun with comfort – spaghetti straps falling down every time you move or a dress that is more creased than wrapping paper after a few hours will give you a fashion headache. Think fabrics that move, flow, stretch, and make you feel the best version of you.
Metallics and Christmas are the perfect partnership. The glamour of gold or sophistication of silver is timeless – hunt out the interesting details that lift the look, like asymmetry, pleats or gathered fabric. Don’t hold back with the jewellery; start with your own and hopefully you can layer it up with more, if Santa delivers any bling!
Out on the town
Sequins scream ‘party season’, imply you’ve made an effort, and show you’re ready to hit the dancefloor! Whether a thigh high mini or a fringed maxi dress, there are styles to suit everyone. Invest in a quality design and you aren’t going to shed sequins with every shimmy. And think unique; leopard print patterns, puff shoulder, low back or embellished take sequins from basic to brilliant.
When it comes to jewellery, go maximalist. Chunky chains or punk styles worn in creative ways boost your look, so opt for big, bold, vibrant pieces. If you can’t be OTT at Christmas, when can you? A statement bag is a must – it’s also an excellent present idea for your Christmas list! Bold toned clutches, prim and proper handbags, studded or chain straps that deliver an edgier vibe are on trend and will carry you through a busy social season.
Winter walk
You can’t beat a Devon December walk, with crisp air and a crunch underfoot. Wrapping up warm doesn’t have to come at the expense of style. Nothing creates a first impression like a statement coat; it means your outfit is a one-off and it provides the perfect finishing touch. Practical, classic, edgy or editorial – outerwear is worth investing in and it shouldn’t be an afterthought.
Long bomber jackets made with waterproof fabric, cinched in at the waist are our new fashion favourite. Trench coats remain a style staple, but more contemporary and unique the better. They offer protection from variable weather while looking chic. The versatility means you can wear them over almost anything – we like layering over anything from sharp tailoring to floaty maxi dresses.
Shop ‘til you drop
December is shopaholic heaven, whether that’s late night shopping missions or mooching at markets (the festive markets at Royal William Yard are an experience to behold – put Wednesdays and Sundays in your diary). You’re in and out of shops, stopping for food, lugging around bags – so choose an outfit with layers and accessories that you can whip on and off.
This is where the season’s must-have item comes into its own. Blazers are big news. Throw on over an oversize shirt or slouchy cashmere jumper, and embrace a modern twist with prints. Bigger is better; this is a classic garment that, if you play with its proportions and go oversize, it will change your outfit and instantly feel fashionable – taking you from Christmas shopping to show-stopping.
