What To Wear To A Festive Party
Whether you’re heading to a black-tie event or cocktails with friends, our ultimate guide to party dressing has you covered. From dance-floor-ready tops to modern suiting and dream dresses – read on to find your perfect party look…
Party mini dresses
The hottest mini dresses this season all have something big in common: maximalist energy. Clio Peppiatt – the London label behind Taylor Swift’s birthday dress (pictured) – has created an exclusive NET-A-PORTER capsule filled with dazzling styles, while 16Arlington and Taller Marmo are the designers to turn to for LBDs that are anything but staid. Naeem Khan is a stalwart for opulent glamour, and its embellished pink ‘Gatsby’ dress is strung with strands of glistening fringing that will swish joyfully on any dance floor. Micro-hemlines and strappy sandals are an infallible pairing, but the modern way to wear these minis is by thinking outside the (shoe) box, with squared-toed ballet flats, dressy loafers or knee-high boots.
Tuxedo dressing
If striking suiting or jumpsuits appeal more than dresses, the FW23 runways delivered plenty of examples of bold tailoring. Case in point: Brunello Cucinelli’s silver velvet suit – a supremely elegant way to approach festive parties that’s light on sequins and frills. Elsewhere, Wardrobe.NYC’s black blazer mini dress is sharp and sexy – no wonder Hailey Bieber and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley are already fans. This piece demands little in the way of add-ons; chunky gold earrings and a red lip should do the trick. For even easier styling, turn to Ralph Lauren Collection’s ivory tuxedo-inspired jumpsuit – a NET-A-PORTER exclusive – or 16Arlington’s feather-trimmed iteration. Finish the look with a classic pointy pump.
Black-tie gowns
Whether a handwritten invite for a black-tie affair or paperless post for a formal gala has landed, you will need something extra-special to wear. Purple hues are trending right now, so try Erdem’s regal purple crinkle-satin gown, which has delicate crystal flowers shimmering down its length, or Taller Marmo’s dramatic plum-hued maxi, which comes complete with the brand’s signature asymmetrical feather-trimmed design. Alternatively, look to Huishan Zhang’s ‘Beau’ gown, which is beautifully feathered in a softer lilac shade – just slip on a pair of glossy pumps to finish the look. Costarellos’ twist-front metallic red halterneck gown oozes Old Hollywood glamour, while Michael Lo Sordo’s slinky gold ‘Alexandra’ dress is one of his most iconic designs – it’s even been worn by Ana de Armas in her role as a Bond girl. Just add diamond earrings, a polished updo and a red lip.
Finishing touches
Impromptu invitations aren’t conducive to full outfit changes, so having a pair of party heels and a suitably chic bag in your festive closet for instant elevation is a wise idea. In 1968, Paco Rabanne’s muse Françoise Hardy wore 9kg of pure gold to an event in Paris – the good news is that, in 2023, you don’t have to go to such lengths, thanks to the way Rabanne’s ‘Sparkle’ bags bring the same celebratory vibe to jeans and a T-shirt. For any last-minute plans, we recommend swapping your office-ready loafers for Manolo Blahnik’s festive red ‘Maysale’ mules, or Paris Texas’s high-shine gold slingbacks, which are exclusively available at NET-A-PORTER.
Twinkling metallics
Nothing symbolizes the festive season quite like glistening fabrics, and confident dressers will look dazzling in Tove’s ‘Malaika’ maxi dress, with its shimmery silver knit. Wear yours like actor Zhou Dongyu, with diamond earrings and a tousled updo, or take cues from the brand’s FW23 show with sculptural jewelry and flats. A shimmering skirt is a great alternative to top-to-toe dresses, and the floor-skimming, paillette-covered silver maxi that closed Valentino Garavani’s FW23 show is the perfect power party piece. Style yours as shoe designer Amina Muaddi did: with a crisp white shirt and black tie.
Going-out tops
If you need to make maximum impact in minimum time, a statement top is your sartorial savior, elevating everything from wide-leg jeans to trusty tailoring in an instant. Seek out luxe after-dark textures such as glossy silk-satin, plus details like crystals and glitter. 16Arlington’s cutout sequined ‘Solaris’ top has been a fashion-girl favorite for several seasons now – and for good reason. It’s perfect for elevating jeans or leather pants and keeps you reasonably covered on chilly nights on the town. Bustier tops are having a moment, too: Zimmermann’s ‘Matchmaker’ style goes big on drama with its cropped hem and pointy, exaggerated cups. Wear it with a black maxi skirt and throw on an oversized blazer for ultimate cool-girl points. If glitter is not your thing, however, look to Liberowe’s glossy duchesse-satin peplum top, which forms part of our NET SUSTAIN edit of consciously crafted clothing, or go for a pearly pastel halterneck, such as those offered by Victoria Beckham and L’Agence, for a super-sophisticated take on festive dressing. Offset the dreamlike pastels with a slick of Tom Ford Beauty’s Liquid Lip Luxe Matte in punchy ‘Scarlet Rouge’.
Party-ready rentals
The glamour and excitement of party season can make us fearless in our style choices, which leads, occasionally, to a few spontaneous, not-quite-you buys left unloved at the back of the closet. That’s why there is no better reason to start using NET-A-PORTER’s newly launched rental offering, which gives you the chance to rent runway pieces and borrow items from your favorite brands. Powered by rental platforms By Rotation and Hurr, NET-A-PORTER’s hand-picked rental edits feature everything from sequined mini dresses to designer It-bags.
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