What To Wear To A Holiday Party: An Expert Guide?​

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 of FW23 all have something big in common: maximalist energy. Naeem Khan is always a stalwart for opulent glamor, and its embellished pink ‘Gatsby’ dress is strung with strands of glistening fringing that will swish joyfully on any dance floor. London label Clio Peppiatt’s midnight-blue corseted satin mini, a NET-A-PORTER exclusive, comes with celestial embellishment for a chic nod to festive dress codes, while 16Arlington and Simkhai are the designers to turn to for LBDs that are anything but staid. 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, but Susan Caplan Vintage’s Chanel clip-on earrings will complement the sharp padded shoulders. 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 both 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 – try 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. Over in Paris, Stella McCartney’s gown dazzled with braided ropes of lead-free crystals, which elegantly traced the curve of each cutout, while Emilia Wickstead’s scarlet dress stunned at London’s Royal Academy of Arts with its exaggerated, sculptural neckline. Let these showstoppers do the talking by keeping your makeup soft.

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 Alexander McQueen’s ‘Armadillo’ silver sandals.

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 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.

After-dark 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, and Sandra Mansour’s twinkling, sculpted version, cut from semi-sheer black tulle flecked with glittering threads, is exclusive to NET-A-PORTER. 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 ultra-festive red velvet 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 sequinned mini dresses to designer It-bags.