What to wear to a Christmas party by Claudia Winkleman's stylist
Whether she's presenting Strictly Come Dancing from the Blackpool Tower Ballroom, presiding over a Round Table banishment on The Traitors or attending a red-carpet event, Claudia Winkleman always looks impeccably chic, edgy and glamorous – three adjectives I'd love people to use when describing my own style. So, this Christmas party season, I've decided to refresh my festive wardrobe to 'be more Claudia' – and to help me nail the brief, I've asked her long-term stylist Sinead McKeefry to help.
From going big on accessories to raiding the menswear section, Sinead has shared some excellent styling secrets with Red (and her 60k Instagram followers) over the past year– all for articles sparked by how many of us want to get 'the Claudia look' after admiring her outfits on TV. But those famous Highlands-ready knitwear and coats aside, it's evening attire that she does best. So, if you're also bored of that same sequin dress you pull out every year, read on for some fresh and most definitely trusted Christmas party outfit inspiration...
Embrace jewel-toned velvets
Sinead loves Serena Bute's "fabulous" velvet suits in jewel colours, styled with contrasting shirts underneath. "I tried one on Claudia the other day, the midnight blue, and it looked amazing," she says. "Velvet is ideal if you're going to a winter wedding or other event in January, as you can wear it then as well as during Christmas party season. We use it a lot on Strictly because it's a glamorous fabric and fun to accessorise."
Heart set on a velvet dress? Head to Mint Velvet. "I saw a really beautiful one in there the other day," says Sinead. "It was a deep green velvet with three little crystal bows. Think Self-Portrait but more affordable."
Style up some party pyjamas
We love wearing pyjamas to a party, and Sinead is a firm advocate too, having just found our new dream lacy black set in RIXO. "I can see these worn with elegant heels, Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City style, with a gorgeous coat over the top," she says. "ME+EM have done a full-length tuxedo jacket, or you could go a bit more Kate Moss and throw on a shaggy faux fur. What I love about pyjamas is that you can split the pieces apart and wear, say, the trousers with a relaxed T-shirt and blazer if you want to tone things down. It's great value that little number."
Swap your sequins for pearls...
Sinead loves a sequin but this season she's all about pearls. "Nadine Merabi has just done a really nice bouclé collection that's not sparkly but does feature a lot of pearl detail, which I love around Christmas," she says. "They've got a range of dresses with different names, and they're all great Claudia pieces because they're either black with pearls or white with pearls [Claudia famously favours a monochrome palette]. Then, of course, Self-Portrait is always a go-to for sparkle."
Make a statement with your jewellery
To say Sinead's jewellery game is on point is an understatement – from Tilly Sveaas to Edge of Ember to Self-Portrait, we're always in raptures over what she finds for Claudia. "I love cocktail rings," she says. "Search for those on Net-a-Porter and sort the price tags from low to high – it's amazing what you'll dig up. There are Gucci cocktail rings on there for a few hundred pounds. Yes, that's still an investment, but it will instantly elevate the simplest of outfits. We talk and use our hands a lot at Christmas parties, meaning just like a fresh set of nails, people will notice it – and you'll have it forever."
If your budget doesn't stretch that far, look for statement jewellery on the high street. I actually bought a chunky gold chain necklace with a single oversized pearl from Mint Velvet after Sinead pointed it out to me over the summer, and I'll be wearing it to jazz up a LBD this Christmas. "They do loads of gold, pearl and crystal jewellery, and that one really suits a round-neck top or dress," she says, also shouting out Butler & Wilson as a mid-range brand to browse for fun party pieces, and her local car boot sale for stunning vintage gems at bargain prices.
Look to the 70s
"Nadine Merabi have got a tuxedo with sequin lapels, which isn't totally over-the-top Christmas, so you'd be able to wear it outside of the festive period," says Sinead. "It's a really good place to go for things like that because their price point is spot on and their tailoring is incredible – you get a lot of value there. They're a brand I use a lot on Claudia because the fit is excellent. In fact, I'd say they do the best flared trousers – the cut is just phenomenal. Style them with a metallic platform shoe. I just found a gold 70s style pair from Kurt Geiger with ankle straps – they're a bit Terry de Havilland but more manageable."
Invest in a piece you'll wear all year
Perhaps controversially, Sinead is a fan of a year-round sequin. "I know it's not for everyone, but for those who are a bit more avant-garde in their styling, sequins can look really good with denim in summer," she says. "Yes, there are some clothes that are very clearly Christmas clothes – a red sparkly dress might be hard to transfer to a lunch date in June – but if you stick to those lovely champagne, cream and ballet tones you can mix them in throughout the year. I also love the rhinestone flats that Zara's got in at the moment."
Now, jump in, we're going shopping...
You Might Also Like
