Festive outfit planning: Christmas Jumpers

A special post for the Queen of Christmas Jumpers, Liz! 

So, we've done LBDs, sparkles, work wear and even sofa surfing. But the most important item of festive clothing? The CHRISTMAS JUMPER! 

I had three novelty jumpers that I wore on a rotating basis last year, interspersed with my ever expanding collection of glittery,sequinned and fluffy jumpers. I added a couple more this year and so now I'm actually running out of occasions to wear them. Mr G and I even had a conversation that went like this:

"Are reindeer only for Christmas?"

"We're not getting one"

"Obviously! Duh! I'm just wondering, do I buy this jumper with snowflakes on, or the one with reindeer. It snows in January so I could still wear snowflakes in January, but will people think I'm crazy if I'm still wearing reindeer jumpers in January"

"I think you're crazy now. Shhhh"

JOLLY

This was from New Look last year, I wore this over a slinky dress forour cheesy Christmas party, with red sequin skirt on Christmas day and withblack skinny jeans for city drinks. It's silly, but cute.

REINDEER

Also from New Look last year. I've worn this with jeans,boots, denim shorts and (life changing!) thermal fleece-lined tights. It's perfectfor snuggly, festive weekend wear without being over the top.

SNOWMAN

A Primark special. I wore this last Christmas Evewith sequinned skinny jeans, fluffy slipper boots and a huge "IT'S FINALLY CHRIIIIISTMAAAAAAAS" grin!

2014

This year I purchased some new jumpers from H&M (no no, I'm not on an H&M commission package, it's just my fave place to shop!).

I decided to go less novelty and more traditional this time around, well for one at least. I'm a sucker for those wholesome "just hanging here in a log cabin in the woods by the roaring fire, with all my rosy-cheeked friends after we just spent an hour having a snowball fight and riding our ponies and bikes home from the pub where we had a hearty lunch while our skin glows with health and our hair shines with vitality and our perfect teeth glisten in the fairy lights" Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren style adverts. 

You remember, a bit like that Spice Girls and/or Take That Marks and Spencer advert from a while back? Yeah... that look. It's one that I love, and covet, and wish I could carry off, but I can't. I'm just not fresh-faced, wholesome or outdoorsy. As we all know.

So at Christmas, when I can do it in a jokey way, I'm embracing it! Let's do this, wholesome and fairisle and plaid:

At the other end of the spectrum, and more true to character, this one is grey, fluffy, cynical and sarcastic. It say it all and has to be my favourite so far:

Sadly some of the balls fell off, so I had to return it, but I'm going in search of a new one asap!

Don't forget it's Christmas Jumper Day in aid of Save the Children tomorrow.

Are you planning to wear yours?

Festive outfit planning: Desk to bar



So I have sofa-surfing outfits, spangly party outfits and trusty LBD outfits. So now?  Desk-to-bar outfits!

You know, those outfits you wear to work, and then zsuzh them up a bit for the evening when it's an event, but not an "event", if you know what I mean?

I have a couple of those planned too. My grand plan is to whip off my tights to flash a bare(ish) leg*, add some statement bling and bouff up my hair. Maybe not all at the same time though.

First off, this bodycon grey marl dress from H&M (again!). Boring and work-appropriate from the front when worn with black tights, courts and a blazer. Party-central from the back when the blazer comes off and the neon, full length zip comes out to play!

Next, this (p)leather midi skirt from Next. Nice and understated with a powder blue shirt (from DP) and opaque tights. Whip off the tights, throw on a pair of spangly shoes and a statement necklace and I'm good to go!

Finally, this simple black and pale pink blouse also from Dotty P, tucked in to a pencil skirt is standard workwear. Switch the skirt for skinny black jeans, throw on the "Outfit Booster" shoes and jacket, backcomb my hair in to a beehive and hang something big, bold and shiny from my earlobes - ready to after-work PARTY!

Is it Dry January yet?

*I prefer flesh-toned fishnets for when it's in the minus figures and my legs need to be "bare". I hate the feel of normal tights on my toes!

Festive outfit planning: The sparkle

Now, LBDs aside, the other festive necessity is SPARKLE!

Glitter, metallics, sequins and beads. I'm perennial sparkle wearer, but at Christmas I take the opportunity to step it up a notch and go a bit overboard with the bling.

Once again, H&M came in to their own with this skirt and top combo. It looks like fairy lights and baubles. Magical! 

 

I'm not "fashion" (or bonkers) enough to wear them both at the same time, so I thought I'd mix it up a bit. I'll wear the skirt with this backless, halter top (you guessed it, from H&M) my go-with-everything shoes and bright red lips for a night out, and with a black cami or jumper, tights and suede knee high boots for less dressy affairs. The top will work nicely with either my black skinny jeans or my leather-look pencil skirt.

 

H&M sequin top and skirt, halter top and Topshop Joni jeans

This sparkly, metallic ASOS dress is a potential New Year's Eve dinner dress. I have it in the black/blue beaded, the white/silver sequin version and the black body con version, so why not the sparkly gold leopard print version too? It's super comfy, super flattering, nice and blingy for a special night out, but leaves enough room for a big meal and a bit of a boogie.

Jovonna dress from ASOS

And whilst we're on the subject of sparkly metallics, this dress by Fearne Cotton for Very is a firm contender for Christmas Day. Black tights and snuggly slipper boots for staying home with the family, or killer heels and a blazer for a night out with the girls.
 

Gold star dress by Fearne Cotton for Very

So I know I said I was thinking about an LBD for my girlie night out tonight, but now I'm wondering if it's time to just pull out the sequins...

Festive outfit planning: LBDs

It's not Christmas without a Little Black Dress, or two, or three is it?

Tomorrow the WAGs are getting together at a local bar and restaurant for dinner, drinks and dancing and so, being Essex, this calls for all kinds of sequins, glitter, glitz and bling, and potentially this little strapless number from H&M! I can glitz it up with my "Outfit Boosters" - the sequin jacket and the "go with everything" shoes - a belt for interest when the jacket comes off and a nice chunky statement necklace. I'll take my white Whistles clutch to stash my hot pink lippie and glitter eyeliner for touch ups!

Next week, I have two Christmas parties, one at The Langham, and one at Kettner's.

For The Langham, a slightly dressier affair, I was thinking about this lace bodycon dress, also from H&M, again with a couple of the "Outfit Boosters" (seeing as it's with a different group who won't have seen them yet), my rose gold Mulberry clutch, a bright red lip and a pair of big blingy earrings in emerald green for that Christmassy touch.

For Kettner's, I'm leaning toward this little embellished number from ASOS. It's a bit more fun than fancy and has a nod to the twenties with all the beading, which works nicely with the venue's history. With all the beading going on, perhaps just my new Miss Selfridge shoes, some dinky, but sparkly, studs and my pink Lulu Guinness lips clutch for a pop of colour. Smokey eyes and pale pinky-gold lips for the win!

The dresses

H&M strapless LBD

H&M lace bodycon dress

ASOS beaded dress

The Extras

Miss Selfridge "Outfit Boosters"

Whistles Rivington Clutch, Mulberry rose gold clutch and Lulu Guinness lips clutch

My go-to party lipsticks: NARS Schiap, Chanel Rouge Allure in Passion, and MAC Pretty Please 

Festive outfit planning: Outfit Boosters

So with all the loungewear sorted, I thought I better get on with the glitz. 

I mentioned having a zillion parties or events to attend and a few weeks ago I had a spare evening so I spent the time wisely – trying on,planning and accessorizing outfits. One of my favourite pastimes!

outfit planning

Before I get in to the actual outfits themselves, let me tell you about a number of items I bought a while ago with the festive season in mind, which will work with all my outfits.

Miss Selfirdge Double sequin jacket

First off, this silver "two way" sequin jacketfrom Miss Selfridge.Remember those sofas from the 80s where you could run your finger along the pile and write your name (or rude words) on the surface and then rub them out again by smoothing the pile back out? Well this jacket does just that. Rough the sequins up one way and it's a sparkly, light-catching disco jacket. Smooth them back in the other direction and it's matte, muted and a bit more understated. I saw a similar jacket in Ted Baker at a MUCH higher price and fell in love with it, so when Miss S had a flash sale on Halloween I snapped this version up.

Miss Selfridge Chelsea block heeled sandal

At the same time I got my hands on a pair of metallic pewter, block-heeled sandals,which really are super comfy (not as comfy as my elf slippers, of course!) and go with everything. Now, I say that line to Mr G all the time, but this time it's true. I've tried them on with every outfit and I haven't yet found one they don't work with. Outfit win!

Miss Selfridge faux fur stole

I also grabbed a powder blue faux fur stole  in the same Halloween flash sale from  Miss Selfridge. Fun, furry and fabulous. And again, it goes with everything!

So those are my "Outfit Boosters" sorted.

Now on to the actual outfits...

Festive outfit planning - staying cosy at home

So, yesterday I listed a run of parties and events I have planned over the course of December. As you can imagine, they all require outfits.

And what's my favourite thing to do?

Plan outfits of course!

Before I get started on my blinged up, going out ("out out"?) outfits, what about the staying home, sofa surfing and movie-watching outfits?

New gingerbread onesie

 
These mainly consist of last year's reindeer PJs, a reindeer onesie and reindeer slipper socks (do you see a theme?) and this year's knitted gingerbread onesie, complemented by a choice of two pairs of comedy elf slippers.

Elf slippers!

Stylish? No.

Fun, cosy and festive? Yes!