All that glitters

If you’ve been in any of the shops recently, it’s blatantly obvious that everyone is gearing up to what the fashion crew like to term 'party season'. Once 31 October is done, poor old Halloween gets pushed out the door, and the sequins and faux fur brigade are warmly welcomed in.

While I’m very aware we are still only at the beginning of November, and Christmas seems like a distant event, it is worth remembering that if you spot something you like now, it’s worth picking it up as you’ll have the best choice of festive wear come December.

On my personal shopping trips this week, it was clear to see that sequins are back with a bang this year. I mean yes they are always a big hit come November, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much glitter and sparkle on the high street as I have this week.

A sequin is not for everyone, and while the idea of wearing it head to toe might make some people break out in a cold sweat, it’s also quite easy to just dip your toe into the shimmering sequin pool.

H&M has a sequin t-shirt style top available in three different colours which is a no brainer if you just want a small amount of sparkle. My favourite is a deep shade of green - just pop it on with leather look trousers or jeans and a strappy heal and you’re ready to hit the town, cocktail in hand.

Now if you’re a fully fledged sequin fan, then you’re truly in luck. There’s everything from sequin jackets, skirts and dresses available to you. I wouldn’t be in favour of spending a lot of money on sequins but they are something that never goes out of fashion and comes back into our winter wardrobe year after year. I have plenty of pieces bought years ago that I still pull out and get great wear out of.

If sequins and glitter really aren’t for you and you favour a slightly more minimal approach to your party look, then fear not, there are plenty of other ways to achieve that festive glamour.

One way I like to go about this is by going wild with texture to achieve a luxury look. Velvet is one of my favourite winter fabrics and again it’s the kind of thing that if you invest in a couple of pieces, you’ll wear them year after year.

I particularly like a deep navy trouser suit from Topshop that works well with a t-shirt and heels or a slinky camisole. I also really like quite silky pieces and there are plenty of slip skirts and dresses out there in rich jewel colours which make just as big an impact as a bit of sparkle. As I rarely go out these days, or when I do it’s daytime brunches or quiet catch-ups with friends, I find a slip skirt, boots and cosy knit is perfect for that daytime event when you want to look dressed up.

Of course, accessories really come into their own this time of year and more often than not, I’ll style this kind of look with a bejewelled headband. I got one recently in Bauhaus and wore it to a wedding but it would be a great way of dressing up an oversized knit and leather look leggings too.

As so much of what’s on offer at the moment is black or other dark colours, I’ll also be adding some festival pizazz with chandelier earrings, statement shoes and colourful bags. We’ll be all glitzed out before Christmas ever comes round!