It’s time to say yes to that RSVP invite and explore the colourful array of Christmas party outfits waiting to be snapped up by festive fashionistas this season. Whether it’s the office bash, a cocktail reception or a corporate ball, the shops can deliver dazzling designs and demure velour designed to suit every taste and the tightest budget. Palazzo trousers, diamanté-studded dresses and billowing organza blouses offer an ultra-glam sense of drama in party circles.
Menswear also gets an uptown facelift with velvet smoking jackets, silk shirts and bow ties conjuring up film noir icons—style with side parts, slick hair gel and close shaves.
Of course, Irish Christmas time is unique as it stretches from mid-November until its final ho ho ho in January with Nollaig na mBan’s annual knees-up. This Yuletide marathon creates a fashion extravaganza in tinsel towns around the country as metallic miniskirts and lamé legwear transform low-profile business casuals into high-powered glitterati.
This season Dunnes Stores unleash a vibrant festive collection from the Savida range. Pleated mini-skirts, opaque black tights and red pashminas are good foundations for a swift costume change for post-work gatherings.
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The Gallery collection also offers sheer chiffon blouses and velvet dresses ideal for poseurs or singles seeking more meaningful corporate affairs. Paul Costelloe, Carolyn Donnelly and Helen Steele also have great winter wear that offers a more restrained take on the typical sparkly Christmas festive fare.
Costelloe’s cashmere sweaters are always a welcome gift while there are classic silhouettes and two-piece suits in Carolyn Donnelly’s department. The classic gold or black two-piece numbers are also available from NC Kilkenny and Kate Cooper.
The jolly Christmas jumper is a regular at most Irish office parties and in comes Penneys with optional extras like LED lights and reindeer antlers for seasonal stags. Team a faux leopard skin coat with strappy heels for the perfect pub-to-club clobber ladies – yes Bet Lynch’s barmaid rigout loves a good boogie over the neon nightclub tiles.
Next menswear and Zara for Men are both good haunts for tracking down that dapper occasion jacket, slim pants and a fitted shirt for flexing those fab-abs and a six-pack physique. The stockier silhouette can camouflage the fuller façade with double-breasted jackets and crisp shirts with eye-catching cravats.
When looking For inspiration, look to homegrown screen stars like Paul Mescal, Colin Farrell and Cillian Murphy, who set the bar high.
Brendan Gleeson, Liam Neeson and Gabriel Byrne also have plenty of panache without being too flash. Gleeson has a penchant for black silk shirts and satin lapels, while Neeson and Colm Meaney can really rock a bow tie and a pair of brogues on the red carpet.
Women might look to Saoirse Ronan, Jessie Buckley and Nicola Coughlan for festive dress-up ideas. They all have that inimitable style that pays homage to their own ingenuity rather than being slaves to designer labels.
Burgundy is in fashion and a pair of suede boots suits both shorter skirts and longer midi styles. Add some glitzy accessories like pearl earrings, bangles and a statement pendant.
For a workwear Christmas jacket try out the shearling with its cuddly fleece interior and faux suede exterior. Dunnes, River Island and M&S all have good ranges, or look to vintage stores to source a genuine suede number that doesn’t cost the earth.
Barbour menswear and North Face jackets will keep the winter chill at bay for the guys. Dune footwear store do a good version of Chelsea ankle boots for men as well as those black leather loafers that go with most suits and trousers.
The Superdry label - better known for its thick sweaters and furry puffer is also worth a gander for glamorous dresses and ‘70s-style Boho layering. The only hurdle is locating the gear in-store as the shop is jam-packed with bulky outerwear merchandise.
Mint Velvet stores have professional black velvet trouser suits and silver ruffle metallic blouses while Kate Cooper puts the cat amongst the pigeons with ivory jackets trimmed with feathers. Meanwhile, Diffusion.ie rolls out the red velvet blouses, pink pashminas and tulip flouncy skirts that enhance every outfit.