5 hours ago
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Once in a while, it is fun to pull out all the stops and get properly dressed up. To wear something gorgeous and probably impractical, do your makeup carefully, rather than in two and a half minutes, and coerce a family member into taking a photo before you leave the house.
It is awards season, and red carpet fashion hoopla is all around us. But for those of us who don’t have an Oscar nomination, the nights that call for weapons-grade glam are few and far between, especially at this time of year. Which is fine by me because, frankly, who has the time? In real life, for most of us, quick styling hacks when you want to look A Bit Dressed Up are way more useful than a ball gown. Accessories that elevate your look from blah to belle, easy tricks that give your outfit a sense of occasion. These, not the bells-and-whistles party dresses, are the real treasures of your wardrobe.
A glimmer of sparkle is the fastest way to put your look – and, by extension, you – in a party mood. Like pouring champagne into tall flutes so that it catches the light, adding an element of shine to your outfit makes it feel instantly celebratory. The entire jewellery industry is essentially built on this logic, after all.
And it can be as simple as earrings. You can put a major pair on with an otherwise unremarkable outfit five minutes before you leave the house, take them off the moment you get home, and feel just that bit more pulled together in between. M&S has a pair of gold-and-monochrome charm drop earrings, featuring wonky pearls and tiny gold fish, that would feel like £20 well spent.
The best shortcuts to a style upgrade are those, like earrings, that don’t pose the logistical problems that come with a party dress. They don’t require you to rethink your underwear and you won’t catch a cold on the walk home. Just as impactful as jewels near your face are metallic shoes. I have a pair of silver kitten-heel slingbacks that unexpectedly became some of the hardest working shoes in my wardrobe. Sadly, they have the toe scuffs to prove it, so I am considering these Oliver Bonas gold kitten-heel slingbacks (£85 but currently on sale) as a replacement.
When the clothes themselves glimmer, proceed with caution. Expansive sparkle can tip from celebratory into costume alarmingly fast, especially this side of Christmas. But there are fabrics that catch the light quietly, silk chief among them. A silk shirt has a self-possession that requires very little input from the rest of your outfit, so you can wear it with your go-to trousers or jeans when you want to look a bit snazzy but need to be comfortable.
Tiny glints of shine can also be a way to bring polish – worth pausing on that word – to daywear. It may be metal buttons on a blazer, catching the light as you move. It may be a watch worn with rolled-up sleeves. Loafers are my go-to daytime shoe, and I always look for styles with metal snaffles, because that glint of hardware where your trouser hem meets the top of the foot makes the difference between dapper sophistication and looking like you are in school uniform.
One of this year’s nuts-and-bolts fashion adjustments is the belt, back in focus after years of being either invisible or just a vehicle for logos. A belt with a metal buckle is a small thing, but it draws the eye to the waist, gives structure to looser silhouettes and introduces a flash that pulls your look together.
Shine does not need to be loud to be effective. The red carpet sequin-fest is great eye candy, but mostly irrelevant for those of us juggling meetings, errands, early mornings and late dinners. The best looks don’t wait for a grand invitation; they show up with no fuss to make Friday night drinks feel special. A little razzle dazzle is a good thing. You don’t need to make a song and dance about it.
Model: Daria at Milk. Stylist’s assistant: Charlotte Gornall. Hair and makeup: Sophie Higginson using Hair by Sam McKnight and Ilia beauty. Blazer, £165, Mint Velvet. Jeans, £125, Gant. Cardigan, £49.99, Mango. Earrings, £185, Thomas Sabo. Cashmere socks, £59, Gobi. Loafers, £275, Russell & Bromley
