With party season on the horizon, there’s no time like the present to start hunting down your dream dress for all of the lavish occasions that are bound to present themselves – and this year, there are some truly spectacular occasionwear trends to choose from that promise to help you create a look that is nothing short of show-stopping.
From pre-Christmas soirees to New Year’s Eve, the months ahead often come with a whole host of social engagements that will fill up your calendar at an alarming rate – and whilst it’s true that splurging on one fail-safe dress that you can be sure you’ll always feel like a million dollars in will go a long way, if you don’t want to be seen in the same outfit more than once then you’re going to need a little more than that.
From sparkling metallics to fabulous fringing and plush, tactile fabrics like velvet and silk, these are the trends that will be influencing your choice of occasion dresses this year – so if you’re seeking some inspiration, then look no further.
Magnetic metallics
Metallics have long been synonymous with the party season, and what better excuse is there to get dressed up to the nines in a shimmering statement dress than that next big occasion? When it comes to making a dramatic entrance, it’s the obvious way to go about it, and from extravagant golds and warm bronzes to ever-so-slightly more subtle silvers, it’s all about choosing the metallic hue that best suits your skin tone and going from there. If you’re heading to a red carpet event, then a flowing, floor-length gown promises to make sure you’re the belle of the ball, while for cocktail parties and evening socials, a daring metallic mini dress teamed with a pair of towering heels is a bold look that will get you noticed for all the right reasons. Wear with minimalistic accessories to really let your dress shine.
Opulent embellishments
From jewelled necklines to sparkling sequins, the party season is the perfect excuse to go all out when it comes to embellishments – and this year is certainly no different. But for A/W 2023, we’re swapping glitzy, mirrored fabrics for bohemian feathers and fringing, which although perhaps most often associated with the summer festival season, have been taking the latest autumn and winter catwalk shows by storm. Adding movement and texture to even the most classic and timeless of occasion dress shapes and styles, delicate flumes inject a sense of 1940s glamour while fringed hemlines evoke the spirit of the Roaring Twenties, which just so happened to be one of the most sophisticated decades when it came to formal fashion. To allow your dress to do all the talking, keep your accessories pared down and simple – think black stilettos or strappy heeled sandals and a simple black clutch for a chic look that exudes vintage charm.
Velvet underground
As we mentioned, plush, tactile fabrics are set to be big news for autumn and winter and exude a real sense of opulence – so when choosing your occasion dress, be sure to look out for sumptuous velvets in classic blacks and silvers. Autumnal hues including earthy browns, mossy greens and burnt oranges, and warming festive tones like claret and burgundy are all excellent choices too, as well as being versatile enough to take you through a variety of different occasions over the coming month when mixed and matched with different accessories and footwear. Look for dramatic maxis, plunging necklines and daring slits for a look that epitomises the concept of dressing to impress.
Statement sleeves
Getting dressed up to the nines often means sacrificing comfort for style, with many of the most fashionable dress styles each year requiring us to accept being a little bit cold – so this season’s trend for statement sleeves is one that we’ll all likely welcome with open arms. Simple shapes like shifts and minis have been given a show-stopping makeover for the party season with the help of large ruffled and puffed sleeves, and we just can’t get enough of it, because this trend allows you to choose a figure-flattering shape whilst still making a bold statement overall. Opt for a classic, monochrome look and keep your dress and accessories all to a simple black colour scheme, or for a look that’s a little more daring, choose a jewel-toned dress and layer on some chunky necklaces or add dangly statement earrings and a sequinned clutch.
