We Try Before You Buy: The 10 Party Outfits We Can't Stop Thinking About

Our We Try Before You Buy series aims to take the stress out of shopping and eliminate the number of post office visits you make each month to return failed online orders. We test new-season buys and styling ideas so you don’t have to. Here, we’re letting you know what’s actually worth investing in or styling tricks you can re-create with pieces you already own. 

The theme of this month’s We Try Before You Buy may seem like an obvious choice, but after a couple of years of staying indoors, cancelling plans, and accruing a sizeable collection of loungewear, this year we want to celebrate more than ever, and what better time to reclaim the joy of dressing up than party season. 

Thinking about what "occasionwear" really meant to us, we scoured the shops for party outfits that captured the joie de vivre of the season, putting together 10 looks that we would love to wear for the festive period and beyond. There are, of course, standout pieces from our favourite high-street stores, plenty of unique styles from independent brands and designer labels, and a couple of key pieces borrowed from rental sites, which is one of the more sustainable ways to spend with the prospect of a busy social calendar ahead. 

While we will always have a penchant for dresses that wow us, there is also statement tailoring and stylish separates in the mix, so expect plenty of outfit inpso ahead, whether you’re dressing up for the office Christmas party and or looking for that special something for New Year’s Eve. If you’re after a really great dress, we found beautiful options from Aje via rental service Hurr, De La Vali and ASOS, while the best suits we discovered were from Whistles and Reiss (even worn as mix-and-match separates).

So, if you’re looking for some inspiration for party season, keep scrolling for the 10 outfits that we can’t stop thinking about.

"When I first saw this De La Vali dress on the Coggles site, it quite literally stopped me in my scroll,” says Branded Content Editor Rebecca Rhys Evans. "I did a virtual U-Turn past the dresses my thumb had flicked through on auto-pilot, tapped on it with a sense of urgency, and sent it to my best stylist friend saying "I have to have this.” Her response? ‘Well, yes, it’s very you.’ Its A-line silhouette, raised neck and short-short length is an obvious nod to the ’60s, which I love, but perhaps the more obvious details—its leopard-print fabric and pink feather cuffs—make it the perfect blend between Alexa Chung and Jennifer Coolidge, which is my style to a T. Wearing it with these silver platforms, my favourite Shrimps earrings and the cutest Clio Peppiatt bag (which warning, will at most only hold a lipstick and non-applicator tampon, but fashion!) made me feel what Patsy and Edina would describe as ‘Fabulous, darling.’ And if there’s one thing you want to feel for festive parties, it’s that.”

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"I’m just not that into partywear, says the girl wearing a sequin suit. But for real, I’ve never been a big dress person so the idea of traditional party dressing always used to fill me with dread. That was until recently when I realised that a power suit (my all-time favourite outfit) has a place at any party. Since then, I always turn to a two-piece when faced with a packed festive schedule."

"Last year, I invested in a blue velvet suit from Zara and I’ve worn it a surprising amount since—to winter weddings, fancy dinners and drinks with the girls. So when I saw this sequinned Whistles number when browsing for an epic outfit for this shoot, I knew I had found the one. My advice? The blazer fits true to size (I’m wearing an 8 here), but size down if you’re between sizes in the trousers, then just add some classic accessories and you’re only one martini away from the best party of your life.”

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"Anything sparkly can definitely set the mood right when it comes to party wear looks,” says Who What Wear’s Video Content Creator Remi Afolabi. "I’m a sucker for a midi dress so coming across this glittered number from Topshop was a delight. I think it’s a great elevated dress style for anyone who wants to keep it simple but still look put together and ready for a night of festive fun! For extra sparkle, I paired the dress with strappy diamanté heels from Warehouse that I've had in my wardrobe for a while and bring out ever year.”

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"I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm a creature of habit—someone who finds a great deal of comfort in the familiar. And my fashion choices reflect that,” says Deputy Editor Maxine Eggenberger. "I’m one of those people who, when they find something they love and that makes them feel great when they wear it, will absolutely buy it in every colour. With that, allow me to turn your attention to Ghost’s Palm dress. I already own this slip in black and ivory, so, you can imagine my delight when I found out the brand had unveiled a new collection of gemstone colours just in time for party season.

"I was immediately drawn to the romantic and somewhat mysterious shade of merlot, perhaps because I already had the perfect blazer to match it hanging in my wardrobe—a Zara sale find from three years ago no less. It's cut in a way that perfectly contours the body, without being too clingy. And the straps that are wide enough to cover those on even my comfiest bra? That's another selling point. Pairing it with another ‘something old,’ some crystal-embellished heels from Uterqüe, the sister brand of Zara which, sadly, closed last year, I finished off the ensemble with some rhinestone bow earrings from Orelia London. A potent blend of old and new, with some sparkle thrown in for good measure? All I need now is the dance floor.”

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"Between the pandemic and having a baby, I haven't had many chances to get all dolled up during the past three years,” says Editor in Chief Hannah Almassi. "So 2022’s festive season for me (if I get invited to anything) will be all-out over-the-top—this is not the time to hold back! So, in walked this ultra-sassy Miscreants maxi dress and matching gloves to help me live out my high-octane party outfit dreams. Because it’s black and white, this feels surprisingly timeless despite its obvious ’80s inflexion. I wasn’t brave enough to do a bare-leg but with some equally retro tights and a choker necklace, I could happily carry on the aesthetic of that decade.”

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"When it comes to party dressing (or really, any kind of dressing), I fall into either of two very different categories. I either want simple black separates that I can dress up with a smattering of subtle yet sparkly accessories or I want puff sleeves, I want tulle and I want pastels,” and as you can see, Managing Editor Poppy Nash went in hard on option number two. "Dresses are the item of clothing I feel most comfortable in, so when I saw this cloud-like Aje mini on Hurr I knew it was the one for me. I actually have this very dress in pink cotton, but the frothy tulle gives this baby blue iteration that extra festive feel. It is beautifully made, fits like a glove and has the perfect amount of swooshiness to the skirt (making it perfect for all-night dancing). Plus, have you seen the sleeves?! I’ve paired it with gold platform sandals from ASOS, a sequin pouch from Clio Peppiatt and a diamond ring from Mejuri because, when it comes to party dressing, more is more, right?”

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"My partywear default is always head-to-toe black. But this year, I wanted to experiment with something new and dip my toe into some sequins. So, when I saw this Rixo blouse and skirt I knew it was my sign to go for it,” says Beauty Editor Eleanor Vousden. "I was particularly drawn to the antique gold hue of the blouse and I love that the necktie detailing allows you to wear it in multiple ways—I loved it wrapped like a choker, but it would also work tied into a bow. As someone who is not usually one for lots of colour, the muted jewel tones of this harlequin sequinned skirt provide the perfect middle ground for a colour-phobe like me. To accessorise, I paired the look with gold Jimmy Choo heeled sandals, a Saint Laurent evening bag and gold Missoma hoops.”

"I’m going to say it: Party season might just be my favourite season. Sorry, summer. I swing between being a minimalist and maximalist dresser depending on my mood, so a combination of the two felt the most like me. Karen Millen are putting out some of the best party and occasionwear on the high street right now, and as soon as I saw the gold mirror disc top, I knew I had to wear it, my only thought was how. An easy solution to making an unlined, chainmail top wearable? A blazer, of course, and what outfit can’t be improved by adding tailoring? Knowing I wanted a strong, well-cut blazer meant heading to Reiss, and as well as picking up the white tuxedo jacket (I urge you to see the three-piece suit in its entirety), I also found the sartorial equivalent of a mirrorball in a silver sequin co-ord. I have never felt quite so party-ready as I did in this sparkling number that I didn’t want to take off at the end of the night. ’Tis the season!”

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With thanks to The Mitre Hampton Court, Gleneagles Townhouse & Bobbi Brown

Up Next, 11 Party Trends Instagram's Best-Dressed Are Already Wearing