EVELYSS / Guides / Fashion Sense

Plus-Size Christmas Party Outfits: Fabric, Fit and Focus

“Party dressing with curves isn't about disguising anything. It's about choosing what you want people to look at and giving it the best fabric you can find. Velvet on a curvy body in December is about as good as dressing gets.”Her take

Start with the fabric

Fabric decides more than the cut. Thin, clingy jersey shows every seam and line underneath; fabric with some weight skims the body and moves well. That's why velvet, ponte, crepe and good lined stretch mesh are worth seeking out for party season.

Sequins are completely fine, and so is satin. With sequins, look for ones sewn onto a stretch base with a soft lining so they don't scratch your arms. With satin, a heavier, matte-backed satin drapes beautifully, while very thin shiny satin creases and catches the light on every fold.

• Velvet: rich, warm and forgiving; stretch velvet is comfortable for a long night.
• Ponte and crepe: structured enough to hold a shape, soft enough to sit in.
• Stretch mesh: lovely for sleeves and overlays when it's lined or layered.
• Sequins: on a stretch base with a lining, so they move with you.

Pick one focal point

An outfit looks styled when the eye has somewhere to land. Decide what you want to show off and build around it, then keep everything else simpler. One focal point is enough.

This is the same logic used for any body, it just matters more at a party, when fabrics are shinier and the lighting is lower.

• Waist: a wrap dress, a belted midi, or a peplum top with tailored trousers.
• Neckline: a V-neck, a square neck or a sweetheart neckline, with earrings that frame it and nothing busy below.
• Arms or shoulders: a one-shoulder top or a puff sleeve in mesh.
• Legs: a midi with a front slit, or a slightly shorter dress with sheer black tights and a heel.

Dresses that work

Wrap dresses are the easiest party dress for curves because the waist is built in and the V-neck adjusts to your bust. Choose one with a hidden popper or stitch at the cross-over so it stays closed.

A fit-and-flare midi, fitted to the waist with a full skirt, is easy to dance in and suits a velvet or jacquard fabric. A straight velvet column dress with long sleeves is simple and very elegant, especially with a statement earring. A satin shirt dress, belted, works for a dinner where a full party dress would be too much.

Party tops and trousers

Not a dress person? A dressy top with good trousers is just as festive and usually more comfortable for a long night. Wide-leg or straight-leg trousers with a high waist balance a sparkly top and look sleek with a heel or a heeled boot.

Keep one half plain. A sequin top looks best with black crepe trousers; velvet trousers look best with a simple silky camisole and a blazer.

• Sequin or metallic top with black wide-leg trousers and pointed shoes.
• Satin camisole under a tailored blazer with matching trousers or dark jeans.
• Velvet trousers with a fine black jumper and gold earrings.
• Sheer-sleeve mesh blouse over a camisole with a satin midi skirt.

Fit details that change everything

Check the bust first. If buttons pull or a wrap gapes, the size is right for your waist but not your bust, and you need a different cut rather than a smaller or larger size. Shoulder seams should sit on your shoulder bone, and sleeves should let you raise your arms to hug someone.

Sit down in the outfit before you buy or wear it. A skirt that rides up or a waistband that digs in will bother you all night. If a dress is great except for one area, a tailor can often take in a waist or shorten a hem for much less fuss than finding a new dress.

Tights, shoes and the coat

Sheer black tights (around 15 to 20 denier) look dressier than opaque ones and suit velvet and sequins. Choose a size with room in the waist so they don't roll down; going up a size is often more comfortable. If your thighs rub, a smooth pair of anti-chafe shorts under the dress solves it.

For shoes, a block heel, a low heel with an ankle strap or a heeled boot gives height without wobbling, and a wider fit is worth looking for if standard shoes pinch. A long wool coat that reaches past your hemline keeps the outfit's line clean on the way in.

Questions people ask

The takeaway

Fabric with weight, one focal point, a fit checked sitting down, and shoes and tights you can wear until the last song.

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