Six celebrity tips for special occasion dressing

Are you flustered about dressing for an landmark birthday lunch at a fancy restaurant? Or wondering what to wear to a wedding?

If it’s been a while since you’ve had to put together a special occasion outfit, it can be a daunting task. Thankfully, there’s plenty of inspiration out there in the form of celebrity snaps. Here are a few tips to help you dress up and feel fantastic for weddings, parties or any other red-letter event.

Choose one colour or print palette

Something that is immediately obvious on the red carpet is that outfits tend to be composed of one colour OR one print – a dress and wrap both in powder blue, for instance, or a jacket and pants both in a floral pattern. Sticking to one colour or one print instantly creates a more cohesive, elevated look. For example, put together a set of palazzo pants, a camisole or T-Shirt and a loose suit jacket all in the same fabric and colour, such as a silky navy material. Then add shoes and pieces of statement jewellery that are also in matching tones, such as a necklace and bracelet both in gold, or silver earrings and a silver brooch.
If you’ve gone for something patterned, such as an animal print, again, wear it from head to toe rather than mixing and matching different designs. You might choose a full ankle-length skirt and a blouse, for instance, with a plain pashmina or soft wool shawl if the weather is cool. 

Celeb example: Dame Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett

Sore feet? A long skirt or dress is a sneaky solution

Eternally elegant, a long skirt or dress always makes an impact. Choose a design in a fabric such as velvet or heavy lace for winter, or go for something like chiffon layers or silk in warmer months. Pair it with a simple but well-cut shirt, plus your favourite jewellery. The great thing about wearing a floor-grazing garment is that it skims over ground so that shoes are barely visible, so if your feet tend to ache at the mere thought of heels, this is the option for you. Plus, if you feel the cold, you can wear thermals or thick socks underneath and no-one need know.

Celeb example: Michelle Yeoh

Invest in a well-made coat for winter

For winter events, it’s necessary to consider an outer layer, because even if you’ll be removing a coat or cloak at the venue, it is part of the overall outfit. The appeal of a carefully styled look will be considerably diminished by a tired puffer jacket or worn-out duffle coat. Invest in a coat with minimal detailing as this will allow greater versatility – any design decorations such as gold buttons, epaulettes or wooden toggles will limit the ways that it can be worn. Ideally, choose something in a fit that softly skims the body and falls at around knee length, with a rounded neckline or slight stand collar and that fastens with a tie-belt rather than buttons or a buckle belt.

This kind of soft, relaxed style works with a multitude of outfits: over leggings to walk the dog, with tailored trousers for smart casual outings and with a long dress or soft, silky pants for special occasions, so take the time to find one in a good quality fabric and cut. Alternatively, you could consider a cloak or cape with similarly minimal detailing as these are not only warm but add an air of sophistication to an outfit.

Celeb example: Emma Thompson

Wear a coat as a dress

Accessories are one way to jazz up occasion wear, but a light jacket or coat in a beautiful fabric or that has decorative details such as embroidery or sequined motifs requires less thought than putting together all the accoutrements that are needed to make a dress occasion-ready. Think of a light knee-length coat as an easy alternative to a dress in any season apart from peak summer. It’s also a fast way to get ready if you’re short on time as you can throw it on over anything – in winter, you can put a fancy coat on over everyday leggings, add heeled boots and leave for an event in record time with minimal effort. 

Consider metallic materials 

Fabrics with some lustre to them are ideal for bringing glamour to an outfit. If you’re going for all-over sequins and shine, it’s usual to keep accessories and make-up minimal, but the choice is up to you – if you feel fabulous going all out, why hold back? For less out-there types, try a skirt or pants in a metallic finish or a sequinned material and add a plain knit in a similar colour, or a silky blouse in a dark shade or soft cream. 

Celeb example: Andie Macdowell

Suits are anything but boring

In conventional colours and crisp fabrics, a suit is simply office wear, but in a modern, flattering shade with some gloss or lustre in the material – a deep plum, a soft rose pink or a copper brown, for example – it makes a red carpet-worthy statement. If you’re daring, wear the jacket buttoned up with a lacy camisole or corset-style top, or even just on its own. Otherwise, for a more modest look or to add a layer of warmth, go for a top in a similar colour to the suit: perhaps a sheer shirt with a sequined collar, a light knit with a deep V neckline, or a silky blouse with a pussy bow.

Celeb example: Meryl Streep

Have you dressed for a special occasion lately? Share your tips with us!

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