5 Chic Party Outfits You Can Eat A Burger In

You don't have to sacrifice comfort for style

With the holiday season in full swing, I felt it only right as somewhat of an expert in dressing for comfort (while still feeling put together) to share how I navigate holiday/party dressing while ensuring I have plenty of room for all the mince pies (and whatever else is on the menu) using items from my wardrobe.

I have to admit, i’m someone who doesn’t always dress for an occasion. For the most part I try to wear whatever I feel like no matter how casual or formal something reads to others. In my new course, The No Buy Styling Course, I share the quickest way to make any outfit more formal, (or more casual) complete with examples of how I do it in my own wardrobe. A HUGE thank you to those who have already bought the course, and if you’d like to know more, you can click here.

1. The Matching Set

I’ll be honest, it’s basically wearing pyjamas for a formal setting that’s socially acceptable! Matching sets are a year round work horse for me in my wardrobe and these three sets have served me well. They also make packing a breeze because they work brilliantly as separates. While the summer months see me opting for a linen matching set, I’ve found the quickest way to make a matching set read a little more dressy is to opt for a silk or satin fabric. The sheen adds a little more polish and there’s something very elegant about the fluidity of the fabric. All three of my matching sets do indeed have an elasticated waistband, aka the king of comfort.

2. Laid Back Tailoring

For a party I like to swap a traditional stiff collared shirt that feels tight around the neck for a linen piece, a textured top or a satin/silk shirt to break up the formality. A linen waistcoat under a relaxed/slightly oversized blazer offers a laid back alternative to a traditional waistcoat worn with a suit. Worn against a wool pant it just softens the look. I also like adding a flip flop sandal to tone down the formality of a ‘soft suit’ look. I buy my Aritzia Effortless Pants (shown above in different fabrics and colors) a size bigger than my regular size so they have a bit more slouch and also feel more comfy around the waist. I have eaten MANY a burger in these pants, they never fail me.

3. The Elasticated Waist Wide Leg Trouser

There’s no denying an elasticated waist reigns supreme when the buffet calls, but I’m always surprised how chic the right cut can look. This pair is super old from Zara (similar here). The wide leg makes these feel more formal to me and the fluidity of the fabric creates a sensual element. I love them with my white shirt, my antique silver choker, and some great earrings. I also love them with a jacket. You might see the look on the left and think a denim jacket? Can that be part of a party look? But why not? I love to experiment with pieces many would consider more casual and styling them for a fancier occasion. It’s one of the quickest ways my everyday pieces feel fresh again, and allow me to enjoy them through a different lens.

4. The Jacket As A Top/The Focal Point

Possibly one of the easiest ways to make a look feel finished, is to wear a jacket as a top, or opt for a jacket that in of itself offers some visual interest. A roomy jacket also allows sufficient space to properly digest your food. One of my favorite fancy occasion outfits have been a pair of old Cos legging pants with the slit in at the bottom, worn with my thrifted mens blazer on top. I secure the jacket with a hidden safety pin so that the jacket can’t come undone. My Ganni jacket (centre) is the perfect example of putting on an item, and thinking ‘i’m good to go’. The black piping and the sculptural shape offer enough visual interest that allow it to be the main attraction. I often wear this with my Aritzia Effortless pants in black, a thin strappy sandal and I always feel incredible in this! A daily uniform of jeans and a vest can quickly read more fancy when you add a jacket with an interesting sleeve or collar (see right). As soon as I add my vintage Gucci mules and this cropped frill sleeve blazer to a jeans and vest, I feel party ready. I just make sure my jeans are a relaxed style.

5. The Loose Fitting Dress

I can’t say i’m one for a sequin dress, or anything that leans heavy on embellishment, but it’s funny how in the past I associated party dressing with these types of pieces. A big part of feeling comfortable in my own skin was realising I need my party outfits or pieces I would wear for formal occasions, to still feel like something I would feel comfortable wearing any other day. I need my clothes to feel like me. That’s why I’m not surprised that I don’t own any ‘formal’ dresses. My dresses are mostly long, and many are pieces I will wear for day to day meetings or errands too. My T-shirt dresses are a great example of this. Experimenting with accessories or how I do my hair or makeup enables me to wear the same thing I would wear to the post office as I might do for festive drinks with friends. And if I know there’s going to be yummy food around, I always opt for a roomy dress.

And if in doubt, add icing

Reversible Belt - Ring - Black bag - White clutch - Black shoes - Silver and pearl earrings - Gold earrings - Red Lipstick - Bracelet

I can’t stress this enough, but the best way to make your existing pieces work harder is to add icing. Big or small, minimal or maximalist, there’s no right or wrong way to do this, but it’s the easiest way to quickly change how you see your day to day pieces. When looking through my own wardrobe the above pieces see a lot of use in my Indyx app, especially when it comes dressing up my everyday looks. Accessories are great, but don’t underestimate the power of a red lip, a strong eye look, even wearing your hair in a different parting to what you usually do can change things up. I actually add certain makeup items into my Indyx app now to help me create new looks where the makeup is the focal point, especially for party looks.

Whatever you wear this party season, make sure it’s something YOU feel good in that doesn’t stop you being present and in the moment with the people you love and care about. And don’t forget, you probably already have something wonderful in your closet, and no one cares if you wear the same thing (or things) more than once. Here’s to wearing our clothes again and again and making memories in them.

Thanks for reading

Harry x

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