If there’s one thing I struggle with the most in winter, it’s getting partywear right. At the risk of sounding like a Scrooge, I find glitter and sparkles often fail to feel premium and I’ve never seen a Christmas jumper that I actually like, so when the invites start to roll in over party season, the first thing I do is panic about what exactly I’m going to wear.
As anyone who knows me is aware, I’m a high-street devotee, and as one of the rare kind of people who actually enjoys shopping, I’m usually happy to while away the hours browsing around the shops to find some hidden gems. But time is a luxury I just don’t have over Christmas. Between frantically shopping for last minute presents and wrapping up at work, when I’m in need of a quick evening outfit I need a shop that I know will cater to my style and budget all under one roof, and nowhere is better at nailing premium partywear at an affordable price than H&M.
Always striking the right balance between trend-led pieces and seasonal staples, H&M is a Who What Wear go-to for classic styles with a chic twist, so where better to start when looking for an easy Christmas party outfit that’ll make the right impression.
The brand’s usual sensible coats and cosy knits have been swapped out for sequins, slinky satins and suiting in their recent party edit. There’s a few splashes of colour—mainly the season’s hottest red, but I love that mostly H&M have kept it all quite minimal and monochrome, leaning into an understated Nineties vibe (one of my go-to tricks for making partywear look premium is keeping it simple, so I’m fully on board).
It has to be said, there is an awful lot of partywear on H&M’s site right now, and not all of it gets my fashion editor seal of approval. So, to make it as easy as possible for you to find the chicest affordable party pieces from H&M this season I’ve rounded up the best items from the party edit below. Easy! Now all that’s left to do is make a beeline for those Christmas cocktails…
Up Next, 44 Fancy Christmas Gifts We’d Be So Happy to Receive This Year (Hint, Hint)