Christmas dress shopping? I’m a celebrity stylist who has worked with Little Mix and these are the 7 fashion crimes you must AVOID when picking the perfect festive outfit for your party

• Miranda Holder shares the fashion don’ts for when picking your Christmas outfit
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With Christmas fast approaching, many of us are undoubtedly fretting over what to wear for our various upcoming festive parties.

While some will be tempted to cover themselves head to toe in sequins or opt for themed attire, a British celebrity stylist has insisted these are the fashion mistakes many are guilty of making when the mulled wine season rolls back around.

Miranda Holder has revealed to FEMAIL the crucial style ‘crimes’ to avoid this year to make sure your outfit doesn’t stand out for all the wrong reasons.

Her advice includes ditching tacky accessories such as tinsel draped around your neck and musical jewellery – and instead opting for classy and sophisticated pieces.

She also urged party-goers to opt for comfort over style when possible, explaining: ‘Avoid looking good just to feel downright uncomfortable – where’s the fun in that?’ Here, Miranda shares her top tips for festive dressing…

1. Don’t overdo the sparkles

Miranda Holder (pictured) has revealed to FEMAIL the crucial style ‘crimes’ to avoid this year to make sure your outfit doesn’t stand out for all the wrong reasons, including covering yourself head to toe in sequins. Pictured: Suit by Sansom Reed, mesh top from Free People, earrings from Broke But Cute, shoes from Kate Spade and bag from I Know The Queen

At ‘the most wonderful time of the year’ we duly give ourselves full permission to decompress, ‘drink and be merry’ – but despite all the usual excesses of this magical season, I really do urge you to exercise just a tiny modicum of restraint when it comes to your Christmas party attire.

Sequins are indeed not just for Christmas, and their seductive sparkle lures our inner magpies, but giving Mariah Carey a run for her money and embracing the razzle dazzle from head to toe, is a little brash and a touch dated.

Donning a full twinkly two piece or sparkly suit will I fear, end up being more sartorially reminiscent of a cheap Christmas cracker than a festive femme fatale.

Quite frankly, the full-on look just isn’t that chic, and your sparkles, like all things of beauty, look best when they are framed by something contrasting, which will in turn allow your precious party piece to shine its brightest.

Try mixing in luxe fabrics such as velvet, satin or cashmere for a more understated and sophisticated look – on this occasion, less is more.

2. Avoid tacky accessorising

Miranda’s (pictured) advice includes ditching tacky accessories such as tinsel draped around your neck and musical jewellery 

‘Come and get festive with us!’ they said, ‘dress to impress!’ they said – here comes the kicker – this does not – I repeat, NOT give you license to adorn yourself in every bit of seasonal tat you can get your hands on. 

I don’t care if you know every word of the Only Fools and Horses Christmas special from 1996, this look is super-tacky!

You know the sort of thing, a jaunty streamer of tinsel draped around your neck and novelty Noel earrings, with a finishing flourish of a half-cocked paper hat and nauseatingly persistent musical jewellery. 

It may scream fun and festive to you, but it’s enough to put the rest of us off our bubbles and canapes.

Call me a style Scrooge, but there’s a major difference between embracing the spirit of the season and just losing your entire fashion compass, and this falls firmly into the latter.

We may as well attach a star to your head and cover you in tinsel while you stand in for the Christmas tree in the kids’ woke, overly-inclusive nativity, you look that ridiculous.

I think I’ve made my point, and I know I haven’t been overly gentle, but it’s all just a bit obvious darling. The smiles you were greeted with as the evening commences will become smirks the moment your back is turned and you can bet your last sausage roll that you’ll be remembered for all the wrong reasons once the night is over.

I admire your enthusiasm, I really do, but might I suggest that you tone it down? If you truly wish to sartorially embrace the season then perhaps opt for a festive colour palette of rich greens, reds and gold? Or a smattering of sparkle, a statement earring, or perhaps a well-chosen sequin or two, restraint is the name of the stylish game – and if all else fails, remember the advice of the great Coco Chanel and remove one thing (or ten) before you leave the house.

3. Ditch the Christmas jumper

Miranda (pictured) also suggested party-goers should ditch the Christmas jumper this year. Pictured: Jumper from Florence and Fred

Ah yes, that perennial tasteless Yuletide classic which has somehow wormed its way back into the centre of our annual celebrations. 

Gaudy, flammable and extremely unflattering, usually produced in fabrics so cheap, their shine competes with our ‘glowing’ faces as you can guarantee these bad boys are not remotely breathable either. 

Colin Firth may have smouldered in one, and I know it feels like only yesterday, but Bridget Jones’s Diary was actually released in the disparate, taste-devoid early noughties, therefore anything considered stylish back then must be taken with a hefty pinch of sartorial salt and we can safely relegate these nauseatingly cheerful ‘knits’ into the the wardrobe realms of the Nightmare Before Christmas.

If you must sport one of these garish creations, please save it for dress down Friday at work, or (even better) the privacy of your own home – just take great care when roasting chestnuts on an open fire….

If knitwear is your vibe then at a stretch, a muted Fairisle might suffice, but might I recommend a lighter knit that won’t leave you resembling a bedraggled pig in a blanket, should you wish to throw some shapes on the dance floor.

4. Don’t opt for boring black outfits

‘Black outfits are not only back on the style scene, they’re having a major fashion moment,’ said Miranda, but she warned it can look tired and cheap in the wrong fabrics. Pictured, Jumpsuit from Aspiga and shoes from Kate Spade

Black outfits are not only back on the style scene, they’re having a major fashion moment.

This popular shade isn’t going anywhere next season either, so get ready to embrace one of the world’s most beloved neutrals – which also happens to be responsible for many a fashion faux pas. 

Yes, this ubiquitous power colour, adored by the haughty fashion pack may well be your festive go-to, but be warned – despite its connotations of luxury and sophistication, there are plenty of good reasons to swerve it as you dress to rock around the Christmas Tree.

Firstly, contrary to popular opinion, black doesn’t go with every colour – and has an annoying trait of making bright hues look so insipid and cheap even the Grinch would avoid them. 

It pairs very well with other neutrals but is not quite as versatile as capsule wardrobe enthusiasts would have you believe. 

Secondly, if you don’t choose luxe fabrics and care for them properly black can look tired – and cheap – very quickly. 

And finally – and in my book most importantly – black is the biggest party cliche. If you are determined to rock this hue, at least choose a fabric with a little life in it such as silk, satin or velvet and if possible keep it away from directly beneath your face – you’ll thank me when you look back at the photos later.

5. Don’t be unprepared 

Now I fully understand that this is one of the busiest times of year and the pressure is on to deliver the perfect Christmas for everyone. The problem with having to prepare everything from the stuffing to the stocking fillers however, is that it’s easy to leave ourselves behind. As I always say, if you dress well you will feel fantastic, and who doesn’t want to feel fantastic during the festive season? That said, one of the most regular crimes I see on the yuletide party circuit is simply failing to prepare for the events in hand and turning up with the same old LBD. Failing to plan is planning to fail, and a thrown-together outfit – i.e. a dark shoe with a light outfit, or no accessories whatsoever is a firm no no. The look feels incomplete and lacks the styled or put-together finish that will make you shine, it’s the fashion equivalent of putting the tree up and not decorating it.

Failing to plan often sees people bringing the same old outfit out every year, which starts to look as repetitive as The Vicar of Dibley Christmas special. I’m not advocating spending a fortune – swapping outfits with friends, or grabbing a few accessories on Vinted can be a novel way to sport a new seasonal look without breaking the bank.

And if you have gone to the effort of a new sparkly top, a faux-pas is arriving at a party with the wrong coat and bag – these are part of the outfit too, so leave the parka or mac for the Boxing Day walk, and dust off the shiny clutch so that your full-to-the-brim battered tote can take a well deserved rest while you step out in style.

6. Never prioritise style over comfort 

Do you save your high heels for the holidays? Do you have eye-wateringly restrictive shapewear that you plan to strap yourself into for the big night or even worse – the annual date night sexy underwear?

Whilst all these outfit decisions come from the best intentions to look your very best, I can guarantee that these misguided efforts will become the Christmas gift that keeps on giving – All. Night. Long. and ultimately have the exact opposite of the desired effect you wish for.

The bottom line is that if you’re fidgeting all evening or walking like a penguin on ice skates in your towering stilettos, you have earned yourself a place on the fashion naughty list quicker than you can ‘oh go on then!’ when the Quality Street gets handed around again and it will be less It’s A Wonderful Life and more Die Hard.

So take this little word of wisdom from Aunty M ( as someone who has been there and done all of this many times over so you don’t have to) as an extra present, and ensure that whatever you do, the cheeky figure-enhancing delights you have up your sleeve don’t burst your festive bubble. So avoid looking good just to feel downright uncomfortable – where’s the fun in that?!

7. Avoid a tight-fitting outfit

It’s perfectly understandable that you want to feel your slinkiest this festive season, but hear me out dear reader. 

Do not fall prey to the temptation of squeezing your gorgeous bod into an ultra-slimline, tight-all-over outfit, only to earn the wrath of your peers who will consider you as big a threat to womankind as Mia the seductive secretary in Love Actually. 

Simply put, wearing something fitted all over is as equal a fashion fail as opting for a figure-engulfing baggy or shapeless number. 

It’s all about proportion and even if you are the proud owner of marvellous physical assets, you don’t need them all on display like a Christmas market stall. 

The art of pulling a real cracker when it comes to your Christmas ‘outfit of the night’ is knowing how to balance your silhouette, and the most winning ensembles combine fitted and loose. 

So if you are wearing a tight body or camisole on your top half, opt for wide legged trousers or a full, flowy skirt on your bottom half. And the same works in reverse, if skin tight leather leggings are your festive jam, go for a sloppy, oversized top in order to keep things not only even, but contemporary this Christmas.

If you love a buffet dress (I get it – I’m the proud owner of many myself – they are perfect for concealing the consequences of an extra mince pie or three), just make sure you show a little shape in the form of wrists, decolletage or ankles as a bare minimum, to add a touch of shape and femininity whilst ensuring you don’t get mistaken for Mary at the crib service in church the next day.

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