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You know what it’s like this time of year. You’ve bought all the gifts and now you’re rushing to add a few more because you’ve lost your temper with the youngest, or your sister just mentioned that all she wants are sneakers.
On top of that, you’re experiencing the usual case of Festive Me Fever. You’ve got something suitable to wear, a hair dryer set aside, a lipstick that will make you look more holly berry that day, but your Christmas enthusiasm hasn’t kicked in yet. You’re looking for something extra to improve your mood. . The fashion equivalent of a cold glass of bubbles next to a crackling log fire.
Let’s keep this easy. Let’s say no to trying it on, or at least not to the changing rooms (you might wear a jacket). Not to anything that can be described as “useful”: the point is that we are looking for effervescence and something that makes us smile. And not anything over £100.
So here it goes, ten ideas to add magic to your look (and nothing stops you from putting a couple of them under the tree).
Splendid scrunchie
Actually, Marks & Spencer’s chunky black velvet scrunchie (£12.99, marksandspencer.com) is useful for keeping your hair out of the turkey gravy, but it’s also a great way to polish up a ponytail and dress it up. a Christmas Eve sweater and pants.
christmas sweater
Not a silly one with a reindeer nose and bright eyes that is the Boxing Day dump, but one of those old-style Scandinavian ski jumpers, with a red, white and blue printed bodice, that looks handmade and expensive.
These aren’t for everyone, but if you like them (and I do), they add a Christmas touch and brighten up a room. M&S makes an authentic-looking red Scandinavian jumper (£35) for a quarter of the price of others on the high street.
These aren’t for everyone, but if you like them (and I do), they add hygge to Christmas and brighten up a room.
cookie shoes
I’ve had my eye on some bronze Quality Street kitten heels (£35.99, zara.com) for a while and now I have the perfect excuse to buy them. What to wear on Christmas Day with pants or a dress that has an extra festive touch and a barely-there heel? Bingo.
Jeweled jacket
Zara has plenty of jeweled jackets, but the most stylish on Christmas Day is a short, simple black jacket with three large diamond bow brooches on the front (£55.99). You can wear it with wide, flowy pants, button it up over a turtleneck and jeans, or throw it on with a longer skirt and boots. If your outfit isn’t quite right, this might help.
Christmas Eve Skin
You’re going out on Christmas Eve and suddenly your navy blue puffa feels the opposite of festive. Swap it out for a shiny black faux fur jacket from Zara (£69.99) or their fantastic leopard print faux fur jacket (£109). It is true that this exceeds the limit by £9, but perhaps we can make this exception.
Faux fur collar
Cos’ shiny fur collars in black or cream (£55, cos.com) tie into a bow at the neck with thin leather cords and will enhance a wool coat quicker than a diamond brooch.
shiny top
I’m not a fan of a lot of sequins at Christmas, but a metallic fabric (especially if it’s on sale) is a great way to introduce some Christmas sparkle. Hush’s black and silver tinsel crew neck jumper (£70) has the important advantage of being ‘non-itchy’ and is subtle enough to wear casually into the new year. Wear it under a velvet jacket with pants or alone with a skirt.
Giant scarf
In a color like bright blue, this Hush scarf (£40, hush-uk.com, pictured above right) will electrify anything you put it on.
In a color like bright blue, this Hush scarf will electrify anything you put on it.
cocktail ring
Why bother buying a ring at this stage, precisely? The only reason is that the pretty hands holding the stems of the cocktail glasses look festive.
Cos makes good costume jewellery, including a ‘floating freshwater pearl’ ring, open in a horseshoe shape with a pearl on each side (£35); and H&M makes a super sparkler: a rhinestone cluster ring (£27.99, 2.hm.com).
Waist-tight belt
It may seem counterintuitive to put on a belt when you’re about to eat Christmas pudding, but a piece of belt adds extra oomph to a pair of pants, looks chic with a slim sweater, and turns out to be the new must-have. -have accessory (not only for Christmas).
Arket makes one in silver (£57, arket.com), but the shiny patent is a better investment.