It being Christmas, I think it’s time to play with festive wear. Parties. That, after all, is what Christmas is all about. So it’s time to get out the party dresses, buy some new ones, get some good dancing shoes, and get out there!

The favoured colour of Christmas this year is claret. For those of you that don’t know what colour that is, please go and open a bottle of red wine. Pour a nice big glass. Drink some. Then look at the colour. Then, when you have finished perusing the colour, drink the rest of the bottle. Once you have done this you are ready to hit the shops.

We recommend that you don’t buy designer dresses. No matter how pretty they are, you can get prettier for cheaper. This is a fact. Don’t waste your money on your clothes when it’s better to spend it on lingerie.

We at the Cosmo like velvet. Velvet is good. If you can find a claret velvet bodice, you’re riding high in our books and definitely invited to the office party. The best thing is to find a claret velvet bodice and to wear a long black skirt with it. It’s better if the skirt isn’t velvet. Wear this with five inch heeled platform sandals (cold, but worth it) and a velvet jacket matching your bodice. Such sets as these are available for something like £80 in some stores. Bargain!

If claret isn’t your colour (and let’s face it, you need to be gorgeous to pull it off), resort to traditional Christmas colours of red and green. When you’ve got yourself dolled up as a Christmas tree, but sure to add some gold tinsel in your hair to add to the effect – and maybe a nice star on the top just to make sure.

Remember that for your average family Christmas, you might want to tone down your normal makeup. Lose the heavy eyeliner, and avoid the black lipstick at all costs – your mother won’t like it. Fortunately, she might regard the glitter gel as quirkily cute.

Shoes are always difficult. If you can find velvet shoes that match your bodice, then go for it! Coloured shoes are great – especially if you can find matching nail polish! If not, just go with black. Now, the big question is what to wear! We know that boots are warmer, but they won’t go with your outfit unless you wear black tailored trousers instead of a long skirt. Bear this in mind – it would be warmer!

Personally, I like sandals. If you have central heating in the house, you can bump your height up to a stunning 5’11”, which is well worth it if you can manage to totter around in the shoes for the rest of the day. Your boyfriend will like not having to bend down to kiss you at any rate.

Whatever you do this year, knock them dead! And take your blaster with you just in case you don’t – it does make a great substitute.