Bespoke Feature

The Ultimate Partywear Wardrobe For Every Persona

Minimalists and mini-dress devotees alike can find their look of the season in NET-A-PORTER’s evening edit. By ALICE NEWBOLD-SMITH

Fashion

While we’re led to believe that a calendar full of cocktail events calls for swathes of sequins and costume jewelry, there are several chic personas to embody for the festivities filling your diary. Not one of them errs into novelty-fashion territory.

Cocktail attire

Was there ever a more perfect marriage than Carolina Herrera and cocktail hour? The aperitivo aficionado looks to Wes Gordon, who helms the house, for color-pop confections that combine wow-factor silhouettes with a sense of effortlessness. Gordon’s work is bold yet ultra-wearable – a no-brainer for women who want a feel-good dress to do all the talking.

  • CAROLINA HERRERA
    Strapless draped silk-chiffon midi dress
    $3,375.00
    Select a Size
    0 - out of stock
    2
    4 - out of stock
    6 - low stock
    8 - out of stock
    10
    12
  • CAROLINA HERRERA
    Strapless embellished tulle mini dress
    $3,579.00
    Select a Size
    0 - out of stock
    2 - out of stock
    4 - out of stock
    6 - out of stock
  • CAROLINA HERRERA
    Strapless sequined tulle midi dress
    $6,530.00
    Select a Size
    2
    4
    6
    8
  • CAROLINA HERRERA
    Crystal embellished tulle-trimmed crepe midi dress
    $2,533.00
    Select a Size
    2 - out of stock
    4 - out of stock
    6
    8 - out of stock

Tuxedo dressing

Another Tomorrow is the first port of call for luxe-tux fans. Why commit to a dress when founder Vanessa Barboni Hallik’s louche suiting delivers the same impact? Anyone harboring doubts about a suit’s sensuality clearly hasn’t felt Another Tomorrow’s fabrics, which are heaven to the touch. Defined by the vision of creative director Elizabeth Giardina, whose cuts are as exacting as they are effortless, one great suit can take you anywhere – making Another Tomorrow’s tailoring a truly modern investment.

  • ANOTHER TOMORROW
    Double-breasted satin-trimmed wool-blend twill blazer
    $2,050.00
    Select a Size
    38
    40
    42 - out of stock
    44
  • ANOTHER TOMORROW
    Double-breasted asymmetric jersey blazer
    $1,765.00
    Select a Size
    36 - low stock
    38 - out of stock
    40 - out of stock
    42
    44 - out of stock
    46 - out of stock
  • ANOTHER TOMORROW
    Architectural satin-crepe midi skirt
    $1,115.00
    Select a Size
    36
    38
    40
    42
    44
    46 - out of stock
  • ANOTHER TOMORROW
    Stretch-jersey straight-leg pants
    $988.00
    Select a Size
    36 - out of stock
    38 - out of stock
    40 - out of stock
    42 - out of stock
    44 - out of stock
    46 - out of stock
    48 - out of stock

Statement jewels

Bauble lovers have one name in mind for jewelry: Jesse Marlo Lazowski. The Marlo Laz founder’s origin story of transforming one of her grandmother’s beloved brooches into a necklace immediately captured our imagination – and the pieces Laz has crafted since, after training in Jaipur, are just as special. Precious stones are an instant conversation-starter over the holidays, when everyone digs deep in their jewelry box for treasures – so why not pick a new gem with an interesting story to tell?

  • MARLO LAZ
    Alexandra 14-karat gold, diamond and aquamarine pendant
    $26,345.00
  • MARLO LAZ
    4.0 Rolo 14-karat gold necklace
    $12,295.00
  • MARLO LAZ
    Sardinia II 14-karat gold necklace
    $3,885.00
  • MARLO LAZ
    Starburst 14-karat gold, rhodium-plated, diamond and garnet necklace
    $24,245.00
Picking pieces that really feel likeyou’ is key to having a good time

Dancing shoes

Is it even party season without party shoes? High-heel devotees swear by Paris Texas for standout, versatile styles that have longevity (translation: you can wear them all night). There’s a reason why the brand, which fuses Parisian elegance with Texan toughness, keeps the likes of Dua Lipa and Hailey Bieber in its stilettos – because they are actually wearable and, most importantly, outlast the trend cycle.

  • PARIS TEXAS
    Lidia mirrored-leather slingback pumps
    $1,130.00
    Select a Size
    36 - out of stock
    36.5
    37
    37.5
    38.5
    39 - out of stock
    40
    40.5
  • PARIS TEXAS
    Lida patent-leather mules
    $1,065.00
    Select a Size
    36 - low stock
    36.5
    37
    38 - low stock
    38.5 - low stock
    39
    39.5 - low stock
    40 - low stock
    40.5
    41 - out of stock
    42 - out of stock
  • PARIS TEXAS
    Lidia mirrored-leather slingback pumps
    $1,130.00
    Select a Size
    36
    36.5 - out of stock
    37
    37.5 - out of stock
    38 - out of stock
    38.5 - out of stock
    39 - low stock
    39.5 - low stock
    40
    41.5 - out of stock
    42
  • PARIS TEXAS
    Lidia metallic leather mules
    $1,255.00
    Select a Size
    36 - out of stock
    37
    37.5
    38 - low stock
    38.5
    39 - low stock
    39.5
    40 - low stock
    40.5 - out of stock
    41

Mini masterpieces

The party girl knows exactly which masterpiece to turn to. From November to January, every invite is an excuse to slip on a favorite Self-Portrait mini dress and head out into the night. Malaysian-born, London-based founder Han Chong imbues his brand with an inherent sense of playful femininity that’s perfect for this time of year. No embellishment is too heavy for this dance-floor diva, who commands a serious presence in her ruched and cinched occasionwear.

  • SELF-PORTRAIT
    Embellished satin-crepe mini dress
    $730.00
    Select a Size
    4 - low stock
    6
    8 - out of stock
    10
    12
    14 - out of stock
    16 - out of stock
  • SELF-PORTRAIT
    Georgette-trimmed draped satin midi dress
    $645.00
    Select a Size
    4
    6
    8
    10
    12
    14
    16
  • SELF-PORTRAIT
    Appliquéd satin mini dress
    $625.00
    Select a Size
    4
    6
    8
    10
    12
    14
    16 - low stock
  • SELF-PORTRAIT
    Tie-side asymmetric polka-dot satin-crepe mini dress
    $700.00
    Select a Size
    4
    6
    8
    10
    12
    14
    16

Simple sophistication

Last but by no means least: the minimalist, who leans on LA brand Staud for her evening dresses. With subtle points of difference (check out the neckline on that must-have column dress) to spark questions of “who are you wearing?” over the canapé tray, Sarah Staudinger and George Augusto’s clean-lined designs are imbued with a subtle sense of playfulness that’s perfect for those who are usually allergic to sparkly dress codes. Classic yet contemporary, Staud and its loyal following do formalwear on their own terms.

  • STAUD
    Cadence faux pearl-embellished satin maxi dress
    $670.00
    Select a Size
    00
    0 - low stock
    2
    4
    6
    8
    10
    12 - low stock
    14
    16
  • STAUD
    Joy cotton-blend faille maxi dress
    $770.00
    Select a Size
    00 - out of stock
    0
    2
    4 - low stock
    6
    8 - low stock
    10
    12 - low stock
    14
    16 - low stock
  • STAUD
    Laura button-detailed linen-blend mini dress
    $325.00
    Select a Size
    x small
    small
    medium
    large
    x large - out of stock
  • STAUD
    Ellie paneled cotton-blend faille mini dress
    $440.00
    Select a Size
    x small
    small
    medium
    large
    x large

As everyone RSVP-ing yes to events from now until the new year knows, it’s the art of playing the long game that counts. Picking pieces that really feel like you is key to having a good time – but if you’re after experimentation, why stick to one persona? PORTER has you covered.

THE ULTIMATE PARTYWEAR WARDROBE

9 items

  • CAROLINA HERRERA
    Strapless draped silk-chiffon midi dress
    $3,375.00
    Select a Size
    0 - out of stock
    2
    4 - out of stock
    6 - low stock
    8 - out of stock
    10
    12
  • PARIS TEXAS
    Lidia mirrored-leather slingback pumps
    $1,130.00
    Select a Size
    36 - out of stock
    36.5
    37
    37.5
    38.5
    39 - out of stock
    40
    40.5
  • ANOTHER TOMORROW
    Double-breasted satin-trimmed wool-blend twill blazer
    $2,050.00
    Select a Size
    38
    40
    42 - out of stock
    44
  • SELF-PORTRAIT
    Embellished satin-crepe mini dress
    $730.00
    Select a Size
    4 - low stock
    6
    8 - out of stock
    10
    12
    14 - out of stock
    16 - out of stock