The Ultimate Partywear Wardrobe For Every Persona

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.

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.

Another Tomorrow is the first point of call for luxe-tux fans. Why commit to a dress when founder Vanessa Barboni Hallik’s louche suiting delivers just the same impact? Those harboring doubts about suiting’s sensuality clearly haven’t felt Another Tomorrow’s fabrics, which are heaven to touch. With Barboni Hallik’s exquisite cuts, one great suit can really take you anywhere, making Another Tomorrow’s tailoring a truly modern investment.

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?

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.

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.

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.