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December is here, which can mean only one thing in the world of fashion: time is running out to plan the perfect festive-party look. But how to take a cool-girl approach to partywear?

The trick is to invest in chic separates that you’ll rewear long after 2023’s last champagne cork has popped, starting with a beautifully made blazer from an enduring French brand that never fails to deliver in the tailoring department – Saint Laurent.

Competing with the Eiffel Tower for attention, power shoulders stole the show at the brand’s fall/winter ’23 presentation, which was held on the first day of Paris Fashion Week. For this collection, Anthony Vaccarello’s internal mood board was pinned with an iconic trio: Yves Saint Laurent’s legendary tailleur jupe (skirt suit), Helmut Newton’s ultra-slick Le Smoking shot from 1975, and Ann Roth’s impactful costuming of Melanie Griffith and Sigourney Weaver for the ’80s rom-com Working Girl. As the models walked beneath gigantic chandeliers to the sound of Nina Simone, a series of blazers with severe shoulders graced the runway. Riffing on the founder’s use of menswear fabrics, the black Saint Laurent blazer in this week’s edit is made from wool twill with glossy silk-satin lapels to match the covered buttons. Such sharp, exaggerated lines can be difficult to execute, but the tailor has precisely balanced the proportions of the sleeves with the drape of the body.

Next, you’ll need a top and party pants to go with it, but it’s time to think outside the box. “Dressing up this party season doesn’t have to be all work and no play,” says NET-A-PORTER’s fashion assistant Maya Gunavardhana, who suggests slipping something unexpected underneath your structured blazer. “The plain white tee has been a mainstay in fashion for years and shouldn’t be confined to casual dressing,” adds Gunavardhana, pointing to Alaïa’s printed ‘Archetypes’ T-shirt as an elevated choice. “Team the two with some silver pants and you’ll be set for the holiday season,” she says, picking out Veronica Beard’s metallic ‘Daniela’ jeans as the pair to go straight on your wish list.

For a sleek evening bag, Métier’s collaboration with Fernando Jorge has you covered. Available exclusively at NET-A-PORTER, the sophisticated capsule harmoniously marries the architectural shapes favored by the former’s creative director Melissa Morris with the fine-jewelry designer’s sensual curves, as seen with the ‘Ease’ clutch. For something bolder, turn to Gucci. It’s the Horsebit’s 70th birthday this year – and it sure looks good for its age. First tacked on to loafers in 1953, following a trip by Aldo Gucci to New York, the Italian label added the golden equestrian hardware to its ‘Horsebit 1955’ bag two years later to create what would go on to become a lasting piece of fashion iconography. Slanted and embellished this time with a silver-toned double ring and bar, the new ‘Supreme canvas’ version of the house’s heritage bag showcases how modern an archival design can look with just a few well-considered tweaks.

Lastly, a dazzling touch of sparkle will complete your dance-floor-ready outfit, and diamonds remain a girl’s best friend. Anita Ko’s lustrous earrings – crafted from gleaming 18-karat white gold – are set with twinkling round- and pear-cut stones. The best bit? The way they elegantly drop, dangle and swish, highlighting your blazer’s padded shoulders even more.

Browse this week’s New In.