‘Tis the season to be merry… and to acquire a truly sensational party dress. Whether it’s the office party, Christmas Eve drinks with the girls or the New Year bash, you’ll be needing a glamorous one-piece, perhaps with a dusting of sparkle, dash of lace or plunging neckline. Whichever style you go for, a dress should speak for itself – there should never be a need for oodles of jewels and accessories. The perfect party dress should make a serious style statement all by itself, not only making you look fabulous, it should make you feel fabulous too.

With such a colourful array of party dresses lining our shop windows, where’s a girl to start? Should we wear white, choose ra-ra or strapless frocks to the Christmas party this year? Pick a stunning style from our top five party dresses and you can’t go wrong – just add heels and a glass of bubbly!

The Prom Dress

This look focuses on true 1950s prom-style revival, seeing traditional prom dress shapes that cinch the waist and flare flamboyantly in the skirt. Often strapless and adorned with a gorgeous lace overlay, the prom dress is making a retro comeback celebrating the female form and giving women with curves the chance to feel super sexy. Wear with kitten heels a la Dita Von Teese and perfect your jitter jive before stepping onto the dance floor!

The LWD (Little White Dress)

That’s right, white is the new black. A fresh, innocent and bright alternative to our security LBD, the little white dress can be pretty, dainty and striking all at the same time – and best of all, those of us with great legs get to show them off without looking too tarty (unlike with a little black number). Be a true party goddess and wear with Grecian-inspired locks like Sienna Miller teaming the dress with metallic accessories (a shimmering silver clutch will add essential sparkle to your outfit.) Be warned, however, when wearing the LWD steer clear of red wine and choose underwear wisely as panty lines will show easily through an unlined, white frock.

The Embellished Dress

For girls who love to make an entrance, the embellished party dress is for you. Choose a simple shape, preferably a short cut with some swing which will allow your sparkly friends to shimmer and glimmer beneath the disco ball. Look for interesting embellishments including semi-precious gems, beading, sequins, pearls, stones and floral detail. Remember to keep accessories to a minimum or the look will be too fussy – stick to natural hair and pair of killer, strappy heels and get ready to shine.

The One-Shoulder dress

This ultra-glamorous frock has cleverly moved from spring to fall with ease due to its classic silhouette and completely flattering form. To make this exotic style a dress to remember look for shorter styles that rest on the knee for a less serious, cocktail feel. Choose a sassy shape with ruffles, tucks, an interesting shoulder-strap and great jewel colour (think rich cobalt, jade or fuchsia). Available in a variety of shapes, choose one to suit your figure, opting for a flowing, maxi-style fit to flatter curves or a fitted, body-con shape if you’re keen to show off an hourglass figure.

The Body-Con Dress

Perfect if you’ve got a body to die for, pour yourself into a tight, figure-skimming body-con frock if you dare and prepare to turn heads. As loved by the super-svelte Victoria Beckham and Renee Zelwegger, the body-con party dress looks fantastic in bright block colours. Choose a style with block shades choosing darker colours to slim and brighter colours to draw attention. Choose seamless underwear when wearing body-con dresses or better still, invest in a tummy-tuck body shaper. The high-waisted shaper from SPANX and similar slimming undies will give you the support you need when donning a fabulous body-con party dress leaving you as svelte as a Hollywood star without a wobble in sight.