5 Of The Best Red Dresses For The Festive Period

I’m a traditionalist when it comes to Christmas.?Red and gold decorations adorn my tree and my dinner table, and to a lesser, but still significant extent, my wardrobe. I have a gold sparkly cardigan bought in Zara several years ago that always feels like the perfect throw-on?at this time of year, while a platinum metallic jacket from Topshop elevates my basics and makes all my daywear look that little bit more pulled together. This Christmas, I’m going all out with a red dress.?The trick to looking chic rather than like a cliche is to avoid pairing it?with either black or white. Instead wear?it with camel or burgundy.

Lace can sometimes feel a bit twee, but what makes this dress interesting is the cut-out detail at the back, as well as the open weave lace, which reveals a little more flesh and makes this dress feel more sophisticated and sexy. The temptation is to pair it?with black heels, but instead give your look more personality by choosing a print or a vibrant colour like cobalt blue.

I love this simple velvet slip dress from Zara. It will carry you right through to?next season as “boudoir dressing” is?a key trend for SS17. I’d wear this over a silk T-shirt, in grey or navy perhaps, and pair it with a flat boot or brogues to dress it down a little.

A shirt dress is a day-to-night classic. I would reinvent this slightly by ditching the belt and allowing the dress to hang loose, then throwing it over a pair of leather trousers and heels.

The long-line drape of this dress is so elegant, and flattering, and the high-neck detailing means that little or no accessorising is needed. This dress stands beautifully on its own.

This H&M dress is a great piece at a terrific price. The fit-and-flare silhouette is so flattering and a little bit girlish which acts as a nice counterpoint to the vibrant red. It looks really modern styled with brogues, although again I’d avoid black – a bit too predictable. It will look super sophisticated worn with heels too.

Holding shot: Off-the-shoulder dress, €125 at uterque.com