Social etiquette
Bring fancy butter and a nice loaf of bread from your local bakery to a dinner party. It’s more memorable than an average bottle of wine.
For dutiful parent-teacher association drinks in the pub, make the effort to go – but claim an early work start and leave after one if you must …
Arrive 15 minutes later than the invite says. Any earlier and your hosts will be in the loo, furiously chopping lemon for drinks or having a mandatory pre-party wobble.
Leave out some fancy crisps and “good” hummus for your babysitter. It will soften the blow when you stumble in later than agreed.
Take a selfie and a group shot at the beginning of the night. Anything later, post to your close friends only. Or, avoid text regret altogether by putting your phone on airplane mode.
Unless you are sick, cancelling on the day is not allowed. Rain or feeling tired are not acceptable excuses.
Screenshot the time of your last train. It will save you having to log on to double check there really isn’t a later one.
Nothing brings the party mood down more quickly than fuss about how you wish you could stay longer. Just disappear. And send a thank-you text the following morning.
Styling tips
To make a blazer less work-y, roll the sleeves up. To stop them falling down, take a hair tie or rubber band and place it over the sleeve around your elbow. Push the sleeve up, then hide the band under the fold of the fabric.
Make a shirt more party-friendly by undoing the first two buttons. Add a chunky chain and a delicate pearl necklace for contrast.
Choose comfort and wear flats to a party rather than heels. They don’t have to be boring: see Vibi Venezia’s ballet flats, Mango’s crystal pumps, Dear Frances mesh flats and Aeyde’s Mary Janes for inspiration.
Party tights will perk up the dullest of outfits. Look to the catwalk for inspiration: there were crimson-coloured tights at Gucci, tartan at Burberry while every single model at Chanel wore white lacy versions. Fishnets as seen at Victoria Beckham means you don’t need to worry about ladders either. On the high street, try Calzedonia’s glitter tights, £15.99; red tights, £16, from heist-studios.com; H&M’s lace tights, £12.99; or M&S’s fishnets, £10.
If you want to add a hint of shimmer to your eyelids, choose a biodegradable glitter such as Festival Glitter’s mini pots.
“Buy a box bag with a slim chain strap” advises Guardian styling editor Melanie Wilkinson. “You can tuck it in with your belongings at the beginning of the night when you make your entrance, then at the end of the night when you need to juggle ordering an Uber and holding your coat, you can pull the chain out and wear it across your body.”
Spritz hairspray on a shirt collar to reduce the risk of makeup smudges.
“If you get a silk press hairstyle and then are out partying three nights in a row, try sleeping on a silk or a satin pillowcase,” says hair stylist Charlotte Mensah. “The silky surface of silk minimises the disruption on the hair and helps maintain the smooth and sleek appearance from the silk press.”
“Party dressing doesn’t have to mean Strictly-style sequins,”says Guardian and Observer menswear editor Helen Seamons. “Instead of throwing on a loud shirt, elevate your look in a more subtle way with well-chosen jewellery, like a silver necklace or pendant.”
If you don’t love your outfit, try the table-topping dressing trick: draw eyes upwards by adding big earrings and a headband. Then finish with bold red lipstick.
“Preparation is key for the perfect red lip,” says makeup artist Lisa Eldridge. If going out from work, the lighting at your desk is probably poor, so choose the right red ahead of the event.” (Try her universally flattering Velvet Ribbon, a pillar-box red.) “And if your lips feel dry, apply balm then roll cotton wool along them to gently remove any flaky bits.”
Wrap an ice cube in a face cloth, then lightly rub the ice around your face to reduce puffiness.
A loose velvet suit is much less obvious than a sequined mini dress. But if you really want to wear sequins, rent something rather than buying new.
Wear socks with loafers. Wear socks with heels. And choose a contrasting colour (Cos’s ribbed lurex versions, £7, are a good bet.)
Wear thin socks under your tights to prevent toenails snagging them. A pair of gel heel socks will prevent dreaded blisters.
“If you wear your hair down, tying it in a tight ponytail will look super glam. All you need is a hairband and some gel,” says Ricky Walters of Salon64 in London. Plaits and braids don’t require any electricity or tools either. “You could also sleep in plaits the night before an event for beachy waves the next day.” Oh, and the quickest way zhoosh up a basic ponytail is to tie a strand of ribbon around it.
“If you’ve got coily or curly hair, one of the best and easiest ways to style it for a party is the pineapple technique,” says Mensah. “Simply gather your hair into a high ponytail and let your tendrils do the rest.”
Get a lash lift and tint – you won’t need to worry about panda eyes for weeks.
Swap your silk tie for a natty knitted version in a solid colour. Burgundy, navy or steel will amp up the wintry vibe. For less formal events, ditch the tie altogether.
If you wear a jumpsuit, know that everyone else in the queue for the loo will hate you.
If you have three parties in one week, plan what you’re going to wear on Sunday night. And yes, you can rewear the same thing. Just refresh with an odour-eliminating spray such as The Lab Co’s Cashmere and Wool Laundry Mist.
Spritz greasy hair with dry shampoo then add a fun clip. Scout out children’s versions, they are often much cheaper (and always more fun).
Booze, food and mingling
“Alcohol-free days are often easier than moderation because, once you’ve had a drink or two, self-control can go out of the window,” says Rosamund Dean, author of Mindful Drinking: How Cutting Down Can Change Your Life. “Plan your week to include days off. To avoid having to explain endlessly why you’re not drinking, carry around a glass of wine without drinking it, or order yourself a tonic that looks like a G&T.
“Don’t drink to cope with difficult family members or annoying colleagues,” she adds. “Save your drinking days for when you’re feeling celebratory.”
“If you spill wine on yourself or on someone you’re chatting to, grab a dry tea towel or wad of kitchen roll. Wet the wine stain with cold water then squeeze the wet material into the dry tea towel,” says Ann Russell, author of How to Clean Everything.
Eat a sandwich at 4.30pm. And drink two glasses of water. If you’re really flagging, have a double espresso.
Don’t eat the fish canape – think of your breath. Tell someone if they have spinach between their teeth – they’d rather know.
… And carry mints – champagne breath kicks in pretty quickly.
On arrival, always pick up two drinks. That way if you bump into someone you don’t want to get stuck talking to, you can say “I’ve just got to give this to so-and-so,” and disappear. If you arrive alone and don’t know anyone there yet, grab a drink and hang by the bar.
The morning after …
Pop a pair of sunglasses over hydrating eye patches. Dieux make reusable ones.
Have eggs for breakfast: they contain high amounts of cysteine, an amino acid that helps to break down chemicals that can cause headaches and nausea as your body processes alcohol.
Make sure you have a sliced loaf in the freezer – toast at 1am is your saviour. And don’t moan about your hangover.
