Our top Christmas tips for preparing and protecting the perfect party outfit

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Ready to Party: Our top Christmas tips for preparing and protecting the perfect party outfit

The party season is almost upon us: and while that means plenty of festive fun and relaxation, the truth is that many of us don’t think ahead enough to our big nights out.

But just with a little preparation you can ensure that you’re prepared to dress and impress – and avoid getting stressed!

Here are our  top tips for party outfit perfection this Christmas.

·         Get your outfit ready at least a couple of days before any event. At the very least it’s already worth checking out your cocktail dress or trusty tux is in immaculate condition – if not then there’s still time to get everything professionally cleaned, so it’s crisp, fresh and ‘ready to go’.

·         Does the outfit you bought last year still fit? A lot can change over the course of a year so make sure you try it on first. It’s better to switch outfits or get a few alterations than spend an evening looking like you’ve been shrinkwrapped.

·         Looking fabulous is a must, but as you'll probably be expected to dance and have to climb a few stairs, make sure your outfit is practical. No matter how gorgeous the shoes, they are often the main cause of discomfort, so make sure you wear them in beforehand.

·         You never know when you’re going to have to put in an unexpected hour or two of overtime, so buy yourself a little extra insurance and prepare as much as you can the morning of the party, making sure your outfit is pressed, ironed, laid out and ready - ideally leaving just hair and make-up as the priorities to attend to in the evening.

·         It’s probably not unreasonable to say that while women have the foresight to plan their party outfits as a priority, men often leave things to the last minute. So, gentlemen, make sure well in advance that you have a clean, crisp bow tie to hand, a matching pair of cufflinks, fresh handkerchief and a new tin of shoe polish to hand – it will save tantrums when the taxi arrives.

·         Make sure you book a registered cab for the trip home. Not only will it protect your clothes against everything the freezing winter weather can hurl at it, but it will also avoid the potential dangers of travelling with unregistered minicabs.

·         Christmas parties can be ‘clothing killers’: after surviving drinks spillages, food stains, tobacco smoke and winter weather, what really destroys your fab frock is putting it back on the hangar where the unwashed fabrics corrode in the wardrobe. Having your precious and expensive frocks, suits and accessories professionally cleaned will not only save time next year, but also help protect your treasured possessions and ultimately prolonging their life..

White Knight offers a full range door2door laundry, dry cleaning and alterations services - for more information or advice about keeping your clothes pristine, contact 0845 4591276, e-mail customerservices@white-knight.co.uk or visit www.white-knight.co.uk