Christmas Outfits 2022

It's a little belated, but I'd argue that 3 months late isn't actually so bad for me!

Anyway, I just thought it would be a real shame and an absolute waste if I didn't do a round up of my Christmas 2022 looks, and wasting an outfit, i.e. not getting an outfit photo of one which I love, has always, and will always, nettle at me!

I wore some of my favourite festive looks yet last Christmas, and these outfits were the first batch of non-loungewear clothing I wore post-pregnancy, so they felt extra special. Also, they all happen to be from River Island, no surprise there!

1)

This little number is an nod to the 80's and the reason why I love it so much. 80's fashion serves some of my favourite trends with the powerful structure and shapes, and the giant ruffle on this dress gives a focal point that I just don't have in my wardrobe.

The ruffle really is huge, and the body-con style of the body makes it look and feel even bigger - what a shape!

I went for a size 8 in this because of the level of elastane which I knew would make it super stretchy and very giving - thankfully it did because the post-baby weight needed to be held in!

This was perfect my New Years Eve dressed up night in with dinner, drinks and those I love most.

It's a gorgeous velvet fabric and I just had to pair it with Silver for a change. The headband I knew I'd pair with it also has a velvet base with jewelled-toned gems, each of which is outlined with silver hardware "claws" holding them in. The gems are multicoloured but the most striking of which has to also be the matching purple, so it just had to be worn with this dress! Finished with some more velvet on the base of my heels with with Silver embellishments, silver jewellery and my Carvella black quilted cross body bag that also features a silver chain.

As always, the outfit was planned far in advance, and put into my "Occassion" looks, screenshot and added below for you. The lipstick I wore with this outfit is really different for me - my go-to lip colour has always been, and will always be a true, classic red, and if I can't wear red because of the outfit, a bright pink is next up. On a rare occasion, I do a Nude, and even rarer occasion, a coral÷orange. Anyway, this shade of deep, raspberry pink is very new for me but I slipped and fell into MAC not long before Christmas, and this shade jumped out at me for something different. I love it and I knew straight away I'd wear it with this dress. It's really moisturising and has just the right amount of shine, and official shade is named "Just Wondering".

2)

This little beauty was bought in February 2022, so wearing it as a Christmas look wasn't on the radar when it was bought, in fact, it was bought for a friends birthday night out in March, just before I found out I was pregnant! So, fast forward to the end of the year, baby is here and Christmas clothes are needed, so this dress was able to make it's first appearance. The bonus in having to wait so long for it to make it's debut, was that by this point, I had also just bought a pair of stunners (shoes) which as soon as I saw them, instantly thought of this dress because the colour is an exact match! Add in another River Island piece - bought as a birthday present in November 2022, my beautiful white, oversized, fur cuff trimmed coat. I adore it, and it may be a little East 17 inspired, but I don't care, because it makes it even more Christmassy! So a festive evening dinner look was built out of blue and boyband inspiration, and I think it worked wonderfully!

I think the depth and beauty of this colour speaks for itself, but the dress is in a gorgeous soft satin, featuring a cowl neck and tie waisted belt in self fabric - easily changeable to any belt you see fit! I love the fit and I love how covered it is everywhere but the legs - it makes it even more striking. Bought in a size 12 because I know my River Island size and this shape has zero give in it, so I sized up and it turned out I was right to! Cinching it in with the belt means the fit can be made just right for me.

The shoes, as you can see, in literally the exact same colour and lace up the leg with a medium sized heel, are only from ASOS, and were only £40 - they were a must for my footwear collection given that I had nothing else in this colour and adore any court shape shoe with the Monolo Blanik statement inspired jewel on the toe. Speaking of, the toe feature is silver, so, matchy-matchy, co-ordinated me, again went for silver accessories in the form of my Carvela bag and precious pendant. This colour called for my Red Dior too, of course!

3)

Not only is this pretty pink piece a true G shape, but after having my eye on it for a while, I was lucky enough to have waited the perfect amount of time before buying because I managed tonal this for £20 down from £45! If there's anything I love more than River Island, it's a River Island bargain!

The jewel toned bright and pretty pink, the feminine cut of the skirt, nipped in waist and plunge necklace it as me as a festive dress can be. I love that there's no fastening - the waist is elasticated and the lining is a premium, thick black fabric making the whole dress feel extra luxurious. I've styled this into so many looks in my digital wardrobe - with belts, without belts, black heels, neutral heels, spotty tights and different hair accessories. But, this particular look is made up of some shoes that I was desperate to wear. Bought again in the pre-Christmas sale, these small-heeled slingback are made up in a leopard print fabric, and once again, featuring my favourite type of embellishment - the Monolo toe sparkle! Again, because this was in silver, I teamed this look with silver accessories, but going back to one of the reasons I love this dress being that it has o fastening, means that it's a piece I can pair with silver or gold, and having that option isn't as common as you'd think!

I just loved the opportunity to pair the leopard print with the pink - slightly different for me, so I thought the best time to do something like this, would be with a true G shape and I loved the outcome.

I matched the dress with a favourite lipstick of mine - only from Kiko, but the colour is rich and the consistency so moisturising.

The heels again are like nothing else I own and the perfect addition to my collection, and also, the first footwear u've ever actually bought from Zara, and, I'm impressed, so far so good!

4)

This is one of the dress types that I know I need the second I lay my eyes on it - before I've even clicked on it or picked it up, my decision to buy is made! It's just validated after looking further!

I just love a classic, little white dress, and this one is a simple, understated shift style with just a small bit of fun round the hem in the form of a feather trim - very on trend right now which wouldn't normally attract me, but this trend and the way in which it's been executed is subtle and therefore going to be a piece I know I'll wear for years to come.

To make this into a festive look, I added some of my favourite red heels from Dune. Of course, they're a mid-heeled court with a toe embellishment and they're as comfortable as they are beautiful. My beloved Gold jacquard jacket was thrown over so easily and I finished the whole look off with a black and Gold clutch bag, simple jewellery and of course my red Dior lip!

I adore the simplicity and shape of this dress and what it does for my figure. You wouldn't expect to feel so good in such a basic shape, but I did! The length really flattered my little legs and it clung to my waist and hips perfectly. I went for a size 12 in this dress because quite simply, it was sold out in every other size! I must admit, had I have been able to have bought my standard size 10, I'm not sure it would've fit, so although I mostly get it right with my River sizes, in this instance, if it wasn't for the 3 dreaded words "out of stock" I would've got it wrong! It's made up out of a lovely crepe fabric, a long zip up back and the feather trim is the perfect length!

I just love a little white dress - it's my preferred version to a little black dress - brighter, lighter and wearable all year round. You can do the festive white Christmas look in the winter, and a white dress in the sun is never going out of style. The perfect addition to my dress collection and one of my favourite festive 2022 outfits, so was worn on Christmas Eve, my favourite day of the festive period!

5)

No festive look collection would be complete without a red dress in my opinion. This is my only blazer dress and slightly different for me, for this reason. Double breasted blazer styles aren't normally something that catches my eye, but this one did for the nipped in waist, the gold buttons, the 80's shoulder pads and with it being in the most beautiful, bright shade of red.

I wore this on Christmas Day itself so made it extra festive with a bright red padded headband, my black and gold Dune cross-body bag, sheer polka dot tights and of course my red lip!

I love how premium this dress feels - it's quite heavy, nicely lined and the perfect shape with the nipped in waist and unique square neck and boxy shoulders. I felt powerful in tis - striking and smart. On the slightly more expensive side of River Island, this dress cost £89, however I was lucky enough to have a voucher taking it down to a very reasonable £64.

6)

Lastly, we have my Boxing Day dress and my other red number, except this one is fun, flirty and true G! Fitted on top and with a loose skater style skirt, this is another dress I saw and knew I had to have for my 2022 festive wardrobe straight away. It features a wrap around shape with 2 gold buttons and the perfect amount of cleavage. Again, in a gorgeous red and my favourite type of crepe fabric - fitted just enough not to cling unflatteringly.

I had to pair my padded red headband with it again - it's just the perfect festive touch! My go-to Dune padded cross body with a gold chain, some simple gold, dainty jewellery and a Charlotte Tilbury lip for a small change completed my Boxing Day look after a few Prosecco's and twirls later!