This was our stalwart for years, I know. Party to go to? Fine. Grab jeans (the label always mattered), add heels (Jimmy Choo, if you were lucky), sling on a spangly vest top and you were good to go. I can't begin to count the number of parties I've been to where this has been the female uniform. And it was all so easy, so cool. Now, though, it looks a trifle lazy, as if you couldn't give a fig about looking halfway interesting and you just chucked on the first thing you came across in the closet. The Christmas party kit today should stretch at the very least to a brilliant, sexy cocktail dress - with statement jewellery and wicked boots or shoes. I am relying at the moment on a midnight-blue silk jersey Simultane dress by Sara Harnett (at Harvey Nicks), which is divine. It has already been to three parties this season, and we've still got weeks of partying to get through. My advice is to buy one special dress, and ditch the jeans (keep them for long walks in the country).