Party tops for women: sequins, lurex and lace from lunch to evening
Party tops for women tend to wait in the wardrobe for one night in December, and we would much rather see them out at lunch first. Oui's oatmeal jumper shows how. It is a soft, brushed melange knit with a band of golden sequins at the hem and cuffs, and that sparkle catches the light across a lunch table just as happily as it does at a party.
Around it this season we have two lurex knits from Floor, a silver and black blouse and a chocolate lace top from Oui, and navy velvet trousers from Red Button that go with any of them.
At a glance:
- Oui's sequin trim jumper is a beige melange knit with golden sequins at the hem and cuffs.
- Floor's Steel jumper has a fine lurex fleck through a textured yarn, a round neck and ribbed cuffs.
- The Graphite cardigan from Floor buttons all the way down and sits neatly at the waist.
- Oui's high neck blouse is black shot through with silver, gathered softly from a stand collar.
- The chocolate brown lace top has long sheer sleeves and goes over a dark camisole.
- Red Button's navy velvet trousers have a drawstring waist and a tapered leg with a turned-up hem.
- Party tops for women, starting at lunchtime
- How to wear sequins in the daytime
- What trousers go with a sparkly top?
- Lurex knits for colder evenings
- Shimmer and lace for the evening
Party tops for women, starting at lunchtime
We wear the Oui jumper with relaxed blue jeans and heeled mules for a Saturday lunch in town. The sequins sit only at the hem and cuffs, so the knit stays soft and easy, and the sparkle shows each time you reach for your glass.
The shape helps. It is boxy, a little shorter in the body, with dropped shoulders and a rounded crew neck, so it sits neatly over high-waisted denim and wide-leg trousers without bunching at the waist.
When the evening comes, swap the jeans for tailored trousers and the mules for a heel you can stand in all night. Nothing else needs to change.
How to wear sequins in the daytime
A band of sequins at the cuff reads as texture at noon, and only really shimmers once the candles are lit. That is why we look for sparkle in small doses for daytime: a trim, a fleck in the yarn, a silver thread running through a blouse.
Denim is the easiest thing to wear with it, and a camel coat over the top makes the whole look feel considered. If the day starts with a meeting, tailored trousers and a loafer keep it polished. Keep the bag and shoes matt so the shine stays in one place, and add a fine gold chain at the neck if you want jewellery at all.
What trousers go with a sparkly top?
For a lunch that may well run on into drinks, we love Red Button's navy velvet trousers with the Oui sparkly jumper. The waistband is elasticated with a drawstring, so it gives a little through a long afternoon, and the tapered leg finishes in a turned-up hem that shows off a good ankle boot.
Navy velvet beside oatmeal and gold is a lovely mix of textures, soft and festive at once. Dark straight-leg jeans and black tailored trousers work just as well. Choose one colour from the top, be it gold, silver or brown, and let your shoes pick it up.
Lurex knits for colder evenings
Floor's Steel jumper is knitted from a textured yarn with a fine lurex fleck running all through it, so it shimmers softly from every angle. The round neck layers neatly under a coat, and ribbing at the cuffs and hem keeps the shape tidy. We would wear ours with black trousers and heeled boots for an easy evening.
The Graphite cardigan from Floor is short and close to the body, sitting neatly at the waist, with fabric-covered buttons all the way down. Button it up and wear it as a top, or leave it open over a slip dress for drinks. It is machine washable too, which is very welcome in December.
Shimmer and lace for the evening
For the party itself, Oui's high neck blouse is black shot through with silver, so it glints as you move. Gathers fall from a stand collar, the raglan sleeves puff a little at elasticated cuffs, and the hem draws in at the hip for a blouson shape. Slim black trousers keep every eye on the blouse.
The lace top is one we would wear to a dinner out or the theatre. It is deep chocolate brown, worked in alternating bands of little diamonds and scallops, and the long sheer sleeves finish in a scalloped cuff. Over a dark camisole, with wide brown trousers, it makes a tonal outfit that looks wonderfully polished.
The newest pieces are in our New In edit, with more from Oui and across our knitwear collection. If you would like a top kept back to try in Wetherby before the party season starts, call us on 01937 585429.
Frequently asked questions
What should I wear to a Christmas party?
Start with one piece that has some shine and build a polished outfit around it. A sparkly blouse or a lurex knit with slim black trousers and a heeled boot looks considered without feeling like fancy dress. The party tops for women we reach for most have long sleeves and a neat neckline, so you stay comfortable from the first drink to the last. Keep jewellery to one piece in the same metal as the shine. Oui's silver and black high neck blouse and Floor's Steel lurex jumper are both lovely places to start.
How do you wear sequins in the day?
Choose sequins in small amounts, such as a trim at the hem and cuffs, and wear them with everyday pieces. Blue jeans, heeled mules and a camel coat turn a sequin jumper into a Saturday lunch outfit. Keep your bag and shoes matt so the sparkle stays in one place. For a smarter day, tailored trousers and loafers keep it polished. Oui's light beige sequin trim jumper is made for exactly this, as the golden sequins sit only at the hem and cuffs.
What trousers go with a sparkly top?
Dark straight-leg jeans, black tailored trousers and velvet all work with a sparkly top. Pick one colour from the top, such as gold, silver or brown, and repeat it in your shoes or jewellery. For a relaxed look, Red Button's navy velvet trousers have a drawstring waist and a tapered leg with a turned-up hem, and they sit beautifully under a sequin jumper. For a sheer lace top in chocolate brown, wide brown trousers make a tonal outfit.
Is lurex warm?
Lurex is a fine metallic thread, so on its own it adds shimmer rather than warmth. How warm a lurex knit feels depends on the yarn it is knitted with and on the cut. Floor's Steel jumper is a textured knit in viscose, polyester and nylon, with long sleeves and ribbed cuffs, so it is comfortable indoors at a party and under a coat on the way there. On the coldest days, add a fine layer underneath or a wool coat over the top.
How do you care for sequin knitwear?
Always check the care label first, as it varies from piece to piece. As a general guide, turn sequin knitwear inside out before washing, wash it by hand or on a gentle cool cycle, and never wring it. Dry it flat on a towel and ease it back into shape while it is damp. Fold it rather than hanging it, so the weight of the sequins does not stretch the shoulders, and store it away from anything that could catch.
Written by Jackie
Jackie is the owner of Olivia Grace in Wetherby, where she hand-picks every piece from European collections. She has spent years helping customers find clothes that actually get worn.
