Festive fashion countdown

Dec 22 2008 By Lisa Haynes

Your very own fashion advent calendar for the festive season ahead.

With a flurry of festive activities on the agenda - parties, visiting relatives and serious sales shopping - it's time to get your wardrobe ensembles in shape for a very stylish holiday season.

Stay fashionably festive with our Christmas countdown.

24 DEC - CHRISTMAS EVE DRINKS

Make a special effort for counting down into Christmas Day in festive red. It's the statement colour of the season - perfect eye-catching potential for stealing mistletoe Christmas kisses.

GO FOR: Warehouse ruby dress, £75 (115 Euros).

25 DEC - CHRISTMAS DAY MORNING

Santa's arrived! Leap out of bed and spend your Christmas morning in some snug PJs. Opt for fun wintry prints like stars or snowflakes, or go the whole festive hog and do novelty penguins or reindeers.

GO FOR: Matalan red flannel print pyjamas, £8.

25 DEC - CHRISTMAS DINNER

Go for gold on Christmas Day. Glam up in a metallic or sparkly top to eat, drink and be merry. You'll shine brighter than any star performing on Christmas Top Of The Pops!

GO FOR: Wallis gold sequin top, £40.

25 DEC - CHRISTMAS LOUNGING

Ouch, too much turkey and trimmings? Change into some comfortable jersey to relax in front of the fire. If you're feeling especially fashion-brave an all-in-one is the way forward.

GO FOR: ASOS jersey all-in-one Harem suit, £28.

26 DEC - BOXING DAY SALES

Sales may have been running since November but why give up on a classic Christmas habit - the Boxing Day sales. Ditch cumbersome winter coats and get elbows at the ready in a cosy cardigan instead.

GO FOR: Next black long embellished cardigan, £90.

27 DEC - WINTER WALK

Time to walk off those choccie selection boxes with a refreshing winter walk. Embrace country life and wrap up warm in a classic tweed coat. Avoid looking like The Queen with a figure-hugging belted style.

GO FOR: Evans tweed belted coat, £80 (112 Euros).

28 DEC - RELATIVES ROUNDS

Grandparents, aunties, uncles, cousins and even the dreaded in-laws... the list of relatives to visit is as long as your cashmere scarf. Dress to impress with a print blouse and tailored black trousers for a casual but stylish look.

GO FOR: Miss Selfridge teal ditsy print blouse, £28, and black peg trousers, £35.

29 DEC - INCOGNITO TRIP

Uh oh, house full of unwanted gifts? Take cover in your floppiest hat and oversized scarf and sneak off to the shops to return them for more fashionable finds. You don't want your granny knowing you didn't want those musical novelty socks.

GO FOR: Long Tall Sally Skye floppy hat, £18.

30 DEC - CHUMS CHILL-OUT

You've done the relative rounds and hit the shops, now it's time to catch up with your buddies for a girly gossip about the festive season so far. Cosy up in a bright knit and your favourite jeans.

GO FOR: TK Maxx coloured jumpers, from £19.99 (30 Euros).

31 DEC - N.Y.E PARTYING

Pull out an old faithful dress and give it some New Year va-va-voom with some sparkling accessories. A new handbag or pair of shoes can breathe some 2009 life into your classic LBD.

GO FOR: F&F at Tesco glitzy accessories, from £10.

1 JAN - NEW YEAR ENSEMBLE

If there's one day in the festive calendar you can justify a brand new outfit, it's for New Year's Day. Treat yourself to some new staples for 2009 and if you're feeling brave, try tackling a fresh new trend too, like cropped trousers.

GO FOR: Dorothy Perkins grey cardigan, £20, and khaki cuff hem trousers, £20.

STOCKISTS

ASOS: www.asos.com

Dorothy Perkins: 0870 122 8801/www.dorothyperkins.co.uk

Evans: 0845 121 4516/www.evans.co.uk

F&F - 0800 505 555/www.clothingattesco.com

Long Tall Sally: 0870 990 6885/www.longtallsally.co.uk

Matalan: 0845 330 3330/www.matalan.co.uk

Miss Selfridge: www.missselfridge.com

Next: 0845 600 7000/www.next.co.uk

TK Maxx: www.tkmaxx.co.uk

Wallis: 0845 121 4520/www.wallis.co.uk

Warehouse: 0870 122 8813/www.warehouse.co.uk