happy holidays from couture and crumpets

without wanting to scare anyone...christmas is just around the corner. if you're anything like me, you've been idly opening doors on your advent calendar, calmly sipping gingerbread lattes and generally ignoring the fact that this is all a countdown to a day that actually, needs a lot preparing for. in fact, it's a whole season of preparation. i might not be cooking (well, i'll make some brandy butter. gotta contribute something) but there's gifts to buy and wrap, cards to send and a whole lot of parties to attend. for once, i didn't fancy sequins, so when stylistpick challenged me to put together a party outfit, i  had a pretty specific brief in mind. i wanted something sophisticated but fun, and i wanted a perfect, festive location for it. and what could possibly fuse together fashion and festivity better than browns hotel in mayfair, who have only got the one and only nicholas kirkwood to decorate their tree with some bespoke, sparkly shoes? the tree's gorgeous - i was warned that despite the shoes being 100% wearable, none of them were actually pairs, to dissuade sticky-fingered passers by like myself - and perfect for the hotel, which is a mix of old and new itself. my bag, skirt and shoes are all stylistpick - despite being super high, the shoes are really comfy and i feel i'd get good wear out of this skirt all year round. if you're still stumped for party outfits, check out their online boutique - prices are insanely good and their accessories in particular are gorgeous.