Ways to wear: party dresses – after the party

Because no one wants it to end

The party is over. It's New Year and that means no more celebrations to go to, but no doubt you have plenty of dresses still hanging in your wardrobe that you'd probably like to have at least worn once or twice more. Because when else can you? Party dresses are like hats and Royal Ascot - a rare occasion that you have to embrace. And no one likes a party to come to an end. But it doesn't have to.

The way to take those party dresses into January and beyond is by dressing them down and making them less shiny shiny and more day to day. Jumpers, trainers and casual accents, then, are your best friends. A shirt worn open gives an informal air to a cocktail-smart dress, as does a pair of Vans or Converse (the former of which you should still have from the past year).  For any dress too short for daytime, you could even go so far as to add a pair of jeans beneath, so long as the silhouette still remains tight and focused (think Celine), otherwise there's a danger of looking like your wardrobe has exploded on to you.

An oversized jumper always works to hide a multitude of daytime sins - a low neckline no longer an issue and just the accompaniment to the skirt of a secretly killer dress.  Try a cowl neck style, as at Victoria Beckham (above), to bring structure and interest to the outfit or we like the chunky knit that hunkers down over Vera Wang's billowing wispy skirt beneath. Something with a strong cuff suggests a sturdiness and makes it more appropriate for during the day or alternatively brings a sportswear edge to the evening. And even though we want to wear these pieces again, we want to wear them again but differently.

If you're not a party dress person and smart trouser-and-top combinations work for you, dress them down with a roll neck beneath. The sparkles will seem less sparkly when a practical item comes into the mix. Thakoon, too (below), showed how this works for a dress - cutaway numbers don't have to be so revealing after all.

The idea is to cover up, but to do so selectively. Layering should be considered and sleek and accents always working to play down the "I'm a party dress" factor. A long lean cardigan over a slip dress (as seen at Sonia Rykiel, below) will make it less nighttime and more relaxed and ready for Sunday brunch.

This is also really the time to team with those flats - because soon we're going to be seduced by the high heel all over again.