What You Can Actually Wear This Party Season If You’re A Petite Girl

It feels like only yesterday I was buying mint choc chip ice cream from the Thornton's shop window, and now here I am, gearing up for all things festive. I've confessed already that I'm not a person that gets excited about Christmas - in fact, I've actually bailed on my family Christmas dinner this year in favour of staying at home, which I know will bring some of you out in a cold sweat.

Party season dressing is also something that's rarely been in my good books. Whilst I love getting a little bit bougie, the petite selection for us shorter girls is typically dire. If it's not a floral metallic puffball skirt then it's an endless series of pastel pink bardot bodycons, and whilst every now and then a stand-out piece from the regular section will make its way to the petite rail too, on the whole, there's a real lack of sophisticated, contemporary pieces for shorter women.

Enter Miss Selfridge. Whilst Miss S have been championing the petite girl for years, their pieces haven't always been to my taste. However, all things floral and lace have taken a backseat as they've completely revamped their offering, creating pieces exclusively for us 5'3 and unders and not simply creating smaller versions of the regular range like many other high-street retailers do. The new Miss Selfridge woman is young, modern and fun, and that reflects in their New In section. With a mixture of trend-led pieces and wardrobe staples, Miss Selfridge seems to have grown up.

Huzzah! Petite clothes that we actually want to wear, and that actually work for us! To celebrate the new Party Wear edit, I chose a few pieces directly from the petite section and styled up two different looks for this upcoming party season: 1 for your work's do or dinner & drinks, and 1 for your GNO (girl's night out - where have you been?).

Enjoy, you saucy devils.

Sheer Top: Miss Selfridge*

Pink Jumpsuit: Miss Selfridge*

Glitter Top: Miss Selfridge*

Wide-Legged Trousers: Miss Selfridge*

This post was sponsored by Miss Selfridge.

The work Christmas party. A night of Tequila, tears and tonsil-tennis, best enjoyed with a healthy serving of regret the next morning. I've been to two work Christmas parties in my time, the first of which saw my brother cheating his way to employee of the year, and the second finishing with a homeless man requesting my boss film him singing whilst I stood beside him and featured in his music video. Both prove that the work Christmas party can go any which way; it is unpredictable, quietly feared, and raucously enjoyed.

Dressing for such unpredictability can be tricky, however, especially when the most that you and your work bestie can decide on is 'jeans and a nice top'. Fear ye not, however, as I've found the perfect combination of pieces for striking the right balance between Fenty x Puma Rihanna, and Met Gala 2015 Rihanna.

Whilst jumpsuits may not be our friends when it comes to navigating the Vodka Revolution toilets at 2:45am, they do provide an updated alternative to the conventional jeans and blouse. Plus they're both a top and bottoms in one item, so you get all the pay-off for half of the effort - I mean, it's the gift that keeps on giving, right? This nude shimmer number with tie front detailing is just the right amount of sparkle for those of us who have yet to be initiated into the glitter club, and the relaxed fit and culotte-leg length balance out the pretty pink with an effortless, contemporary vibe.

I paired mine with this sheer starred print blouse as I'm not a huge fan of my upper arms, but by popping a tee or sheer top underneath, the whole ensemble becomes a little more "work-place appropriate" (whatever that means) whilst still allowing you the option to whip it off later if you want to look a little more glam. Finish with gold details, a bag that can be held or worn (keep your hands-free for enthusiastically gesticulating to all Beyoncé songs) and pink heels for peak 'I tried, but not too hard'.

The time has come. It's Girl's Night Out: Christmas Edition, and things are about to get wild, wild, wild.

The GNO is so much more than a simple gathering of friends. It is a concentrated microcosm of everything that goes on in your friendship group, topped up by generous servings of gin and many, many, many hilarious Tinder messages. The GNO is the sounding board for your latest career move, the comparing of boy stories and the platform for many a DMC (deep meaningful chat - I hope you're keeping up with my many abbreviations here). The GNO takes you on a journey through every emotion possible, landing you comfortably the next morning at The Review, whereby you all take stock over a McDonalds breakfast and a scattering of discarded false lashes.

But if you're a petite girl who isn't feeling bodycon slips or mini skirts this festive season, then what the ~ heck ~ do you actually wear?

The coveted long-sleeved crop top and high-waisted trouser combination has seen me through many a GNO, and this particular pairing has become my go-to look for the rest of 2017. Whilst I'm not a huge lover of sparkle, the gold speckling throughout this glitter wrap top playfully nods to the festive season, whilst still remaining understated and sophisticated. The combination of the high neck and long sleeves means the cut is super flattering for my shorter frame, but the crop shape with knot detail gives a little wink of sexiness with a sliver of midriff.

And the trousers. The trousers! Petite ladies - how often is it that we find a pair of wide-legged, full-length trousers that don't either drag across the floor or cling to our thighs? That's right, very rarely. The tie-waist detailing on these trews brings all of the attention to the waist, whilst also skimming over your belly pouch for a comfortable, wearable fit. I paired mine with a simple pair of nude shoes, more gold details and lashings of red lipstick for a look you'd be happy to bump into any ex in.

Warning: excess levels of PYT may be experienced whilst sporting this ensemble.