'Tis the season to be stylish

Formal and functional:

Depending on how epic your end-of-year work functions are, you may need to amp up the glamour stakes here. In recent years the LBD has been replaced by its rival the LWD (little white dress) and for those celebrating Christmas Down Under, it's about as close as we get to a white Christmas. Show off a good tan (fake or otherwise) with a fabulous LWD and some chunky accessories in of-the-moment orange or exquisite turquoise. Of course black is always elegant for evening wear and with sexy splits making a huge comeback why not opt for a dramatic floor length gown with a split to the thigh? And if you're worried about slimming into something figure skimming, I have one word for you: Spanx! Shaping underwear is the secret weapon all the celebrities use for looking so fabulous on the red carpet. Various brands are available at all leading department stores and are relatively inexpensive. Guaranteed to boost and lift where needed and keep away nasty VPL (visible panty lines)!

A feast for the eyes: Whether you're enjoying a home-cooked meal with the family, or dining at a restaurant, this is a day to dress up and make an effort for the people you care about most. And despite popular belief you can dress festive without going to Bridget Jones style Christmas knit levels! Coordinating in red and green, unless you're part of an M&Ms campaign, is to be avoided, but white basics paired with vibrant red or a splash of green is colourful, fun and fresh.

Styling en masse:

Church is no time for hooker heels or transparent blouses. So this Christmas day, why not summon Kate Middleton elegance with classy shift dresses, blazers and pearls? If you're feeling particularly regal, accessorize with a fascinator (saves you packing it away until next year's spring racing carnival!).

Thinking outside the box:

Boxing Day is almost always a scorcher in Australia so a good ol' barbie is the perfect excuse to go boho-chic in a floaty maxi dress or edgy cool in denim cut-offs and a tank or tee. If you're spending a day outdoors, flat sandals or espadrille wedges are best policy; they'll be comfortable, practical and chic. Denim shorts carry a huge rock n' roll cool factor (we've seen how well Nicole Ritchie rocks them while she carries her Starbucks around Hollywood) so pair them with a simple white tee and accessorize with a pair of Ray-Bans or some aviators, a cool fedora, and you're good to go. Play up a boldly patterned maxi with big sunnies, bangles, and long chains. Jewellery and embellishments take a maxi from beachwear to street-wear in an instant.

The last outfit of the year:

New Year's Eve is all about going all out. The year's almost over, everyone's making resolutions, champagne is pouring freely and everyone is set on enjoying their last evening before a fresh start. In an almost anything goes event, it's the ideal occasion to go full-on with bling, sequins, sparkles, glitter, cocktail rings, and sky-scraper heels. One word of advice: leave the flashing plastic martini glasses and 2012 novelty glitter glasses at home!