It's mid-December, so you have already purchased (or very sensibly unearthed from your wardrobe), the LBD/tuxedo jacket-and-trousers combo you plan to wear for any festive do's that may crop up over Chanucah or New Year. So this is the moment to think about how to ramp up the glamour.

Browns have some of the most fashion-fabulous party shoes including teeteringly high green leather sandals by 3.1 Philip Lim, as well as fringed satin and suede babies by Tabitha Simmons. The prolifically talented shoemaker Rupert Sanderson also has beautiful and elegant party shoes, including red suede platform courts at £475.

But the good news is that it isn't essential to spend vast sums to get the look - though splash the cash if you can; someone must aid the economy.

Topshop has lots of edgy shoes at under £100, perfect if you are planning to rock a tuxedo, including a red velvet sandal with gold heel at £65. Reiss, Oasis and Dune all have sparkly party courts and if you opt for the Dune one (£90), £50 will go to Teenage Cancer Trust.

For parties, frankly fake fashion jewellery often has more impact than fine jewellery. I am firmly of the view that exactly the right piece with exactly the right frock/tuxedo will look fabulous regardless of whether it cost £14 or £400. Ditto bags, really: while an, um, tribute "It" bag may fall obviously short of the real thing, a cleverly chosen clutch from the high street can impart the same wattage to an outfit as a pricey designer version.