Everyone’s Going Out-Out, So Here Are The Best Outfits To Get The Party Started

After 16 months of no night clubs and (next to) no after-dark dressing, the prospect of partying still feels foreign to some. But to others, life now has little to do with sweatpants and a lot to do with sequins. Wherever you fall on the spectrum between happily staying in and heading out-out, wardrobes up and down the country are feeling the impact of Freedom Day.

According to global search platform Lyst, shoppers are gearing up for going out, with searches for corset tops(+22%), party dresses (+15%), heeled sandals (+13%) and micro bags (+19%) all on the up last month. And even if you’re not in the mood to hit the dance floor quite yet, there’s still much joy to be had from dressing up for dinner with friends.

For designers who major in ‘make an entrance’ clothes, the wait is finally over. ‘The enjoyment of getting dressed up cannot be underestimated,’ says Laura Castro, one half of the duo behind Ibizan brand De La Vali, home of the It girl’s favourite satin minidresses. ‘It’s all about confidence; standout pieces that make you feel vivacious, in beautiful fabrics and sultry shapes that allow for dancing.’

Another go-to for dresses that drip glamour is 16Arlington. The brand began in a tiny room on London’s Arlington Road, where friends passed by to borrow slinky numbers for evenings out. Since then, Jennifer Lopez, Priyanka Chopra and Kendall Jenner have caught on. As of last month, when restrictions were fully lifted, the moment for its brand of glitz and glam is upon us. ‘We’ve definitely seen interest pick up in the feather minis, sequin minis and softer, satin tailored pieces. People are raring to go,’ says co-founder Marco Capaldo.

This fervour for evening extravagance has also been felt at Net-A-Porter. ‘Demand has continued to rise since the loosening of restrictions,’ says senior market editor Libby Page. ‘Customers are falling back in love with fashion and the joy of dressing up, transitioning to shorter but chic hemlines, striking heels and sparkle.’

For micro lengths, there’s a stand-out at Net-A-Porter. ‘Gauge81’s knitted minidress is the ultimate clubbing piece, with rows of shimmering Swarovski crystals along the straps,’ says Page, who also predicts the return of flashing midriffs. The current supermodel penchant is for ‘naked’ tops from Jacquemus, held together (just about) by a thin chain across the chest.

And for tentative steps back on to the dance floor, putting your best foot forward is key. ‘Heels are making a significant comeback,’ says Page. ‘Manolo Blahnik, Bottega Veneta and Christian Louboutin are the key drivers globally.’ Amina Muaddi’s PVC slingback pumps, meanwhile, are, ‘the hero shoe among customers seeking a modern fairy-tale look’.

Among the clubbing scene’s artistic set, the loss of nightlife has been worse than missing a boogie. For Josh Quinton, a DJ, queer club-night thrower and regular at fashion soireés (performing for the likes of Fendi), it has been tough. ‘I live to get dressed up, go out and DJ,’ says Quinton, who is recognisable for his ’80s/’90s look: block-coloured power suits, stilettos and a Swan Lake eye. ‘We’ve all been robbed of these spaces to express ourselves.’

But Covid didn’t dampen the spirits of emerging creatives. ‘I resorted to stockpiling new gear to wear out. The re-emergence wardrobe is ready to roll,’ says Quinton. For his first big night, playing for the likes of Kate Moss at DJ Fat Tony’s book launch at Isabel Mayfair, sequins were the only option. ‘I decided on a two-piece, rainbow look,’ he says. ‘The only person to go to for that was Ashish!’ And the most important event this summer? His Faboo Ball, of course, coming soon and set to channel the last days of disco.

Yashana Malhotra, a recent graduate from Central Saint Martins, also leant on creativity to get through lockdown. ‘I was off to see someone and realised I didn’t have anything to wear. I thought, let me just sew a dress, and made it out of my mum’s curtains,’ she says of the first of her vast gowns, which have boomed on Instagram.

But if you aren’t handy with a needle and thread, don’t panic. What’s the one thing that makes a dress amazing? 16Arlington’s Capaldo puts it simply: ‘It is, always, the person wearing it.’