December is really the only time of year that you can get away with wearing head-to-toe sequins and not look like a Strictly reject. Here are some party dresses that will have you glittering as prettily as your fairy lights and guarantee you’ll stand out on New Year’s Eve:

1. Mango chocolate dress – £69.90
2. Rise Ritika dress – £65
3. Rare sweetheart dress – £25
4. Reiss Kiara dress – £295
5. French Connection Samantha dress – £160
6. Topshop Iconic Heavy Beaded dress – £130
7. Anna Sui silk tulle dress – £870
8. Matthew Williamson Dégradé dress – £1,895
9. Adam silk organza dress – £1,305

As featured in UK Glamour magazine, January 2011

{words & images via glamour}
on feeling like herself again: “I’m close to my fighting weight again. I don’t want to lose any more weight, I just need to get my fitness up. I do feel that then I’ll almost be back in my own body, which would be great… I felt for such a long time that I was in a stranger’s body.”

on her boyfriend, Andrés Velencoso: “He’s good at travelling. He fits in well with my team. He’s the kind of person that you can drop anywhere and he’ll be fine. He’s very normal but also fabulous.”

on her sister, Dannii: “Having a baby has changed her. She’s mellowed and gone into a zone that’s very deep, and I’ve never seen her like that before. She’s still hard-nosed and determined, but there’s something that’s changed in her that’s really beautiful to see.”

on personal beliefs: “I was thinking about faith the other day. I’m not of any particular religion, but I was wondering how much it mattered what you believe. If someone told you what you believed was wrong, how could it be wrong, because it’s based on your experience and emotions. This is the life I have. I can’t compare it to anyone else’s.”

Everyone has their favourite element of Christmas Day; perhaps the excitement of checking to see if Santa has paid a visit (29 years old and still a believer), an excuse to drink Champagne for breakfast, the Ferrero Rocher-induced coma in front of the TV, the board games that won’t see the light of day for the rest of the year…? One of my favourite parts has always been everybody round the table, delicious food, party hats on and lots of laughter. Making this picture even more appealing would be surroundings fit for the festivities, with any of the pieces below. Just add candlelight and Nat King Cole.

1. John Lewis cake stand – £25
2. notonthehightstreet.com reindeer place card settings – £54
3. Susie Watson Designs mini pitcher – £16
4. Jan Constantine wall hanging – £125
5. notonthehighstreet.com porcelain tea lights – £12
6. Zara Home coffee cup set – £11.99
7. Cath Kidston Christmas tree candle – £6
8. notonthehighstreet.com Christmas napkin – £4.95
9. Born Gifted musical snow globe – £49.99

Is it wrong that I feel a bit lost now? I got butterflies every time Dermot told me that my Saturday night starts right here, and nothing beat the contentment of being under my slanket for 2 hours of judging song choices, outfits, hairstyles and, yes, even vocal talent. I was on the journey with them (apart from that Waissel creature – it was never going to work out for us after those feather eyelashes and the lace umbrella), and even put up with Konnie Huq’s horrendous attempts at presenting to see more of them every week. So, it’s all over, and Cardle was undoubtedly a worthy winner. If I had to pick my favourite performances of the series, I’m going to go with these two. The first one’s a no-brainer… the second, well, in my defence and in the words of Louis Walsh, “They remind me of a young Take That”. Don’t judge me.


{FYI – it was Halloween week. They didn’t have pink eye}

Ok, so in terms of combined price we’re talking really offensive, but how ridiculously pretty are these? Everybody needs a bit of sparkle for the festive season…

1. Kate Spade Jingle flats
2. Issa sequin dress
3. Mulberry Grey Ostrich bag