Food and Fashion: Prepping for Your Holiday Outfits and Menus

The holiday season is upon us—a time of festive gatherings, indulgent feasts, and of course, dazzling outfits. Whether you’re hosting a glamorous dinner party or attending a series of holiday soirées, the interplay between food and fashion can set the tone for unforgettable gatherings. Here’s your guide to crafting impeccable holiday looks and menus that complement each other seamlessly.

Step 1: Set the Scene with Seasonal Inspiration

Image credit: The Shirt Company

Before diving into your wardrobe or pantry, think about the overarching ambiance you want to create. Is it a cosy and rustic holiday dinner, or a sparkling New Year’s Eve gala? You can choose outfits and menus to echo the theme. This is a surefire way to curate an immaculate vibe, for example:

• Rustic Comfort: Opt for earthy tones like deep green, burgundy, or caramel for your wardrobe. Pair this with a menu rich in hearty, warm flavours. Think rich, red-wine infused sauces, a perfectly seasoned roasted vegetables medley and herby flavours such as rosemary, thyme or sage. Finish off with richly spiced desserts and mulled wine or cider.
• Elegant Glam: Pair a classic black-and-white shirt suit ensemble with a refined canape party. Everyone loves some festive ‘picky bits’, especially when followed up with champagne-infused desserts! 

Step 2: Elevate Everything

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Festive food is all about elevating comfort food classics into a new dimension. Don’t hold back on the butter and invest in that potato ricer you’ve had your eye on. You’ll thank me later. 

Something as humble as the cauliflower can be lifted to lofty new heights by roasting it whole until golden and crowning with tahini, parsley and chopped walnuts.

For a show stopping side, zhuzh up some sizzled brussel sprouts with pomegranate and pistachio. You don’t have to work up a sweat in the kitchen to serve an indulgent plate either, you can’t go wrong with a burrata with heirloom tomatoes and torn basil which requires very little prep. 

As for yourself, if there’s ever a time to raid the jewellery box for some real razzle dazzle, it's now. Sparkling accessories and elegant coloured silk scarves can help you match the opulence of your fabulous spread. 

Step 3: Centre Sustainability 

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While ‘sustainability’ and ‘opulence’ might sometimes seem somewhat at odds, the abundance of seasonal fruit and vegetables available mean they go somewhat hand in hand when it comes to crafting and eco-concious seasonal menu.

All of the fruits and vegetables below grow in the UK over most of the winter season, and create wonderful starting points for recipes that celebrate local produce:

• Apples
• Carrots
• Cabbages
• Cauliflower
• Kale
• Leeks
• Parsnips
• Pears
• Potatoes
• Brussel sprouts
• Savoy cabbage

There’s no shame in having an outfit that is a particular holiday favourite (I whipped out one red glittery number for 3 Christmases in a row!), and wearing a tried and tested treasure can help summon nostalgic memories of past holidays. 

Step 4: On Theme 

Image credit: The Shirt Company 

Harmonise your outfit palette with your holiday spread for Instagram-worthy cohesion. Match your colour themes subtly to tie the celebration together. For instance:

• Golden Glamour Banquet: Dress in gold or champagne tones, paired with a menu featuring golden tones from dishes such as Iranian-inspired saffron rice topped with dried barberries and honey-drizzled desserts and almond and honey pastries.
• Winter Wonderland Cocktail Party: A white, silver and blue dress code washed down with snowballs, hot gin toddies and champagne cocktails.

Step 5: Practical Tips for Food and Fashion Prep

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It’s only fun to be in the kitchen at parties if you’re not stressing yourself into the stratosphere wrestling with an overambitious menu. The holidays are busy enough, so streamline your preparation with the handy tips below:

For the Fashion:

• Shapeshifting Staples: A sleek shirt dress can be styled transformed with accessories to shapeshift through multiple festive events.
• Accessorise Liberally: Statement necklaces, earrings, or brooches can make a simple outfit shine, especially for those after work shindigs
• Comfort Meets Style: Choose shoes and fabrics that allow you to mingle and move comfortably, especially if you happen to be the host.

For the Food:

• Plan a Make-Ahead Menu: Dishes like casseroles, charcuterie boards, and desserts can be prepped in advance, giving you more time to relax before guests arrive.
• Balance Indulgence with Simplicity: Not every dish needs to be elaborate. Pair a showstopper main course with simpler side dishes. Marks and Sparks is your friend for ready made nibbles to scatter around, so you have more time to enjoy the party.
• Match Drinks to the Mood: From mulled wine to mocktails, choose beverages that reflect your event’s vibe and complement the menu.