How to choose the perfect dress

If you’ve got an event or special occasion coming up, choosing the right dress means you’ll feel as comfortable and confident as you possibly can! Before the day arrives, planning your outfit means you can think about all the details and get organised – so there won’t be any last-minute panics over what to wear!

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In this guide, we’ve covered some of the best dresses to choose for your next function. From casual outings to formal events, we’ve recommended fits, fabrics and styles for the occasion.

Casual dresses

Heading out for lunch with friends or taking a short trip to town? When it’s not the time to showcase your best outfits but you’d still like to look and feel comfortable, reach for a casual dress.

If you need to layer up for the colder weather, take a long-sleeved tee from your capsule wardrobe and wear it underneath your dress or pinafore. There’s rarely a dress code for informal occasions, so just go with your mood and pick what makes you feel good in the moment. We love loose, flowy linen dresses and thick corduroy for winter.

Semi-formal events

Looking for something simple yet sophisticated? Whether you’re heading to a wedding party or a baby shower, sometimes you need a touch of glamour. Of course, comfort should still be key!

Soft velvet makes a stylish choice for evening functions, especially in winter. It can be paired with jackets or kimonos made from a range of different fabrics, including faux fur or even velvet in a contrasting colour. Try to choose flattering styles that accentuate your natural body shape without making a statement.

Formal occasions

Whether it’s a wedding gala or an invite-only dinner, the smartest events call for luxurious outfits. A few of the most glamorous women’s dresses and styles to choose from include:

• Evening gown: Designed for weddings and A-list dinners, gowns can be short or long to suit the occasion. Whether you choose lace, silk or satin, wearing an evening gown means dressing to impress.
• Cocktail dress: Ideal for dressed-up receptions, a cocktail dress typically exudes beauty and celebration. With mini, midi or maxi lengths to choose from, these dresses make a striking impression in various off-the-shoulder styles or elegant long-sleeve cuts.
• Sheath dress: This sophisticated one-piece wonder features no join at the waist. Its close-fitting, curve-accentuating fit skims the body without clinging, usually falling at knee-length. The sheath dress typically features a zip at the back and smart, sophisticated necklines.

Day-to-night events

Planning for that day-to-night transition? If so, you’ll need to choose a dress that suits every minute – or find an outfit that can easily transition from daytime to nighttime.

In winter, this could be as simple as choosing the right layering options. Choose jackets, scarves and gloves to match the colour or fabric of your dress, and don’t be afraid to experiment with accessory swaps for extra versatility.

Don’t forget that your dress will always be the star of the show. Choosing the right style and fit, no matter how you accessorise, will boost your confidence and enjoyment – and reflect your unique style too.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Christmas Gift Guide with Temple Spa 2024

As a fan of any brand that gives me any excuse for a pamper session and a way to relax and unwind, Temple Spa always has my attention and that is why I am sharing with you some amazing gifts from their Christmas Collection for 2024 which features so many wonderful gifting options across a range of budgets.

I was kindly set three different gift sets to share and whilst I am keeping them all for myself, because I love them all, here is what is included within my collection.

Starting with the SEA-SCAPE Revitalising Bath Salts which for someone like me who loves bath salts and think they are underrated as a product, was excited to try these. 

Described as being cleansing, multi-talented bathing salts, they are the perfect tonic for those times when you’re feeling frazzled, tense or out of sorts.

These bath salts are rich in restorative minerals like magnesium, potassium, and calcium, this formula also features arnica to soothe fatigued muscles, Mediterranean seaweed and upcycled pine extract to nourish the skin. With a blend of eucalyptus, rosemary, thyme, grapefruit, and bergamot, the uplifting aroma helps clear the mind as you inhale the steam.

These SEA-SCAPE Revitalising Bath Salts are priced at just £25.

Up next I have the cutest stocking filler aptly titled ALL IS BRIGHT - A Spa Facial in a Flash! and it features one of my favourite products from Temple Spa - In The Beginning Deep Cleansing Melt.

In The Beginning Deep Cleansing Melt is a cult favourite from Temple Spa, beloved for its nourishing qualities as both a face balm and cleanser. Its buttery texture effortlessly melts into the skin, while tiny exfoliating beads gently buff away makeup, dirt, and impurities. This luxurious balm features three key ingredients, each carefully selected to work in harmony for a deep yet gentle cleanse:

• Vitamin E: Known for its skin-softening properties, Vitamin E helps replenish dehydrated skin, maintain its oil balance, and reduce water loss, improving the appearance of rough, dry, or damaged skin.
• Olive Fruit Extract: Rich in antioxidants, Olive Fruit Extract shields the skin from environmental damage and free radicals that contribute to premature aging. It also penetrates the skin to lock in moisture, leaving it soft, smooth, and hydrated.
• Calendula Fruit Extract: Renowned for its soothing and restorative benefits, Calendula helps protect against dehydration and premature aging while nourishing, softening, and moisturizing the skin.

What I love most about this cleansing balm is its relaxing scent and divine texture. It deeply cleanses without stripping the skin, leaving it feeling soft, hydrated, and perfectly balanced—never dry or tight.

That isn't all within this stocking filler because also included is the TAKE IT OFF | muslin cleansing cloth. Made from super soft, 100% pure cotton, it helps remove any residue from your skin whilst aiding exfoliation.

The ALL IS BRIGHT - A Spa Facial in a Flash! is priced at just £15

The finally we have the Time To Glow gift set and it is the one which promises to give you a Total Glow-Up.

This gift set features 5 items which Temple Spa described as being their most powerful, glow-giving skincare heroes.

Starting with EASY GLOWING | Transforming Cleansing Gelée | 30ml - Designed to bring an instant radiance boost to your cleansing routine, this vitamin C-infused, melting silky-gel cleanser transforms into a hydrating milk that effortlessly removes makeup and daily impurities. It also works as a gentle eye makeup remover. Packed with antioxidant-rich oils, vitamins, and natural prebiotic sugars from dragon fruit, this cleanser nourishes and brightens the skin. A powerful blend of botanical extracts—blood orange, mango, tomato, and broccoli—along with a generous dose of astaxanthin, leaves skin glowing with a healthy, radiant complexion. The uplifting scent of sweet orange oil adds a refreshing touch, making this the perfect way to brighten both your skin and your day.

Then we have LET’S CONCENTRATE | Skin Glowing Serum | 10ml - This potent serum-juice concentrate absorbs deeply into the skin, revealing a clearer, smoother, and more radiant complexion. The powerful formula combines a daily dose of vitamin C with brightening alpha arbutin to help even out skin tone, minimize the appearance of pores, and reduce hyperpigmentation. Antioxidants like zinc and magnesium fight blemishes, while skin-loving sodium hyaluronate and refreshing orange oil work to hydrate and revitalize. The result? Soft, glowing skin and a boost of bare-faced confidence. Your skin will look revived, rejuvenated, and beautifully radiant. Simply amazing.

The third product is MOISTURE TO GLOW | Radiance Moisturiser | 30 ml If you need to revive tired, dull skin then this is the product. This silky gel moisturiser melts effortlessly into the skin, delivering a burst of hydration while gold-encapsulated liposomal vitamin C and alpha arbutin work to refresh, brighten, and revitalize your complexion. A blend of botanical extracts—tomato, broccoli, mango, and prebiotic dragon fruit—combined with vitamins A & E, sodium hyaluronate, and sunflower oil, softens and smooths the skin, locking in moisture for a supple feel. The uplifting scent of sweet orange oil brings the essence of Mediterranean sunshine, leaving your skin with a healthy, radiant, and glowing finish.

You can't have a gift set without a good scrub and here we have SUGAR BUFF FRESH | Smoothing Body Scrub | 50 g - This is a really delightful product to use and one which is described as being a juicy sugar exfoliator with an incredible grapefruit fragrance which works to invigorate and energise. The Sugar Buff Fresh has this delightful texture that works to remove dry and dead skin cells without being overly abrasive on the skin and as it works it way around, it also encourages cell renewal to give that soft to the touch skin which also has a healthy glow.

Then finally comes SOUL FOOD | Glow Boost Body Lotion | 50 ml - This elixir is designed to make you you look good and feel good. The perfect product to nourish your soul and give your body a boost of confidence. A powerful blend of vitamin C and rosemary leaf extract—both potent antioxidants—work together to brighten dull skin and help reduce the appearance of UV-induced damage. This silky-smooth lotion absorbs effortlessly, allowing sodium hyaluronate, shea butter, and coconut oil to deeply hydrate, while a vegetable ceramide complex strengthens the skin’s barrier and prevents moisture loss. The formula is finished with a refreshing burst of Mediterranean botanicals—bergamot, sweet orange, lemon, eucalyptus, and cooling mint—invigorating your skin and uplifting your spirit for a glow that radiates from the inside out.

The Time To Glow gift set is priced at just £50

So there is my Temple Spa Gift Guide for 2024 and hopefully it has given you some gifting ideas, an insight into the brand and a reason why I think it is a delight to have in and around the home, be it a cleansing balm, salts in the bath, a bit of buffing scrub or if you prefer Temple Spa has the most amazing candles and diffusers which also make a great gift.  Temple Spa is a hugely popular brand and not only can you find them on sale in a store like Harrods, which is quite a coup!

You can find all these gift sets and a whole lot more with Temple Spa

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.