How to go from desk to disco

Office soirée season is upon us.

But what to wear to dazzle on the dance floor? Richard Gray takes you from desk to disco...

You can thank London fashion designer Michael Halpern for the return of sequins this party season. His autumn collection was chock-a-block with shiny discs on wide trousers and tops. Channel disco queens such as Donna Summer and Gloria Gaynor and team your ‘Staying Alive’ sequin trousers with platforms or stiletto heels. Chandelier earrings complete the look.

Calling all wannabe Alexis Colbys: this party season belongs to you. Autumn’s pagoda shoulder trend (try saying that after a couple of Malibus) and its mahoosive Eighties-style silhouette requires some serious attitude and looks best in shiny fabrics. Tip 1: if you’re playing up the shoulder, balance the look with a tube skirt, mini skirt or tailored trousers. And please, please step away from pill-box hats and New Romantic slashes of blusher, however tempted you may be. Tip 2: a cat flick of liquid eye liner is essential.

Last seen perched on a bar stool in 1986, these single-strap, inch-high heels of yore are big news again. Easy to dance in — or run for the bus — there’s no need for Nurofen. Tip: get a pre-party pedi. Nobody wants to spot a gnarly heel during ‘The Macarena’.

As designers such as Gucci and Versace turn their backs on real fur, the faux-fur market has expanded its repertoire. For a fashionable look, team yours with black high-shine trousers. Remember faux fur is about having fun, so don’t be afraid to experiment with out-there patterns and pretty hues.

Looking for the ultimate shoes to complete your killer party look? Here’s our edit of the sassiest steppers around. While kitten and micro heels may be so hot right now, our love for a skyscraper heel rages on. From high street to designer, from velvet stilettos to glitter ball pumps, the choice is yours.

Single-use party frocks are great for those with cash to splash. The rest of us should invest in a dual-purpose dress that works on the dance floor and off it. Tip: team your DPD with a neutral blazer for a meeting at work or with spike heels and fishnet tights for a fun night out.

We’re not all 17 with a 22-inch waist. For those of us who remember the mini skirt the first time around, can we advise that you take your cue from the red carpet glamour of Judi Dench? Try smart, wider trousers, a tunic or long-line jacket, mid-height heels or shiny flats. Fans should head to Dench’s favourite London boutique, Hampstead Bazaar, to shop the look, and try Pebble in Sussex Gardens for a treasure trove of the capital’s best statement necklaces.

Cross it, clutch it, dangle it from your shoulder — take your pick from the high street’s haul of party bags.