Whether among work colleagues, relatives or friends, be the belle of the ball this Christmas says Francine Miller.

With only a week to go until Christmas, many of us will be counting down the days until the partying officially begins, but finding the right outfit without the right advice could result in a headache worse than all those seasonal hangovers combined.

After all, you want to make sure you'll stand out from the crowd for all the right reasons, which means a big no-no to minuscule dresses and ill-fitting tops at the posh office do, or looking like the dull present missed under the Christmas tree when you're out with friends and family.

For those planning on going straight from boardroom to bar after work, try wearing a black wide-legged trouser suit to work.

At the end of the day, simply change into a tight-fitting lace top, lose the jacket and slip on a pair of killer stilettos.

If you'd rather avoid a trouser suit, choose something versatile that will carry you through the day. Even jeans dressed up with a sparkly top will achieve the right result.

Try Wallis' natural-colour lace top, £27, Dorothy Perkins' cream lace-up corset, £35, or Coast's Valentina camisole, £40.

Losing your comfy cardigan in favour of a glittery shrug will also make a difference. Take a look at Marks & Spencer's sequin Midnight bolero, £39.50, Warehouse's sequin cardi, £55, Dorothy Perkins faux fur shrug with diamante clasp, £35, or Bhs's black mesh bolero, £25.

For more glittering affairs, avoid looking too frivolous and fluffy, but don't be afraid of going all out and wearing an eye-catching dress.

Check out Kookai's jewelled dress, £85, Coast's Selena bead dress, £95, Oasis' New Vintage Romantic dress, £150, and Karen Millen's satin evening dress, £250.

If you don't want to spend too much, try River Island's black lace prom dress, £59.99, or Miss Selfridge's red silk sash dress, £60.

For the more adventurous ones out there, rich jewel tones are big this season. Choose from Dorothy Perkins' emerald green velvet halterneck dress, £45, Principles' amethyst purple crushed silk and georgette dress, £79, or Marks & Spencer's purple Grecian knee-length dress, 39.50.