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    1. Style

    This is the most we've ever spent party outfits, from £100 to £1,000...

    Penny Goldstone's avatar
    By Penny Goldstone
    Published 14 November 2019 In Features

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    (Image credit: Mean Girls TM & copyright © 2004 PARAMOUNT PICTURES. All Rights Reserved.)
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    With party season round the corner, many of us (myself included) will be panic buying dresses and other festive outfits to see us through the many events we need to go to, from office parties to family brunches and New Year's Eve of course.

    So after asking women how much they spend on clothes every month, I thought it would be interesting to see if their spending goes up a little this side of Christmas. Here is the most they've spent on a party outfit.

    Chloe: £110 on a jumpsuit

    It was for my graduation. It was such a special day for me and I wanted to love what I was wearing and I did! I still have it now and have been able to wear it to other special events too.

    Kirsty: $3,250 on an full outfit

    My husband took me with him on a business trip to San Francisco which was so much fun as it was my first visit there. Plus, I had a lot of leisure time to shop. I found a light wool black dress at a boutique for $1,500 and a pair of knee high leather Prada boots for $950. There was a Hermes shop near our hotel and I paid $800 on a beautiful silk scarf which made it an exquisite outfit. All three pieces are timeless and I can incorporate them into different outfits. I have bought other substantial pieces: a Louis Vuitton bag for example that cost ore than those three items combined, but my SF outfit brings me so much joy to wear. They bring back the memories of that trip.

    Megan: £79 on a dress

    I bought a Sister Jane dress last year. I'd seen it on a couple of people on my Instagram and couldn't get it out of my head, because it was so unusual, so I bit the bullet and bought it. I have no regrets and I still wear it for big occasions because it gives me so much confidence.

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    Selena*: £400 on a black tie gown

    I bought it at a Jenny Packham sample sale. I tend to not spend big on party items as I know I won't get much wear out of them - I prefer to borrow but I realise that's a privilege of working in the fashion industry!

    Monikh: £1,000 on a dress

    I needed it! It was by 16ARLINGTON. I also bought a one-shoulder Calvin Klein tartan dress for my friend's civil wedding. I'm still obsessed and have worn it loads.

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    Penny: £395 on a dress

    As much as I love shopping, I don't tend to spend too much on occasion wear as I know I won't get that much wear out of it. That said, I fell in love with Laura Jackson' sequin dress last year, which was part of her Rixo collection. After much dithering, I bought it was I deemed the shape to be timeless, and a sequin dress is always handy to have lying around for the festive season.

    Penny Goldstone
    Penny Goldstone
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    Contributing Fashion Editor

    Penny Goldstone is the Contributing Fashion Editor at Marie Claire UK. She writes about catwalk trends and the latest high street and Instagram sartorial must-haves. She also helms the Women Who Win franchise.

    She has worked in fashion for over 10 years, contributing to publications such as Cosmopolitan, Red, Good Housekeeping, and Stylist.

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