The women's tuxedos we want this party season

Crack the dress code with the smartest ways to style black tie

The fabric

The tactile fluidity of velvet lends innate sex appeal to a traditional dinner jacket: jewel tones are a failsafe paired with contrasting silk-satin lapels and palazzo-style pants.

Merlot jacket, £495, Alice + Olivia, net-a-porter.com; Green jacket, £535 Acheval Pampa, matchesfashion.com; Navy jacket, £750, paulsmith.com.

The fusion

Channel Michael Urie’s half-and-half look at the Met Gala earlier this year with Redemption’s cutaway tail coat and sequin minidress.

Smoking jacket, £1,500, connollyengland.com; Redemption dress, £4,790, net-a-porter.com; Vintage YSL tuxedo, £2,875, William Vintage, matchesfashion.com
Emma Willis tuxedo shirt, £415, matchesfashion.com; Paul Smith bib-front shirt, £360, paulsmith.com

The finery

Instead of a bow tie, layer up this winter’s most versatile accessory: a chunky gold necklace (or three).

Engulf necklace, £1,200, emmaaitchison.com; Grecamania necklace, £390, versace.com; Mules, £308, loefflerrandall.com; Galvan satin camisole, £195, net-a-porter.com; Kenneth Jay Lane necklace, £295, net-a-porter.com; Nili Lotan sequinned camisole, £620, at net-a-porter.com

The fragrance

Black Tie is from Celine’s first scent collection in 50 years.

Black Tie by Celine, £175, celine.com