May I Come to Your Christmas Party?

By Lisa P.

2019 — Christmas five years ago. My office made an arrangement with one of the “poshest” hotels in London, The Rosewood, for reduced room rates for our guests and for a room for our staff Christmas Party. I should stop here and say for US readers that it is OK in the UK to refer to this type of event as a Christmas Party. In fact, I think my staff would have revolted if I called it a “Holiday Party.” 

The Rosewood was the perfect location for our 2019 party, because it is so fancy, and they do a fabulous job of decorating. My entire staff had a wonderful time at the party on the first Thursday of December, but it left me feeling a bit let down in one particular aspect. One of the female members of my staff showed up wearing a dress that looked very much like a fancy holiday dress I had bought for myself the prior year (and which I had used only for photo shoots, as I had nowhere to go in it). Seeing her in the short black dress made me long to have the chance to wear my dress to a party.

That longing led to planning, and the planning eventually led to action on the next Saturday after the office party. It was a typical dreary London December evening – cold, dark, and wet (the very reason one needs a Christmas party, or a visit to a pub, or both). I decided Lisa would visit someone else’s Christmas Party, or at least pretend to. She suspected The Rosewood would be the perfect place to see if she could do that.

Friday evening I went to the nail salon. My nails were painted a bright shade of red – nails that had been beautifully manicured by my Thai manicurist, who I am convinced wanted to date me, as he always asked me if I had a boyfriend, even after I showed him the faux wedding ring I wear. I only have eyes for my wife!

The following morning (Saturday), I had an appointment at MAC for a makeover and I asked my artist (a crazy goth-influenced woman from Romania) to give me make up for a party. Although she had a difficult palette to work with, she did improve the overall artistic rendering!

That evening, wearing the same dress bought the prior year that resembled the one worn at the Christmas Party, with delicate black lace bodice over black velvet, sheer black nylons, and black pumps, I plunged into the dark night after dinner with all the confidence of someone who might crash a party.

Overall, I felt very presentable, a feeling that was not entirely misplaced, even if it reflected a bit of overconfidence. The ones who succeed typically are the ones who never know they will fail.

Upon arriving at the hotel, I explored the area with confidence (that is, without looking like I had no idea where I was going). By walking straight past reception (with purpose), I found a dual, “winged” staircase that led to the ballroom below. You guessed it – there was a Christmas party going on, just as I had hoped. No one was checking who came and went, and I guessed I could have crashed the party simply by giving my coat to the cloak room attendant and marching up to the bar and asking for a drink. But, as tempted as I was to emulate Eddie Murphy’s character in “Beverly Hills Cop,” my natural shyness and sense of propriety prevented me from following his example. I did hang around the entrance acting like I belonged, and everyone seemed to assume that I was either coming or going to the party. It helps to look like you belong in any social situation!

After a time, I decided to explore other parts of the hotel. It is not a stunning neoclassical luxury hotel like The Ritz (London’s “most iconic hotel”). Rather, it is elegant, boutique, chic, and understated. I did need to act like I belonged.

I ended up finding another part of the hotel where there was a bar with quite the Christmas Party going on. Many merrymakers passed me by with a smile and a hearty “Happy Christmas” because they were enjoying themselves so much.

Although in this case I did not need to use the loo, I was very curious to see how fancy the toilets would be. I took the plunge (figurately speaking only!). The trip was well worth it, as I was met with an inside joke for women within the cubicle. Isn’t the bowler hat a fabulous touch?

I never asked if I could go to the parties I attended at The Rosewood, but I returned home feeling as if I had been the “belle of the ball.”

Postscript

The experience I relate here happened five years ago. Much has changed in the interim. I no longer wear wigs and I no longer drop in on other people’s parties (not that there is anything wrong with either one of those things). This year I have been to two Christmas parties as myself and was able to dress pretty fancy for both of them. I was the main organizer of both parties, which is why I got invited! The first was for my dance class, and I wore pink flowing dance-style skirt with black ballet flats and a black leotard on top. To add to the holiday flavor, I wore earrings and bracelets with Christmas gift motifs. We had a dozen women in attendance for that holiday brunch. The second was an evening Christmas potluck for my book club with fifteen women in attendance. As it was particularly cold, I went with red pants and an off-white, flowy (think chiffon) top. I added a brightly colored Christmas necklace with red wreaths and earrings with Swarovsky crystal wreaths on them. For the first time I was able to use the red London fog overcoat I bought at a resale store in the summertime. I was told that I looked “cute” by one woman and “thin” by another (both well-received compliments, I can assure you!).

However you do it, remember it is December, and it is time to party!