Velvet is the fabric that Christmas party dressing was made for. The richness of it, the way it catches the light in an indoor evening setting, the warmth it has both literally and in terms of how it photographs. A velvet dress in a deep jewel tone at a Christmas party is one of those choices that consistently looks more considered and more expensive than almost anything else in the room. Emerald, burgundy, midnight blue, deep plum. Any of these in a well cut velvet silhouette is a reliable and genuinely brilliant Christmas party dress choice. These are the velvet dresses that look better in person than they do on a screen.