T he best parties rarely go exactly to plan. An unexpected guest, a conversation that runs late, one last game when everyone should really be going home: it's the spontaneous moments that make an evening memorable.
The dress code needn't follow a script either—though every great evening has more than one act. For the holidays, Net-a-Porter has assembled a first-of-its-kind capsule featuring exclusive designs from 42 brands, spanning ready-to-wear, accessories and fine jewelry. The possibilities range from sculptural restraint to exuberant sparkle, with vintage watches and objects for the home extending the wider holiday edit. As with any well-judged collection, much of the pleasure lies not just in the individual pieces, but in the surprising company they keep.
Making an Entrance
Arriving fashionably late is one way to make an entrance, though it rarely endears you to the host. Better to let the clothes do the work. Calvin Klein Collection's “Jacinthe” dress, exclusive to Net-a-Porter, makes its impression through cut: lustrous satin folds across the shoulders into a sculptural neckline, with precise darting at the waist and a long, column-like silhouette. First seen on the label's...