Every December I tell myself I will plan my party outfits in advance, and every December I end up pulling something together twenty minutes before the car arrives. This report is my attempt to break that habit early. The trends this season are velvet, sequins, lace, bows, satin skirts and a lot of red, which sounds like a lot until you notice how well most of them work together. I have built it around pieces you can wear to more than one party, because nobody needs a new dress for every invitation. Here is where I would start.

Velvet is the fabric that tells everyone you dressed for the evening before you have said a word. It catches light in a way that flat black never does, so even a simple black velvet mini looks considered. This year I would add a velvet blazer in a deep burgundy, which works over a dress, over jeans or over a white t-shirt the morning after. Velvet crushes easily, so hang it and steam it rather than folding it into a drawer. A long velvet gown is the formal version if the invitation says black tie.

If there is one party shoe I would tell a friend to own, it is a black slingback pump. It is easier to walk in than a strappy sandal, it looks right with tights, and it does not need a pedicure in December. The pointed toe lengthens the leg under a mini and peeks out neatly under a satin skirt. Heel heights run from low to a proper stiletto, so pick the one you can stand in for four hours. A two-tone pair is the fun version.

Black tights are the least glamorous item in this report and the one that makes the most party outfits possible. A sheer pair turns a summer slip dress into something you can wear in December, and an opaque pair makes a short hem feel less exposed. Lace tights are everywhere this season, and they look best when the rest of the outfit is simple. I keep a spare pair in my bag at every party, because a run always shows up at the worst moment. Buy the denier you will really wear rather than the one that looks prettiest in the packet.

A metallic clutch is the easiest way to make a plain black outfit look like party clothes. Gold and silver are both having a moment, and a soft, gathered clutch is friendlier than a hard box that digs into your ribs. Choose one that fits a phone, a lipstick and a card and nothing else, because a small bag keeps you from carrying your whole life to the party. Earrings are the other half of it, and this season they are big, sculptural and mostly gold. Wear one statement at a time, either bold earrings with a simple bag or a shiny bag with small studs.

Sequins are at their best after midnight, when the lighting is low and everyone has stopped checking their phone. The easiest way in is a sequin skirt rather than a dress, because you can pair it with something plain on top and look like you tried just the right amount. I love a long sequin skirt in bronze or brown, which feels warmer and a bit more grown up than silver. Keep the top simple with a black lace camisole or a plain black tank, and add satin slingbacks and a bronze clutch. Burgundy flower earrings bring it back from disco to dinner.

Red is everywhere this season, and a red dress is the fastest way to feel ready for a party. I like a long-sleeved red mini with a high neck, because it covers up and still looks bold. Bows are the other trend that will not go away, and the best place for one is somewhere small, like on a shoe or at the neck of a black top. Dotted black tights and a burgundy clutch keep the red from looking too festive. Gold earrings in a soft, folded shape finish it without competing.

The satin midi skirt is the piece I would pick for anyone who hates getting dressed up. It feels like a party but moves like a slip, and it looks just as good with a chunky sweater as with a lace camisole. Lace trims at the hem are the detail of the season, and they soften the shine. Cream, navy, pale blue and lavender all look softer than a bright color and work with black or brown accessories. Wear it with a slingback in December and a flat in spring.

If you take one thing away, let it be this: buy for the party you will actually go to, not the one in your head. One velvet or sequin piece, a black slingback, a pair of tights and a metallic clutch will cover almost every invitation this season. I would skip anything too fragile to survive a coat check and anything that only works with one specific shoe. Wear the red dress more than once, and nobody will remember that you did. Repeating a good party outfit is a sign of taste, not a lack of imagination.