The Who What Wear Festive 100: Every Item on Our Wish Lists This Season

And just like that, it’s nearly time to bring 2024 to a close, so when better to look back at the best of the autumn/winter collections that have given our editors so much to get excited about this season?

Although spring and summer made perennial heroes of the mesh ballet flat, the bubble skirt and the waistcoat, it’s clear that the second half of the year is set to amp up the drama to even more fashionable heights (well, it is party season after all). Yes, there are key trends and hero buys that we’re backing for the season ahead (suede, hobo bags and animal print to name a few), but taking our cues from the festive season also promises some exciting new purchases all in the spirit of self-gifting that are well worth your attention too.

With so much newness landing in stores ahead of the Christmas rush, we searched through every new-in item from luxury investment buys to incredible high-street finds, and found the very best of the best to bring you our inaugural WWW 100—an edit of the top 100 festive buys guaranteed to earn you a spot on the best dressed list this season. Whether you’re planning parties, gift-buying or simply curling up by the fire and hibernating indoors, below you’ll find every item worth adding to your basket as approved by Who What Wear UK’s discerning editors.

So, looking for the top picks of winter 2024? Keep scrolling for the investment-worthy pieces and affordable finds that we can guarantee will add a little sparkle to your season.

Sequins! Satin! Feathers! ‘Tis the season that more is more, and if the Alaïa, Tom Ford and Carolina Herrera runways are anything to go by, amped-up luxe is replacing quiet luxury towards the end of this year. Lean into the heady excess of party season by stocking up on sumptuous fabrics, exaggerated silhouettes and conversation-starting statement pieces (I already have my eye on not one, not two, but three sequin minidresses), these are the best pieces designed with dinner, the dancefloor and the after-party in mind.

No outfit is complete without that little je ne sais quoi that helps bring it to life, and whether you’re looking for the Cinderella shoe to style up an LBD, or a knock-out pair of earrings that will take a white button-down into dressy new territory, the accessories are just as important as the ready-to-wear over the coming months. From designer heels to affordable jewellery that looks three times its price tag, these are the pieces your look won’t be complete without.

Type-A organisers and party starters, gather round. Event season needn’t be a laborious juggling act of food timings, seating plans and budget-blowing—assembling your nearest and dearest around a table is one of the best parts of occasion hosting, and all you need to set the tone is the right group and an impressively curated tablescape that will keep people talking until the early hours. Your only problem then will be getting them to leave…

You’ve ordered the turkey, bought the gifts and attended your fair share of parties. Now is your time to kick back and relax in cosy, comfy layers that see off the winter chill. Treasure some indulgent downtime by curling up in cashmere loungewear and shearling slippers, wrapping up for quiet walks or enjoying an hour or two extra in bed. There’s plenty of time for your “new year, new me” strategy in 2025, so for now, slow the pace by slipping into something a little more comfortable. You’ve earned it.

Instead of dropping well-intentioned hints, maximise your chances of unwrapping something you’ll love this Christmas with some special self-gifting. From stocking fillers to the high-ticket items you’ve had your eye on for a while, these are the smaller pieces we’ve had on our wish lists all year and can’t go a minute longer without. We have a sneaking suspicion you’re going to love them as much as we do.