There are those moments in life when only glamorous evening wear will do.

Designers like Naeem Khan and Elie Saab are known for their luxurious creations for women; Valentino equally as renowned for men who walk the red carpet. Even if you can’t afford fancy labels, that doesn’t mean you can’t stand out at the next holiday party.

Maria Duffy, who runs the Red Cross thrift shop Upstairs Closet, talked us through some of the timeless evening wear items there and fashion designer Michelle Fray gave her insight into some of the hottest formal trends for 2014/2015.

Mesh and illusion necklines. Designers by the dozen have been incorporating this stylish feature into their dresses for the season. What they do is take a sheer or nude fabric and apply a detailed appliqué or lace over it for added drama. Ms Fray said this tends to give the illusion that the appliqué, lace or beading is floating on top of your skin. The result? A dress which captures the perfect balance of sweet and sultry.

Velvet. Plush jackets in dark blue or rich burgundy are now popular with the rich and famous. If it’s a more casual holiday party, this look could be paired with black jeans for me, or they can try silk jacquard dress trousers for a more formal event. According to fashion insiders this look represents a general loosening up of evening-dress traditions for men, and is a departure from the staple white shirt and black bow tie.

Sequins. There’s no shortage of sparkle during the holidays, whether it’s the lights or tinsel on the Christmas tree or glitter from the wrapping paper.

So why not add a little extra pizazz to your outfit? Sequins and glitter have a way of instantly making you look and feel more glamorous. “They add extra sparkle and give you a little lift,” Ms Duffy said.

Little black dress. You can’t go wrong with this timeless staple. It’s become a go-to piece for office parties and gala dinners since it was introduced by Coco Chanel in 1926. Ms Duffy said she has seen a lot of black dresses come through the doors of the thrift store, from size two up to 22. “People feel safe in a black dress and know they can dress it up or down,” she said. “You can add a lot of interest and drama to it just by changing up your shoes and accessories. Plus it’s timeless.”

Lace. This ladylike detail continues to be extremely popular going into autumn and winter. “It’s been a trend for the past few years,” Ms Fray said. “It’s just a very soft and romantic and feminine look. It’s something that has been carried over from bridal wear into evening wear.” When working lace try it in a black or dark blue hue, suggests Glamour magazine. This will ensure you look like a sophisticated grown up, rather than a little girl.

Bow ties. These little numbers are still ‘in’ and were showcased throughout recent fashion week events. Instead of black, try experimenting with more exciting fabrics and hues, such as a burgundy or paisley print.

Backless. One feature that’s flattering on most women is their back, so why not show it off? Ms Duffy said backless dresses were fun for an evening out and added some unexpected pop to an outfit. “Some people like if they have a nice back to show it off, especially if they have been working out at the gym,” she said. “Whereas a lot of people want to cover up their arms by wearing long sleeves, a wrap or a jacket, the back is a nice feature to display.”

Metallics. These fabrics add an edgy feel to your look, but can still be elegant. Gold or silver are both extremely popular this season. Ms Fray said metallics were particularly great for the holiday season and worked well for Christmas parties or a New Year’s Eve bash.

Cocktail dresses. Ms Fray said cocktail dresses remain popular because of their versatility. “You can wear it a second time whereas with evening gowns they are more of a statement piece that people tend to remember,” she said. Cocktail dresses could be worn in a variety of silhouettes, but the most popular at the moment are fit and flare and straight column dress styles. “These are the two strongest shapes,” she explained. When it comes to length, women can even get away with short dresses that fall two inches above the knee. “There’s no age limit if you have good legs. In particular [if you have] good knees, you can wear a short one too,” Ms Fray added.

*The Upstairs Closet will be hosting its evening wear sale tomorrow from 8.30am until 2pm. Gently used evening dresses, shirts, blouses, slacks, shoes, handbags, tuxedos and accessories will be on offer at 9 Berry Hill Road, Paget. Prices range from $25 to $75 and will include a few designer pieces from the likes of Diane von Furstenberg, Kurt Muller and Oscar de la Renta.