The holiday mail has started to arrive. Yes, as Halloween ended and the last costumed revellers trickled home, the Santa-themed TV commercials began, signalling another oh-so-cheery-yet-oh-too-busy season of Christmas card-writing, gift-shopping, and plenty of party-going. Of course, all the holiday fíªtes you’ll be attending mean you’ll need some new garb, and while every fashionista knows the importance of a trustworthy LBD—that’s little black dress, of course—different types of occasions really do call for different outfits. (It’s not like the summer, when that same peach frock covered the entire slew of summer weddings.)

Fortunately, there are enough local designers creating holiday pieces to dress you up for every occasion. Despite our penchant for just throwing on anything waterproof once the rain starts falling, Vancouver has built a solid reputation for festive attire. Here’s our guide to which labels to wear to which parties.

Glamorous Ballroom Blitz
It’s not surprising that Treana Peake, the wife of a rock star (Nickelback guitarist Ryan Peake), runs Obakki (44 Water Street), a collection of clothing and dresses worthy of the red carpet. "The Obakki woman is much like Treana herself," says C. J. Swanton, label spokesperson. "She is a busy working woman with a family and a career and many personal interests. The clothing that she needs is timeless and easy-to-wear-pieces that travel well and always look chic." Made with impeccable attention to fabric and detail, the Obakki holiday collection includes a stunning, deep V-neck chocolate floor-length gown ($600), a spaghetti-strap LBD with a bubble hem ($640), and a poppy-red silk cowl-neck number ($460). Other pieces that will add instant elegance to any room are a short, orange-bronze taffeta dress with a pleated bodice ($560) and an olive strapless dress with sheer black overlay ($560).

After-Work Fete
"When we design our dresses, we’re really thinking, ”˜Wouldn’t it be great if people dressed like this everyday?’ " says Raymond Boutet, who, with Lyle Reimer, designs Evan & Dean, a line available at Tenth & Proper (4483 West 10th Avenue). Yes, the team has created a full, floor-length brown skirt in an unusual, wet-and-shiny-looking fabric (shown paired with a lambskin bustier) that would be a high-fashion showstopper at any black-tie event. But its winter collection also includes plenty of dresses suitable for everyday wear or at least after-work occasions. The palette is rich and saturated, but balanced by black and nudes. "The inspiration was taken from the ’70s and ’80s, decades of excess and romanticism," Boutet says. "Our woman doesn’t mind being the centre of attention," he adds. And—judging from a billowing-sleeved, knee-length belted dress in a swirled-beet-and-chocolate splatter print ($580) that’s loud enough to draw your boss’s attention, but subdued enough that he won’t start acting creepy, and a black dress in a paper-thin, semi-shiny lacquered linen with a gigantic bow at the chest ($910)—he’s right.

Formal Dinner
The ladies of West Point Grey know to visit the neighbourhood atelier of Chloí« Angus for classic, elegant designs with flair. For winter, Angus was inspired by James Bond: "The woman I had in mind was one who wants to feel strong and sexy and transform herself into that woman James Bond can’t resist." While Angus works largely on a custom basis, her signature silk skirts—understatedly sexy with a simple, crisp white blouse—are perfect for eating in and will give you room for all the turkey and stuffing you can manage. Other holiday-ready pieces include silk scarves and wraps from Angus’s Spirit line, featuring screen prints by Haida artist Clarence Mills, who has worked as an assistant for Angus for three years. "My vision was to create a high-end fashion collection that incorporates First Nations art by utilizing jewellery, screen printing, and appliqué to highlight ancient Haida art techniques in a contemporary and fashionable way," Angus says. The result, while pricey (Angus’s collection retails for $500 to $2,500), is one-of-a-kind conversation pieces—just what you want at the dinner table.

Cocktail Party
When asked what type of occasion her dresses best suit, Shelley Klassen, the designer behind Blushing Designs and a new, eponymous label, replies, "Parties, parties, parties!" If you’ve passed her streetfront Blushing Boutique downtown (579 Richards Street), chances are you’ve seen the flirty frocks in the window. Although the new Shelley Klassen label focuses on what the Blushing woman would wear during the day, both are quite moody this season, with plenty of decadent, textured fabrics such as velvet, sequined knits, taffeta, and printed satin charmeuse, in equally rich purples, blood red, deep teal and black. It sounds almost sinful. "Imagine an incredible night out, [with] decadent food, red wine, stilettos, secret desires, steamy confessions, close dancing, and lasting impressions," she says. Perhaps, wearing the bright red faux-suede dress with velvet trim ($245); the black, long-sleeve velvet off-shoulder dress ($166); or black-and-white polka-dot peek-a-boo keyhole dress with waist sash ($195), you won’t have to just imagine it.