The festive season can be one long social whirl, and not all of those invites will be at the weekend. So it can be difficult to find the time after work to glam up for the evening - and often you don't even have time to go home.

However, with the help of some of the most sparkling jewellery, shoes and slinky fabrics on the High Street, you can go from the desk to the party in style.

To transform your look from office worker to party animal, you can't go wrong with a simple, stylish black suit as a starting point, although you may be able to get away with something a bit more daring depending on your place of work.

The key to transforming a plain suit is in the accessories. And this season the shops are packed full of glam jewellery, shoes and bags. The gothic fashion, for example, is a great jewellery style and will give your work-wear a vampish edge.

Vanessa Gillingham, fashion editor at Glamour magazine, says: "You can easily take jewellery with you to add to your outfit. Gucci has a lot of jet, beady strands and the cross is also a big thing."

Vamp it up in River Island's cross necklace at £9.99, Next's black multi-strand necklace at £12.99, Oasis' jet waterfall wire choker at £30 or Marks & Spencer's jet choker at £20 with matching earrings at £7.

Another must-have in jewellery this season is the antique style, particularly in big drop earrings. "Drop earrings are great because they never date. There are lots of antique-style ones around at the moment," says Gillingham.

Why not drop in to Debenhams and look at the selection of jewellery by Jon Richard, priced from £9.99 to £59.99.

Gillingham adds that gold hoop earrings are great to transfer from day to night. And you can never go wrong at this time of year with some glittery diamante additions to your outfit. Sparkle in River Island's diamante choker at £36.99 and matching bracelet at £24.99.

If festive jewellery is not your thing, why not simply add a chiffon or silk scarf tied around your neck?

Zoe Aird, deputy editor of Company magazine, also recommends adding a belt to your outfit. "If you are going to choose a belt, go for a metallic gold belt. And wear it quite low."

Again, diamante is another fabulous choice for a hip-skimming belt. Next has an antiqued effect metal chain belt at £16.99.

Choosing the right pair of shoes can also instantly transform your sensible office girl look. "A black, high stiletto court shoe can go from day to night," says Gillingham. "But if you're going to change, go for diamante, or an open-toe satin shoe. Whatever you choose, they've got to be really high and they've got to be delicate."

River Island sells a satin court shoe at £49.99 or Next has some asymmetric diamante sandals at £29.99.

Every woman needs a little bag to carry her essentials for the evening. So leave your cumbersome briefcase and folders in the office and take a delicate evening bag.

"A tiny little purse bag or a satin clutch bag are the best, and if you have an antique one you can wear the most boring black trouser suit and it can look great with it," says Gillingham.

The pick of the crop is a Prada satin clutch bag at £250, but if that is slightly out of your price range why not seek out Warehouse's chain mail bag at £20, Marks & Spencer's diamante frame bag at £20 or Kookai's Chinese silk-style bag at £22.

Next you need a top you can wear under a suit that will be appropriate during the day and yet wow them on the dancefloor once you've thrown off your jacket.

Gillingham suggests that you can almost get away with anything - as long as you keep your jacket on during working hours. "These days you can wear what you like really. A great chiffon camisole underneath is a bit more feminine. And you can wear sequins on chiffon during the day and it doesn't look like you're going out. Or a chiffon shirt with a camisole underneath."

Little camisole tops can be found everywhere on the High Street, but keep the fabric light. "Choose satiny, chiffony fabrics," says Gillingham. "The whole point is having something that's quite delicate rather than a heavy knit."

Halternecks or a slash top also work well underneath a suit and Gillingham advises people to go for something sleeveless to give more definition.

The High Street is offering some fantastic party tops this Christmas. River Island has an embroidery-trim camisole at £24.99, while Warehouse has a slinky cowl halterneck top at £28.

Of course, you could always take a top to work to change into at the end of the day. Or another option is to wear a dress to work that appears sensible in the daytime beneath a suit jacket but provides a bit of a twist, once your jacket has been checked into the cloakroom.

Next's black twisted knot back dress at £39.99 has an element of surprise, while Episode's black cocktail dress at £199 will add sophistication to any do.

If you are opting for a skirt, Aird suggests you dress it up with the most fashionable of tights. "Wear seamed tights if you are going glam, they are very cool for evenings."

So now all you need to do is touch up your make-up, tousle your hair and add a spray of your favourite perfume. They won't know what's hit 'em.