Metropolis: Festive style is child's play

My niece is very excited about Christmas Day. That's not very surprising - she is five after all - but Santa isn't the only thing on her yuletide agenda: she's already got her outfit sorted for the big day. ''It's Christmas, you have to dress up,'' she tells me, producing a deep scarlet party dress embossed with satin roses.

Having a special outfit adds to the excitement of the day, and it's a ...