8 Christmas Party Outfit Ideas That Will Leave You Looking Festive & Fabulous
Look great and feel great with these 8 party-ready outfits
The holidays bring a lot of joy to the season: gift giving, gorgeous decor, delicious hot cocoa, holiday shopping and one of the best parts: festive fashion. From sequins and glitter to satin and bows, there’s no better time to don a little glitz and glam. But if you’re like us and your calendar is filled with gatherings with friends, family and coworkers this time of year, figuring out the perfect look for each occasion can be daunting. To the rescue: celebrity stylist Samantha Brown shares her tips for the best holiday or Christmas party outfit ideas this season and for any event.
How to pick out a Christmas party outfit
The key to finding the right outfit for any festive affair is not to worry about it being holiday themed. Feeling confident and comfortable while just upping the luxe a little should suffice for most gatherings, says Brown. Some things to consider:
1. Don’t fret about color
While the traditional Christmas colors are red and green, you don’t have to limit yourself to just those, says Brown, especially if you don’t own anything in either color. Simply grabbing staple items like a pair of black pants, a button down and a sweater and adding a festive-colored or glittery accessory will suffice, says Brown.
2. Have fun with the texture
One great way to up the dazzle: look at fabric, says Brown. A satin skirt compared to a cotton one instantly looks and feels more luxe. Or a satin button down compared to the traditional cotton button down has a more party-ready feel. “Elevating your staples is also a way to upgrade your holiday style — if you typically wear tees under your blazer, add a silk camisole instead.”
Another great fabric to add in to your Christmas party outfit ideas if you have it? Leather, especially a pair of leather pants. They’re slightly dressier than your traditional pant, and they come in stretchy faux fabrics so you don’t have to worry about fit or comfort. A faux fur also adds dimension and glamour to any ensemble. Keep reading for more ideas depending on what type of party you’re attending.
Christmas party outfit ideas for an office party
When it comes to office holiday parties, the goal is to jazz up your more casual workday wear while keeping it appropriate by staying away from anything too revealing.
1. Beautiful in black and bow + red accents
A tried-and-true all-black ensemble is classy and figure-flattering for everyone. Plus, it’s the perfect canvas to make fun accessories pop. “Don’t underestimate the power of great accessories to make something feel fancy,” says Brown. Grab a red purse and red lipstick, and add some sparkle with bow heels and bow earrings.
Shop the look:
Black satin button down: Buy from J. Crew Factory, $26.50
Black leather pants: Buy from Gap, $35
Black heels with silver bows: Buy from Amazon, $42.99
Silver bow earrings: Buy from Amazon, $29.99
Red purse: Buy from Amazon, $25.99
Red lipstick: Buy from Pat McGrath Labs, $12
2. Wow in winter white and green add-ons
Another gorgeous and neutral outfit: look to items in winter white or cream. It’s festive for the holiday season, dressy and looks great with any and all accessories. Wearing all white or cream can also be equally as slimming as black since a top and bottom in the same shade visually elongate the frame. For some Christmas fun, throw in pops of emerald green, like this purse, necklace and earrings, and finish off the look with a pair of tall brown boots to keep you warm. They also pair perfectly with this midi skirt outfit.
Shop the look:
Champagne midi skirt: Buy from Amazon, $33.99
Cream mockneck sweater: Buy from Nordstrom Rack, $69.97
Tall brown boots: Buy from Macy’s, $44.75
Gold and emerald green necklace: Buy Kendra Scott, $55
Emerald green and pearl earrings: Buy from Amazon, $13.99
Green and gold purse: Buy from Amazon, $35
Related: Celebrity Stylist Shares the Best Outfits With Boots That Work for Any Occasion
3. Pretty in plaid accents
If you’re all about getting into the holiday spirit, play with plaid for your next Christmas party outfit. To keep the plaid the star of the look, pair it with a green satin button down and black satin pants to add sophisticated shine. And topping off the look with pearl and rhinestone-encrusted earrings help draw attention to a sparkling smile.
Shop the look:
Green satin button down: Buy from Zara, $35.90
Black satin pants: Buy from Zara, $49.90
Plaid headband: Buy from VICI Collection, $26
Plaid bow heels: Buy from J. Crew Factory, $58.50
Pearl earrings: Buy from Amazon, $13.99
Christmas party outfit ideas for a festive cocktail hour
Have a formal holiday party this year? It can be tricky to determine exactly what cocktail attire is. But you can’t go wrong with a mid-length, slightly formal dress — and one covered in sequins like the one below will have you twinkling like the star on top of a Christmas tree.
4. Stunning in sophisticated, sparkling adornments
We love the dark green shade of this dress as it’s subtle way to bring out the sparkle. Plus, a deep forest green shade can help make trouble spots recede. And wearing it with your favorite black heels (which elongate legs) and black clutch (to store on-the-go essentials), as well as emerald earrings (which direct the eye to gorgeous facial features) and a rhinestone tennis bracelet (it highlights a slim wrist) will have you wowing any crowd.
Shop the look:
Green sequin dress: Buy from T.J. Maxx, $39.99
Black heels: Buy from DSW, $59.99
Black and gold clutch: Buy from Amazon, $29.43
Emerald green teardrop earrings: Buy from JCPenney, $16.20
Gold and silver tennis bracelet: Buy from Amazon, $17.95
Christmas party outfit ideas for a family get-together
When gathering with family, it’s usually safe to ditch the sequins and opt for chic and cozy knit pieces instead. “Comfort is key as you may settle into a longer, more food-heavy night,” adds Brown.
5. Striking in a red sweater dress
A sweater dress is the perfect item to toss on because it looks put-together but feels like you’re wearing a robe. Plus, “sweater dresses are comfortable enough to relax on the couch,” adds Brown. Look for one with a tie belt to cinch the waist and highlight feminine curves. This one comes in a gorgeous shade of red and looks extra chic with a plaid red handbag. If you’re traveling to a relative’s house, throw on a black trench coat for a bulk-free layer that will help keep you warm. And for added polish, toss on a pair of black pointed-toe booties, a layered gold necklace and gold bow earrings.
Shop the look:
Red sweater wrap dress: Buy from Amazon, $47.99
Black belted trench coat: Buy from Amazon, $43.99
Black pointed toe booties: Buy from Famous Footwear, $59.99
Red and black plaid purse: Buy from Macy’s, $39.80
Gold layered necklace: Buy from Amazon, $18.98
Gold bow earrings: Buy from Amazon, $19.99
6. Radiant in cream and red + gold accessories
We love the bow detail on this cream sweater that gives the more plain top some feminine flair. It works well for post-holiday occasions as well and feels as cozy as being wrapped in a blanket. A red pleated skirt and kitten heels add a fun pop of color for a look that’s merry and bright. And simple accessories like gold hoops and a metallic gold clutch are the perfect finishing touches that won’t overwhelm.
Shop the look:
Red accordion midi skirt: Buy from Amazon, $22.86
Cream bow sweater: Buy from J. Crew Factory, $49
Red kitten heels: Buy from Amazon, $53.98
Gold hoops: Buy from Amazon, $14.99
Gold clutch: Buy from Amazon, $18.98
Christmas party outfit ideas for gathering with girlfriends
For celebrations with friends, Brown says it’s best to keep it simple and casual. That can start with your favorite pair of dark wash denim or try something different with metallic pants, a fun and festive trend right now.
7. Casual chic in red, black and gold
This red, off-the-shoulder blazer-like top pairs perfectly with dark-wash jeans, especially when you’re headed somewhere less fancy. And black and gold accessories like this alligator print purse (which looks pricey but only costs $55!), block heels and hoops are sure to make you look très chic for a fun night out.
Shop the look:
Red off-the-shoulder faux double-breasted top: Buy from Express, $50
Dark wash jeans: Buy from Abercrombie & Fitch, $72
Black and gold heels: Buy from DSW, $79.99
Black alligator print purse: Buy from Urban Revivo, $55.90
Gold and black hoops: Buy from Target $38
8. Marvelous in metallic adornments
Off-the-shoulder sweaters are big this season — they show a tasteful amount of skin but cover the majority of arms to hold in any jiggles and pair effortlessly with a silver pant to elevate a casual look. This pair of pants is a wide-leg style, which are more forgiving than skinny pants to camouflage lower-half trouble spots. To complete the look, match the pants to a silver clutch, and bring in more red with your earrings and shoes.
Shop the look:
Red off-the-shoulder sweater: Buy from Cider, $20
Silver metallic pants: Buy from Lulus, $58
Red metallic kitten heels: Buy from Nordstrom, $59.95
Silver bow clutch: Buy from Amazon, $28.88
Red and silver earrings: Buy from Amazon, $12.99
Related: 7 Ways to Style Wide Leg Pants To Feel Great and Look Chic For Every Occasion
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