We’ve officially entered the holiday season! You all loved my posts on Thanksgiving Day outfits and skirt outfit ideas for fall and winter, so I thought it would be fun to chat about what to wear to a holiday celebration. I already have a few get-togethers on my calendar—ranging from casual to black tie—and I can’t wait! Today, I’m sharing a few tips and tricks for festive dressing and highlighting some Christmas party looks I’m eyeing for this season’s event calendar.
How to Pull Off a Chic Christmas Party Look
Before diving into my current favorite looks, I wanted to share a little guidance on holiday dressing. During the winter months, it can be tricky to balance staying warm while still looking stylish. Here are a few tips and tricks I like to keep in mind throughout the holiday season.
1. Consider Layering
Let’s dive right into the biggest challenge: finding an outfit that feels put together and feminine, yet still keeps you warm. The key? Layers! And thankfully, there are plenty of chic layering options. Try wearing a tissue turtleneck under an open-neck or strapless dress, or style tall boots with thick tights or tall socks. These are just two examples of the many combinations you can create.
And contrary to what you might think, layered Christmas party looks don’t have to be bulky or awkward. Here, here, here, and here are a few past examples of layered dressing I’ve loved—you can easily put a holiday spin on any of these combinations!
2. Traditional…With a Twist
Don’t get me wrong—I love timeless tartan or traditional black velvet Christmas party looks. You really can’t go wrong with the classics! But don’t be afraid to put a fun spin on things. Try mixing it up by pairing mint with red or hunter green with light blue. Another combo I love is light pink and maroon, as seen in this look. And one more chic holiday hue I feel doesn’t get enough love? A head-to-toe winter white moment!
3. Play with Texture
One thing I love about fall and winter dressing is all the rich fabrications you can mix and match. Velvet, tulle, faux fur, mohair, satin—the combinations are endless! In my opinion, mixing and matching materials adds so much depth and interest to any outfit.
Christmas Party Looks for Every Type of Celebration
Okay, now onto the best part… let’s look at some holiday outfits for every type of gathering! It’s important to keep the type of event in mind when planning your look, as you want to be sure you’re dressing appropriately. For this reason, I’m breaking things down into three main occasions: cocktail parties, black-tie affairs, and casual holiday get-togethers. Here are some festive, polished outfit ideas for every type of celebration!
Christmas Cocktail Party Outfits
Cocktail parties might just be the most common type of holiday celebration. It’s always the occasion I get the most DMs about this time of year! I love that cocktail events let you really have fun and play around with your Christmas party looks. Long dresses, minis, even pants—you get to dress up with the freedom to add tons of personality to your outfit!
A Classic Holiday Dress
For a classic cocktail party look, I’d go with this long-sleeve tartan dress, a pair of black tights, feathered pumps, and a fun clutch! The clutch and shoes would work beautifully in either black or maroon. And if you need a bit more warmth, simply layer a turtleneck underneath or add a faux fur shawl on top.
Holiday Pants Outfit
Want something a bit different? This chic burgundy blazer paired with black velvet pants and these statement earrings (which match perfectly!) would make such a fun Christmas party look. And if the blazer alone isn’t warm enough, you can simply drape an oversized black coat over your shoulders.
A Feminine Christmas Outfit
If you’re looking for a sweet, feminine look (and an outfit that doesn’t break the bank!), I love this elegant pleated midi skirt paired with this darling fringe top. To complete the look, add a bit of sparkle with these festive earrings.
Winter Gala Outfits
Okay, let’s talk black-tie Christmas party looks—one of my favorite occasions. I have so much fun searching high and low for the perfect dress and accessories for gala events. You can see some past looks here, here, and here. Two of my favorite places to shop for formal dresses are The RealReal and ASOS.
Christmas Party Looks from The RealReal
The RealReal has so many gems, and think about it—most women only wear a black-tie gown once or twice, right? For that reason, most of the formal dresses I come across on TRR are in great condition. I’ve actually been browsing the site a lot lately for an event I have coming up in two weeks. I’m currently deciding between this blue stunner and this gold dress which is definitely $$$, but I immediately fell in love with it. A few others that caught my eye are this one, this one, this one, and this one!
I know some people are hesitant to shop TRR because they believe everything is final sale, but that isn’t true! Most items—outside of bags and sale pieces—are returnable. Just check the shipping and return policy listed on each piece. I also love that after I wear an item, I can sell it back to TRR. I typically recoup about 70% of what I paid, which feels like such a win-win! For more details, I highly recommend checking out my post covering tips and tricks for shopping on The RealReal.
Formal Holiday Outfits from ASOS
Another fab place to shop for holiday gowns is ASOS. I find so many of their styles to be well-made for the price point. My favorite ASOS brand to shop is their exclusive ARRANGE label, but I’ve also come across some other great brands on the site. Some of my current picks for black-tie Christmas party looks include this dress, this under-$100 option, and this chartreuse beauty!
Cozy, Casual Christmas Outfits
This time of year, there are lots of festive get-togethers that tend to err on the casual side—such as a girls’ gift exchange or a cookie swap with a neighbor. For these events, I try to stay comfy while still dressing festively.
Denim Christmas Party Looks
If you’re opting to wear denim, this beautiful top paired with these casual jeans and these flats would make such a great holiday outfit. You could top it all off with these chic black earrings. Personally, I think this outfit strikes the perfect balance of comfort and a touch of sophistication.
Non-Denim Holiday Outfits
For a non-denim option, I’d go with my favorite kick-flare sweater pants in navy. They’re truly so comfy that they feel like pajamas! You could style them with a festive sweater and these classic red ballet flats. I think this would be such a beautiful and comfortable holiday outfit.Another option is to switch up the color palette and opt for the same pants in brown. They would look great paired with this sweater and these chunky loafers for a fun little twist!
How to Accessories Your Christmas Party Looks
I could talk all day about accessories—but I think that during the holiday season especially, they can truly make the outfit. I am a huge, huge fan of everything Jennifer Behr for the festive season. These stunning statement earrings are my current go-tos. I equally adore Saint Laurent jewelry during the holidays. I mean… how incredible are these earrings?!
I also love adding sparkle to my wrist and neckline during the Christmas season. For this, I head straight to Dorsey—be sure to check out my Dorsey jewelry review for more of my favorites!
2025 Christmas Party Looks
Whether you’re gearing up for a winter gala or a casual holiday gathering with friends, I hope these Christmas party looks help guide you toward creating an outfit that feels chic, comfy, and festive!
For additional winter outfit ideas, head on over to these posts:
