How to dress for a Christmas party: 11 outfit ideas!

Party season is fast approaching and you may have several holiday parties or Christmas parties to attend. So … how to dress for a Christmas party?

Here are 9 Christmas party outfits for you.

Christmas party outfit 1: Red or pink

Red is a great color for women over 40, It is an especially popular option at holiday time, for obvious reasons. When red is also a trend, as it is this season, it is even easier to find the right piece for the occasion.

Whatever type of coloring you have, there is a red that is right for you. Check out this piece on the best color trends for fall 2018 for some stylish poppy red looks. If you’re leaning more towards fuchsia or pink, then that will work too.

Outfit 1: Born long brown boots – Stella Carakasi dark statement skirt  –Free people neutral jumper – Katte brown day bag –  Bracha charm bracelet – Argento metallic hoop earrings

When we choose a neutral outfit, it is helpful to consider using different textures and shapes to keep your outfit interesting. An asymmetric hem, or textures such as leather, lace, satin or suede are kept in balance for the daytime with the long boots and co-ordinating sweater. Understated elegance today and an outfit you can feel confident in.

Outfit 2: Party Pants  – Gibson asymmetrical off the shoulder top  – Naturalizer metallic heel shoes – Thacker metallic handbag  – Colored leather gloves – Argento metallic hoop earrings  – coloured stone bracelet – Triple layer necklace 

They say that pink is the color of love and fun and these party pants show you are in party mood tonight. The color is enough of a statement so keep your top a deeper shade and simple, using texture like this wonderful feather hem to add interest.

The matching pink leather gloves finish the outfit off perfectly. If you are not a fan of pink, you can swap to another color you love. What about a seasonal green or red? Teal, sapphire or maybe a brocade? Just coordinate your gloves to match.

You can choose to go bold with your red or pink, wearing one statement piece in that color, or you can use it to accent a neutral outfit. Whichever you choose, you will be on trend and in the holiday spirit.

Christmas party outfit 2: Jumpsuits

I know, there’s always the obvious issue with jumpsuits. But, so long as you make sure you can easily unfasten your own jumpsuit without help, you should be fine even when nature calls.

You could opt to feature red with a bright jumpsuit, or go for a classic neutral shade such as navy, which would look lovely teamed with metallics.

Julia Jordan navy jumpsuit – Alexis Bitter silver earrings – Nordstrom silver clutch – Endless Rose silver blazer – Sam Edelman black sandals –

Christmas party outfit 3: Pearl embellishment

A fun trend lately is pearls, embellishing everything from hats to gloves to shoes. They’re also big on jeans. If you’re looking for a way to dress casually for a holiday event but still keep it festive, you could try pearl-embellished denim or a top with pearls worn with jeans or pants.

Get even more holiday glam with a small additional dose of pearl embellishment (just make sure not to go overboard with this trend—a little goes a long way) and you’re set for a more casual holiday get-together.

Boden wide legged pants – Eliza J pearl turtleneck – Zappos shoes – Nordstrom pearl clasp clutch – Stud earrings

Christmas party outfit 4: Metallics

Christmas is often associated with sparkling lights and shiny baubles. To make sure you don’t look like Christmas tinsel, opt for sophisticated metallic pieces which will not only add some shine to your outfit, but also a touch of class.

M&S silver skirt – M&S navy sweater – Baublebar fringe necklace – Cavallari velvet booties – Hobo silver clutch

Christmas party outfit 5: Velvet

Velvet is a sure bet for almost any holiday event, and it is particularly big right now, so it’s fairly easy to find something in velvet that is right for you. Velvet can be extremely versatile. You can choose a velvet dress, pants or top. 

Wearing velvet with jeans brings a luxe touch to a casual outfit.

Boden velvet top – Boden velvet shoes – Levis jeans – Boden black earrings – Boden clutch bag

Christmas party outfit 6: Pastels, especially blush

Wearing light pastels is an unusual and eye-catching approach to holiday dressing and can definitely be a talking point.

This season, pale pinks and lilacs are particularly in style. Wear with blacks to keep your outfit seasonally appropriate.

BB dakota metallic moto – ASTR purple sweater – Eliza J skirt – Kate Spade clutch – Lele Sadoughi drop earrings – Vince Camuto ankle bootie

Christmas party outfit 7: Sequins

Another shiny option for the festive season, anything with sequins always looks beautiful at Christmas time. Sequin skirts are particularly on trend, and can be dressed up even more with a camisole top or silk shirt, or given a more casual vibe with a sweater.

There are also some lovely options here if you’re looking for sequin dresses for your festive parties.

Badgley Mischka coat – Celia neutral shoes – Halogen skirt – Halogen cashmere sweater – Mali and Lili clutch bag

There is a reason black has remained a popular color for the evenings over the century. Darker colors are less memorable and so we can wear them much more frequently.

But your dark top doesn’t have to be black: consider deep plum, navy, chocolate brown or a classy charcoal? Adding a lighter party skirt gives you contrast and makes statement. The metallics show you have made the effort for the event and are ready to join in the fun.

Metallic statement necklace  – Metallic hoop earrings – Boden colored coat – Alice and Olivia metallic skirt – Alice and Olivia metallic skirt  – Argento metallic hoop earrings –  Thacker metallic handbag – Colored leather gloves  – Bracha charm bracelet

Christmas party outfit 8: Lace

Another fabric, like velvet, which screams party, lace can be worn in a formal or casual way. You could choose a lace dress for a formal party or dinner, or a lace top to wear with pants or jeans if you want a more casual look for a family lunch.

Eliza J lace dress – Nordstrom clutch bag – Nordstrom ankle strap sandal – Majorica pearl stud earrings

Christmas party outfit 9: A little black dress

This dress is understated, and yet nods to the trends that have longevity and interest like the statement bell sleeves with the pink lining.

You are using your accessories to up your game with the animal print shoes and metallic bag. The necklace is then simple so it doesn’t overwhelm your elegance. Adding your evening coat on top means you make a statement from the time you ring the doorbell. Fabulous outside and in, like a pretty Christmas parcel.

Boden colored coat – Eliza J party dress – Thacker metallic handbag – Marc Fisher animal print shoes  – Colored leather gloves – Diakonaina inter white furry scarf  – Argento metallic hoop earrings

Do you know how to dress for a Christmas party? Have you planned your holiday party and Christmas outfits yet? 

Like this article? Save it on Pinterest!

Feature image by Catherine

Want to get more articles from 40+style in your inbox, subscribe here.

You can also connect with 40+style on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest.

Support 40+style by using the links in our articles to shop. We receive a small commission (at no cost to you) which enables us to keep creating amazing free content for you. Thanks!