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 11 beautiful Christmas party outfits for you that you make you want the invitations to keep on coming.
What to wear to a Christmas party: What to consider
Before we get into lots of lovely Christmas party outfit inspiration, here are a few things to consider when choosing your party outfit this year.
How formal is your event?
What kind of party are you attending? Is it a laid back affair with friends and family, or a more formal event? Is there a dress code?
Will your outfit choice make you feel confident?
Does you outfit make you feel good?
A dress can be the most incredible designer creation, but if you don’t feel good in it, there’s no point in buying it.
Think about the parts of your body you are happy with and what you want to cover up.
For example, do you feel more confident in a dress with sleeves? Do you want a dress with ruching to hide your tummy? Are you happy to show off your legs, your shoulders or a little bit of your back?
Petra (above) looks stunning in a pair of red velvet pants perfect for the festive season.
Get her look with this similar blazer, velvet pants, scarf and pumps.
Do you want to stand out or fit in?
What kind of impression do you want to create when you walk into the party? Do you want to fit in or stand out.
For example, there are likely to be a lot of little black dresses at any party.
Do you want to wear your own version, or would you like to wear something different in a bright color, or opt for a tuxedo suit, for example.
Christmas outfits inspiration
Hopefully that’s got you thinking about what you want to wear.
Now, for some Christmas party outfit inspiration. Let me know in the comments what Christmas party outfit you will be wearing.
Party dresses – 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 2019 for some stylish poppy red looks. If you’re leaning more towards fuchsia or pink, then that will work too.
Lizzie (above) teams her pleated dress with animal print and booties.
Check out these red dress options from Boden and Maggy London and pair them with these similar booties and clutch to recreate her look.
Charles Henry midi dress – Kenneth Cole maxi coat – Nina embellished minaudière – Nina embellished pump – Lizzie Fortunato freshwater pearl earrings
Red looks beautiful when worn with crisp winter white and black. Add some festive flair to your outfit by with some crystal embellishments.
Christmas party jumpsuits – inspiration #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.
Another option is to choose a little black jumpsuit instead of a little black dress, and combine with crisp winter white. Jumpsuits can be equally as glamorous as a long dress.
Eliza J mesh sleeve jumpsuit – Halogen faux fur jacket – Nina clutch – Jewel Badgley Mischka pump – Kate Spade earrings
Party dresses for women – outfit #3: A little black dress
A little black dress really is one of the hardest working items in your closet and should definitely be one of the wardrobe essentials you invest in.
A great little black dress can literally take you anywhere, and the great thing about it is you can change up your accessories year after year to make it look completely different each party season.
Erica (above) adds some edge to her little black dress by choosing a leather option and teaming with Valentino Garavani rockstud t-strap pumps.
Check out this similar sheath dress with a faux leather inset, wool coat, pendant necklace and clutch.
All in Favor ribbed midi dress – Halogen plaid coat – Topshop panther clutch – Naturalizer pump – Nakamol Design pendant necklace
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.
You can choose a dress which is flattering, yet understated and add interest with your outerwear, shoes and accessories.
Use your accessories to up your game with bright red shoes and a matching bag.
The statement necklace adds further glamour.
Adding your evening coat on top, with a little touch of winter-ready faux fur, means you make a statement from the time you ring the doorbell. Fabulous outside and in, like a pretty Christmas parcel.
Christmas party tops – outfit #4: Embellishment
A fun trend lately is pearls or crysals, 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 crystals worn with jeans or pants.
An outfit featuring a beautifully-embellished top and jeans or pants could get your ready for a more casual get-together.
Ted Baker London embellished peplum sweater – Taryn Rose pump – STS Blue skinny jeans – Shiraleah bow clutch – Laffon stud earrings
Christmas party outfit 5: 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.
Karen (above) chooses a stunning, and very classy, pleated skirt.
Steal her look with this similar sweater, metallic pleated skirt, coat, clutch, booties and belt.
Vince Camuto sheath dress – Donna Rico sequin bolero – Reiss tassel clutch – David Tate pump
Metallics could also provide you with the perfect way to update your little black dress. Simply pop a metallic bolero over the top and you are ready to go.
There is more inspiration in this piece on the best boleros and shrugs to wear over your party dress.
This is also the perfect way to cover your upper arms if you have sleeveless dresses in your closet that you don’t wear anymore.
Also take a look at the best dresses with sleeves.
Christmas party attire #6: 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 a velvet top such as the one in the outfit below.
Wearing velvet with jeans or wide-leg pants brings a luxe touch to a casual outfit.
Gibson tank top – Halogen wide leg pants – Halogen long trench coat – J.Crew bootie – Panacea statement necklace
Christmas party outfits #7: Sequins
Another shiny option for the festive season; anything with sequins always looks beautiful at Christmas time.
Sequin skirts and pants 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.
Shannon (above) opts for a beautiful sequin suit to really make an impact at a party.
Get her look with this sequin blazer and flared pants.
There are also some lovely options here if you’re looking for sequin dresses for your festive parties.
One of my favorite looks at the moment is to wear a sequin skirt with a cozy sweater. The boat neck and festive color of this sweater make it perfect for holiday-season parties.
Leith off the shoulder sweater – Court & Rowe sequin pencil skirt – Pelle Moda sandal – Olga Berg clutch – Vince Camuto drop earrings
Christmas attire #8: Pastels
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.
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.
BB Dakota moto jacket – Club Monaco sweater – Halogen midi skirt – Sam Edelman knee high boots – Nordstrom chiffon scarf – Panacea hoop earrings
Christmas party outfit 9: 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.
Emma (above) chooses a beautiful lace dress and wears with pops of read.
Check out this similar lace dress, belt, ballet flats and clutch.
You could wear an outfit in a similar color pathway but opt for pants with a lace top and a pair of red wide-leg pants which will make a statement.
Judith & Charles lace blouse – Cinq à Sept high waisted belted pants – Olga Berg top handle bag – Tory Burch pump – Panacea drop earrings
Read our ultimate guide to creating a capsule wardrobe that works best for you.
Don’t forget
When it comes to putting together a party outfit, don’t forget that the little things can make a big difference.
New Year is just around the corner so you may want to check out are outfit ideas for NYE!
Accessories to wear to your Christmas party
Now is a time to be brave with your accessories.
You can wear the same dress that you have worn to half a dozen parties and make it look totally different with the accessories you choose.
If you’re looking for inspiration take a look at the accessory trends this season.
Kim (above) opts for an on-trend box handbag with her outfit (and matches it to the car behind).
Recreate her look with this similar blazer, pencil skirt, handbag, fringe earrings, watch and pumps.
Your shoes
Just as with your jewelry and accessories, your shoes can make or break an outfit.
This could be time to wear heels, but if you find them uncomfortable, there are plenty of pretty flats to choose from.
Flats with a pointed toe or with embellishment will be particularly party-appropriate.
What will you wear over your party outfit
As well as your party dress, or outfit, you are likely to want to wear a coat, jacket or wrap.
You could opt for a warm coat, depending on the time or year, a wrap or bolero, a faux fur jacket or a pashmino.
Marina (above) wears a warm faux fur over her print dress, and accessorizes with a Gucci belt and Malone Souliers double band mules.
Steal her look with this similar dress, fur jacket and hoop earrings.
Do you know how to dress for a Christmas party? Have you planned your holiday party and Christmas outfits yet?
Continue reading:
- Shrugs And Boleros For Evening Dresses: 10 Stylish Party Cover Up Ideas
- How To Choose The Perfect Little Black Dress For Your Body Type
- The Best Cocktail Dresses In Stores Now
Like this article on how to dress for a Christmas party? Save it on Pinterest!
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. As an associate for Amazon and many other brands, we receive a small commission (at no cost to you) on qualifying purchases which enables us to keep creating amazing free content for you. Thanks!
Unfortunately nothing suitable here for a 35 to 40C summer Southern Hemisphere Christmas!
Oh I love so many of those outfits but of course as usual everything is sold out in my size but maybe they’ll be back in stock before Christmas I don’t know but I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving I got a cute t-shirt that said gobble til You Wobble that I wore LOL
Thanks so much for this post. I ordered the Eliza J dress in plum (I’m tired of all the Navy in my closet). Looking forward.