19 Holiday Party Outfit Ideas for Every Event

Sweaters, skirts, scarves, and sequins - it’s time to pull out your holiday season wardrobe! But it can be a challenge to dress for all the different kinds of holiday events you’ll be attending. How fancy should you get? Should you wear pants or a dress? Heels or boots? Should you go timeless or trendy or elegant? There are a lot of variables to consider…

So I’m going to help you stress less about dressing up - so you can see outfit success this season! In this guide, I’m going to give you specific outfit ideas for every event you’ll be attending this season.

I’m giving you recommendations based on everlasting trends and essential pieces you should already have in your wardrobe, with winter trends and styles mixed in as accents. But don’t be afraid to put your own style spin on these looks. I hope you enjoy the Ultimate Guide: Holiday Party Outfit Ideas for Every Event You Have This Season!

Psst… Check out our Holiday Designer Dress Guide (under $150) for an easy go-to holiday outfit for any occasion.

Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving, you want to be stylish & comfortable. You want your clothes to be forgiving as you eat your way through turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. Here are some options to look Turkey Day festive while staying comfy and cute for dinnertime.

Outfit #1 (For a casual day with friends and extended family)

  • “Fall” colored sweater, like tan, brown, orange, or olive green
  • Blue jeans, light or medium wash
  • Brown knee-high boots or booties
  • Colorful earrings (to accent the neutral colors)
  • Chunky necklace (depending on neckline of sweater)

Outfit #2 (For a put-together look)

Outfit #3 (For comfort and practicality)

  • White tee shirt
  • Neutral solid or print cardigan (you can remove if you get hot)
  • Black leggings
  • Large purse (to add some dimension to the look)
  • Gold watch or bracelet

Black Friday/Cyber Monday

Are you going shopping for Black Friday weekend? Whether you’re hitting the stores or buying from the comfort of your home, there’s only one directive for your Black Friday outfit: sustainability.

Black Friday is all about consuming. We spend so much money, and it’s easy to get caught up in the craze of the “buy, buy, buy” holiday season. It’s fun to buy, but it can also be really wasteful.

So let’s do it a little differently this year and buy gifts that are good for the environment, good for our communities, good for our health, and good for our wallets!

This season, we’re all about buying sustainable gifts. Check out our sustainable gift-giving guide here!

That’s why I recommend choosing an outfit that’s totally sustainable, preferably secondhand or pre-loved. Why? Because it will help keep sustainability top of mind while you’re shopping. If you’re wearing an organic cotton tee you bought from Current Boutique, you’ll remember to think about ethically and organically sourced materials when buying for your mom. If you’re in your favorite consignment designer jeans (that you bought at a fraction of their original price), you’ll start looking for other articles that support the longevity of timeless fashion.

Start shopping for your stylish, sustainable, preloved outfits here! You can also check out these 7 websites to shop secondhand designer clothing and accessories.

Work Holiday Party

Work holiday parties are always a dressing nightmare, especially with the question of how fancy you should be.

I have one rule of thumb for work parties: The basic dress code from work should still apply, unless otherwise stated. If jeans aren’t permitted at work, you probably don’t want to wear them to the holiday party, unless the invite says to dress casual and everyone is talking about wearing jeans. If you wouldn’t feel comfortable wearing a revealing top to the office on Monday morning, you probably shouldn’t the night of the holiday party either.

Dress as though you were going to the workplace—but with a little more glitz and glam! It’s always better to look more refined than not.

Recommended read: 15 Work Wardrobe Essentials For Every Boss-Lady

Outfit #1 (For a party that’s right after the work day)

  • Black blazer
  • Sequin tank top (under blazer)
  • Black pants (jeans or trousers)
  • Tan heels (a wardrobe must-have)
  • Chunky bracelets

Outfit #2 (For a fancier party at a restaurant or venue)

Outfit #3 (For a relaxed party at your boss’s house)

Another awesome option for any of the above events is a black jumpsuit with a blazer or sweater on top. Pair with gold jewelry and tan heels, and you’ve got a gorgeous look that’s both stylish and totally work-appropriate.

Friends’ Holiday Party

Every year, I attend three standing annual Christmas parties. One is a friend’s ugly Christmas sweater party. One’s a casual event for a family friend, and the other is a fancy party that goes all night.

So how do you know what to wear to each of your parties? Take note of the invite (which might define a dress code), remember what everyone wore to last year’s party, and don’t be afraid to ask the host or another attendee what they’re wearing!

The outfits we’ve listed below are some options if you don’t know what to wear.

Outfit #1 (For the “fun” friends hosting a party)

  • A whimsical sweater, like one with penguins or snowflakes
  • Dark blue jeans or black jeans
  • Dress it down: black Converse or ballet flats
  • Dress it up: black or colorful heels
  • Pearl earrings

Outfit #2 (For something timelessly trendy)

  • White knit sweater, elbow-length
  • Red high-waisted skirt
  • Black heels or flats
  • Gold jewelry accessories, like a chunky necklace or bracelet
  • Hair in curls or a braid

Outfit #3 (To feel a little sophisticated and fancy)

  • Holiday-colored dress with lace neck and arms (a lacey burgundy or black dress is my go-to holiday outfit)
  • Black tights (a winter fashion hack)
  • Ballet flats or booties
  • Snakeskin or colorful purse
  • Gold dangling earrings

Hanukkah or Christmas Eve Dinner

Are you going to a nice dinner at a restaurant or friend’s house to celebrate the holidays? Need an outfit that’s not super fancy but also a little more dressed up? We’ve got your looks!

Outfit #1 (For something effortlessly chic)

  • Little black dress
  • Knee-high leather boots
  • Dangling earrings
  • Red, white, or gold clutch or crossbody purse
  • Bright lipstick

Outfit #2 (For a trendy yet sexy look)

  • Black or white turtle neck
  • Plaid skirt (reds, greens, golds, blacks, and whites)
  • Black knee-high boots
  • Leather jacket, neutral or black
  • Gold drop earrings

Outfit #3 (For a feminine silhouette and vibe)

  • Tan or white long-sleeve blouse
  • Satin midi skirt, light-colored
  • Tan heels
  • Pearl accessories
  • Optional: black tights (if you’re going outside and want to stay warm)

Christmas Day

It’s a great day of family, food, and giving. But what to wear?

Outfit #1 (For chilling with the fam)

  • White long-sleeve top
  • Red plaid sweatpants
  • Pearl earrings
  • Warm slippers
  • Hair pulled back with a ribbon (like a present)

Outfit #2 (For going out on the town)

  • Winter White sweater
  • Black jeans
  • Holiday scarf
  • Ballet flats, slip ons, or booties
  • A new jewelry or clothing item you received for Christmas (show it off!)

Outfit #3 (For attending a fancier Christmas party)

  • Velvet dress, red or black
  • Thin, hanging necklace
  • Sheer tights or pattered
  • Black strappy heels
  • Optional: denim jacket (to get in the winter 2019 look and to dress it down)

New Year’s Eve Party

There’s no reason not to dress up for New Year’s Eve—even if you’re just staying home with your family. It’s the start of a new year, so you want your fashion game to be on-point when the clock strikes midnight!

Have you made your New Year’s style resolutions yet?

Outfit #1 (The NYE go-to holiday dress)

Outfit #2 (For something minimalistic with shine)

  • Black jumpsuit
  • Sparkly heels
  • Sparkly earrings (top and bottom of outfit are sparkly!)
  • Black cross-body purse
  • Gold watch (to make sure you don’t miss midnight!)

Outfit #3 (For a girl’s night out)

  • Sparkly tank top
  • Black leather leggings
  • Colorful pumps (that are easy to walk in)
  • Clutch purse
  • Black drop earrings

Your Holiday Dress Guide

For the holidays, you can’t go wrong with deep red or winter white, leather or velvet. And for the New Year, sparkles and satin are always in fashion.

At Current Boutique, we love dressing up in gorgeous, quality clothes that make us feel great. And we think the holidays are a great excuse to get dolled up!

We believe you don’t have to sacrifice quality and style due to price. When you buy secondhand, you have access to stunning designer pieces—at a fraction of the price.

So start browsing our holiday looks at Current Boutique. Order today to make sure you have your new look in time for your holiday event!


Carmen Lopez, President & CEO www.www.currentboutiqueshop.com

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Hello Fashion Lovers! I've been in the fashion industry for over 15 years. I started Current Boutique with the desire to recycle amazing pre-loved designer gems for others to enjoy! I value quality, unique craftsmanship, sustainability & saving money. I am a fashion lover who is energized by the challenges and rewards of being an entrepreneur. I'm here to share tips on fashion, style, bargain shopping and business. I hope you enjoy!
XOXO, Carmen