Holiday outfits for women can be a little tricky to plan, especially when you have several celebrations coming up and don’t want to wear the same thing to every one.
A cozy sweater and a pretty skirt might be perfect for a family gathering, but you may want something a little dressier for dinner or a holiday party. And you definitely don’t have to wear sequins or a red dress to look festive.
I’ve gathered 18 holiday outfit ideas for family gatherings, dinners, and parties, with a few Christmas outfit ideas you can recreate using clothes you already own.
What to Wear for Different Holiday Celebrations
Have you ever dressed up for a holiday gathering only to find everyone else wearing jeans? Or arrived somewhere in a sweater and wished you’d worn something nicer?
That’s why I think about the location before choosing an outfit. A Christmas lunch at someone’s house can be pretty relaxed, while dinner at a nice restaurant might call for something dressier.
Here’s what I’d consider wearing to different holiday celebrations.
| Holiday occasion | Outfit ideas |
|---|---|
| Casual family gathering | Dark jeans with a Christmas sweater, or a plaid skirt with a soft knit and boots. |
| Christmas lunch | A satin midi skirt with a cardigan, or wide-leg trousers with a pretty sweater and flats. |
| Holiday dinner at a restaurant | A velvet midi dress, a satin skirt with a fitted top, or matching tailored separates. |
| Holiday dinner date | A little black dress with statement earrings, or a pretty blouse with tailored trousers and heels. |
| Holiday party | A sequin skirt with a simple sweater, a statement blouse with black trousers, or a dress with a little sparkle. |
| Festive cocktail party | A cocktail dress, a velvet outfit, or elegant trousers with a satin blouse and dressy shoes. |
What Does Festive Attire Mean?
Festive attire is one of those dress codes that doesn’t tell you quite enough. Does the host want everyone dressed up, or do they just want something a little Christmassy?
I’d look at the venue first. For a party at someone’s house, I wouldn’t think twice about wearing nice trousers with a pretty sweater. If it’s at a fancy restaurant, I’d probably choose something dressier.
Festive cocktail attire is a little different. I’d treat that as a proper cocktail dress code, with the option to wear holiday colors, velvet, sequins, or other festive details.
If the invitation is still confusing, I’d just ask the host. It’s better than finding out you’re the only person wearing heels.
Holiday Outfits for Family Gatherings
Christmas gatherings can be anything from a relaxed lunch at home to a whole afternoon spent visiting friends and family. I’ve included a few casual holiday outfits for family gatherings, along with some I’d wear for Christmas shopping or going out during the holidays.
Gold Pleated Skirt With a Black Top
I actually prefer this gold pleated skirt with chunky black boots instead of heels. It looks much less formal this way, so you could wear it to Christmas lunch or out for coffee without feeling like you’re dressed for a party.
If you have a metallic skirt that rarely leaves your closet, try it with the boots you normally wear with jeans. It might be all you need to make the skirt feel wearable during the day.
Red Pinafore Dress With a White Blouse
A red pinafore dress can easily look a little schoolgirl-inspired, especially with a white blouse underneath. I think the socks and Mary Jane shoes make that even more noticeable here, although it’s a cute choice for a playful Christmas look.
If you like the dress but want something a little more grown-up, I’d change the shoes first. Knee-high boots would make a big difference, and you could swap the blouse for a fine-knit cream turtleneck.
You could keep the white blouse for Christmas and wear the same dress with a black knit later in winter.
Red Sweater With a Mini Skirt and Colorful Scarf
Without the colorful scarf, this would be a pretty ordinary red sweater and mini skirt outfit. It changes the whole outfit, especially with those unexpected shades next to the red sweater.
If you own a scarf with several colors, try choosing just one of those shades for another part of your outfit. It could be your sweater, bag, or even your shoes. You don’t need to match every color in the scarf.
I’d wear something like this for Christmas shopping or a holiday market. For a colder day, I’d swap the mini skirt for jeans and keep the scarf.
Cream Sweater With a Brown Mini Skirt and Tall Boots
This is cute for a winter lunch or a quick outing, but I’d think twice about wearing a mini skirt if I were planning to spend several hours at an outdoor Christmas market.
I’d keep the scarf and tall boots, though. For a colder day, I’d change the mini skirt to a brown midi skirt or trousers and wear warm socks underneath the boots.
If you’re only going from the car to a restaurant, the original outfit is much easier to wear.
Christmas Sweater With White Wide-Leg Trousers
I wouldn’t save this Christmas sweater for an ugly sweater party. I actually like it much more with the white trousers than I would with jeans.
If you have a Christmas sweater that feels a little too silly to wear outside the house, try it with the nicest trousers you own. The ones you’d usually wear with a blouse or blazer.
And don’t worry about wearing white in December. I’d be more concerned about where I’m going to sit with a cup of coffee than whether white trousers are appropriate for winter.
Plaid Coat With a Teddy-Bear Sweater and Pleated Skirt
I probably wouldn’t think to wear a teddy-bear sweater with a plaid coat, but I like how they’ve been styled together here.
The plaid coat already has several colors, and the sweater adds another playful detail. What helps is that the rest of the outfit stays in similar cream and brown shades.
I’d save this kind of combination for a casual Christmas outing rather than a dressy holiday dinner.
Holiday Dinner Outfit Ideas
When choosing a holiday dinner outfit, I’d think about the restaurant first and how dressed up everyone is likely to be. You don’t necessarily need a party dress. Some of these outfits are made with sweaters, cardigans, and trousers you could wear throughout winter.
Forest-Green Midi Dress With a Matching Bag
The buttons, gathered sleeves, and waist tie give this green dress quite a bit of detail already. I’d be careful about adding too many accessories, especially around the neckline.
For a nice restaurant, I’d wear small gold earrings and pointed heels. A black bag would also look good here if you don’t have one that matches the dress.
A metallic clutch would make it feel dressier for a holiday party, while simpler accessories would work for a family lunch.
Plaid Midi Skirt With a Statement Black Blouse
If you have a plaid skirt that you usually wear with sweaters, here’s a completely different way to style it for a holiday dinner.
The black blouse has dramatic sleeves and a bow at the neckline, which makes the skirt look much dressier. I especially like the burgundy hosiery. Black tights would have worked, but the burgundy looks more interesting with the plaid.
I’d keep the pointed shoes, too. They’re a much better choice for this particular outfit than chunky boots, especially if you’re going somewhere a little fancy.
If you don’t have a blouse with dramatic sleeves, I’d try a black lace blouse instead. It would still look dressy with the plaid skirt, and you could wear it with trousers for another holiday dinner.
Olive Sweater With a Black Satin Maxi Skirt
I wouldn’t normally think of olive green for a holiday dinner, but it looks beautiful with this black satin maxi skirt.
It’s the satin skirt, heels, and small clutch that make the outfit feel more suitable for dinner.
If you already have a satin skirt, try it with one of your everyday sweaters before buying another dressy top. For a more formal restaurant, I’d probably change to a blouse and keep the rest of the outfit.
And if you wear black as often as I do, you might like my article on how to wear black clothing every day.
Burgundy Matching Set With Tall Boots
I like that the boots are a darker shade of burgundy than the jacket and skirt. Finding shoes in exactly the same color can be difficult, and I don’t think you need to bother here. Dark brown or black boots would also look good with this set.
The white collar and tie make the outfit feel quite preppy, so I wouldn’t add another accessory in the same style. I’d probably choose a simple handbag and leave it at that.
This could be a fun holiday dinner date outfit, especially somewhere a little less formal. And I would definitely try the jacket with black trousers another day. It would be a shame to keep such a pretty piece just for wearing with its matching skirt.
Black Belted Jacket With Chocolate-Brown Trousers
Not every holiday dinner calls for velvet, satin, or sequins. Sometimes a pair of really nice trousers is exactly what you need.
I like the chocolate-brown wide-leg trousers with the black belted jacket here.
The pointed shoes are a good choice with these trousers, too.
I’d choose this for a dinner where I’m not quite sure how dressed up everyone will be. You could arrive wearing the jacket as part of the outfit, or switch to a nice black blouse if the restaurant is warm.
One thing I’d check before leaving is the trouser length with the actual shoes I’m wearing. Wide-leg trousers that look perfect with heels can end up dragging on the floor with flats, especially when you’re walking outside in December.
White Cardigan With a Chocolate Satin Maxi Skirt
I would happily wear a cardigan to a holiday dinner, especially one like this with a chocolate satin maxi skirt.
I’d choose a cardigan that looks nice buttoned up, rather than the long, loose ones I usually wear over T-shirts. Buttons can make a difference here, too. Pearl, metallic, or covered buttons are lovely if you’re wearing the cardigan as the main top.
For a dinner at someone’s house, I’d wear this with dressy flats. For a nicer restaurant, I’d probably change to heels and take the dark clutch in the photo.
And I’d wear the cardigan again with jeans. There’s no reason to save it just for dressing up.
Holiday Party Outfit Ideas
Christmas parties are a good excuse to wear the clothes that don’t get much attention during the rest of the year. Maybe that’s finally wearing the sequin skirt that’s been sitting in your closet, trying a statement jacket, or choosing a dress you wouldn’t normally wear to dinner.
You can absolutely dress up without wearing sequins, though. A special fabric, an unusual color, or a pretty detail can be enough.
Silver Sequin Mini Skirt With a Cream Sweater
I’d rather wear this silver sequin skirt with an oversized cream sweater than a typical party blouse. It’s still a fun holiday party outfit, but you could wear it to a more relaxed gathering without feeling too dressed up.
The asymmetrical hem is what I’d pay attention to before wearing something similar. One side is noticeably shorter, and that can make a difference when you’re sitting down. I’d definitely try it on and sit in it before deciding to wear it for a long dinner.
For a party at someone’s house, I might wear this with tall boots instead of heels. But if you’re going somewhere fancy, the light-colored heels in the photo are lovely with the silver.
Bronze Sequin Skirt With a Dark Zip-Front Top
The tassels make this bronze sequin skirt so much more fun than an ordinary sparkly skirt. I would love to see how they move when dancing.
I’d choose it for a New Year’s Eve party or somewhere with plenty of room to move around. But I’d be a little careful with crowded tables and chairs. Those long tassels look like they could get caught pretty easily.
The zip-front top is an unexpected choice, too. I’d probably reach for a plain black blouse first, but I like that this makes the outfit a little less traditional.
If you have a skirt with fringe or tassels, try it on and walk around before deciding what shoes to wear.
Red Sparkly Tulle Skirt With a White Bow-Detail Top
I can see why someone would buy this red tulle skirt for Christmas. It’s not exactly an everyday piece, but I think you could get more wear out of it than you might expect.
The white top with the bow is lovely for a holiday party. For a family Christmas lunch, I’d try the skirt with a cream sweater instead. And if you have a dressier event coming up, a plain black top and heels would give it a completely different look.
I’d keep it in mind for Valentine’s Day, too. You don’t need another red outfit if you already have a skirt like this.
Black Sequin Mini Skirt With a Cream Jacket
I like the cream jacket with this black sequin skirt, especially the little black bow at the neckline. It’s also something you can keep on indoors if the party venue is chilly.
I’d try a dressy cardigan if you don’t have a similar jacket. You could wear it with the same black hosiery and shoes without changing much else.
I’d wear this to a restaurant party or a dressy holiday gathering. And if you have a black mini skirt you want to wear more often, I’ve shared plenty of other combinations in my what to wear with a black skirt article.
Pink Feather-Trim Jacket With White Trousers
The pink feather-trim jacket is definitely the main attraction here. I love it with the white trousers and burgundy bag, especially because it’s so different from the usual red and green holiday outfits.
I’d wear something like this to a cocktail party where I’d be standing and chatting rather than sitting through a long dinner. Feather-trimmed cuffs might look beautiful, but I’d think twice about having them around plates and glasses all evening.
You could try the same idea with an embroidered blazer, a velvet jacket, or something with beautiful buttons. I’d just make sure the jacket is comfortable enough to keep on indoors, since it’s the whole point of the outfit.
Cream Textured Mini Dress With White Knee-High Boots
This cream mini dress would be lovely for a holiday party at a restaurant or an indoor celebration where you don’t need to spend too much time outside.
The white knee-high boots are a fun alternative to heels, and I like that the pink bag brings in a little color. I wouldn’t worry about adding more accessories because the dress already has plenty of detail.
If you’re wearing a short dress like this in December, I’d also think about your coat before leaving the house. A longer wool coat would be my first choice, especially if you need to walk between places. The dress looks lovely on its own, but the weather doesn’t always cooperate with our outfit plans.
How to Make an Everyday Outfit Look Festive
Before buying another holiday outfit, I’d check the clothes I already own but don’t wear very often. Maybe it’s a satin skirt you bought for dinner, a velvet jacket, or a blouse you’ve been saving for a special occasion.
Try putting that one piece with something you wear regularly. You might already have a holiday outfit without realizing it.
| Start with | For a family gathering | For a holiday dinner or party |
|---|---|---|
| Satin midi skirt | Cozy sweater and boots | Pretty blouse and heels |
| Black tailored trousers | Festive cardigan and flats | Statement top and earrings |
| Velvet blazer | Dark jeans and ankle boots | Dressy skirt or matching trousers |
Final Thoughts
I hope these holiday outfit ideas gave you a few new ways to wear the clothes you already have. And if there’s a skirt or dress you’ve been saving for a special occasion, Christmas might be a good excuse to finally wear it.
I’d love to know which outfit was your favorite!
