Velvet, Sequins and snow white trim come to mind when thinking of a holiday dress, but what is the right look for your party venue? Though maybe a little cliche, Christmas and New Years are really the only time this over-the-top look steals the show, so if you got it, flaunt it. Though these looks may or may not be your forte.
I’m one of those girls that changes their outfit 1000 times just to go back to the first outfit I picked. And yes, unfortunately, the cleanup process is as bad as it sounds.
The easiest way to avoid hours of endless changing? Wear a dress! Or even a jumpsuit.
These one-piece superstars will make your life easier and with quite a statement. Or check out my NYE Outfit ideas if you are looking for pants, skirts, or something suitable to wear out in the cold outdoors.
I like to be a little more understated with my looks, mostly out of versatility. Unfortunately, when you buy that stunning fancy sequin dress or holiday bow dress, it may end up sitting in your closet for the rest of the year. Definitely not a piece you would utilize in a capsule wardrobe.
If you’re going to a fancy party, simplicity and versatility may not be a concern, however, check out Rent the Runway for these unique type looks.
Rentals allow you to choose that fancy dress and decide if you want to keep it later.
Otherwise, pick a dress you can picture yourself wearing to at least 2 events, like Christmas and New Years Eve, or that winter wedding you were just invited to attend. Or better yet, a look you can repurpose easily, like a silk slip dress that pairs beautifully with an oversized sweater.
Don’t forget the perfect accessories can dress up or down your look just a little more. This is the time to pull out those diamond earrings and pearl necklace, or the statement chandelier earrings you haven’t figured out where to wear yet.
So how do you choose a dress? Here are my top tips for choosing the perfect Christmas party dress.
Be true to your own style.
I wrote about finding your personal style here but the biggest takeaways for quickly finding the perfect dress should be knowing your coloring (are you cool/warm, etc) and your shape (hourglass, pear, etc.). If you know these things, you’ll look amazing regardless of deciding your personal style.
Choose a dress that suits the occasion.
Some of these dresses are appropriate for more than one type of party, so don’t shy away from your perfect dress just because it’s a little fancy. If you love wearing it, that’s all that matters.
Office Party
Less is more with this kind of party. Keep it simple, tasteful, fairly conservative, and dress up your accessories. If you want a fancy material, velvet or silk are great fabrics to consider. Definitely consider a cardigan as an extra layer. I show 12 ways you can style a cardigan here.
Formal Party
If you’re lucky enough to get invited to a soiree or are throwing one yourself, this is the perfect time to pull out all the stops with feathers, shiny sequins, and anything sparkly. Equally, a little black dress will be perfectly elegant with the right accessories.
Casual Get-together
House parties are always a bit difficult because you are likely to be sitting on a couch a lot. Super short just doesn’t work, right!? But a dress can still be easy and chic. It’s also the perfect time to pull out an ugly christmas sweater dress, or better yet, wear it over a chic satin slip dress.
Date Night Party
This can be tricky, but you got this! A red cocktail dress would be perfect here. Definitely review the other dresses, but if all else fails, here’s some showstopping options. Most of these options would be beautiful for a cocktail party as well.
Family Party
You may not be going to your family’s house to impress them with your keen fashion sense, but you can still dress for the holidays! For an even more casual look (though not exactly a dress), pair an oversized ugly Christmas sweater with leggings. Or even more festive, velvet leggings.
Credit: Memorandum
Accent accessories
This is the time of year I like to pull out that fur coat, my grandmother’s vintage brooches for my jackets, the over-the-top headbands Blair would wear, and those earrings that shine like a disco ball. Just remember when you pull out those accessories, you’ll need some balance. If your accessories are loud, keep your dress simple.
When in doubt, use Coco Chanel’s rule:
“Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.” She also said, “It is always better to be underdressed.”
Though I don’t always agree with the underdressed look, I do remember showing up to a couple fancy LA parties where all the girls were in their Louboutin heels looking amazing, but uncomfortable, whereas I was getting compliments left and right at how edgy my sneakers looked with my outfit.
What I learned from this experience, is, unless it’s a black tie gala, having one item in your outfit ‘underdressed,’ or casual, for a bit of juxtaposition can really spice up a look. You’ll find that casual leather jacket, sneaker, or preppy button down you put under your dress will add a hint of sophistication and style to an otherwise predictable look.
Takeaway: In the season where the Ugly Christmas Sweater reigns, take a chance with your outfit you wouldn’t take normally. Tis the season!
Lastly, I want to give some tips for keeping your fancy outfits from being ruined with wine spills, snow drifts, and other potential disasters.
- Scotchgard your clothes before you leave the house. Not only will you protect stains from soaking in easily, but you’ll also give yourself some static protection if your environment is too dry from all those heaters going. “In general, Scotchgard™ Fabric -Water Shield can be used on cotton, polyester, silk, wool, acrylic, nylon, and most other washable fabrics.”
- Put Wine Away in your purse for emergencies (not for use on silk or wool).
- Bring a jacket that looks great with your outfit – Not only will this keep you from being cold, but you can throw it on during dinner as an extra safety measure for your outfit.
- I wish I had found this article years ago on stains: https://www.rd.com/article/how-to-remove-stains/
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