Holiday Party Dress Codes for Women: What to Wear

A holiday party dress code tells you how dressed up to be. Casual means clean and comfortable. Dressy casual means a dress or a dressy top. Cocktail or semi-formal means a cocktail dress or dressy separates. Black tie means a floor-length gown or your dressiest dress. “Festive” means one of those levels with a seasonal touch, like velvet, sequins, metallics or a rich color. Below, each level is broken down for women, with sizing and fit notes and ways to plan ahead.

TL;DR

• Match the formality first, then add the festive part: velvet, sequins, metallics, red, green or winter white.
• No dress code listed? Ask another guest what they plan to wear. Guessing is the riskiest move.
• Evening events after 6 p.m. lean dressier. When unsure, go a notch up.
• Plan for comfort and weather. Shoes you can stand in and a coat that works with the outfit matter as much as the dress.
• Need a specific size, color or length? Made-to-order pieces take planning, so start early. Ready-to-ship pieces cover last-minute plans.

Table of Contents

• How to read a holiday party invitation
• Casual and dressy casual holiday parties
• Office holiday party outfits
• Cocktail and semi-formal holiday parties
• Black tie and black tie optional holiday parties
• What “festive attire” means for women
• Quick reference: dress code, outfit and what to add
• Plus size holiday party dressing
• Cold weather, coats and shoes
• Our perspective
• Shop holiday party outfits at Prima Dons and Donnas
• A simple plan for choosing your holiday party outfit
• FAQ
• Sources

How to read a holiday party invitation

Start with the wording on the invite. A stated dress code takes the guessing out of it. When there is none, many guests assume a drinks party is fairly informal and default to smart casual, according to Debrett’s guidance on interpreting invitations. That default can fail you. A hotel ballroom, a late start time or a plated dinner all point higher than smart casual.

Use four clues together:

1. The wording. Casual, dressy casual, cocktail, semi-formal, black tie, festive.
2. The time. Evening events lean dressier. Etiquette guidance says to err on the side of formality for events later than 6 p.m., as Emily Post advises for semi-formal events.
3. The venue. An office conference room, a restaurant, a private home and a ballroom each set a different bar.
4. The host. A coworker’s open house and a company gala are different events, even with the same “festive” label.

Still unsure? Debrett’s suggests asking a fellow guest what they plan to wear. It takes one text and saves a lot of second-guessing.

Casual and dressy casual holiday parties

Casual does not mean what you wear around the house. Emily Post describes casual attire as informal and comfortable, yet clean and professional. Choose nicer casual wear and skip the baggier items. Her casual list for women includes sundresses, skirts, khakis or nice jeans, plain T-shirts without slogans, polos, turtlenecks and casual button-down blouses.

Dressy casual is a step up. The same guide lists dresses, skirts with dressy tops, dressy pants outfits, or nice jeans with a dressy top.

How to make either one feel like the holidays:

• Pick one seasonal element, not five. A velvet top with dark jeans, or a deep red knit dress.
• Add shine through accessories. A metallic bag, a statement earring or sparkly shoes carry the theme without the outfit becoming a costume.
• Keep the fit sharp. Nice jeans should have no holes and a good shape.
• Add a coat or a blazer that works with what is underneath.

A bold piece also works here. Colored sequin shorts with a tailored blazer and boots make a dressy casual look for a friends’ gathering. See our colored sequin shorts for a party-ready example.

Office holiday party outfits

Work parties sit in their own lane. The safest formula is to begin with business-appropriate pieces and add the holiday on top. A stylist-run guide suggests a tailored dress, trousers with a blouse or a skirt suit, then subtle holiday colors, velvet or sequins. In colder regions it adds a blazer or winter coat.

A simple office checklist:

• Coverage you are comfortable in. Choose a hem and neckline you will not think about all night.
• One sparkle zone. Sequins on a top or a shiny shoe, not both.
• Rich color. Emerald, burgundy, navy and chocolate read festive and still professional.
• Shoes you can stand in. You will be on your feet, talking.

If the party is at a restaurant after work, dress for the venue’s evening feel, not the office’s daytime one.

Cocktail and semi-formal holiday parties

This is the most common dress code on holiday invitations, and the one people misread most. Semi-formal and cocktail are treated as the same level. For women, Emily Post lists a short afternoon or cocktail dress, a little black dress, a long dressy skirt and top, or dressy separates. The guide says semi-formal sits above office wear and just below a formal event.

Cocktail attire is a semi-formal style typically worn for early-evening and late-afternoon occasions, and Vogue notes it was popularized in the 1920s as women sought more individuality and less confining dress. That history is useful. The code was built for personal style, so you have room to play.

What works:

• A knee-length or midi dress in velvet, satin or crepe.
• A sequin or rhinestone dress with simple shoes and minimal jewelry.
• A matching two-piece set in a metallic or jewel tone.
• A jumpsuit with a structured shoulder and a dressy heel or boot.

For fabric and fit advice, our guide to cocktail attire for women covers what to choose and what to skip.

How much sparkle is enough

Sequins and rhinestones are made for this season. The question is how much light you want to throw. A fully beaded dress is the whole outfit, so keep everything else quiet: simple shoes, a small clutch, one piece of jewelry. A sparkly top or shorts leaves room for a bolder accessory. Our guide to sparkly dress accessories walks through what to pair with sequins and rhinestones.

Black tie and black tie optional holiday parties

For a black-tie event, Emily Post says women may wear a floor-length evening gown, a dressy cocktail dress or their dressiest little black dress. Holiday black tie is usually a gala, a charity dinner or a ball.

Black tie optional gives you more room. A long dress is still the strongest choice, but a very dressy cocktail dress works. We break down three ways to do it in black tie optional outfits for women.

For formal events, fit matters more than anything else. A gown that skims the floor in the right shoes looks very different from one that pools around your ankles. A custom length solves this. Our piece on styling a custom outfit for any formal event covers the details.

What “festive attire” means for women

Festive is not a formality level. It is a signal to add the season to whatever level the event sits at. The best festive outfits look intentional, not themed.

Ideas that read as festive without becoming a costume:

• Velvet. A velvet dress, blazer or wrap gives texture without glitter.
• Deep red or green. Wear one in a rich shade, not both in bright primary tones.
• Metallics. Gold, silver or champagne catch the light under party lighting.
• Winter white. Ivory or cream looks crisp against dark winter coats.
• A little black dress with a statement. Sparkly earrings, a bold boot or a faux fur wrap.

CNN Underscored’s style experts frame holiday dressing as a welcome chance to show personal style, not a stressful last-minute shopping trip. That is the right mindset. Pick the look early and everything else gets easier.

The costume line is simple. If the outfit would look odd at a regular dinner in January, it is probably a costume. A novelty sweater is fine when the invitation says so. At an actual theme or costume night, go all in, like guests at a costume club night, where the dress code is the entire point.

Quick reference: dress code, outfit and what to add

Plus size holiday party dressing

A good fit is the difference between an outfit that works and one that does not, in any size. Plus size shoppers often face a smaller range of party pieces, with the fabric and cut changing as sizes go up. Here is how to avoid the usual problems:

• Check the measurements, not just the size label. Compare bust, waist, hip and length to the size chart on the product page.
• Choose fabrics with structure or stretch. Velvet with some give, satin with lining and sequins on a stretch base all hold shape.
• Mind the length. If you will wear heels or boots, plan the hem around them.
• Think about sitting. A dinner party means hours in a chair. Test the dress seated.
• Plan the layers. A coat, a faux fur wrap or a blazer should work with the sleeves and shoulders.

We make custom plus size apparel in any size and color, so the dress you want does not have to be settled for in whatever size is left on a rack.

Cold weather, coats and shoes

Stylists quoted by CNN Underscored stress comfort and practicality. Feeling confident and avoiding aching feet or shivering in the cold is essential to enjoying any holiday event. Treat that as a design rule.

• Coat first. Choose the coat before the dress when you can. Think length and sleeve volume.
• Faux fur. A faux fur coat, stole or wrap adds drama and warmth, with no animal fur. Browse our custom outerwear collection.
• Boots over heels. Crystal-covered or custom boots can replace heels at cocktail and dressy casual events. See our custom crystal boots for a statement option.
• Bring a backup. A pair of folding flats in your bag saves the last hour of the night.

Our perspective

We make clothing to order, and holiday season teaches us the same lesson every year. Most outfit stress comes from three things: the wrong length, the wrong color and not enough time.

The dress code is rarely the problem. Once you know the level, the choices narrow quickly. What goes wrong is shopping late for a dress that has to fit your body, your shoes and your event. That is why we build pieces to your size and color, and why we also keep ready-to-ship options for quick plans.

Our advice is practical. Decide the dress code level first. Choose one statement element. Make sure the fit is right in the areas that matter to you, whether that is the hem, the bust or the sleeve. Then pick shoes and a coat you can wear all night. A confident outfit is one you do not have to adjust.

— Latoya

Shop holiday party outfits at Prima Dons and Donnas

If you want a dress, jumpsuit, set or boots made to your measurements and color, start with our made-to-order apparel. It includes dresses, jumpsuits and rompers, tops, bottoms, outerwear, boots, accessories and plus size apparel. If your event is close, the ready to ship collection has pieces that can go out quickly.

Need it faster? Our customization options page lists add-ons: Express Shipping at $103, Rush Processing at $128, Shipping Insurance at $4 and Signature Confirmation at $4. Check the product page for current processing times before you order, then match the timing to your event date.

A simple plan for choosing your holiday party outfit

1. Confirm the dress code. Read the invitation, then ask another guest if it is unclear.
2. Note the venue, time and weather. Evening and indoors-to-outdoors changes both affect the choice.
3. Choose a silhouette you feel good in. Dress, set, jumpsuit or separates.
4. Add one festive element. Color, velvet, sequins or metallics.
5. Pick shoes and outerwear. Test them with the full outfit.
6. Try everything on early. Sit, walk, raise your arms and check the hem.
7. Keep an emergency kit. Fashion tape, a small sewing kit, lip color and flats.

Holiday events can involve a birthday, a photo session or a winter trip too. If so, our winter birthday outfit ideas cover looks that photograph well, and our club dress code guide helps with late-night plans after the party. If you are heading to a white-themed event, see our white party dress code guide.

FAQ

What should I wear to a Christmas party?

First check the dress code, then match it. For cocktail or semi-formal, wear a cocktail dress, a little black dress or dressy separates. For casual or dressy casual, a dress or a skirt with a dressy top works. Add a festive touch such as velvet, sequins or a rich red or green.

What does festive attire mean for women?

Festive attire means dressing at the formality level of the event with a seasonal touch. That can be velvet, metallics, sequins, deep jewel tones or winter white. Keep it to one or two elements so the outfit looks styled, not costumed.

What if the invitation has no dress code?

Many guests assume a drinks party is fairly informal and choose smart casual, according to Debrett’s. Check the time, venue and host, and ask another guest what they plan to wear. If it is an evening event, go a little dressier.

Is a cocktail dress the same as a semi-formal dress?

Yes, the two codes are treated as the same level. For women, that means a short afternoon or cocktail dress, a little black dress, a long dressy skirt and top or dressy separates. It sits above office wear and just below formal.

Can I wear boots to a holiday party?

Often, yes. Boots work well at casual, dressy casual and many cocktail events, especially in cold weather. For black tie, a dressy heel or a very polished boot under a long hem is safer. Match the finish of the boot to the outfit.

Sources

• Interpreting Invitations, Debrett’s
• Attire Guide: Dress Codes from Casual to White Tie Formal, The Emily Post Institute
• Cocktail Attire: A Guide to Nailing the Dress Code, Vogue
• Best holiday party outfits, per style experts, CNN Underscored
• Decode the Dress Code: Holiday Parties, The Wardrobe Consultant

Recommended

• White Party Dress Code: 4 Formality Levels and Plus Size Fit Tips
• Club Dress Code: 5 Looks for Women That Favor Fit Over Skin
• Cocktail Attire for Women: Wedding Dos and Don’ts, From Fabric to Fit
• 3 Outfit Recipes for Black Tie Optional Women, Fit, Custom, Plus Size