holiday party outfit ideas for every occasion

It’s that time of year again! Holiday parties are popping up like a game of wack-a-mole and coming up with multiple festive outfits can feel a bit overwhelming. My season started early, so I thought I’d share a few holiday party outfit ideas with tips for re-creating them using items you might already have in your closet. I sorted them by occasion, since the spectrum of formality can be tricky to navigate!

wearing Sezane sweater (c/o), Who What Wear Collection knit top and skirt set (similar), Tamara Mellon boots, and Strathberry bag (c/o)

Casual Get-Togethers

I wore this for the Light Up the Season tree lighting at the Four Seasons benefiting Children’s Hospital. It’s a kid-friendly event, which sways dressy-casual. I wore a matching knit skirt and top set with an oversized cardigan layered over top for a pop of color. You can always make a skirt look more casual by pairing with boots and a slouchy sweater. This look can also be recreated using a white pants and top with a colored knit.

wearing Sezane blouse (c/o), Mango blazer, & Other Stories jeans, and Reformation shoes

If you prefer jeans, you can easily dress them up with a festive top and blazer. Embrace rich fabrics like I did here with my velvet blazer and sheer metallic blouse. I also added a bit of shine with these fun mary janes. Keep the heels low or flat to match the casual theme.

Holiday Dinners

wearing Gucci jacket (similar), vintage silk blouse (similar), Sezane jeans (c/o), and YSL pumps (similar)

I love the holiday season for fun dinners out with friends and family. IMO, these are more fun to dress for. For a girl’s night out at Bar Spero (which I highly recommend!), I wore a cropped Gucci jacket over a silk blouse with tailored jeans and pumps. I love tailored jeans, because they can be a dressy as you want them to be. Just pair them with a nicer fabric on top and heels and you’re good to go.

wearing Sezane top (c/o), M.M. LaFleur pants (c/o), Balenciaga heels, and Chanel bag

These leather pants have been another go-to of mine this holiday season. I styled them here for lunch at Nobu with an embroidered top and black and gold heels. You could easily do the same with a leather skirt, just go with a more blousey top to keep things classy.

wearing All Saints blazer, Sezane shirt (close match), Hugo Boss pants, and YSL heels (similar)

Festive Night-Time Parties

These are the ones where you can go all out (which obviously I love). Party dresses are great, but I think a fancy trouser look is much more unexpected. I wore this look to the tree unveiling at the Riggs Hotel (designed by Alexis Bittar!). I kept the base of my look simple with white trousers and a black blouse, but spiced things up with this sequin blazer and metallic clutch and shoes. You can create a similar look a home with black trousers if you don’t have white or a fitted sheath dress. Pick a hero piece to spice things up – whether it’s a blazer, top, skirt or pants. The key is to keep the rest of the look black and white.

If you’re looking for more ideas, check out my holiday outfit ideas post from last year!