What to Wear To A Company Holiday Party: 7 Festive Ideas
Socializing with your boss on a Friday night, watching a co-worker get sloshed on eggnog, and wondering if anyone will notice you are double-dipping at the buffet can make company holiday parties stressful. But they can also be a lot of fun.
Knowing you look fabulous in the perfect Christmas party outfit can help ease your stress when wracking your brain trying to make small talk. Whether your work party is a large, formal affair, a small potluck office get-together, or something in between, here are a few ideas for what to wear to a company holiday party.
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What to Wear To A Company Holiday Party: 7 Festive Ideas
What is the dress code for a work holiday party?
Holiday parties call for you to “Dress Festive,” which means have a little fun and show your personality. Since it’s Christmas, it’s fine to wear a holiday color, some sparkle or shine, or something with a glam detail. The more relaxed or creative your workplace ( for example, tech or design), the more leeway you have compared to someone working in a serious or traditional line of work such as finance or law.
Either way, keep your outfit classy and conservative. A company holiday party is a work event, and you want to look professional.
Another thing to consider when deciding what to wear is when the party is being held. Will it be at 4 p.m. around the water cooler or after 6 at an upscale restaurant or hotel? The time and location will be a factor in what you choose.
For a Business Holiday Party During Work Hours
If the party is daytime between 9-5, in the office or out for lunch, you might wear:
- Anything red or green
- Dark pants (or dressy jeans if permitted) and a satin shirt
- A sweater dress- in a jewel-tone holiday color is festive -I love this one!
- Luxurious separates like a velvet top or blazer
- classic looks with a touch of embellishment, like a cardigan with a small jeweled bow or ribbon
- An elegant top with ruffles or lace
- What you would normally wear to work but with slightly larger, more statement-making jewelry or dressier shoes
All these are office-appropriate if you are meeting clients, but they’re also festive.
For a Semi-Dressy or Dressy Holiday party after 6
Dressy -You could wear an
- Elegant, short cocktail dress – you can never go wrong with black
- Dressy jumpsuit
- Sequin skirt and Cashmere sweater
- Polished pieces with sparkle and shine
- Classy Leather pants (not leather jeans) and a silk blouse
- A dressy blouse/top with sheer sleeves
- Eyelash knit sweater and a satin skirt
- Beautiful modern print dress in the colors of the season
- Tall, sophisticated boots with a fine knit sweater dress
- Off-white pants or skirt and a gold or silver top
Company Work Party Outfit Ideas
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1. Satin Blouse, Flowy Wide Leg Pants
Some company holiday get-togethers involve a sit-down dinner at a fancy restaurant that calls for dressy attire. Striking the right note when the dress code is ‘Dressy’ can be challenging. You want to wear something more unique than every day without being too over-the-top. One of the most popular Christmas party looks is a pair of classy black pants worn with a silky blouse in festive colors.
This stunning hot pink satin blouse looks professional but party-ready paired with these gorgeous wide-leg pants. Sparkly party pumps make them festive.
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2. A Little Black Dress Never Fails
You can never go wrong with a little black dress for a cocktail party or a formal company holiday event. This sophisticated sheath with lovely lace sleeves is pretty, feminine, and classic.
Always remember that a work party is a work function, so err on the conservative side. Keep your look simple, classy, and chic with a few quality accessories like these gorgeous earrings and elegant ankle pumps.
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3. Wear a Glam Boss Suit
You can’t be more professional than a suit. This one, with its sprinkle of gold, commands attention.
Look closely, and you will see fine, sparkly gold metallic threads running through the pants and jacket. Add a sequin top to celebrate in style.
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4. White and Gold is a Chic Corporate Combo
If your company party is a formal cocktail event, this outfit is full of glitz but still very polished and professional. Winter white, warm gold, and champagne accents are a classy combination. Whether you are the boss or want to be one, this is a winning look!
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5. Velvet is Sophisticated at Christmas
Luxurious velvet is sophisticated for a company party. Burgundy, dark blue, or dark green velvet tops look rich and professional.
This lovely wine-colored velvet top has just the right amount of allure. It has a high neck in the front, beautiful ruching, and an elegant open back with a bow. Wear it with a black skirt or pants to make it the focus.
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6. A Sequin Dress for Formal Events
If you are going to a formal, dressy corporate holiday party and want to wear sequins, make sure the dress is classic, modest, and a conservative color.
This dark navy sequin dress in this sophisticated wrap style is a good example of a glitzy dress that is fun and festive but classy.
silver sequin skirt | cashmere sweater | silver pumps | necklace | earrings
7. Cashmere and Sequins is Trending
I’m finishing off with a style recipe that is very popular this year and can be suitable for a work get-together. It consists of a sequin skirt, knee-length or midi, with a soft, quality cashmere sweater.
A regular pencil skirt + cashmere sweater is something you might wear to the office. This glammed-up version of a sparkly pencil skirt, hot pink cashmere sweater, and shiny slingbacks is festive for a holiday company party. I could see myself wearing this to a holiday dinner with office co-workers at a nice restaurant.
A simple, classic work with a colorful and sparkly twist is an easy way to razzle dazzle. (This outfit would also be lovely to wear to a dressy neighborhood gathering or a friend’s cocktail party.
What will you be Wearing to the Company Holiday Party?
I hope I have given you a few good ideas for what to wear to your company party. A little bit of glam, but always professional, will keep you on the right track and dressing with corporate holiday class.
Tags: Holiday Party Dresses
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This is a great post! It was very helpful to get your breakdown of the various levels of dressiness, and the styles are lovely.
Hi SF, That’s what I love to hear. Let me know how else I can be helpful. What kind of content would you like to see next year?
I have a black dress with silver sparkle built-in, but it is. It would be great for the company holiday party, but it is December. If I got a Calvin Klein black faux fur shrug that looks fantastic with it, is it appropriate to take the shrug off inside, leaving me at a party with a sleeveless dress in winter, or is it appropriate to wear the shrug the entire time leaving it open in the front so the dress and jewelry shows? Thanks so much.
Hi Jeanine, It depends on how heavy the shrug is. If it looks more like an outside coverup, it will be hot and funny, but if it is lightweight and looks fantastic, as you say, it is hard work left open. Please show a few friends and see what they think.
I love all the ideas, especially the red velvet wrap top. Do you have any ideas on where I could find one?
Hi Sarah, That red one sold out, but I bet more will follow, so I will keep my eyes open for that.
Thank you! I was helping a friend try to find “what to wear to a husband’s corporate Christmas celebration weekend.”
We are both at the age where our clothing doesn’t fit, our boobs have gotten HUGE, and no matter how hard we work out, we still have a gut; yes, I wear two pairs of shaping garments under my work clothes. You posted clothes that we both could envision wearing. Thank you!! Where can the various items be purchased?
Again, Thank you. You indeed find your calling! God Bless!
Thanks, V; I’m so glad you like these selections. Do you see the little photos below each collage? Click on those to go directly to the store to buy. If you need help, just let me know. Thanks!
I love the velvet wrap top. Thank you!
It happens to be winter here, and wearing bare legs is inappropriate, so do I wear nude or black hose with a Fuschia dress to a Christmas dinner? I have beige and black heels. Thank you, and there is nothing on any websites for dressing in the winter.
Hi Cindy, You’ve got fuchsia, beige, and back and beige. I’d stick to ultra sheer nude, focusing on your dress. Have fun! Cheers, Deborah
Everything looks great. However, my figure would look pudgy in a red sleeveless top or straight pants. Thanks for showing options for all kinds of figures! The last purple dress, the one with the sleeves, would be my choice.
I would love to see dressy clothes (not just pants, but dresses and skirts) shown with flats. I can no longer wear even kitten heels, so I am stuck with no heels. Please help those of us who are on the wrong feet!
I love this post! Great style boards make it so easy to pull a look together. Thanks for sharing!
I’m a 45 yr old. I am going to a holiday party at a Cleveland nightclub. My dress is gold on top and black just above the knee skirt. I only have black open-toe hoes. Is that ok this time of year? Or do I need closed-toe heels with black tights?
Hi Barb, The black tights should look OK with the open-toe shoe…however, you might also want to try a sheer black hose and see which one you like the best! Have fun, your dress sounds lovely!!!
I agree with Deborah on the sheer black hose. It’s inexpensive to add sophistication (and sexiness) to your dress and look less heavy and valuable than a solid tight.