How to Dress Up for Your Holiday Party

Dressing up for a holiday party can be stressful, especially when you’re a host. Maybe you set a dress code, and maybe you didn’t. No matter what, you want to look your best to make this holiday party one to remember.

While some of your guests will opt to wear their ugly Christmas sweaters, others will take the opportunity to dress their best. Deciding how to dress up for your holiday party can be easy with a few simple tips.

Ask About the Dress Code

While you might want to wear a formal dress to your party, your friends and family might appreciate a more casual night out. Remember to consider what clothes your guests would feel most comfortable wearing.

Wear Comfortable Shoes

No matter what type of party you’re having, you’ll likely be doing a lot of walking around, mingling, and adjusting the party supplies. With that in mind, make sure you wear comfortable dress shoes—your feet will thank you the next day.

Avoid White

If you tend to spend a lot of time near the dessert table, consider avoiding white so you don’t accidentally spill melted chocolate on your favorite dress.

Don’t Forget Your Hat

Whether you’re hosting a formal, semi-formal, or casual event, make sure that everyone knows they can wear their favorite Christmas hat. After all, there’s no time like the holidays to add a fun accessory to your outfit.

Choose the Right Accessories

Now that you’ve got your hat on, it’s time to think about other accessories that can add to your outfit. Consider accessories that highlight what you’re wearing rather than distract from it. A simple necklace and/or bracelet can be the perfect addition to your dress.

Try Shapewear

If you just don’t feel like you look your best in your holiday outfit, consider getting body-support shapewear that can prevent any lumps, bumps, or lines that can make your clothes look and feel uncomfortable.

Dressing Up

Everyone has their own version of dressing up, but you should always consider the venue and dress code before the party. If you can’t seem to find anything in your closet, go shopping as quickly as possible so that you have enough time to put together a classy look in advance of the party.

Decide on Semi-formal vs. Formal

Your party invitations should tell guests what to wear. For example, if you want it to be a casual event, your invite might welcome pants and a sweater. However, if you want to have a more formal event, then you’ll need to determine what’s formal and what isn’t. You can wear nice pants for semi-formal parties as long as they’re not jeans or work clothes.

For formal events, most people will wear dresses or nice suits. However, you might be able to find a formal pantsuit that works perfectly, depending on your preferences.

Work Parties

Work holiday party attire can be tricky. If your work party takes place during work hours, and you’re expected to work at least part of the day, then you should be able to get away with wearing your work clothes.

However, if your work party takes place at a separate venue after work hours, then you should try to dress up. Ask your coworkers what they’ll be wearing so that you can determine what type of attire is appropriate. You can also bring a duffle bag with a change of clothes to work if you feel like getting more dressed up than usual.

Dinner Parties

Your dinner party might not be as formal as a party at a hotel. However, you should still dress up. A dinner party dress code can be anything you want, but make sure that your guests know what to wear so no one feels underdressed for the occasion. For example, you don’t want to be wearing a formal dress while your guests are wearing jeans.

Dressing up for a holiday doesn’t mean that you have to spend your hard-earned money.  With this quick guide, you can find something in your closet that looks great for any occasion.