What to wear
What to Wear to a Christmas Party (Office, Family, Cocktail)
Three rooms, three uniforms. The office party is not the family buffet and is not a black-tie New Year.
Updated 28 Jun 2026 · 7 min read · what to wear to a christmas party
Office party: festive, still employed
You will see these people on Monday. A velvet blazer over the business-casual formula, or a midi dress with opaque tights, is the range. Novelty ties and micro-minis become stories. Dark colors hide wine. A small gold earring from the everyday gold set is enough glitter.
Family party: sit, eat, hug, photograph
Knitwear that does not pill onto a baby, trousers with a real waist, shoes you can stand in a kitchen in. Matching family pyjamas are for the people who live in the house, not for the guest who has to drive home.
Cocktail and hotel
Jewel tones, crepe, velvet, a suit that is not your interview grey. Heels you have already danced in, or leather loafers. A clutch. This is closer to a winter wedding guest than to a Christmas jumper ad.
| Party | Wear | Skip |
|---|---|---|
| Office | Velvet blazer, midi, leather shoes | Santa hat, anything you cannot sit in |
| Family | Merino, dark jeans or trousers, flats | Dry-clean-only white |
| Cocktail / hotel | Jewel crepe, suit, proper shoes | Office lanyard energy, gym trainers |
Questions, answered
- Is a Christmas jumper ever right?
- When the invite says so, or the pub has a prize. Not at a client dinner.
- Can I wear black?
- Yes. Add a texture so it does not read as a funeral. Velvet does that job.
- What if I have two parties in one night?
- A dark midi or a navy suit with a shirt you can swap. One bag. Shoes you can walk between venues in.
