Christmas Party Outfits: 5 Looks for Every Invite

Christmas party outfits start with the invitation. A work do in a hotel function room asks for something different from dinner with friends or a night of dancing.

The quickest way to get it right is to decide where the sparkle goes. One shiny piece carries an outfit. Everything around it can stay simple, and you can wear it again in January.

Five outfits below, all in the shop in Penarth and online now.

• Where the sparkle goes
• Christmas party outfits: five looks
• Getting there and back in December
• At a glance
• Trying it on in Penarth
• Frequently asked questions

Where the sparkle goes

Sequins, metallics and embellishment are the fun of a Christmas party. Placing them well is what makes the outfit feel like yours.

• Sparkle on top, plain underneath. A sequin sleeve or jacket over a dark trouser lights up your face in the photos.
• Sparkle below, a fine knit above. A sequin skirt shows off its movement every time you walk across the room.
• Sparkle in the detail. A diamond trim at the waist or a row of gold buttons suits a work do.

Colour works the same way. Black and gold say Christmas straight away. A fuchsia or a metallic pink says party just as clearly, and you will be easy to find across a busy room.

Christmas party outfits: five looks

1. The sequin co-ord. The Malissa J WF2302 Satin Drawcord Sequin Bomber Jacket, £49.99, zips up the front and gathers at the hem with a drawcord. It was designed to go with the Malissa J WF2267 Fishtail Shape Sequin Skirt at £46.99. That is a pull-on skirt, fitted through the hips, that flares out at the hem. Worn together, they make a whole outfit for a night of dancing. Worn apart, the jacket goes over a black cami and jeans for drinks in town.

2. The office party dress. Hope and Ivy's Sutton Puff Sleeve Diamond Trim Detailed Midi Dress is £109.99, in black, sizes 8 to 16. A diamond trim runs round the neckline and the waist. Two keyhole details at the front carry floral embellishment. Short puff sleeves and a midi hem make it right for a work lunch that runs into the evening. Add the Malissa J GC21955 Mongolian Faux Fur Bag, £24.99, a small chain-strap bag in black or stone.

3. Black tie, with gold. The 8th Sign Harriet Sparkle Tweed Midi Dress, £150, is a black sparkle tweed with a sweetheart neckline and short sleeves. Gold buttons run down the front. A matching belt sets the waist, and a front split lets you move. Keep your jewellery gold so it picks up the buttons. This is the dress for a hotel dinner dance.

4. Something different. The 8th Sign Veronica Metallic Mini Dress, £140, comes in a fuchsia metallic with a deep V neck and structured puff shoulders. Three bows run down the front. It is a dress for the party where you want everyone to remember what you wore. Plain heels and small earrings finish it.

5. Drinks after work. Plenty of Christmas parties happen in the pub or a restaurant straight from the office. The Micha 103 Jumper, £75.99, is a soft knit with sequin sleeves and a high frill neck. Wear it with the PINNS 778T Super Soft Wide Leg Trouser at £45.99, black with ecru piping or ecru with black. Over the top goes the Malissa J GC21967 Mongolian Faux Fur Jacket, £94.99, open at the front with a faux fur trim. It keeps you warm between venues and looks like party wear when it comes off.

The dresses above sit in evening and cocktail dresses and casual dresses. The rest is across jackets, jumpers, trousers and jeans and bags and handbags.

Getting there and back in December

A party outfit still has to survive the walk from the car. A few things make the evening easier.

• A faux fur jacket over a dress keeps you warm and still shows off the outfit.
• Opaque black tights go under every dress here, and make a mini feel right for winter.
• A small bag with a chain strap leaves your hands free for a glass and a coat.
• A block heel or a pointed flat carries the same outfit through a whole evening on your feet.

At a glance

• One sparkly piece carries a Christmas party outfit, with simple pieces around it
• Five outfits, from a sequin co-ord to a fuchsia metallic mini
• Pieces from £24.99 to £150, in the shop in Penarth and online
• Diamond trim or gold buttons suit a work Christmas party
• A faux fur jacket keeps you warm between venues
• Styled at The Queen B Boutique in Penarth, near Cardiff

Trying it on in Penarth

Party wear is easier to choose in front of a mirror. Bring your invitation in and we will put together the dress, the bag and the layer for the walk home.

For a dressier event, book a one to one styling appointment and try your shortlist with shoes and a bag.

Shop Evening & Cocktail Dresses

Frequently asked questions

What should I wear to a Christmas party?

Start with the invitation and the venue. For a work do, a midi dress with some embellishment, or a sequin top with smart trousers, covers most rooms. For dinner with friends, a sequin jacket over a cami and jeans works well. For a dinner dance or a hotel party, go longer and dressier, with a sparkle tweed or a velvet dress. In every case, choose one piece to carry the shine and keep the rest simple. Built that way, a Christmas party outfit gets worn again in January too.

What do you wear to a work Christmas party?

Something you would be happy to see in the photos on Monday. A midi dress with detail at the neckline or waist reads as party wear and still suits a room full of colleagues. A puff sleeve or a short sleeve keeps it smart. If the party starts straight after work, a sequin-sleeve jumper with your work trousers changes the outfit in a few minutes. Save the mini dresses and the full sequin co-ords for parties with friends, where the evening runs later.

Can I wear trousers to a Christmas party?

Yes. A wide leg trouser with a sparkly top is one of the easiest party outfits there is. The trouser keeps you warm and lets you dance, and the top does the dressing up. Keep the trouser plain and dark so the sparkle stays on top. A heeled boot or a block heel underneath lifts the hem off the floor. For a dressier evening, add a faux fur jacket and a small chain-strap bag and it reads as a full party outfit.

How do you wear sequins at Christmas?

Choose one sequin piece and build round it. A sequin skirt goes with a fine black knit. A sequin jacket goes over a plain cami and dark jeans. Keep jewellery small, because the sequins already catch the light. A matching sequin jacket and skirt make a co-ord for a big night out. It works because both shapes stay simple. Worn separately, the same two pieces give you two more outfits for the season.

What colours are best for a Christmas party outfit?

Black with gold is the classic, and it suits every room from the office to a hotel ballroom. Deep jewel tones such as burgundy and emerald feel festive too. If you want to stand out, fuchsia or metallic pink is a strong choice for a party with friends. Match your jewellery to any buttons or trim on the outfit, so gold buttons get gold earrings. Keep the bag and shoes neutral so the colour stays on the dress.