How to dress for a Christmas Party

Unlike a birthday, promotion party or leaving do, a Christmas party is the perfect neutral party where there isn’t a star of the show - but that doesn’t mean you can’t command the attention of the room. 

 There isn’t one set rule for how to dress at a Christmas Party, unless specified by the organisers, so you could go for casual festive fashion or sophisticated seasonal style. Don’t worry, we’ll cover them all. 

Whether your dress code is formal or just smart, there is a general consensus that darker colours are more seasonal and brighter colours should be reserved for summer months.

The right colours to wear for Christmas are; navy/dark blue, dark/olive green, burgundy, red, mustard yellow/ochre.

Without fail, tartan emerges as a festive favourite year after year. Incorporating some tartan elements into your look is a quick and easy way to make a non-festive outfit look like it’s in keeping with the seasonal style.


If there is one thing Christmas allows, it’s a bit of sparkle. Perhaps it’s the ‘Christmas magic’ or just the insane amount of glitter on every Christmas card and wrapping paper, but sparkle has become a key feature in Christmas attire.

Sequins, beading and the dreaded glitter all make regular appearances at this time of year, so embrace the festivities and all the glitters with it.


Ah, this old favourite. If you’re having an informal office Christmas party, or popping to the pub after work, then the famous Christmas Jumper is a welcome addition - especially for men who don’t want to dress up. It’s a playful bit of fun that brightens up the mood, and is increasingly popular.


Don’t want to get hot wearing a thick jumper, or need something more formal? An equally festive accessory can be the perfect compromise. Wearing a festive bow tie or Christmas tie:

Channel your inner Gatsby or Downton Abbey with some period style. Flapper dresses, floor length beaded dresses and a complete black tie outfit are worn with pride during the festive year, and look incredible in this happy time of year.


Very fitting for the time of year, thick fabrics and textures start appearing more often as the temperature falls. More so for men than women, tweed and wool regular appear during winter months and are a great way to balance smart and casual for a Christmas party.


If your Christmas party is very casual and doesn’t require any formal or set dress code, you can still embrace the festive occasion with a Christmas t-shirt. These Christmas tees from Mrs Bow Tie have been a big hit with men who get too hot in a jumper but still want to dress up for the time of year.