What to Wear to a Casual Christmas Party
Well, I’ll tell you right off the top what not to wear: American traditional holiday knitwear. 24 comments and the most commonly repeated word was “hideous”. Tiffany suggests the following reasons people wear them:
1) love of that cutesy, “country” Americana,
2) love of crafts and decoration (I’ve run out of things to make and decorate for the holiday, so I’ll decorate myself!), and
3) “thriftiness”/pack rat tendencies (it only gets worn once a year, so it’s too nice to toss).
Do you see yourself in any of those?
I’ll be honest; if I were ever tempted to wear that kind of thing, it would be because that’s what my host(ess) was wearing and I wasn’t sure how to translate “casual” + “festive” into my own idiom. Here are some alternatives …
- for those who love cutesy, “country” Americana:
- for those who love to decorate:
- for you frugal packrats:
I feel pretty crafty this time of year, so I’m making my own skirt for Christmas parties. I bought a navy blue cotton summer kimono, called a yukatta for 3.50. It has large white leaves, light green leaves, and bright red berries. I removed all of the seams that gave the kimono its shape and then resewed it into a flat square. Then I used a knee length a-line wrap skirt I already own as a pattern. I don’t have a machine so I’m sewing by hand on the bus to and from work. I plan to wear it with a red blouse and some chunky green vintage jewelry.
That’s awesome, Sharon! You make me want to get busy and make something.
Send in a picture, if you’d like to share your end product.
Oohh, Sharon, I want that! That sounds fabulous. I do hope you send in a pciture.
Have a wonderful time in it and wear it in good health and happiness.
I have a red merino sweater set that I trot out around Christmas, which I wear with jeans, cords, tweed pants, or slinky black matte jersey pants depending on the formality of the event. For cocktail-party type things (we go to no more than one of these in most holiday seasons), I wear a knee-length black wrap dress with a jacquard shawl in red, black, and silvery gray. None of it is very inventive, but then “cute” is really not me. My mom, a retired Minnesotan, wears those hideous sweaters . . .
Other reason for wearing the dreaded sweater: Sense of humor - the same type that would lead you to wear Dame Edna glasses, etc.
being will to go “in character” can be fun!
Probably trouser style jeans or boot-cut khakis with a button-down fitted shirt and heeled boots. I would wear sparkly earrings/necklace to make it festive. My holiday wear is star earrings that look kind of snowflakey. Looking good is always festive.
My just above the knee gray cashmere sweater dress with opaque tights will probably be my “go to” outfit this season. I’ll probably wear it more casually as well with leggings and over jeans.
If I need to be a bit dressier, a pencil skirt and dressy (but not definitely not holiday themed) sweater.
“For those who love cutesy “country” Americana”. LOL. You had me laughing for like 5 minutes. Hmm, is it bad if I think that sweater is kind of cute…
What are you going to be wearing on the party circuit this year, Rebecca? Pictures?
Sheri ~ I like your formula. And I will try to take some pictures, maybe even today, although I’ve been shopping all morning (for gifts) and I don’t think I’ll have the energy to get all dressed up.
For Thanksgiving: long sleeve black knit top with silk black and beige print bow-neck blouse under, worn with nice jeans and high heeled red clogs.
For cocktail: a vintage lbd that popped up in a box of stuff from the grandmas this year.
For casual Christmas: I have lots of options. Not lots of invitations at this point, though. Probably some variation of nice slacks + shiny top + the necessary layer.
I like Wendy’s and Nicole’s formulas too. Love the snowflakey earrings idea.
HC ~ No, it isn’t bad you like the sweater pictured. I was trying to picture something that had the feel of the holiday sweaters, without the “hideous” factor. lol
[…] per Sheri’s request, and my mostly failed resolution, here’s what I am planning to wear for Thanksgiving this […]
I try to stay away from a red top of any type, and I usually opt for black sweater with jeans or winter white slacks.
For a casual Christmas party I am considering a black sweater or nice black button front shirt, dark jeans, black boots with a heel and nice jewelry. Black is always awesome. Even black casual pants instead of jeans but our Christmas party is for a Construction Company where most of the guys will have jeans on.
Laurie, I think jeans are great for that type of event. Black jeans would be fine too, if you look good in head to toe black. Sometimes I think those construction type people are intimidated by a dressier look.
Provided a person wears black near the face well, dcrmom’s formula is great for the busty body type.