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Five Holiday Work Party Outfits: Festive Looks for Every Formality

Party-ready. Office-approved.

By Emma Steinbergs

Ding! The invite to your holiday work party just hit your inbox. After checking your calendar for any conflicts and ensuring your favorite colleague can make it, too, you ask yourself the next essential question: What should I wear?

Such an inquiry seems like it would come with an easy answer; you get dressed for work five days a week, after all. But as you’ll soon discover, putting together an outfit that’s equal parts festive and professional is a different endeavor entirely. Cocktails, colleagues, small talk, and significant others—depending on your office environment, it can all feel like a strange mix.

Anxious already? As far as clothing goes, we can help. Whether you’re polishing up for a sophisticated soirée or getting ready for a low-key dinner party, scroll to see five festive outfits—one for every type of holiday office party.

5 Holiday Work Party Outfits

1. For the Formal Gala

Sounds fancy! Settle for nothing less than a stunning, below-the-knee style like the Priya dress. A bit more refined than those sequined dresses you see everywhere during holiday season, this bias-cut beauty features a liquid-like drape and a near-magical ability to complement your curves without being clingy. (Alternatively for a twist on the many red dresses out there for the holidays, try it in bright coral—subtly different, but still celebratory.) If you’re a fan of our best-selling Nora top, you’ll recognize the Priya’s identical cowl neck, which is practically an accessory in and of itself, doing away with the need for a necklace. If you do want to add more depth to your look, toss an elevated layer over your shoulders. The Lilia is a great option as it has a similar vibe to vintage tweed jackets and is meticulously crafted in Japan. For the grand finale, choose metallic embellishments like the sparkly Romy hoops and the silver Ella sandals, which pair back to the pavé stones in your earrings.

2. For the Cocktail Party

This is probably the most common company party dress code—so if you want to stand out, it’s going to take some extra effort. Our advice? Rock a pair of fun pants that pop against the sea of black dresses, party dresses and pencil skirts. Check out our ideas for how to style leather pants, or try the washable-satin Smith pants in Champagne. We love to pair these lightweight, straight-leg trousers with the pearl-colored Vicky tank, which forms a cohesive, winter-white base and is more refined than a sequined top. To distinguish your look further, amp things up with the Nicky jacket, which features a crop that allows your pants to shine and a bold, eye-catching jacquard that’s sure to attract several compliments. For a festive flourish, add twinkly gold pumps and coordinating crescent-shaped statement earrings.

3. For the Office Potluck

For a casual in-office activity, you could stick to your usual workwear rotation, but where’s the fun in that? A lustrous piece like the Carr jumpsuit offers the best of both worlds—everyday comfort and special-occasion glamor. It’s crafted from our drapey Everyday Satin, which is aptly named—featuring a subtle sheen, ideal amount of slouch, and just-right weight we simply can’t put into words. Deep pockets, an adjustable drawstring waist, and machine-washability make this statement style especially suitable for stashing, snacking, and spilling. If your office leans business-casual, round out your look with elegant yet easy accessories like cat-print loafers and go-to gold hoops.

4. For the Dinner at Your Boss’s House

Whatever you do, do not show up in loungewear; at the same time, you don’t want to look like you’re trying too hard, either. The solution? Find some middle ground by creating a look that’s both approachable and professional. We recommend pairing a relaxed sweater with your favorite tailored trousers, which you can repurpose for entirely non-work-related activities, too. More of a turtleneck person? We put together fresh inspiration for how to style a turtleneck. You could definitely wear look #6 as a holiday party outfit.

Now, on to accessories: Depending on your boss’s personal protocol, you might end up leaving your shoes at the door, but even so, you should treat your footwear as part of your outfit. Try the Irene slingbacks, which slip on and off easily and pair back to your taupe-colored pullover. To take this look to a more celebratory level, just add the multi-colored Tia earrings and bring a bottle of your favorite sparkling wine.

5. For the Ugly Sweater Extravaganza

Buying a clothing item you’ll only wear once goes against everything we stand for—but that doesn’t mean you have to sit out the ugly sweater party. Our confetti-inspired sweaters allow you to be whimsical without being wasteful. To be clear, they’re the opposite of ugly, but they are incredibly charismatic, thanks to pops of embroidery in citron and mahogany, as well as tinsel-y spots of ice blue and silver. After deciding between the Tish pullover and the Cookie cardigan, keep the focus on your sweater by sticking with a more minimalist pair of pants like the black Milo jeans. Complete the look with luminous accessories like the glitzy silver Rowan flats and the pearl Lillie earrings.

Written By

Emma Steinbergs

Emma is M.M.LaFleur's Brand Manager. She previously worked as an M.M. stylist and still loves thinking through styling challenges and solutions for customers.

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