The short answer: a work holiday party outfit should look festive and still feel right in front of your manager. Choose one dressy element (a sequin sleeve, velvet, satin or a sheen) and keep everything else polished: tailored pants or a midi dress, a blazer or cardigan you can add or remove, and shoes you can stand in for two hours. Save very short hems, deep necklines and head-to-toe sequins for parties with friends.
The office party is the one holiday invite where you are dressing for two audiences: the party tonight and your coworkers on Monday. The good news is that the formula is simple once you know where the party is. Below are four work holiday party outfits sorted by venue, a short list of what to skip, and answers to the questions people actually search for, like whether jeans are allowed. Everything linked is in stock at Bezza.
First, figure out what kind of work party it is
- At the office, straight from your desk: you are wearing it all day, so it has to pass for work at 10 a.m.
- Restaurant lunch or dinner: business casual with a festive touch. Dresses and dressy tops both work.
- Evening event at a venue or hotel: closer to cocktail attire. This is where you can add real sparkle.
- Team outing (bowling, a brewery, an escape room): jeans are fine. One festive top does the job.
If the invite says nothing, ask a coworker who went last year. Their answer is worth more than any style rule.
Outfit 1: The desk-to-party look
When the party starts at 4 p.m. in the break room, you need an outfit that works in a meeting first. Start with the Rolling in the Deep Pleated Top. Its micro-pleated fabric has a soft sheen, which is just enough shine for a party, and the collared V-neck and long sleeves keep it office-appropriate. It comes in black or champagne; champagne looks especially festive under warm lights. It sits close to the body, so size up if you like a looser drape.
Pair it with the Lead From The Heart Low Rise V Shape Ponte Flare Pants, a black stretch ponte with a flared leg and a front slit at the hem. They hold their shape and resist creasing through a full workday. One honest note: the 33 inch inseam is drafted for a heel, so if you are petite or wear flats, plan a hem.
Finish with the Make It Happen Blazer, a cream tweed with a double-breasted front. Wear it buttoned in the morning, then open it over the top when the music starts.
Outfit 2: The restaurant dinner
A sweater dress is the easiest answer for a team dinner: it is comfortable through three courses, and it looks considered without trying too hard. The I've Loved You For So Long Pleated Sweater Dress has a ribbed wrap bodice, a belted waist with a gold-tone buckle, long sleeves and a pleated midi skirt finished with an ivory stripe at the hem. The beige tone is soft and expensive-looking in photos.
Add the Ella Bow Tie Nude Pumps, a nude faux suede slingback with a pointed toe and a small bow. The 3.5 inch heel is a real dress heel, and the slingback strap keeps your foot secure, so you are not gripping with your toes through the speeches. Gold earrings and a small crossbody and you are done.
Outfit 3: The evening party at a venue
When the company rents a room and the invite says cocktail, you can turn up the sparkle. The Right Next To You Sequin Sleeve Sweater pairs a textured black knit body with colorful floral sequin sleeves. The sequins sit on the sleeves, not across the front, which is exactly the right amount of shine for a work crowd. Wear it with the same black ponte flares, or with a black midi skirt and heels.
Because the sleeves are the statement, keep the rest quiet: small studs, a black or nude bag and no extra layers of sparkle.
Outfit 4: The quiet shine
Not everyone wants sequins at a work event, and that is fine. Texture reads just as festive. The Everybody Needs Someone Velvet Checker Mock Neck Top is a black top with a tonal checkered velvet that catches light softly, and a mock neck that keeps it polished. Tuck it into wide-leg trousers for the party, then layer it under a blazer for regular workdays all winter.
Want more options like these? Our work holiday party outfits edit pulls together dresses, tops and pants that pass the office test, and our holiday tops collection has more sparkle and velvet to pair with pants you already own.
What not to wear to a work holiday party
- Very short hems and deep necklines. Ask yourself whether you would wear it to a client lunch with a blazer. If not, save it for New Year's Eve.
- Sheer fabric without a layer underneath. Sheer sleeves are fine; a sheer bodice is not for this crowd.
- Head-to-toe sequins at a daytime party. One sparkly piece looks festive; three looks like you came from somewhere else.
- Brand-new shoes. Work parties involve a lot of standing. Break heels in at home first.
- A novelty sweater, unless the invite says ugly sweater. Then commit fully.
A note for Texas offices
Texas winter parties have their own problem: an over-air-conditioned office, a warm restaurant and a patio heater, sometimes all in one night. Layers solve it. A blazer, a cardigan or a sweater top you can take off is more useful than a heavy dress that only works at one temperature. For a cozy knit with a little personality, browse our cute sweaters.
Work holiday party outfit FAQ
Can I wear jeans to a work holiday party?
For a casual team outing, yes. For an office or restaurant party, dark jeans can work if your workplace is casual and the rest of the outfit is dressy: a sequin-sleeve sweater or a satin top, a blazer and heeled boots. For an evening event at a venue, choose trousers or a dress instead.
Are sequins too much for an office Christmas party?
Not if you use them on one piece. A sequin sleeve, a sequin top under a blazer or a skirt with a little shine all look festive and appropriate. Avoid a fully sequined dress unless the party is an evening event with a cocktail dress code.
Should I wear a dress or pants to a work holiday party?
Either works. Pants with a dressy top are the easiest choice if the party starts at the office. A midi sweater dress is the easiest choice for a dinner. Pick whichever you will feel most comfortable standing and talking in for two hours.
What colors look best at a work holiday party?
Black, champagne, cream, burgundy and deep green all look festive without being loud. Save the brightest red sequins for a party with friends.
US orders over $100 ship free, and returns are free within 21 days of delivery on unworn, unwashed items with tags attached (final sale excluded). For more party pieces, see our holiday party collection.
