Woman wearing a lilac knit sweater and lilac sequin skirt in a moody restaurant setting, holiday party outfit by ASTR the Label

Office Holiday Party Outfits

Written by: ASTR the Label

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Published on

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Time to read 7 min

The best office holiday party outfits are one step dressier than your everyday work look, finished with one festive, statement-making detail: a velvet midi dress, a sequin skirt with a soft knit, or a sparkly top with tailored pants. 


When you're deciding what to wear to an office holiday party, let the dress code set the tone. A daytime party in the office usually means business casual with a little sparkle, while an evening event at a restaurant or venue leans toward cocktail attire. Keep your hemline and neckline work-appropriate, and you're good to go. 


Here, we’re breaking down how to read the invite, our favorite work holiday party outfits, and how to take your look from day to night.

How to Decode Your Office Holiday Party Dress Code

When it comes to company holiday party attire, three little clues tell you how dressed up to go: the invitation, the venue, and the time of day. If the invite names a dress code, that's your answer. If it doesn't, the setting fills in the gaps, since a conference room lunch calls for something different than dinner downtown. Timing matters too, with a dressier tendency for semi-formal events that start after 6 p.m. 

Business Casual or Daytime Office Parties


If your party happens over lunch or in the office itself, go business casual with one festive upgrade. This could be a skirt, khakis, or pants with an open-collar shirt, knit shirt, or sweater, or simply a dress. Skip spaghetti straps and low necklines. That's your base. From there, add a little holiday magic: swap your usual blouse for a velvet or satin top, pair a sequin skirt with a cozy fine-gauge knit, or choose a jewel-tone dress over your go-to neutral. It still looks like a business casual holiday party outfit, just with a lot more personality than a regular Tuesday. 


Need a starting point? Our Business Casual edit is full of polished wardrobe essentials made for this kind of upgrade.

Woman wearing a navy tweed short sleeve jacket with heart buttons and a navy chiffon mini skirt, workwear outfit by ASTR the Label
Shop this look: Ryleigh Tweed Mini Dress

Cocktail or Festive Attire Office Parties


Evening parties at a restaurant, bar or event space usually call for cocktail attire, and plenty of invitations will say "festive attire" instead to highlight a seasonal, holiday touch, often in holiday colors. In other words, this is your permission to have fun with it. 


Sparkle, velvet, rich color, and statement earrings all belong here, as long as the silhouette still feels work-friendly: a midi length, a softly structured shoulder or a neckline you'd wear to a client dinner. Our Cocktail & Party Dresses are a dreamy place to start, and our Holiday Collection is packed with velvet, sequins, and lace made to help you make an entrance.

Woman wearing a black long sleeve knit mini dress with ruffle hem and ruffle cuffs at a wine bar, date night outfit by ASTR the Label

Shop this look: Aleah Ribbed Knit Mini Dress

Office Holiday Party Dresses That Work Every Time

A single dress is the easiest route: one decision, styled up. These four office party dress ideas work across most dress codes, and each one is easy to dress up or down.

  1. The velvet midi dress. Velvet does the festive work for you, so everything else can stay simple. A midi length keeps it office-friendly, while romantic touches like puff sleeves or delicate lace trim keep it feminine. Wear it with pointed pumps or sleek knee boots for a cocktail or festive party. 

  2. The long-sleeve mini with sheer tights. A mini feels party-ready, and sheer black tights bring it right back into work territory. Choose a long-sleeve style and a higher neckline to balance the length, then add heeled ankle boots. Flirty, fun and best for after-hours parties.

  3. The satin dress under a tailored blazer. Satin catches the light without trying too hard, and a tailored blazer over the top makes it work-appropriate. Keep the blazer on for a daytime party, then slip it off once the evening gets going for an effortlessly chic day-to-night switch.

  4. The blazer or tuxedo dress. Sharp, structured, and confident, the blazer dress is the power move of holiday party outfits for women, and a double-breasted tuxedo style feels extra festive. Add sheer tights, statement earrings, and a metallic clutch for an evening event. If your pick is sleeveless, drape a blazer over your shoulders until the music starts.

So many holiday favorites, so little time. Browse more holiday dresses for every party on your calendar.

Office Holiday Party Outfits Beyond the Dress


Not a dress person? Separates are the most rewearable work holiday party outfits, because each piece slots right back into your office wardrobe in January.

  • A sequin top with tailored wide-leg pants. The top brings the sparkle and the pants keep it grounded. For the office, choose a style with sleeves or a higher neckline, or layer a blazer over a strappy one. After the holidays, the top works with jeans for date night and the pants go straight back into your workweek. 

  • A velvet or sequin skirt with a fine knit. A turtleneck or fitted sweater softens a statement skirt for a daytime party, and sheer tights keep a mini office-friendly. Swap the knit for a silky camisole later in the season. 

  • A jewel-tone suit or matching set. Emerald, burgundy, or sapphire tailoring feels festive without a single sequin. Wear the pieces together for the party, then split them up for work. Our matching sets make this one easy. 

  • A satin jumpsuit. One piece, zero outfit decisions. Metallic earrings and heels make it party-ready, while a blazer makes it office-ready. 

Woman wearing a dark burgundy leather bomber jacket with burgundy capri pants and slingback heels, fall street style outfit by ASTR the Label
Shop these looks: Estero Faux Leather Jacket & Cardin Capri Pants

Festive Fabrics and Colors to Wear

The quickest way to make any outfit holiday-ready is to change the fabric or the color, not the silhouette. Velvet, satin, sequins, lace, feather trim, and metallic knits all signal celebration instantly, even in a shape you'd wear to the office every week. Color works the same way. Burgundy, deep red, emerald, and navy feel rich and seasonal, classic black never misses, and gold accessories add warmth without going overboard. Our red dresses are an easy place to start if you want one bold piece, while our green dresses bring a jewel-toned moment that turns heads.


The simplest rule for festive attire? Choose one hero. If your dress is sequined, keep your accessories quiet. If your skirt is velvet, pair it with a simple knit. Let one statement-making piece lead.

Woman wearing a red pleated satin maxi dress with a thigh-high slit in a moody restaurant, holiday party dress by ASTR the Label
Shop this look: Paulette Satin Slip Dress

How to Go From Desk to Office Holiday Party

Woman wearing a chocolate brown sleeveless mock neck knit top and matching knit maxi skirt set in a cafe, by ASTR the Label
Woman wearing a black floral polka dot midi dress with lace trim, square neckline, and puff sleeves at a Parisian-style cafe, by ASTR the Label

Shop these looks: Kelly Sweater, Deora Midi Skirt & Kim Maxi Dress

If the party starts the minute work ends, plan an outfit that only needs a few quick swaps. Start the day in one of your favorite work dresses or tailored separates, then pack a small bag with two or three changes:

  • Swap your everyday flats for heels, heeled boots, or a sparkly pair of flats.

  • Add statement earrings or a sparkly hair clip.

  • Trade your work tote for a clutch.

  • Finish with a bold lip.

A well-chosen coat ties everything together for the commute and the walk in. Once you arrive, leave your work bag at your desk or with the coat check, so nothing says "still on the clock."

What Not to Wear to an Office Holiday Party


Woman wearing a gold metallic pleated dress with a V-neckline and spaghetti straps in a mirrored lounge, New Year’s Eve dress by ASTR the Label

  • Very short hemlines or very low necklines. Quick check: would you wear this length around your manager? If not, add sheer tights or reach for one of our midi dresses.

  • Costume pieces. Save the Santa hats and reindeer antlers for a themed party.

  • Shoes you can't stand in. You'll likely be on your feet for hours, so choose a heel you can actually walk in, or a chic flat.

  • Anything you'll adjust all night. If a strap slips or a hem rides up, you'll be thinking about it instead of the conversation. A flattering fit you can forget about is the goal. The best office holiday party outfits let you forget what you're wearing and focus on the people around you.

Woman wearing a chocolate brown off the shoulder ruched long sleeve top with dark wash jeans and a gold chain necklace, by ASTR the Label

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you wear jeans to an office holiday party?

Yes, if the party is casual or held during the day and your office already allows jeans. Choose dark, tailored denim with a dressy top, such as a velvet blouse or a sequin cami under a blazer. For an evening party or one with a cocktail dress code, skip the jeans and choose a dress or tailored pants instead.

Can you wear black to an office holiday party?

Absolutely. Black is a classic choice for any holiday party. To keep it from looking like an everyday work outfit, choose a festive texture such as velvet, satin or sequin trim, or add metallic heels and statement earrings. A little black dress with one sparkling accessory works for almost every dress code, and our black dresses have plenty of options.

What should you wear to a virtual office holiday party?

Focus on what shows on camera. A velvet or sequin top, statement earrings, and a bold lip all present well on screen, and soft, front-facing light helps rich fabrics look their best. Very fine stripes and tight, busy prints can flicker on camera, so solids and textures are the safer pick. Comfort below the waist is completely fine, though it's worth choosing something you could stand up in, just in case.

Can you rewear your office party outfit for New Year's Eve?

Yes, and it's a smart way to get more from one piece. Remove the layers that made it work-appropriate, like a blazer, tights, or flats, then add bolder accessories, higher heels and, a sleeker hairstyle. Browse our New Year's Eve looks for more ways to take it further.

Next Steps


Get set for the season with a simple formula: go one step dressier than your usual work look, let one festive piece take the lead, and keep a length you feel confident in. From there, the fun part is finding your version of it. 


Whether your celebration is a lunchtime gathering in the office or an evening downtown, our Office Party edit is the place to start. Choose the piece that feels most like you, and get ready to make an entrance.

Woman wearing a navy and black flocked floral mesh dress with sheer long sleeves and a boat neckline at a wine bar, by ASTR the Label
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