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Have a holy, jolly, cozy Christmas.
Christmas Day is a mixed bag. Sure, there are gifts, hot chocolate, and maybe a few snowflakes, but there are never any concrete plans for the day. You might still be recovering from Christmas Eve festivities with a chill day at home or have scored an invite to a fancy Christmas soirée. And the holiday’s in-betweenness is exactly what makes it a hard one to dress for.
With the cold blasting outside, the day is usually spent indoors anyway. But that can have many interpretations, from family gift-wrapping sessions to a dinner party with friends. And while the inclination may be to dress up, how much is too much to essentially just spend time in someone’s living room? A handy guideline is to stick to Christmas classics, whether you think they’re cliché or not. Watch any Christmas movie and you’re guaranteed to see a good rotation of wardrobe staples for the day: sweaters, colorful tights, tulle skirts, headbands, cozy basics, and plaid are all in the mix—coupled with the festivity’s usual red, green, and white palette.
If you’re still unsure what to wear to welcome Santa’s gifts, here’s a list of outfit formulas to wear on Christmas day that will guarantee you a festive, comfortable, and memorable look.
A Green Suit
You may not be a mean one, but that doesn’t mean you can’t channel the Grinch. A two-piece green suit is one outfit formula that’s sure to score you festive points this Christmas. For an added holiday-ready detail, go for a tweed suit. The classic fabric has long been synonymous with the holidays, so it’s a safe bet for the day.
White Christmas
If you’re hopeful for a snowy Christmas, manifest it with your outfit. A head-to-toe cozy white outfit is ideal for those in between dress codes. To balance out the heavy white palette, play with cream shades, as well as fuzzy accessories and leather shoes.
All That Fuzz
It’s natural to want to wear festive vests and sweaters on Christmas Day. For a modern twist, pair them with trendier staples, like a tailored fuzzy-collar jacket and a bubble hem skirt.
Blue Velvet
Navy may not be a color usually associated with Christmas. But its deep tone is ideal for a nighttime Christmas affair, especially if it comes in a velvet fabric. For styling, a pair of sheer black tights and booties help ground the otherwise fanciful outfit.
Keep It Neutral
I get it—sometimes all you want to wear on Christmas Day is a cozy sweater. Yet, that doesn’t mean sacrificing the style factor. Elevate the look with wide-leg pants and a pair of pointy heels. Wear a mocha-like shade for the sweater to channel Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2025.
Plaid It Out
Plaid is also one of the most festive prints out there. Wear a pair of plaid pants in warm earthy tones that will provide an ideal backdrop for a pop of red in your accessories, whether that’s a handbag or shoes. A cozy shearling jacket is never a bad idea either.
Candy Cane Layers
If you walk on the avant-garde side of fashion, an asymmetrical candy cane-like top may be the perfect choice. But a print like this can be, well, a lot. So try to ground it with gray layers underneath, playing with knit, denim, and leather textures.
Ugly Sweater Made Chic
If your loved ones are insisting on the traditional ugly sweater, you can still pull off a chic look. Wear a double-breasted cream blazer and matching mini skirt for a tailored, elevated outfit. Add pops of Christmas-ready red via your sweater and handbag.
Sporty Christmas
With motorsports fashion making it big in 2024, I can’t blame you for wanting to channel the trend on Christmas. To make it festive, go with a green suede moto jacket, juxtaposed with a more frilly tulle skirt and ladylike red Mary Jane shoes.
Cozy and Chill
It’s the end of the year and sometimes the desire to dress up is simply not there. The scarf coat trend is a blessing in this case, allowing you to pull off a pajama-like outfit in style. Simply pair one (extra points if it has festive stitching like the one pictured above) with wide-leg pants and sneakers. Don’t forget your quilted tote bag for all your gifts.