7 Chic Holiday Dresses to Wear This Season

While others may show up to holiday parties in simple black dresses, elevate your look and kill two trends with one dress. This Norma Kamali metallic slip dress ($190) has a fashion-forward sheen in a silhouette that’s equal parts classic and of-the-moment. Amp this look up for the holidays with as much jewelry as your neck, fingers, wrists and earlobes can handle.

This Topshop button wrap mini dress ($80) plays with popular current styles, the joyfulness of the season and classic holiday cheer. The ruffled shoulder and vibrant red allow the dress to be as exuberant as the holidays while the buttoned skirt gives it a root in fall’s Savile Row tailored trend. While the silhouette may be bold, a monochromatic look demands some holiday oomph. Pair this with a patterned shoe or gobs of icy jewelry for your festivities.

Good style trends come back for a reason, and this year, flapper fringe is getting a refresh. If nothing else, fringe is just pure fun to move around in. Mac Duggal’s dazzler dress ($460) is a holiday dress that would work equally well under a disco ball or at a tame cocktail affair. While you could keep this number styled simply as a vintage throwback, consider adding modern accessories. Brightly-colored earrings, a leather choker necklace or a structured jacket will keep your look from getting buried in the past.  

Ribbons and a jade color are classic holiday bets. But a thoughtful drape gives this Coast dress ($157) something thoroughly modern that sets it apart from other holiday dresses. The waist bow and a longer length make this look appropriate for family-friendly fetes—without feeling tired or too concealed. A breezy silhouette ensures that you’re ready to move if you indulge too much on eggnog.

This fun take on color-blocking puts all the right cuts in all the right places. Norma Kamali’s spliced long sleeve dress ($195) makes all other holiday dresses seem tame. A thoughtful sheer chevron panel is playful and coquette but a below-the-knee length ensures this dress doesn’t lose any sophistication. Plus, because it’s made of a jersey fabric, this is a perfect dress to throw in your suitcase for celebrating the holidays while on the road.

Metallics are here to stay. This ladylike HVN dress ($750) is equal parts 1940s movie star and futuristic space princess. If you’re opting for an all-silver holiday look, invest in a good fabric (like this silk-lamé blend) to keep from looking costumey. Dabble in the faux fur trend and drape a stole around your shoulders for a glamorous holiday look. This is what to wear if you need extra help convincing everyone you’re on the nice list this year.

Nothing says “holiday cheer” quite like billowing tulle. STAUD’s red-hot Mandy tulle maxi dress ($350) is the grown-up version of a childhood holiday dream. Yards of tiered tulle make this dress an elevated embodiment of the inarguable most festive emoji: the salsa dancer. An open neckline, smartly-cut back and delicate straps add some sultry appeal. Refrain from getting too precious and ground the look with casual accessories (think a denim jacket or black costume jewelry).