Holiday party outfit ideas for curvy women
Holiday party outfit ideas for curvy women: what each dress code means, easy looks for the office party, dinner or cocktails, and how to stay warm.
December fills up fast: the office party, a friend's dinner, a cocktail night you said yes to in October. If you are curvy, you probably already know the drill. You want to look festive, feel comfortable for hours and not spend the night tugging at something. Here are outfit ideas that do all three, organized by the kind of party you are heading to.
What do holiday dress codes actually mean?
Start with the invitation. Etiquette expert Lizzie Post told the AP that people really like invitations to be explicit for semiformal events, and that you want to feel out any event to be sure. Here is a plain-language version, based on the AP guide and The Wardrobe Consultant:
- Festive casual: your everyday clothes with a holiday touch. The Wardrobe Consultant suggests something like an embellished sweater with jeans, holiday colors or plaid, and ankle boots or flats.
- Business festive or the office party: professional basics with a seasonal spin. The AP guide puts office parties in semiformal, with dress tops and dress pants or knee-length dresses. The Wardrobe Consultant says to keep it refined and avoid anything too flashy.
- Festive cocktail: dressier, for evening. The Wardrobe Consultant suggests a cocktail dress in holiday colors or an elevated jumpsuit, plus one or two statement pieces.
- Festive black tie: black tie with added color or embellishment, according to the AP.
What to wear to an office holiday party
Think polished and easy to sit in. A fitted top with high-waisted flare pants is a favorite on curvy bodies because the high waist sits at your natural waist and the flare balances your hips. Add holiday color through the top, a scarf or earrings, the way The Wardrobe Consultant suggests, and a blazer if the office runs cold.
One combination made for this: our Square Neck Long Sleeve Bodysuit with the Scrunch Back Flare Pant. The bodysuit has a thong back and snap closure so it stays tucked and smooth, and the pant has a high, wide waistband and flares from the knee. Check the size charts: the bodysuit runs S to XL (about US 2 to 12), and the pant runs S to 3XL.
Outfit ideas for a festive dinner or friends' party
- A cozy sweater in a holiday color or with a little sparkle, dark jeans and ankle boots.
- A knit dress with opaque or sheer-look tights and boots, plus statement earrings.
- Velvet anything. The Wardrobe Consultant names velvet and sequins as festive fabrics, and one velvet piece goes a long way.
- A plaid skirt with a fitted top and tights.
What to wear to a holiday cocktail party
This is the night for the dress. The Wardrobe Consultant suggests a cocktail dress in holiday colors or an elevated jumpsuit, one or two statement accessories and heels or pumps, with stylish flats if heels are not comfortable. Pick the festive detail that you love and let the rest stay simple. Their advice: festive elements should complement your outfit rather than dominate it.
How do I stay warm in a dress at a winter party?
Tights are the easiest answer, and they can look polished. Choose a pair that stays up at the waist and does not bag at the knee, and wear a real coat for the trip there. For formal events, the AP guide even suggests a formal coat instead of a down parka.
If you want warmth without opaque legs, our Fleece Lined Sheer Look Tights are made for this. They look sheer from outside, are fleece-lined inside and have a high waist. The Plus size fits about 132 to 220 lb. For a fitted dress, The Smooth Day Kit adds a faja, a shaping short and nipple covers, so the dress has a smooth base.
How to feel comfortable all night
- Do a sit test at home. Sit, stand, reach for a plate. If something rides up or digs in, change it now.
- Plan your shoes for the floor and the hours. Flats or a block heel are fine, as The Wardrobe Consultant notes.
- Layer your top half so you can adjust to a hot room.
- Wear what feels like you. As Lizzie Post told the AP about dressing for business events, it is still important to be you.
There is no curvy rule list you have to follow. Pick the dress code, choose one festive detail and build the rest around comfort. That is usually the outfit people remember.
Keep going: New Year's Eve outfit ideas for plus size women (that stay warm) and How to wear a bodysuit with a skirt: fit, skirts and outfits.
Mentioned here
Questions
What should I wear to a holiday party if I do not know the dress code?
Ask, or check the invitation. Etiquette expert Lizzie Post told the AP that people increasingly want invitations to be explicit, and that it is smart to feel out any event first. When in doubt, dressy pants and a nice top cover a lot of ground.
What does festive attire mean?
It means the usual dress code plus a holiday touch. The AP describes festive as adding color or embellishment, and The Wardrobe Consultant suggests holiday colors, velvet, sequins or a statement accessory.
Can I wear pants to a holiday party?
Yes. The AP guide lists dress pants with a dressy top as a fit for semiformal events, including office holiday parties, and The Wardrobe Consultant mentions an elevated jumpsuit for cocktail events.
What do I wear under a dress in winter?
Tights are the easiest warm layer. Fleece-lined tights that look sheer from the outside let you keep a party look without bare legs in the cold.
Keep reading
Sources: AP (via KPRC Click2Houston): parties are back, but how to dress? A holiday guide · The Wardrobe Consultant: decode the dress code for holiday parties