Ultimately, the difference between workwear and party clothes is crystal clear—so venturing into the gray area of an office Christmas party can feel a bit unnerving. Seriously, how do we combine office-appropriate attire (usually a certain length plus more muted colors, depending on how chill your office vibe is) and party-ready ‘fits (sparkles, fun fabric, statement pieces—the exact opposite, basically) in a way that actually looks chic? Turns out, it’s not as scary as it seems. The key is to take aspects of both categories that you love—like luxe blazers and silky fabrics or A-line dresses and dance-floor-ready heels—and throw ’em together without thinking too hard about it.
Standard caveat: the holidays are stressful enough without having to worry whether or not Jan in sales will think your office Christmas party outfit is OTT or has an abundance of “unnecessary” tulle. Live your best life, bb. Wear what makes you feel as festive as possible—even if you’ll just be attending a holiday happy hour via Zoom. And only you know what’s gonna fly at your workplace, but many of us are blessed with a more relaxed, inclusive dress code these days.
Our top picks for the best work Christmas party outfits in 2022:
But, regardless of your unique HR department sitch, we’ve picked out options that can work for all the office party scenarios, from a classic red dress that practically screams ~holidays~ to a matching set that’s equal parts sophisticated and sleek. At home or making rounds from cubicle to cubicle, your office Christmas party can look like this whatever you want it to be.
when you want a comfy look
Mangoes
Long Satin Jumpsuit
for a subtle ‘fit
Lioness
Bias Midi Skirt
for the swanky gathering
House of Harlow 1960
Bergamo Midi Dress
for very themed festivities
The Drops
Belted Silky Stretch Dress
when you have no idea what to wear
The Drops
Laila Twist-Back Midi Sweater Dress
for going fully winter white
VamJump
Batwing Long Sleeve Dress
when you’re in the holiday mood
House of Harlow 1960
Aaron Knit Dress
for the fashion-forward office
The Drops
Manon Faux-Leather Wrap-Front Midi Skirt
for a high-end venue
Sika’a
Sika’a Floral Jacquard Midi Skirt
when you need something a bit fancy
Bardot
Lithium Sequin One-Shoulder Cutout Midi Dress
for a dash of whimsy
Mliyasan
Tulle Skirt
when you *must* have a suit
Dynamite
Susie A-Line Mini Skirt
for when you have plans later
Good American
Sequin Party Pant
when you want to go bold
& Other Stories
Tailored Stretch Wool Trousers
when you don’t want to wear red
Reformation
Top velvet wound
for a perfect one piece look
Black Hello
Corrine Jumpsuit
for a grinch-but-fashion moment
ALLSAINTS
Hadley Dress
for an unexpected pattern
Sezane
Bettanie Dress
for a simple, sweet look
Quinces
100% Washable Silk Slip Dress
for full-on hotness
Baileys 44
Robin Vegan Leather Mini Trench Dress
for the multi-stage holiday party
DSTLD
Leather Leggings
when you don’t want to wear a color
Eloquii
Houndstooth Jumpsuit with Contrast Detail
when you want to look like a bow
Stateside
Structured Poplin Mini Dress in Brick
for making a *statement*
DL1961
Holloway Jumpsuit
when you’re all about the trend
La Femme Apero
Yellow Damier Knit Set
Here’s how we chose all these cute choices.
Cosmo’s fashion team is constantly curating the internet to bring you the best, most relevant style options like it’s our job (because it is, heh). We have pretty high standards when it comes to clothing and accessory recommendations.
Each of our shopping articles adheres to the 15 Percent Pledge. And you better believe we read those product reviews (and test many of the brands IRL), so you don’t have to. You’re welcome!
Maggie Griswold
Contributing Fashion Editor
Maggie Griswold (she/her) is a contributing fashion editor for Cosmopolitan and a freelance writer and editor based in Los Angeles, covering everything from the latest wardrobe must-haves to interior design trends.
