Red Christmas Party Dresses: What to Wear & How to Style Them
There is something about a red dress at Christmas. You can walk into a room full of black, sequins and velvet, and red still gets noticed.
And honestly, December is probably the easiest time of year to wear it.
A red Christmas party dress works for almost everything — drinks with friends, a work Christmas party, dinner, a winter wedding or a more formal holiday event. The only real question is which red dress feels like you.
Some women love bright scarlet. Others feel much better in burgundy or a darker wine red. Start there, then think about the dress itself.
Which Shade of Red Should You Choose?
Not every red feels the same.
Bright red is confident and definitely makes a statement. Cherry red feels a little more playful and current, while burgundy and wine are softer and, in my opinion, easier to wear if you don’t normally reach for bold colors.
If you’re standing in front of the mirror wondering whether a bright red dress is too red, try a darker shade. You still get that Christmas feeling without feeling as though the dress has entered the room before you have.
Ruby and cranberry reds are also beautiful for evening, particularly with silver or crystal jewelry.
But I wouldn’t get too caught up in rules about undertones. Hold the dress up to your face. If your skin looks good and you immediately like yourself in it, that’s probably your red.
A Red Mini Dress for Christmas Parties
If the plan is cocktails, dinner followed by drinks, or a proper Christmas night out, I love a red mini.
A fitted red Christmas party dress with a corset-style bodice feels sexy without needing much styling. Draping, long sleeves or an asymmetric neckline can also make a simple mini much more interesting.
With a shorter dress, I usually prefer keeping something else a little more covered. A red mini with long sleeves and sheer black tights, for example, looks gorgeous in winter.
For a dressier evening, skip the tights and add a simple heel.
You don’t need much jewelry. The dress is already red. It is doing plenty.
A Red Midi Dress for Dinner or a Work Christmas Party
A midi is probably the easiest red dress to wear.
It works particularly well if you’re looking for a red dress for a work Christmas party, dinner or somewhere you want to look dressed up without going full evening gown.
Satin is beautiful for this. So is velvet.
A red satin midi catches the light and feels a little sexier, while burgundy or dark red velvet has a richer, more wintery feel.
I would look for small details that make the dress interesting rather than something overly complicated — an off-the-shoulder neckline, a little draping, a slit or a really flattering waist.
And make sure you can actually sit in it.
This sounds obvious until you’re halfway through Christmas dinner regretting the dress you chose because it only looked good while standing perfectly still.
When to Wear a Red Maxi Dress
If the invitation says formal or black tie, this is where red can be amazing.
A floor-length red Christmas dress already has impact, so the silhouette doesn’t need to be overly complicated. A simple satin gown, fitted red maxi or velvet dress can look incredible.
I particularly like an open back, one-shoulder neckline or slit on a simple red gown. One strong detail is usually enough.
Also think about what you’re actually doing that night. A very fitted gown may look fantastic in photos, but if there’s dinner and dancing involved, make sure you can move in it.
Looking glamorous and being able to walk across the room shouldn’t be mutually exclusive.
Velvet or Satin?
Both. Just for different moods.
Red velvet dresses feel made for December. Burgundy, wine and deep ruby look especially beautiful in velvet, and you really don’t need to add much else.
If I were going to a candlelit dinner, winter wedding or slightly more formal Christmas party, velvet would probably be my first choice.
Red satin dresses feel lighter and a little more glamorous. Satin is gorgeous for cocktails, dinner and evening parties because it catches the light every time you move.
The only thing I would watch with satin is fit. It can be unforgiving, so I prefer a dress that skims rather than one that is fighting for its life around my hips after dinner.
What Shoes Go With a Red Christmas Dress?
This is actually much easier than people make it.
Black works.
A black heel with a red mini or midi gives the outfit a little contrast, and sheer black tights make the combination even better in winter.
Gold is beautiful with warmer reds and burgundy. Silver or crystal accessories look particularly good with cherry, cranberry and cooler reds.
And nude heels are always there when you don’t want the shoes competing with the dress.
I wouldn’t try to match red shoes perfectly to a red dress unless they genuinely work together. Two reds that are almost the same can look much stranger than simply wearing black or metallic shoes.
How to Accessorize a Red Christmas Party Dress
My first instinct with a red dress is always: don’t add too much.
If you’re wearing a fitted scarlet mini, you probably don’t also need giant crystal earrings, glitter shoes and a metallic bag.
Choose one or two things.
Gold earrings and a small black bag. Crystal earrings with simple heels. A metallic clutch with barely-there jewelry.
That’s enough.
Red already gives you the festive part of the outfit.
Can You Wear Red Lipstick With a Red Dress?
Of course.
You just don’t have to.
A red lip with a red dress can look incredibly chic, especially for an evening Christmas party. I would either get the reds quite close or deliberately choose a different tone, such as a deeper wine lip with a brighter dress.
If that feels like too much red for you, a nude or soft berry lip looks just as good.
I tend to prefer fairly simple makeup with a statement dress anyway. Glowing skin, defined eyes and either a good lip or great earrings. Not everything needs to happen at once.
What Coat Do You Wear With a Red Dress?
The coat is easy to forget until you’re completely dressed and standing by the door.
Black is the obvious choice and usually the best one. A long black wool coat over a red dress looks elegant and doesn’t compete with it.
Cream, camel and chocolate can also look beautiful with warmer reds and burgundy. For a more glamorous party, a faux-fur jacket or wrap works especially well with velvet.
And yes, technically you can put your everyday puffer over it.
But if you’ve spent an hour getting ready, this might be the night to leave it at home.
What I Would Wear
For a Christmas dinner, I would probably choose a burgundy or deep red satin midi with a simple heel and gold earrings.
For cocktails? A fitted red mini, black heels and a tiny bag.
For something formal, I would go for a long red dress and keep almost everything else simple.
That’s the nice thing about red Christmas party dresses. Once you’ve found a really good one, most of the outfit is already done.
You don’t need to turn yourself into a Christmas decoration just because it’s December.
Wear the shade of red that makes you look in the mirror and think, yes, this is the one. Make sure you can sit down, walk and have dinner in it. Add a good pair of shoes.
Then go to the party.
With love,
Anna
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