Holiday Party Blazer: Styles and Outfit Ideas
- Words by
- Julio Arco
- Published
- Reading
- 4 min
The easiest holiday party blazer is one in a fabric that catches light: velvet, a fine corduroy, or a wool with a visible pattern. Pick a deep color such as burgundy, bottle green or navy, keep the fit clean through the shoulders, and let the rest of the outfit stay simple.
Below: which festive styles are worth a look, how each fabric reads, how to style them for different parties, and what to check on the fit before you buy. Whether it's a men's holiday blazer or a Christmas blazer for women, the same fit rules apply.
Which festive blazer styles should you choose?
Most holiday blazers fall into a handful of families. Each suits a different kind of party.
- Velvet: dressy, soft, and the safest choice for dinners and evening parties.
- Corduroy: relaxed and a little academic, good for casual gatherings and office get-togethers.
- Sequin or glitter: loud on purpose, best for cocktail parties and New Year's Eve.
- Plaid, tartan and houndstooth: the traditional winter option, easy to wear with plain pieces.
- Novelty Christmas prints: fun for ugly-sweater-style events, less useful the other 11 months.
If you want to wear the blazer again, choose from the first four. A solid deep color or a classic check will go back into rotation in January; a novelty print usually won't.
How to wear a velvet blazer to a holiday party
Velvet is the first thing most people look for, and for good reason. The pile catches light and shifts shade as you move, so a dark color looks deeper and richer than the same color in a flat weave. Through the lens of evidence-based design, I'd pick velvet over a matte wool when the party is lit by candles or string lights, because the surface does visible work in low light.
A burgundy velvet blazer is the classic. For a velvet blazer holiday party outfit, try one of these formulas:
- Burgundy velvet blazer, black fitted top or turtleneck, black trousers, leather loafers or ankle boots.
- Navy velvet blazer, white shirt open at the collar, gray wool trousers.
- Bottle green velvet blazer, cream silk blouse or knit, dark straight-leg jeans.
Keep everything else matte and simple. Velvet already supplies the shine and texture, so a second loud piece competes with it. For more ideas in this fabric, see these velvet blazer outfits.
Is a corduroy blazer good for Christmas?
Yes, if the party is casual. A corduroy Christmas blazer in rust, forest green or chocolate brown reads warm and a bit softer than tailoring in wool. Fine-wale cord looks smarter than wide-wale, which leans casual.
Wear it over a knit or an oxford shirt with dark denim or chinos. It works for men and women alike, and it is a good pick for office parties where you want to look put together without dressing like it is a wedding.
Sequin, plaid and novelty blazers
Sequin and glitter
One sequin piece is plenty. Pair the blazer with a plain tee or fine knit and straight black trousers, and keep jewelry minimal. If you want more ideas, there are sequin blazer outfits that tone the sparkle down.
Plaid, tartan and houndstooth
Patterned wool is the old reliable of the season. Red or green tartan is obviously festive, while gray houndstooth or a muted check says winter without saying Christmas. Pick one solid color from the pattern and echo it in a sweater or shirt underneath.
Christmas prints
Novelty blazers are for events that call for them. Keep the rest of the outfit plain and the look stays funny rather than chaotic.
Blazers for weddings and formal dinners
For a formal dinner or a winter wedding, go darker and plainer. Black, midnight navy or deep burgundy velvet in a close, tailored cut, with a silk or fine cotton shirt and polished shoes, looks right in most dress codes. Skip sequins unless the invitation says cocktail or black tie optional.
For more dressed-up seasonal pairings, look at these sophisticated holiday outfit ideas. If comfort is the priority, comfy holiday blazer outfits show how to relax the formula.
How should a holiday blazer fit?
A jacket that pulls at the shoulders is a fit problem, not a you problem. Check these points in order:
- Shoulders: the seam should sit where your shoulder ends. This is hard to alter, so get it right first.
- Closure: you should be able to button it without the fabric pulling into an X.
- Sleeves: about a quarter to half an inch of shirt cuff should show.
- Length: the hem should cover the seat, or for a cropped cut, end clearly at the waist or hip.
Velvet and sequins add visual bulk, so a slightly closer cut usually looks cleaner than a boxy one. Sleeves and hems can be tailored; shoulders mostly can't.
How to style a holiday blazer for different parties
- Office party: corduroy or wool in a dark color, with a knit and trousers.
- Dinner with friends: velvet over a simple top, with jeans or tailored pants.
- Cocktail party: velvet or sequin, with a slim silhouette and one metallic accessory.
- Family gathering: plaid or textured wool, comfortable shoes you can stand in.
As an architect trained in evidence-based design, I'd treat the blazer as the surface that carries the outfit and keep everything under it quiet: one texture and one accent color is easier on the eye than four. A blush and navy pairing is a softer alternative if deep jewel tones feel heavy for you.
Frequently asked questions
What color blazer is best for a holiday party?
Burgundy, bottle green, navy and black are the dependable choices. They look festive without being literal and are easy to wear again.
Can I wear a blazer to a Christmas party with jeans?
Yes. Choose dark, clean denim with no distressing, and a blazer in velvet or fine corduroy to keep the look dressed up.
What shoes go with a velvet blazer?
Leather loafers, ankle boots or sleek flats in black or dark brown suit most velvet colors. Keep them polished and matte.
Filed under Outfit Ideas
