Fashion Essentials for Holiday Partying

Putting together a great holiday party outfit can feel a little daunting. How do you balance appropriate with festive? Can your party wear be dressy and comfortable? Not to worry—you can embrace the spirit of the season and nail your holiday party wardrobe with a few basic pieces and a bit of creativity. It’s all about taking your typical party look up a notch, tastefully leaning into the season’s colors, and adding some sparkle and texture. No matter what type of festivities are on your calendar, you can put together some amazing outfits that will work for every occasion.

Whether you’re going to a family dinner, a posh charity ball, a holiday work party, or a night out with friends at the club, you can make plenty of great holiday memories while looking memorable yourself. If you need a little help getting into the holiday fashion groove, check out these must-have items for women and men who want to look awesome when they head out to party at the best clubs in San Diego. 

Holiday Basics for Women

Satin, sparkles, feathers, and tailoring mean dressing for the holiday you want. Every celebration starts with putting together a look that slays, which can be as fun as the party itself. Whether the dress code is festive meets creative black-tie, formal but fun, extravagantly glamourous, super casual, or traditional, you can put your own personal twist on your holiday look with these essentials.

Sequined Blouse

A sequined blouse is the quintessential holiday top because it provides sparkle, which is the key to simple yet elegantly festive dressing. It’s extremely versatile, so you can layer it with a tailored jacket and a pencil skirt for classic lines, or you can wear it with a silky satin skirt or a pair of sequined pants in a complementary color. You can even score some serious cool points by pairing a sequined top with your favorite oversized vintage jeans.

Maxi Skirt

This skirt is the perfect go-to piece, whether you pair it with a crop top for a night out with friends or top it with a white button-down shirt and a waistcoat for a classy formal function. A maxi skirt provides an elongated, flattering look, and you can choose one with a tail hem or slit detail to make holiday party dancing and socializing even easier.

Cocktail Dress

If you’re looking for a piece that lets you go all out with the glamor and glitz, this is the way to do it. After all, isn’t that what festive wear is all about? The key to a holiday cocktail dress with extra pizazz is in the frills and the fabrics, from chainmail to sequins, tulle, and feathers. The hemline is high, but the neckline is the place to add your special touch with details. Maximize your bust area with a low neckline or select a higher one to minimize it. An off-the-shoulder or sleeveless dress will highlight your shoulders, especially if it’s lined with tulle or feathers for a bit of additional panache. 

Tuxedo

If you want to sport a modern take on evening wear, a tailored tux is the way to go. A tuxedo is the ultimate in understated chic—subtle yet super sexy. There’s no shortage of creative ways to wear tuxedo elements as separates—pair a plain white T-shirt with the pants and a kitten heel or wear the jacket with a bright-colored silk camisole over your favorite vintage jeans. A tux is always a classic wardrobe essential, and you can wear it in any number of combinations to adapt it to whatever the occasion calls for.

When you’re selecting a tux, focus on the shape, cut, and details such as the width of the lapels, the length of the jacket, and the finish of the fabric. A single-button jacket will give you a sleek, stylish look. As for the pants, you should try them on with heels before you hem them so they’re barely touching the ground. Add some shimmer with a sequined top and a pair of glittery drop earrings. 

Holiday Essentials for Men

As the holidays approach, why not take advantage of the opportunity to put away your sweats and slip into party duds instead? Whether you’re dressing for company events or traditional gatherings with friends and family, you’ll want to sport a look that’s just right for all the merriment. Here are some of the best items to have in your wardrobe so you’ll look great no matter where you’re spreading holiday cheer.

Shirts & Sweaters

Winter means it’s time to break out the layers, and the coziest possible layer for your casual holiday gatherings is a cardigan. Keep your look fresh by opting for one with a looser fit, and pair it with a pair of cords and a tailored shirt for a fashionable yet relaxed vibe. 

A sweater is a great go-to item for a lot of reasons. It can tone down the formality of an outfit and keep you comfortable as a plus. If you’re going for a bit of a bolder look, a wide-lapeled suit jacket over a turtleneck can be the perfect choice. 

You can also layer a white collared shirt under a cardigan or a V-neck sweater. Try to add a pop of color to make it festive. Solid colors such as burgundy and dark green work well, but if you really want to go all in with the holiday spirit, go ahead and throw on that
gaudy graphic sweater with the snowmen and reindeer—almost anything goes this time of year!

If you’re attending a less casual event, you can still go bold with a black button-up shirt or a solid black crewneck sweater topped with a colorful jacket and a festive tie, or layer a tailored vest over a classic shirt-and-tie combo. Add some panache with distinctive colors, textures, and prints. 

Jackets

A great jacket is essential for completing your look. Most guys will just throw on a sport coat for almost every event, but for more casual get-togethers, you can’t go wrong with a sleek leather jacket.

If you’re wearing a colorful shirt or a funky graphic sweater, keep your jacket understated. If your shirt or sweater is a bit more subdued, feel free to be daring and wear a jacket with some color or an interesting pattern. Add an extra touch of class with a crisp pocket square, and you’re ready to party in style.

Pants

When you’re choosing pants, you can keep it simple with a couple of versatile options. For the most casual affairs, nicer jeans in dark blue or black are always a good choice. If the event is more business casual, they’re still appropriate if you top them with a crisp button-down shirt and a tailored blazer.

If you want to go a little dressier, get a nice pair of slim-fit wool pants in either black or dark gray, which will go well with almost any shirt, sweater, or jacket. Another great wardrobe staple for the holiday season is navy dress pants in a straight cut.

When you’re ready to show off your hot new holiday outfit at the hippest dance club San Diego has to offer, check out Onyx Room, a staple of the Gaslamp Quarter nightlife scene. With multiple rooms and various genres, we’re sure to please both first-time and veteran San Diego clubgoers. Whether you’re looking for the best Top 40, urban Latin, or hip hop clubs in San Diego, we have something to please everyone. Come see for yourself what Onyx has to offer. To join the guest list for the night of your choosing and experience why Onyx Nightclub is the best San Diego nightclub, call us at 619-876-8044.