LaPointe Holiday Party Outfits: What to Wear to Every Party

Holiday party dressing has one job: to look like you made an effort without looking like you are attending a different, grander event. LaPointe is built for exactly that line. The house makes satin, sequin and feather pieces that are festive on their own, cut in shapes simple enough to wear to an office party, a dinner at home and a hotel ballroom in the same fortnight.

Here is how to dress for each kind of holiday party in LaPointe, from the work drinks to the black tie dinner, with the pieces that are in stock at Luxury Handbags now.

What should you wear to a holiday party?

Read the invitation first, then the room. An office party at six in the evening calls for something you could wear to a smart dinner. A private party at home calls for one festive piece with something relaxed. A ballroom party calls for a gown. The mistake is dressing every one of them the same way.

The easiest rule: one festive element per outfit. Sequins, feathers, a metallic satin, a strong colour. Choose one and keep the rest plain. LaPointe makes that easy, because almost every piece carries one decisive detail on an otherwise clean shape.

The office holiday party

You want something that works at your desk at four and at the bar at seven. A satin trouser with a festive top is the answer. The Satin Relaxed Pleated Pant in Black is the house trouser: wide, pleated at the front, and heavy enough to hang straight. Wear it with the Mesh Sequin Mockneck Top With Pleats in Black for a covered neck and a full sequin finish, and add a blazer for the working part of the day.

For colour, the Satin Cape Tee in Mulberry over the matching relaxed satin pant gives a tonal outfit that reads as festive without a single sequin.

The dinner party

A seated dinner in someone’s home is where feathers earn their place. The Satin Top With Feathers in Black has a feathered finish at the hem that moves when you do, and it sits well with a plain black trouser. The Merino Mock Neck Sweater With Feathers in Mulberry is the knitwear version: a fine merino that keeps you warm in a cold dining room, with feather trim at the cuffs that makes it a party piece.

A short dress also works here. The Satin Shift Dress With Feathers in Forest is the house signature: a straight satin shift with deep feather cuffs. Forest green is the right colour for December. It looks festive without looking like a Christmas card.

The cocktail party

Cocktail means knee length to midi, and more shine than a dinner. The Rhinestone Fringe Boatneck Mini Dress in Black / Bronze is the piece for a party where you want to be seen across the room; the fringe moves constantly and the boat neck keeps it grown up. For a midi, the Satin Draped Neck Bias Dress With Feathers in Emerald has the cowl neck and the bias cut that make satin look liquid.

Our full guide to LaPointe cocktail dresses goes further on lengths and dress codes.

The black tie holiday party

A charity gala, a hotel ballroom, a New York holiday benefit: these call for a floor length gown. The Net Mesh Sequin Gown in Cloud is a full sequin column in a pale blue that looks like frost under the lights. The Mesh Sequin Sleeveless Gown With Sash in Black is the more classic choice, with a sash that defines the waist. If you prefer satin, see the LaPointe evening gowns guide.

What colours work for holiday parties?

Black is the default and still right, but it is the least interesting choice in a room full of black. LaPointe colours that read as festive without being literal:

• Forest and Emerald: deep greens that belong to December.
• Mulberry and Berry: warm reds with a purple base, kinder than a bright red.
• Silver, Cloud and Pale Gold: the metallic and frosted shades, best in sequin.
• Marine: a deep blue that looks expensive by candlelight.

How do you keep holiday pieces looking good all season?

Hang satin on a padded hanger and steam it from the inside before each wear. Store sequin pieces flat, folded with tissue, so the weight does not drag the shoulders. Feathers need room: give a feathered top its own space in the wardrobe, and if the plumes flatten, a gentle steam from a distance brings them back. Our guide to caring for feather clothing has the detail.

For more party ideas across every designer we stock, read Christmas party outfits and the Christmas party dresses edit.

Frequently asked questions

What should I wear to a holiday party?

Match the outfit to the setting. A satin trouser with a sequin top suits an office party, a feathered top with plain trousers suits a dinner, a short embellished dress suits a cocktail party and a floor length gown suits a black tie event. Keep to one festive element per outfit.

Is LaPointe good for holiday party outfits?

Yes. LaPointe specialises in satin, sequin and feather pieces in simple shapes, so a single garment carries the festive detail while the rest of the outfit stays plain. The house also cuts tops and trousers as separates, which makes them easy to wear again.

What is the LaPointe satin shift dress with feathers?

It is the house signature: a straight satin shift dress with deep feather cuffs at the sleeves. It is knee length and works for dinners, cocktail parties and holiday events in colours such as Forest, Black, Marine and Berry.

What colours are best for a Christmas party?

Deep green, berry and mulberry reds, marine blue and metallic silver all read as festive without being literal. Black always works, but a colour stands out more in a room where most guests wear black.

Can I wear sequins to an office holiday party?

Yes, if you keep the rest of the outfit plain. A sequin top with a black satin trouser and a blazer works from the desk to the party. Save full sequin dresses and gowns for evening and black tie events.

How do I store feather and sequin pieces between parties?

Hang feathered pieces with space around them so the plumes are not crushed, and steam them gently from a distance to revive them. Store heavy sequin pieces folded flat in tissue so the weight does not stretch the shoulders.

Read next

• What to wear to a gala
• LaPointe New Year’s Eve outfits
• LaPointe cocktail dresses
• LaPointe feather tops

Written by Gemma Deeks, Fashion Editor at Luxury Shoes .