9 Holiday Party Outfits with Pants

SIZING NOTES: I’m 5’5″, and I usually take a 8/29 in pants/jeans, a small in tops, and size 8 shoe. I linked the sizes I’m wearing beneath the pictures. And by way of disclosure, gifted items are indicated by c/o. That means a company sent it to me; everything else I purchased myself.

I like this first look for a holiday work event. These Spanx Straight Leg Ponte Pants are a classic that you can dress up or down, and the pull-on style is so comfortable. The side seam detail is elongating and adds a nice subtle detail.

Halogen Embellished Button Cardigan – 33% off (S) // Spanx Straight Leg Ponte Pants (M) // Marc Fisher Varla Pumps – 40% off (8) // Kendra Scott earrings (45% off) & necklace // sparkle clutch

And my Marc Fisher suede pumps are on sale again. I snagged mine during the #NSale back in the summer, and they quickly became my go-to black pumps. I love the streamlined silhouette and 3″ block heel.

I topped them off with this embellished button cardigan. I’ve shared this a few times, and it just went on sale in this pretty Deep Ruby color, which reads as more of a Plum.

It’s modern and fun to wear a color other than red and green for the holidays, and the embellished buttons keep it looking festive.

I carried a crystal-encrusted frame clutch to add some more festive flair to this look, if you wanted to wear it to an evening dinner. For a daytime lunch, I’d go with a dressy crossbody or something along those lines.

For a more casual gathering, I love this green fair isle sweater with my favorite jeans and sneakers. It’s comfortable, but still festive.

This is starting to sound like a drinking game. Take a sip every time I say “festive” in this post. 🤪

SUNDRY fair isle sweater (S) // MOTHER denim – on sale (29) (more sizes – Loyallist Power Points) // P448 Monza – ON SALE! (39) (budget option) // YSL sunnies (budget option) // Jenni Bird earrings

These are my favorite everyday jeans to pair with sneakers and other casual shoes. They are part of the Shopbop Black Friday Sale, but there’s better inventory at Bloomingdale’s, where they’re Power Points Eligible.

And I think the colors in this sweater are so pretty. It has a nice relaxed fit, and I love the 22 1/2″ length. That’s pretty much my sweet spot these days with almost any rise or pant silhouette.

For a little more of an edgy night-out look, I love this outfit that I shared last week with the brown velvet bootcut jeans. The cut-out design on this black ribbed top is really fun, and it’s still bra-friendly.

LNA Emelie Rib Top (M) // AG Farrah Velvet Bootcut Jeans – $50 off // Marc Fisher boots – 36% off // crystal statement earrings – 40% off // crystal frame clutchcrystal frame clutch

To give this simple outfit more of a holiday flair, I added crystal statement drop earrings and carried a sparkly clutch.

I topped it off with a vegan leather puffer to keep the edgy vibe, but a faux fur or a long wool wrap coat would be more elegant.

Speaking of velvet flares, Gap Factory has a black pair for a really good price.

I paired them with a metallic sweater for some sparkle and shine, and these statement drop earrings from LOFT are a nice addition to this subtle holiday look.

Recycled Metallic Crewneck Sweater (S) // High Rise ’70s Flare Velvet Pants (30, but need the 29) // crystal frame clutch // leather booties (8) // crystal statement earrings – 40% off

Gap Factory also has a really nice faux fur jacket this season. I love the cropped style, and it’s also a great price. I’m really impressed with their value for the price point these days.

If you have a more conservative style, this monochromatic black outfit from Talbots is fabulous.

I love how this woven sleeve v-neck pullover combines the comfort of a sweater with the elegance of a blouse, and it pairs perfectly with the sparkle knit wide leg pants,.

mixed media pullover c/o (S) // sparkle knit wide leg pants c/o (6) // kitten heel pumps c/o (8) // snowflake earrings

I also have a few holiday looks from past years that might provide some additional outfit inspiration for upcoming parties and events, even though I don’t have exact links to everything I’m wearing.

This velvet halter is closer to pink than a red, but it still looks festive… I know, there’s that word again. 🥂

velvet top // similar coated denim (option) // sock booties (similar here or here) // Kendra Scott earrings // crystal frame clutch

I think I actually found the same top at Saks OFF 5TH! It looks more pink in the Saks picture than it does in the Evereve picture and on me here, but I don’t trust online photos, and it’s the same brand and style name and everything.

At any rate, I love the mix of textures in this look. I paired the velvet top with coated black bootcut jeans, and then I added ccrystal drop earrings and carried my crystal frame clutch. This bag always comes in handy at holiday time!

And here’s another look with the same jeans and booties, this time with a silver sequin top. This is what I wore last New Year’s Eve.

similar sequin top here and here // similar coated denim (option) // sock booties (similar here or here) // necklaces one & two // earrings

I hosted the event, but if I was going to wear this out, I’d top it off with a vegan leather puffer, or a faux fur would look nice too.

I actually think I’d prefer the fur for a better variety of textures. The shiny coated denim and faux leather puffer are too similar for my liking, but it works if that’s what you have.

For a monochromatic look, I love a black sequin top with black velvet jeans. And speaking of mixing textures, this is such a pleasing combination. You can’t go wrong with velvet and sequins for the holidays.

black sequin top (option or option) // velvet flares (option) // sock booties (similar here or here) // faux fur jacket

This time, I did go with my faux fur jacket. Mine is a few years old, but Gap Factory has a cropped version that I like a lot, and it’s a great price.

Finally, this is what I wore for my Christmas lunch with Paul last year. We started doing this many years ago when our kids were too young to stay home alone, and going out for lunch while they were in school was easier (and cheaper) than finding a babysitter during the busy holiday season.

Plus, since I’m self-employed, I don’t get a holiday lunch with co-workers, so this is what we do. We usually go to the Capital Grille, so it’s a little more special than our typical lunch dates. ANY-WHO! This is what I wore last year, and it’s a nice conservative look for church events or a work-related lunch.

Andrew Marc coat (S) // YSL wallet on chain (option) // CeCe blouse (S) (options) // Vince pants (M; option/option) // pumps – $25 off (8) // Yurman earrings & necklace

Cece is a great brand for pretty tops at affordable prices. This one is more of a teal than a green, which I like for the same reason I like the pink and plum tops above. I think it’s fun to change it up a bit from the predictable red and green.

I hope these outfits give you some ideas to shop your closet, and maybe add a new piece or two to your holiday wardrobe!