Festive Cocktail Attire: What It Means and What to Wear

Festive cocktail attire means a cocktail outfit with something celebratory added. For women that's a knee-length to midi dress, or dressy separates, in a holiday fabric or color: velvet, sequins, lace, metallics, deep reds and greens.

Hosts put it on invitations to Christmas cocktail parties, holiday work events and New Year's gatherings. Here's what the words mean, then dresses, shoes and accessories that fit.

What festive cocktail attire means

Cocktail attire sits in the middle of the dress-code ladder: dressier than business casual, less formal than black tie. In common practice that's a dress that ends between the knee and mid-calf, or a dressy jumpsuit, or a skirt and top. The other codes are explained in Dress Codes.

Festive tells you the host wants some holiday spirit. That can be texture (velvet, sequins, metallic thread), color (red, emerald, burgundy, gold) or one statement piece. Christmas cocktail party attire is the same idea in Christmas colors. Nobody is asking for a novelty sweater, unless the host says so.

Festive attire vs. holiday cocktail attire vs. cocktail attire

Festive attire means clothes with a holiday touch at whatever level of dressiness the event suggests; without the word cocktail, it's usually looser than festive cocktail attire.

• Cocktail attire: a knee-to-midi dress or dressy separates. No holiday element expected.
• Festive cocktail or holiday cocktail attire: the same length and polish, with a holiday fabric or color. The two phrases ask for the same thing.
• Festive attire, without cocktail: a velvet top with trousers or a sequin skirt with a sweater fits.
• Black tie: a floor-length gown. If the invitation says black tie, the festive cocktail rules don't apply.

Festive cocktail attire for women: dress ideas

Each dress below is cocktail length and festive through fabric, color or both. For more, holiday party dresses by dress code sorts dresses by how dressy the party is, and winter cocktail dresses has dresses with long sleeves for a cold night, one of them with a single sleeve.

Velvet in a jewel tone

The IHOT dress is a velvet faux-wrap sheath with sheer polka-dot sleeves, knee length, offered in Emerald Green and Wine Red. Velvet plus a jewel tone makes the festive part obvious, so keep the accessories gold and simple.

Sequins with sleeves

Cololura's sequin midi is long-sleeve and bodycon, with a turtleneck and tassels, in sizes Small to 3X-Large. It covers your arms and neck, so the sparkle does the talking. Plain heels and sheer tights let it lead.

A classic cocktail dress in a holiday color

The DRESSTELLS dress is a cap-sleeve fit-and-flare that falls to mid-calf, offered in Burgundy, Dark Green and many other colors, in sizes X-Small to 3X-Large. This is the safe answer: a classic cocktail shape that turns festive in burgundy or green. Add metallic shoes and you've met the dress code.

Lace with long sleeves

CALEBGAR's lace midi is a long-sleeve, stretch-lace bodycon, offered in Dark Green and Wine Red. Lace is a dressier texture than knit, which makes it a good fit for a party that's half work and half celebration; for the office version, what to wear to a work holiday party has the details.

Shoes, tights and accessories for festive cocktail attire

Accessories are the easiest way to make a plain cocktail dress festive. Metallic shoes, big earrings or a sparkly clutch each do it alone; with a black dress, you can wear all of them.

Metallic heeled sandals

Naturalizer's Abby sandal is strappy, with a 3 3/8-inch heel and a 3/4-inch platform, offered in metallic finishes, with wide widths listed. A platform makes a tall heel feel less steep. In winter, wear them with sheer tights, or carry them and change at the door.

Statement earrings

The DDPDDP earrings are large studs in 18K gold-plated copper with push backs, and the listing says they're lightweight. A big gold earring does what a necklace would, without fighting a high or ruched neckline.

Semi-sheer tights

HOTBOSS tights are 40-denier and semi-sheer with a high waist, and the listing calls them rip resistant. Forty denier sits between sheer and opaque: dark enough to look deliberate, light enough for a dressy outfit.

A sparkly clutch

The DA BODAN clutch is sequins and rhinestones, 8.07 x 5.9 inches, offered in Full Gold. Hold your phone up to those numbers before you buy.

What not to wear to a festive cocktail party