Whether it’s the peak of joyful dressing or a chance to prioritise comfort in your finest loungewear – expanding waistline essential – Christmas Day dressing means something different to everyone. But as the ELLE editors share their best festive looks, it’s clear it usually involves a bit of planning, some frivolity and a lot of fun. And if you get it wrong, fear not, there’s always next year.
Christmas Day outfit ideas from the ELLE editors
Camille Charrière, Contributing Editor
Christmas day is always such a toss-up for me because I can never decide if I want to go super comfy so I can gorge on food, or serve a festive fit to mark the occasion —after all, Christmas only comes once a year! I really love playing with winter textures like crushed velvet or cosy corduroy, or a floaty silk biased cut number and they all lend themselves perfectly to Christmas Day. My family isn’t particularly fancy or fashion oriented so am often a tad overdressed (which I normally hate), but I’ve found ways to make it work by adding ballet flats and a cosy cable knit jumper — my fave is from Ralph Lauren which I have it in red and in white so will throw over my shoulders.
Normally I’m in something vintage: last year was a tartan skirt, and the year before a green velvet dress. This year, I’m leaning towards white. I just launched a collection of eco-friendly tights with Swedish Stockings so am thinking of styling the sparkly pair with a white dress or something silver to make it really tonal, angelic, even. I’ve been eyeing a sensational white peplum jacket by Liberowe in the sale and am currently in talks with myself about whether this will end up on my Christmas pile (from me to me!).
Tradition-wise we celebrate Christmas Day English-style on the 25 December but always add a couple of French staples like oysters and foie gras. My mum will get on the piano and play some carols (John Rutter is King in our household) and we will have sing-a-long before sitting down for lunch. This will be my first time hosting at ours in London so I’m really looking forward to starting our own traditions.
Clementina Jackson, Acting Site Fashion Editor
On Christmas Day, my mother insists I dress ‘nicely’ for our guests, while I’d prefer to laze around in loungewear. We finally found a compromise in Sleeper’s party pyjamas: they’re as glitzy, feather-trimmed, and ‘dressed up’ as the day requires, while also being comfy and roomy enough for a day of full-on, Italian-style feasting. I add crystal earrings and a red hair bow for an extra festive flourish, plus UGGs – I am at home, after all!
Lena de Casparis, Deputy Editor
My dream Christmas Day doesn’t have snow or mistletoe or even – can I help it – a Christmas tree. For me come the 25 December: take me to the beach, find me a cocktail and some warm rays and it’s a merry jolly time. Of course, that means Christmas jumpers and tartan PJs are left at home and my outfit involves a Hunza G swimsuit, some adidas shorts Paul Mescal would approve of and a pair of sunnies. Past years have been spent in Sri Lanka or Uruguay but this year I’ll be in Mexico so perhaps I’ll even find a sombrero for some festive fun.
Hannah Nathanson, Features Director
My mum has always been my inadvertent Christmas Day style icon. She sets the tone with a mid-calf high waisted kilt, straight from the 80s, a red cashmere short sleeve jumper (because entertaining is hot work), an off-centre brooch, 20 denier tights and immaculate ballet flats. For what feels like the past five years, I’ve either been breastfeeding or pregnant, so this Christmas I’m going to bypass the men’s shirts and button neck dresses in my wardrobe and smarten up with a mid-length leather skirt from Gap and a gold lame top I’ve nearly given away countless times, but which still sparks joy – what Christmas dressing is all about, right?
Nellie Eden, Contributing Editor
For Christmas, it’s always just me and my mum and husband in a tracksuit. But this year I was considering wearing a Prada buttercup yellow silk dress with jeans when we go out for dinner on Christmas Eve. I’ve not had enough wear out of it, and I’ve decided it’s actually the perfect winter ‘tunic’. I’ll do a ballet bun and wear flat shoes!
Naomi Pike, Commissioning Editor
Dylan Thomas once wrote about ‘A Child’s Christmas In Wales…’ but that was very different to ‘A Fashion Editor’s Christmas In Wales’. Despite not leaving the house, my family and I have quite a free approach to dressing for Christmas day – it makes sense as when else is your wardrobe just upstairs from the event? So, it’s matching pyjamas until eleven, wellies and a Barbour to walk the dogs, an attempt at a Molly Goddard tulle for lunch before retiring into a Juicy Couture tracksuit and then a cocktail dress for evening arrivals. Once the board games come out, however, I’m headstrong on the task at hand so it’s straight back into those festive PJs. The game is on and I’m not looking to lose.
Aja Barber, Contributing Editor
Every year I forget to photograph what I’m wearing because I’m too busy pouring cocktails and chasing after kids. My partner does all the cooking (though I handle breakfast) so I’m the entertainer. I always end up wearing a dress because I think you can move more freely in them. Last year it was a green and white gingham number from Stalf, the previous year, a second hand dress from egg. I’m taking it to the dry cleaners this week for a few repairs because it might be a repeat this year. The gift that keeps on giving.
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