EVELYSS / Guides / Fashion Sense

What Does Festive Attire Mean? How to Read It on an Invitation

“Festive attire is a vague phrase with one clear instruction: don't look like you came straight from your errands. You don't need a reindeer on anything. One rich fabric or one bit of sparkle, done on purpose, answers the invitation.”Her take

So what does festive attire actually mean?

There is no official definition, which is why it confuses everyone. In practice, hosts use the phrase to mean a step more fun than a normal party: cocktail-style clothes with some color, shine or texture that suits the season. It can stretch from nice work clothes with a sparkly top to a full cocktail dress, depending on the event.

It rarely means a floor-length gown unless the invitation also says formal or black tie, or it's an evening wedding at a formal venue. It also doesn't usually mean a novelty sweater, unless the host has said it's that kind of party. Watch for a second word, too: "festive casual" and "festive business casual" set the level, and festive only tells you to add some color or shine to it.

How to read the invitation in 30 seconds

The two words alone won't tell you enough. The rest of the invitation will. Check the venue, the time and how the invitation itself looks, then use this as your guide.

• Hotel ballroom or country club, after 7 p.m.: full cocktail level, such as a satin or velvet dress with heels.
• Restaurant or bar, early evening: a dress or dressy separates, with one sparkly or rich piece.
• Someone's home, evening: velvet pants or a sequined top with simple pieces, and shoes you can stand in.
• Office or weekday lunch: workwear plus one festive element, such as a jewel-toned blouse or statement earrings.
• Daytime brunch or open house: a colorful knit or a printed midi dress, with little to no sparkle.

Five ways to make an outfit festive

You only need one or two of these. Using all of them at once is how an outfit tips into costume, so pick your strongest piece and keep the rest quiet.

• Fabric: velvet, satin, lace, brocade or a metallic knit does most of the work on its own.
• Color: emerald, sapphire, plum, burgundy or winter white feels seasonal without a single holiday motif.
• Shine: a sequined top, skirt or evening bag, kept to one piece.
• Jewelry: a statement earring or a brooch turns a plain black dress into a party dress.
• Shoes: metallic or velvet heels or flats are a low-risk way to add interest to something you already own.

What if you don't want to buy anything?

Start with the darkest, simplest dress or pants-and-top combination you already own and change the details. Take a black dress, add statement earrings, a metallic shoe and a darker lip. Take black pants and add a satin blouse or a borrowed sequin top. Tailored pants with a velvet blazer work too.

Try the outfit on in front of a mirror the day before and take a phone photo. If it looks like work clothes in the picture, add one more festive piece. If you can't see where to look first, take one away.

What does festive attire mean for a wedding or a work party?

At a winter wedding, start from a fun version of cocktail attire: a rich color or fabric in a dress or jumpsuit, staying away from white, ivory and anything that looks bridal. An evening wedding at a formal venue can run dressier, into formal eveningwear. Check whether the wedding website has more detail, because many couples explain their dress code there.

At a work party, festive still sits under your company's normal rules. Keep hemlines and necklines where you would be comfortable meeting a client, and let the color or fabric carry the mood. If it's right after work, a jewel-toned top, a blazer you can remove and a quick lipstick change will carry you through both.

What not to wear to a festive attire party

Avoid head-to-toe holiday prints, light-up accessories and matching sets of holiday motifs unless the party is built around them. Be careful with lots of sparkle on every piece at once, since it's hard to look at and even harder to sit in. Everyday jeans and a plain sweater are usually under the mark, unless the host says it's casual.

Don't forget the practical side either. Very high heels on a lawn or at a long standing party can undo a great outfit. Take a coat that fits over your sleeves, and carry a bag small enough to hold while you've got a drink in the other hand.

Questions people ask

The takeaway

Cocktail level plus one festive idea. Let the venue and the hour tell you how far to take it, and ask if you're still not sure.

Read next