Cheap Christmas and Holiday Party Outfits on a Budget
Overview
A cheap holiday party outfit starts with one dress that suits the actual party, then lets the shoe and one festive detail set the tone. We stock every piece of that formula at Rainbow Shops: party and cocktail dresses, sweater dresses and a plus size holiday collection, in sizes XS to 4X, online and in more than 800 stores. Our prices are everyday low prices, so there is no sale week to wait for, and Ship to Store is free on orders of $15 or more, so a single dress at that price ships free to your local store.
- Work out which kind of holiday party it is first, because a work party, a family gathering and a night out ask for three different outfits.
- One dress plus the right shoe covers most of them. The shoe does more of the work than people expect.
- Sparkle, satin and velvet read as festive without needing to be expensive, because the texture does the signaling.
Holiday dressing costs more when you buy for an imagined dress code instead of the actual event. Choose a look you can wear comfortably, then use one or two details to make it feel festive.
Work out which party it is first
The right holiday outfit depends on the party: a work party wants festive but covered, a family gathering wants comfort, and a night out is the one place to go fully festive.
The work holiday party. The constraint is that you still have to see these people on Monday. Festive but covered is the target: a long sleeve dress, a midi length, or separates with one shiny element rather than a whole shiny outfit. If the party is in the office rather than at a venue, dress closer to what you would normally wear with one element added.
The family gathering. Comfort matters more than anything else, because you will be sitting, eating and probably helping. A soft knit dress or a relaxed set reads as made an effort without being restrictive. This is the occasion a sweater dress was made for, and our Rainbow Shops sweater dresses pair with sheer black tights and booties for exactly this kind of party.
The night out. The only one of the three where you can go fully festive. Shorter hems, more texture, a heel or a platform boot. Treat it as a going out outfit that happens to be in December rather than as a separate category.
The in between one. A friend's party at a house or a bar. Dress for the going out version but pick something you can sit down in comfortably, because you will be there for several hours.
Build it around one festive element
The cheapest way to look festive is to pick one element, such as texture, sparkle or the shoe, and keep the rest of the outfit simple. Making everything festive at once costs more and looks busier.
Texture is the cheapest way to signal an occasion. Satin, velvet and anything with a sheen read as dressed up under artificial light, which is where most holiday parties happen. A plain cut in a festive fabric does more than a fussy cut in a plain one.
Sparkle works in small doses. A sequined top with plain trousers, or a plain dress with statement earrings. Full sparkle head to toe is a specific look that suits a specific party.
Color is optional. Black, deep red and anything metallic all work. So does a dress you already own, if you change the shoe and the earrings.
The shoe decides the register. The same dress reads as work appropriate with a flat or low boot, and as a night out with a heel or a platform. If you are buying one dress for two parties, buy two shoes rather than two dresses.
Plus size: what to check
Plus size holiday outfits follow the same formulas, and the Rainbow Shops plus size holiday collection carries them in velvet, satin, metallic and rhinestone pieces alongside sweater dresses. Our plus size charts run 1X to 4X. What changes is which details are worth confirming before you order.
Shoulder and bust fit decide the dress. A piece that fits there usually works elsewhere. One that pulls there will not be fixed by sizing up everywhere else.
Check the size chart rather than the size label. The chart is the reliable guide to how a piece will fit.
Stretch fabrics are more forgiving for a long evening. Anything you will sit in for three hours is worth choosing for comfort as much as for cut.
Length behaves differently on different frames. A midi on one person sits closer to a maxi on another, so check where a hem is meant to fall rather than the stated measurement alone.
Four outfits that cover the season
These four outfit formulas cover a work party, a family gathering, a night out and a no-spend option. Because about 100 new styles reach Rainbow Shops every day, we give formulas rather than specific pieces.
Work party. Long sleeve midi dress, flat or low heeled boot, statement earring. One festive element, nothing that needs explaining on Monday.
Family gathering. Sweater dress with tights and an ankle boot, or a soft matching set. Warm, comfortable, finished.
Night out. Shorter dress in satin or with a sheen, opaque tights, heeled or platform boot, and a jacket you are happy to leave at the table.
The one you already own. A plain dress from earlier in the year, plus tights, plus a heel, plus earrings. This is the cheapest holiday outfit available and it is usually the one people overlook.
Before you order
Before you order a holiday outfit from Rainbow Shops, settle the size, the shoe, the fabric and the delivery route, because those four decide whether one dress does the job.
- Check the size chart, not the size label.
- Decide the shoe at the same time as the dress, because it sets the register.
- Think about how long you will be sitting, and choose fabric accordingly.
- Check the return terms before you buy rather than after.
Ship to Store is free on orders of $15 or more and $4.99 below that, which is useful when you are buying a single dress. It usually arrives about two days after standard home delivery would, and it is not available in Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands. Home delivery is free on orders of $75 or more.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are affordable outfits for a work holiday party?
A long sleeve dress or a midi with a flat or low boot and one statement earring is the most affordable work party outfit, because it stays festive but covered. Separates with one shiny element work too. We carry long sleeve and midi dresses at Rainbow Shops at everyday low prices, so one dress can cover the office party and, with a heel, a night out later in the month.
Where can you buy a cheap Christmas or holiday party outfit?
You can buy cheap Christmas and holiday party outfits from Rainbow Shops, online and in more than 800 stores. Our Cocktail and Party Dresses and sweater dresses are sold at everyday low prices, with about 100 new styles added daily. Order online and use free Ship to Store on orders of $15 or more, or shop in person.
What are good cheap Christmas outfits for plus size?
A velvet, satin or metallic top with plain trousers, or a sweater dress with tights and an ankle boot, makes a cheap plus size Christmas outfit. The Rainbow Shops plus size holiday collection carries these pieces, and our plus size sweater dresses cover family gatherings. Our plus size charts run 1X to 4X; check that the shoulder and bust fit, since that decides the rest of the dress.
How do you find a Christmas party dress under $30?
Open the Rainbow Shops Cocktail and Party Dresses collection and sort it by Price Low to High to see the dresses that sit under $30. Our everyday low prices mean you do not have to wait for a sale, and Ship to Store sends your order free to a Rainbow Shops store on orders of $15 or more. Choose satin, velvet or a sheen so the fabric does the festive work.
How do you make an outfit look festive without buying a whole new one?
Change the shoe and add an earring. Texture and sparkle at a small scale do more than a complete new outfit, and a plain dress you already own becomes a holiday outfit with tights, a heel and a statement earring.
What do you wear to a holiday party when the dress code is unclear?
Dress one step up from what you would normally wear to that setting, and pick one festive element rather than several. Overdressing by a little is easier to carry off than underdressing, and a single element is easy to remove if the room turns out to be casual.
Can you wear the same dress to more than one holiday party?
Yes, and it is usually the most sensible plan. Changing the shoe moves the same dress between a work party and a night out, which is a cheaper way to cover a season than buying two dresses.