What to Wear to a Black Tie Holiday Party

November 29, 2018

what to wear to a black tie holiday party velvet gown

On Wednesday I shared what I think would be the perfect office holiday party outfit. I know though that some of you have office holiday parties that are black-tie, or have other black-tie parties during the holiday season. So; today I wanted to share what to wear to a black tie holiday party.

Velvet Off the Shoulder Gown c/o // Earrings // Shoes c/o // Similar Gucci Dupe Handbag (& the real Gucci bag)

A black tie dress code usually means a long gown, and with so few opportunities to wear formal gowns nowadays, why not embrace it! Yes, you can get away with a shorter dress for black tie if the dress is particularly formal, but a long gown is a safer bet and an excuse to dress up.

When thinking about what to wear to a black tie holiday party, in addition to dress length you want to keep in mind the season. Since it’s winter, ppt for darker colors and jewel tones (emerald, sapphire blue, deep purple, etc) and heavier fabrics.

This velvet off the shoulder gown by Eliza J is a perfect choice! The velvet is a beautiful fabric, the black is classic, and the neckline and silhouette keep the dress from overwhelming you or feeling too stuffy.

The velvet gown fits true to size, but as you can tell it is quite long. I am 5’8 1/2 with the heels I have on with this look and the dress hits the floor. If your combined height and heel height is less than 5’8, expect that you will likely need to get the dress hemmed before you wear it.

One other note about the dress: it fits like a glove; in the best way possible. I almost never wear strapless because I cannot stand constantly tugging at my top/dress to keep it up. The stiffness of this fabric combined with how Eliza J has cut the top makes it stay in place like nothing I have ever worn before. Huge win!

When deciding what to wear to a black tie holiday party, you can’t forget the footwear. I’m going to repeat my advice from my holiday office party outfit post: comfort is key. In any situation where you are going to be out for an entire evening, you want to be comfortable. These red kitten heels are from Vionic Shoes, and so are built with orthaheel technology to ensure the best possible comfort.

I will opt for vionic heels and boots whenever possible for a night out, and when deciding which to style with this dress I knew I wanted red, so these red kitten heels caught my eye immediately. With such a long gown you only see ‘peeks’ of your shoes, and given that the dress is black I figured a festive color for my shoes would be the perfect compliment.

I also wanted the red kitten heels (over any other color) because I they can easily be styled for work during the holiday season to create a festive look. A black suit paired with these shoes looks professional but with a festive flair.

Last thing I should mention – my bag! It’s a dupe for the popular Gucci bag. I actually got it while in Aruba, and so couldn’t link my exact dupe. I did however find a similar one so I have shared that below (as well as the real Gucci one if you are in the mood to splurge!)

legallee blonde wearing an off the shoulder black velvet gown. what to wear to a black tie holiday party

I have one black tie event this holiday season, and this is definitely the outfit I will be wearing.  I hope you found  my thoughts on what to wear to a black tie holiday party helpful!

One last thing. I know I usually post Monday, Wednesday, Friday, but be sure to come back here to LegalLee Blonde tomorrow because I have an announcement that I will be making in a (rare) Saturday post! It should be really exciting, and I think you will really like it so definitely tune in!!

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30 comments so far.

30 responses to “What to Wear to a Black Tie Holiday Party”

  1. ee0926 says:

    This dress is absolutely stunning!! So classic, gorgeous and perfect for a holiday party!

    xx, Elise
    http://www.sparkleandslippers.blogspot.com

  2. Anna English says:

    This dress is stunning on you! I love how you paired it with the red heels

  3. I wish I had a fancy holiday party to go to and wear this!

    -Morgan
    How 2 Wear It [] http://how2wearit.com

  4. You look so gorgeous and elegant. I love this look. Your bag is wonderful with the cute butterfly detail! xx Maria
    https://www.passionfruitpawsandpeonies.com

  5. Rach DiMare says:

    This dress is stunning!! I love the sweetheart neckline and off the shoulder detail!

    http://www.rdsobsessions.com

  6. Kim says:

    This dress looks like it was made for you! I love the off the shoulder neckline and the velvet material. SO pretty gf!

    xoxo,
    Kim

  7. tanviidotcom says:

    What a gorgeous dress. You wear it well. Love the finishing touches too.

    ❥ tanvii.com

  8. Cathy says:

    Wow you look so glamorous!! This dress is stunning and you look beautiful in it!!

    XOXO
    Cathy

  9. Amber says:

    This dress is stunning on you, and I love your earrings too!

    I hope you are having a great week so far!

    Amber

    https://www.avecamber.com
    https://www.bloglovin.com/avecamber

  10. Mollie says:

    This dress is STUNNING on you! Wishing I had a black tie party this season so I could recreate this look!

    xx Molie

  11. Kelsey says:

    You look STUNNING! That dress is fabulous!

  12. Avani says:

    That is such a gorgeous dress!!

  13. This gown is gorgeous! I love the classy off the shoulder look and the bag! This is perfect for a black tie event.

  14. Virginia says:

    Such a stunning look! That’s the dress of my dreams! It definitely gives me a Rosemary Clooney out of White Christmas vibe! You found the perfect backdrop for it too! So pretty!

    Virginia | More to Mrs. E

  15. Wow that dress is phenomenal!! You look incredible!

    xo Laura Leigh
    Louella Reese

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