Tips on what to wear to Grandma's Christmas party

Lillie-Beth Brinkman, Callie Athey and Helen Ford Wallace
·2 min read
Holidays are a special time of the year, and it is always fun to dress up and celebrate the season.
Holidays are a special time of the year, and it is always fun to dress up and celebrate the season.

QUESTION: Should I dress up for my grandmother’s Christmas party? If so, what should I wear? I am a very casual dresser, so I don’t have many festive outfits.

CALLIE’S ANSWER: This is something you need to ask your grandmother so you can dress accordingly. Is it casual attire, festive or cocktail attire? That should help a lot when picking an outfit.

LILLIE-BETH’S ANSWER: First, ask her what her attire expectations are. And second, the answer is likely, yes. If you are asking this question, you seem to know that this is a special occasion for your grandmother. What better way to honor her and her work in hosting it than to make an effort in your appearance and attire. That doesn’t mean you have to go buy and entirely new wardrobe. Based on input from her after you ask her and on the location of the party, you might simply need to put more of an effort than you do in your day-to-day attire. Recognize that dressing up is a sign of respect and adds a special-occasion vibe to what sounds like a special occasion.

HELEN’S ANSWER: Holidays are a special time of the year, and it is always fun to dress up and celebrate the season. Wear something nice to your grandmother’s house. You can put a lovely velvet jacket or just a red jacket with jeans if you want to.

Wear strappy heels and you are dressed up for the party. It is always wonderful to see young women in dresses.

There are so many colorful wraps available, so try one of those. Jewelry always accents an outfit, so maybe your grandmother has a necklace you could wear, if you don’t have one. Enjoy the planning and the party and Merry Christmas!

GUEST’S ANSWER: Linda Miller, former fashion editor for The Oklahoman: Where is the party? If it's at her home, try elevating your look with jewelry, high heels or maybe a shiny or silk blouse tucked into a dark pair of jeans or dress pants. Those are all pieces that will work for many different occasions.

If the party is at an event center or country club, add jewelry and shoes to a dress that, again, will lend itself for other invitations. The easiest approach is to ask your grandmother for her advice. She probably knows you best!

Since 2009, Callie, Lillie-Beth and Helen have written this generational etiquette column. They also include guest responses from a wide range of ages each week. So many years later, Callie is 20-plus; Lillie-Beth is 40-plus and Helen is 60-plus. To ask an etiquette question, email helen.wallace@cox.net.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Grandma's Christmas party might call for a more festive outfit