Fashion

23 Movies to Inspire Your Festive Holiday Style

By Christian Allaire
23 Movies to Inspire Your Festive Holiday Style
Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection

’Tis the season of holiday parties! The bashes never stop in the big lead-up to Christmas and New Year’s Eve—and making all of those appearances can put a serious strain on your wardrobe. After all, it’s a challenge to keep coming up with looks that are fabulous, festive, and different every single time. But we’re here to help: In honor of the holiday season, we looked to 23 classic films to inspire some new party outfits. 

Our list of movies deliver ensembles that range from the glamorous and dressy to the cozy and casual. No matter what your holiday vibe is, there’s a polished look for you. If your parties require more of a glam feel, we suggest you take a look at Old Hollywood films from the 1940s and ’50s in particular. Classics like Auntie Mame, White Christmas, and Holiday Affair are the perfect mood board for those who want to rock elegant lace cocktail dresses, faux fur coats, and pearl necklaces. For the gents, the perfect dressy outfit comes from a more modern film: The Best Man Holiday. Taye Diggs dances in a black sequined blazer and spiffy brimmed hat. You’re guaranteed to win best dressed—if such a competition exists at your holiday parties—in that getup.

If your vibe is more of the chill-by-the-fireplace variety, there’s some casual outfit inspiration on our list for that too. In The Holiday, Cameron Diaz wears an impeccable collectsion of cream knits. Queen Latifah in The Last Holiday also nails fabulous après-ski style, right down to the sleek winter hats and coats—the right aesthetic for sipping some hot chocolate. Wild card: We’re also a fan of Kate McKinnon’s ugly Christmas sweater in Office Christmas Party, should you be feeling kitschy. Santa Claus would be proud!

Below, 23 movies to inspire your holiday party style this season.

  • Metropolitan
    Expand
    Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection
    1/23

    Metropolitan (1990)

  • Image may contain Clothing Apparel Sleeve Human Person Coat Helmet Long Sleeve Queen Latifah and Pants
    Expand
    Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection
    2/23

    Last Holiday (2006)

  • Auntie Mame
    Expand
    Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection
    3/23

    Auntie Mame (1958)

  • Office Christmas Party
    Expand
    Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection
    4/23

    Office Christmas Party (2016)

  • Love Actually
    Expand
    Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection
    5/23

    Love Actually (2003)

  • Holiday Affair
    Expand
    Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection
    6/23

    Holiday Affair (1949)

  • The Best Man Holiday
    Expand
    Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection
    7/23

    The Best Man Holiday (2013)

  • The Nightmare Before Christmas
    Expand
    Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection
    8/23

    The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

  • The Princess Switch
    Expand
    Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection
    9/23

    The Princess Switch (2018)

  • Image may contain Furniture Indoors Room Human Person Gale Storm Table Don DeFore Billiard Room and Pool Table
    Expand
    Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection
    10/23

    It Happened on 5th Avenue (1947)

  • The Preachers Wife
    Expand
    Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection
    11/23

    The Preacher’s Wife (1996)

  • How the Grinch Stole Christmas
    Expand
    Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection
    12/23

    How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

  • Mean Girls
    Expand
    Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection
    13/23

    Mean Girls (2004)

  • Just Friends
    Expand
    Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection
    14/23

    Just Friends (2005)

  • Almost Christmas
    Expand
    Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection
    15/23

    Almost Christmas (2016)

  • Meet Me in St. Louis
    Expand
    Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection
    16/23

    Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

  • The Holiday
    Expand
    Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection
    17/23

    The Holiday (2006)

  • The Family Stone
    Expand
    Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection
    18/23

    The Family Stone (2005)

  • Its a Wonderful Life
    Expand
    Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection
    19/23

    It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

  • Happiest Season
    Expand
    Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection
    20/23

    Happiest Season (2020)

  • White Christmas
    Expand
    Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection
    21/23

    White Christmas (1954)

  • National Lampoons Christmas Vacation
    Expand
    Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection
    22/23

    National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

  • Scrooged
    Expand
    Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection
    23/23

    Scrooged (1988)

Christian Allaire is the Senior Fashion and Style Writer at Vogue, where he covers celebrity style, red carpet fashion, trends, emerging designers, and more. He is particularly passionate about championing Indigenous stories and artists—a niche that reflects his own Ojibwe heritage, hailing from Nipissing First Nation in Canada. He regularly ... Read More
TopicsHoliday