This year, festive dressing is less about playing it safe and more about wearing something worth remembering. Fresh florals, clashing prints and colour for Christmas Day; sparkle, sheer details and statement accessories after dark; oversized shirts and relaxed tailoring for him; colour and matching sets for the kids. Then there’s the Christmas present that gets unwrapped and put on immediately, the new earrings, sunglasses, shirt or bag that somehow becomes part of the outfit before lunch.
These are clothes and accessories made for celebrating in and looking good in the photos that will outlast the day.
COME FOR…
Party Season
If ever there was a time to turn things up, it’s December. The office party, cocktails with friends, long lunches that become late nights party dressing is back to feeling like a party.
Sequins, shimmer, sheer details and statement accessories are all invited. Find the dress or statement separates at Sheike, then add oversized earrings, metallic accessories or a great heel from Decjuba. For him, head to Connor for an oversized shirt, tailored shorts or relaxed trousers and loafers.
And don’t stop at the outfit. Book the fresh manicure at U-Star Nails, the blow-dry at Hairhouse and find the lipstick that makes the whole look work at Mecca.
Christmas Day, dressed up
Christmas Day calls for that particular kind of dressing that looks special without looking like you tried too hard. It needs to survive presents, lunch, seconds, the family photo and an Australian summer afternoon.
For women, fresh florals are back. Look for romantic, inspired prints and flowing dresses at Dotti, then lean into the colour with bangles or statement earrings from Swarovski and a bright shoe from Williams. Clashing rather than coordinating is part of the fun.
For men, things are equally relaxed. Find short shorts and an open oversized shirt at Industrie, dress things up with socks and loafers from Tarocash, or keep it unmistakably summer with crisp white thongs from The Athlete's Foot.
And if something wearable happens to be waiting under the tree, all bets are off. New sunglasses, jewellery, a shirt or bag are entirely acceptable outfit changes before lunch.
For the kids
For kids, Christmas dressing should look great in the family photo but still let them disappear into the backyard five minutes later.
Checks are making a comeback, matching sets make getting dressed easy and colourful shoes bring the fun. Find an easy set at Cotton On Kids, add colourful sneakers or sandals from The Trybe, then finish things with hats, sunnies and summer extras from TK Maxx.
The rule? If they can’t run, play and make a mess in it, save it for another day.
The matching-PJ moment
Some Christmas traditions deserve to stay. Matching pyjamas are one of them.
Go all in with coordinating sets from Peter Alexander, find matching or complementary kids’ PJs at Best & Less, then head to Petbarn for the family member most likely to steal the photo.
Matching, mismatched or somewhere in between, Christmas PJs have become part fashion statement, part family tradition and almost certainly part of the camera roll.
Fashion worth wrapping
Some of the best fashion moments on Christmas Day start under the tree. The earrings that go straight on. The sunglasses worn for the rest of lunch. The bag immediately transferred into. The new shirt that replaces the one they arrived in.
For her, head to Mimco for the bag or accessory she’s been wanting, Swarovski for sculptural earrings, colourful stones or a statement cuff, and Sunglass Hut for oversized sunglasses and summer extras.
For him, look to Bonds for quality underwear, a great shirt or an easy summer upgrade, JD Sports for a cap or socks, and Platypus for slides, sneakers or something he can wear straight away.
STAY FOR…
Stay for the finishing touches
Sometimes the best accessory is the appointment you remembered to make.
Book a fresh manicure or summer colour at Shu Nails & Beauty, a blow-dry, cut or style at Xpress Cutz and Color, then head to Mecca for the new lipstick, fragrance, face mask or beauty essential that gets you Christmas-ready.
Because getting dressed for Christmas isn’t only about the outfit. It’s the nails, hair, makeup, jewellery and last-minute extras that pull everything together ready for the party, the family photo and whatever makes it onto social.
Come for the Christmas look. Stay for the finishing touches.
