Seasonal5 minute read

What to wear on Christmas Day, morning to night

One outfit that lasts from the first present to the last plate, adjusted with layers. Three looks for her and one for him, then the host and the table.

By MasidasNov 14, 2026

He dressed himself “all in his best,” and at last got out into the streets. Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, stave 5

What to wear on Christmas Day is one outfit that lasts from the first present to the last plate. Choose a good knit, a knit dress or a knit set, then add and remove layers as the day goes.

Here is the day hour by hour, with three looks for her, one for him and one for the host. Every piece is from Masidas.

Why we dress up on Christmas Day

Charles Dickens published A Christmas Carol on December 19, 1843, and the first run of 6,000 copies was gone by Christmas Eve. On Christmas morning, his changed Scrooge dresses in his best and walks out into the streets.

The tree spread with a picture. In 1848, The Illustrated London News showed the royal family around their tree at Windsor Castle. At Christmas 1850, an American magazine, Godey’s Lady’s Book, copied it for its readers. It removed only Victoria’s tiara and Prince Albert’s mustache.

Americans kept the tree and dropped the tiara. In 1870, Congress made Christmas Day one of the first four national holidays, and it is a federal holiday still.

What to wear on Christmas Day, hour by hour

Dress once in the morning, then adjust with layers. A knit you can sit on the floor in for presents can also carry you to the table.

9 am Presents. Wear the knit, with a cardigan left open.
Noon The walk. Button the cardigan and add a coat, boots and a scarf.
3 pm The table. Coat off, cardigan buttoned, one gold detail.
8 pm The evening. The cardigan comes off, and the knit stays.

Dress once, then adjust with layers.

What to wear on Christmas Day: three looks for her

Each of these lasts the whole day. Choose by how dressed your family is at the table.

A woman in the dropped shoulder crew sweater in khaki with light blue straight jeans, a cream bag in one hand and brown loafers — A knit and jeans.

A woman in the ochre quarter zip sweater dress, the front slit open over brown boots, a brown bag in one hand — A sweater dress and boots.

A woman in the wine red turtleneck knit and trouser set, one hand on her hip and a cream top handle bag in the other — A knit set for the table.

The easy one is a knit and jeans. Our dropped shoulder crew sweater has a relaxed body, and its page says to wear it with straight trousers. Over it, the cable knit cardigan stays open for presents. Its page says that buttoned to the top it reads as a sweater, which is how it goes to the table.

Close up of the khaki crew sweater: the crew neck, the dropped shoulder and the ribbed hem, one hand on the hip — A crew neck and dropped shoulders.

A woman in the cable knit cardigan in cream, open over a white top and black wide trousers, a tan saddle bag at her side — The cardigan, open for the morning.

The second is a sweater dress. Our quarter zip sweater dress has a ribbed stand collar and lantern sleeves. The skirt falls to mid calf, with a slit at the front. Its page says it takes knee boots or flat loafers equally well, so wear the boots for the walk.

Close up of the ochre sweater dress: the ribbed stand collar, the short zip and a lantern sleeve gathered into a deep cuff — A short zip and lantern sleeves.

Back view of the ochre quarter zip sweater dress to mid calf, with brown boots and a brown bag on one shoulder — Mid calf, with boots under it.

A woman in the ochre sweater dress, turned a little, holding a brown top handle bag with buckled straps — One brown bag for the day.

The third is a knit set. In our turtleneck knit and trouser set, three large gold tone buttons do the work of jewelry. Its page says the knit drapes, which helps through a long meal.

A woman in the wine red turtleneck knit, turned a little, gold hoops at her ears and a cream bag in her hand — Gold tone buttons do the work of jewelry.

For the walk, any of the three goes under a coat. Our turtleneck sweater, with its tall folded collar, layers under one as well. Our fringed scarf is wide enough to wear as a wrap over a coat or a knit. Our guide on how to style a long coat matches the coat to the hem.

Close up of the turtleneck sweater in oatmeal: the tall folded collar and a ribbed cuff, one hand on the hip — A tall collar for the walk.

A woman in the oatmeal turtleneck sweater with black wide trousers, one hand on her hip and a brown bag in the other — With wide trousers for the day.

A Christmas outfit for men

A man needs one knit with a collar and trousers that have a crease. Our ribbed knit long sleeve polo comes in burgundy, with a buttoned placket. Its page says to wear it alone or under a blazer.

For the walk, the cable knit half zip sweater has narrow cables down the front. It goes on its own or over a collared shirt. Pleated tapered trousers with a pressed crease suit both.

A man walking in the ribbed knit long sleeve polo in burgundy with gray trousers and black boots, one hand in his pocket — Burgundy for the day.

Close up of the burgundy ribbed polo: the collar and three buttons on the placket, one hand at the top button — A buttoned placket.

Back view of the burgundy ribbed knit polo with gray trousers, the head turned to one side — Rib knit from behind.

For the host, and the table

The host cooks, serves and clears, so choose sleeves that push up and a cardigan that comes off in the kitchen. Button it again before you sit down. After the day, our guide on how to wash sweaters takes care of the knit.

The table is dressed too, from our home department. In the morning, the cast iron tea kettle keeps the tea going, and its page says cast iron holds heat well. The walnut and beech boards serve bread, cheese and fruit later.

Close up of the cream cable knit cardigan: raised cables, a stand collar and wood tone buttons over a white top — Buttons to close at the table.

A woman in the cream cable knit cardigan, turned a little, a tan saddle bag on her shoulder — Open for the kitchen.

See more in women’s knitwear, dresses, matching sets, men’s knitwear and home and kitchen. For a present still missing, see gift cards. The season’s other days have their own guides: Thanksgiving outfits and holiday party outfits.

Questions about Christmas Day outfits

What should you wear for Christmas photos?

One solid color each, from the same family of colors, looks calm in a group picture. Small patterns can look busy from a distance, so keep them for the scarf.