Affordable holiday dresses for every occasion

Between the decorations, the gifts and the travel, the holidays can easily put a major dent in your bank account. So, who wants to spend a lot on their holiday attire? Not this girl! I’ve rounded up a series of affordable holiday dresses for every occasion and style sensibility. How do you judge a truly great party dress? I’m a firm believer, that it will make you dance! Case in point, this red one. You can probably tell I’m really digging it.

‘Tis the season to be a knockout, so let’s get started! 

I found all of these dresses on Amazon. Each offers free shipping and free returns. Best of all, if you order soon, you can get it in time for Christmas! (Side note: I never order something online unless I can return it easily. It’s so hard to know how a garment will work on your body until you try it on). Amazon returns are really easy, which is why I use it so regularly and talk about it on this blog.

Affordable Holiday Dresses for Every Occasion

A-line Sweater Dress | Bow Glitter Pumps | Earrings | Evening Clutch (similar)

1. The Christmas Classic  ($25.99)

First up, a total classic. Nothing says holiday cheer quite like a stunning red sweater dress. I fell in love with this one because of the way it moves. You won’t be able to resist doing a twirl! The A-line shape and swingy hem is super flattering. Considering the low price, I was very impressed with the quality. The knit detailing is beautiful. The pleats are knitted in, so you don’t need to worry about ironing them repeatedly. That said, you will need to iron this carefully when it arrives. It comes in a wide range of colors if red is not your thing.

I accessorized this dress with neutral, yet glam pieces… these dangly diamond drop earrings in the gold/silk color, a fun clutch and my all-time favorite heels. I’ve worn these Betsey Johnson bow pumps to the Emmys, countless parties and many holiday gatherings. They’re comfortable, stylish and have certainly served me well over the years.

Fit notes: This dress is listed as a one size fits all. However, I think that is a bit of an overstatement. I would only order this if you typically wear an XS, S or M in sweater dresses. I usually wear a S or XS and thought it fit perfectly. 

Peplum Ruffle Dress | Black Platform Pumps | Black Tassel Earrings (similar)

2. Fashionista Festive  ($69.90)

Looking to make a statement? This next dress is for you. The architectural ruffle is quite unique and makes this simple sheath style appropriate for both fun, flirty gatherings and those requiring more formal cocktail attire. It made me feel like a Hollywood starlet. I’ve worn it several different ways. It looks cute with a skinny belt to define your waist, or you can belt a cardigan over the top for warmth. 

Fit notes: The dress fits fairly TTS, but runs slightly small across the chest. Make sure you go by the Chicwish size guide, not Amazon’s general sizing. You’ll see it if you scroll down. I ordered the S and loved the fit. It’s the perfect length for petite ladies. If you are tall, you might find it a bit short. 

Batwing sleeve dress | Faux Leather Jacket | Wedge Pump | Cut Out Detail Bag (similar)

3. Busy Gal Glam  ($19.99)

No time to change between work and your festivities? This affordable holiday dress is your perfect “work to wow” option! The V-neck design looks perfectly at home in the office, just throw on a chic faux leather jacket. When your shift is over, ditch the topper to expose the beautiful open back design and—if time allows—do a quick shoe swap. When I’m super busy, I pack strappy party sandles right in my purse. I didn’t get a great shot of the back, but you can see it here on your left.

For the daytime look, I styled this with my black wedge pumps. They balance out the black jacket, ground the look with a touch of modern business flair AND they’re easy to walk in (in case you’ll be hoofing it to your party). To be different, I took the tie sash from the dress and used it to belt my jacket.

This dress comes in a variety of colors, but I selected this lovely rust shade to prove holiday glam is not limited to traditional seasonal colors. It’s all about your accessories and your attitude!

Fit notes: Again, you will want to scroll down to make sure you are looking at the fit guide that is specific to this dress (NOT Amazon’s general chart). I thought it was spot on and TTS. I ordered the small. It’s an awesome length for petites. No hemming needed! The fabric is thin and less “sweater like” than I anticipated, however I still find it quite lovely.

1950s Style Dress | Bow Pumps

4. Vintage Vixen  ($32.99)

If you’ve got a rather formal party coming up and want to project an Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly vibe, this next pick is for you! The 1950s-inspired design comes in both short and long sleeve styles, as well as a variety of colors. I love the navy and paired it with pearls. However, the red or green version would also be stunning in a holiday photo.

Fit notes: The fabric of this dress has a nice stretch to skim your curves. It is unlined. Many reviewers say it runs a bit small. I like the fit of the S and typically wear a 2 in dresses. This was a real winner in my book. My only gripe would be that it is a bit low cut, then again most dresses are that way on me. 

Have additional fit or style questions, please comment below! It’s always tricking buying online, so I’m happy to help. If you want a closer look of these dresses on video, be sure to check out my Instagram stories clip. I should also mention, these photos give you a glimpse of Lafayette, Indiana’s beautiful downtown. I had such fun shooting these with the very talented Chris of Velvet Lotus Photography. While I’ve worked with videographers plenty of times, this was my first time working with a photographer since my wedding. Chris made it so fun!

—Happy holidays, Lindsay