15 Holiday Cocktail Dresses to Buy at Every Budget

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(Image credit: @giuliatordini)

Why yes, all of those holiday parties you’ve been receiving invites for are just around the corner. We’re headed straight for the heart of the festive holiday season, and if you’re wondering what to wear, know that you can’t go wrong by slipping into a cocktail dress.

Holiday cocktail dresses range from understated to extravagant, but they all have one thing in common. They all feel a little, well, “extra” compared to your ordinary dress for a night out. Whether it’s a slinky satin slip, an ’80s-inspired velvet bustier, a minidress covered in hundreds of glittering sequin, or a piece embellished with dramatic feathers, holiday cocktail dresses all feel a bit more special than what you’d wear for a date night or dinner with friends. Ahead, shop 15 holiday cocktail dresses fit for any party you’re headed to. They’re broken down from most to least expensive, so scroll to the end to shop the most affordable styles.

OVER $1000

UNDER $1000

UNDER $500

UNDER $100

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Associate Director, Special Projects

Kristen Nichols is the Associate Director, Special Projects at Who What Wear with over a decade of experience in fashion, editorial, and publishing. She oversees luxury content and wedding features, and covers fashion within the luxury market, runway reporting, shopping features, trends, and interviews with leading industry experts. She also contributes to podcast recordings, social media, and branded content initiatives. Kristen has worked with brands including Prada, Chanel, MyTheresa, and Luisa Via Roma, and rising designers such as Refine and Tove, and her style has been featured in publications including Vogue.com, Vogue France, WWD, and the CFDA. Before Who What Wear, Kristen began her career at Rodarte, where she worked on assistant styling, photo shoots, and runway shows, and at Allure, where she moved into print and digital editorial. She graduated from the University of Southern California, where she studied art history and business, and currently lives in New York.