20 Christmas Outfit Ideas for Black Women, From Sunday Best to Kwanzaa
Most holiday outfit guides skip the details that matter most for you.
Which sheer tights match your skin. Which hat will not dry out your hair on the way to church. Which designers to shop.
This one starts there.
The season also runs longer for many families, from the Christmas service through Kwanzaa, which begins on December 26. The outfits below cover all of it, from a catsuit and long blazer in the spirit of LaQuan Smith to a coat dress, brooch, and church crown for Christmas morning. For the full party list, see our Christmas party outfits, and for warmer months, our summer outfits for Black women.
Your nude, your hair, your designers
Tights in your shade
Ade Hassan founded Nubian Skin in 2014 because, in her words, her nude was not the nude she saw in shops. Its tights come in four shades, Berry, Cinnamon, Caramel, and Café au Lait, in 20 and 40 denier and sizes S to 3XL. Heist has a quiz to find your nude shade. Order early. Popular shades sell out before the holidays.
Hats that protect your hair
Wool and acrylic can rub and dry out natural hair and braids. Grace Eleyae, founded in 2014, makes satin-lined caps and beanies, and says the lining reduces friction and helps hold in moisture. A satin scarf under any hat does a similar job.
Black designers for the holidays
| Designer | Known for |
|---|---|
| Hanifa (Anifa Mvuemba) | Body-skimming knit dresses and fur pieces, a 2021 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund awardee |
| LaQuan Smith | Catsuits, cut-out dresses, and sharp tailoring, made in Queens |
| Christopher John Rogers | Big, bright volume skirts, worn by Kamala Harris at the 2021 inauguration |
| Sergio Hudson | Strong-shouldered tailoring and coat dresses, stocked at Bergdorf Goodman |
| Diarrablu (Diarra Bousso) | Printed dresses and kimonos made to order in Dakar, sizes XS to 3XL |
| KAHINDO (Kahindo Mateene) | Occasion gowns handmade by a women-led cooperative in Nairobi |
| Brandon Blackwood | Structured statement handbags |
Christmas parties (1 to 7)
1. A knit midi dress and a faux fur coat
A fitted knit midi dress under a long faux fur coat, the kind of pairing Hanifa is known for. A body-skimming knit is warm and moves with you at a party, and the coat makes the entrance. Choose boots instead of open-toe sandals in December.
2. A catsuit and a long blazer
A black catsuit with a long, sharp blazer worn open, in the spirit of LaQuan Smith. The blazer turns a body-con piece into an outfit with structure. The catch with any catsuit is the bathroom at a busy party.
3. A printed maxi for a warm-weather Christmas
A bright printed maxi with gold cuffs, for a Christmas party somewhere warm, like Houston, Atlanta, or the Caribbean. Fe Noel, a Brooklyn designer who draws on her Grenadian roots, is known for this kind of vacation-ready dress. It is too light for a cold city.
4. A cobalt satin slip and tights in your shade
A cobalt satin slip dress with sheer tights that match your skin and a gold cuff. Cobalt is a strong, cool color that glows against deeper skin, and tights in your own shade make the leg look bare in a cold month. Satin shows every line underneath, so wear a smooth layer.
5. An all-black column and a statement bag
A black column dress with one structured statement bag, like the ones Brandon Blackwood makes. The plain dress lets the bag carry the whole outfit, and you can wear the same dress again with a different bag.
6. A lace mini and a long coat
An ivory lace mini with a long camel coat and heels in your nude. Ivory lace against deep skin is one of the best contrasts there is. The heel in your shade extends the leg line.
7. A plum velvet off-shoulder gown
A plum velvet gown with an off-shoulder neckline, for a formal party. Velvet holds color richly, and plum suits warm and deep skin tones. Velvet crushes when you sit, so steam it on the day.
Christmas church and Sunday best (8 to 11)
In many Black churches, Christmas is a Sunday-best service, and hats are part of it. The 2000 book Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats documented the tradition. Our church outfits cover the rest of the church year.
8. A volume skirt and a fitted turtleneck
A big, bright volume skirt with a fitted turtleneck. Christopher John Rogers, who grew up in a Southern Baptist church, is known for skirts like this. It is a statement on a pew, and a challenge in a car seat. Keep the top fitted so the volume stays in the skirt.
9. A tweed sheath, pearls, and a fascinator over braids
A tweed sheath with pearls and a small fascinator that sits over braids or an updo. A fascinator is easier with braids than a full hat. Unlined tweed can itch, so check for a lining.
10. A coat dress, a brooch, and a church crown
An emerald coat dress with a brooch at the lapel and a matching church crown. Sergio Hudson is known for this kind of strong-shouldered tailoring. A heavy brooch can pull on fine fabric, so pin it through a lapel or a structured seam. Keep the brim moderate if you sit in the middle of a row.
11. A cream pantsuit and a headwrap
A cream pantsuit with a gold silk headwrap. The headwrap protects your hair and finishes the outfit in one piece. Cream and holiday dinner are not friends, so change before the gravy comes out. Our winter work outfits have more pantsuits.
Family dinner and travel (12 to 15)
12. A printed kimono over black
A long printed kimono over a black knit and wide trousers. Diarrablu makes kimonos like this to order in Dakar. The kimono is the festive piece. Wide sleeves end up in the gravy, so push them back at the table.
13. A jersey wrap dress and tights in your shade
A jersey wrap dress with tights in your shade and knee boots. A jersey wrap stretches after a long meal. Pin the neckline if it tends to open. Our knee-high boot guide covers calf fit.
14. Ankara-print trousers and a cream knit
Ankara-print wide trousers with a plain cream knit. The print on the bottom half is festive and keeps the cream top as calm as possible. Our Christmas Day outfits have more ideas for the day itself.
15. A satin-lined beanie, a camel coat, and jeans
A satin-lined beanie, a camel coat, a turtleneck, and jeans, for the drive or flight home. The beanie keeps your hair protected for hours against a headrest. It adds a little bulk, so choose a fine knit.
Kwanzaa (16 to 18)
Kwanzaa runs from December 26 to January 1. Maulana Karenga created it in 1966, and the name comes from the Swahili for "first fruits." Its colors are black, red, and green. It is its own celebration, not a version of Christmas, and many families mark both.
16. A kente-print wrap skirt and a black turtleneck
A kente-print wrap skirt with a black turtleneck. The black top lets the kente carry the outfit. Print yardage and handwoven kente can be expensive, so a printed version is the practical start.
17. A kaftan, a gold cuff, and a headwrap
A long printed kaftan with a matching headwrap and a gold cuff. A kaftan is traditional, comfortable, and dressed. A drafty hall can be cold, so carry a wrap.
18. A printed gown for the Karamu feast
A floor-length printed gown for the Karamu feast on December 31. KAHINDO's gowns, handmade by a women-led cooperative in Nairobi, take at least 18 hours of work each, so order well ahead if you want one.
New Year's Eve (19 and 20)
19. A sequin blazer worn as a dress
A gold sequin blazer buttoned as a short dress, with tights in your shade. It is a party outfit and a coat in one. Sequins snag knits, so keep the scarf soft.
20. An iridescent maxi
An iridescent maxi that changes color as you move, like the ones from House of Aama, a label built around African American and Southern heritage. It is the most expensive idea here, around $990 for the House of Aama version, and the fabric is fragile. Our winter fashion trends cover cheaper ways into the season's shine.
What we would skip
- "Nude" tights that are not your nude. Order your shade early.
- A plain wool hat straight on natural hair or braids.
- A wide brim in the middle of a church row.
- Cream at the dinner table.
- Kwanzaa as a Christmas theme. It is its own holiday.
For more, our old money outfits for Black women cover a quieter holiday look, the wedding guest dresses for Black women work for a winter wedding with a coat, and if you are curvy, see our plus size Christmas party outfits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should Black women wear for Christmas?
Anything you love, with a few details sorted: sheer tights in a shade that matches your skin, such as Nubian Skin's Berry, Cinnamon, Caramel, or Café au Lait; a satin-lined hat or scarf to protect natural hair or braids in the cold; and outfits from Black designers like Hanifa, LaQuan Smith, Christopher John Rogers, Sergio Hudson, or Diarrablu. Rich jewel tones, gold, and cream all look striking against deeper skin.
Where can I find nude tights for dark skin?
Nubian Skin, founded by Ade Hassan in 2014, makes tights in four brown shades, Berry, Cinnamon, Caramel, and Café au Lait, in 20 and 40 denier and sizes S to 3XL. Heist offers a shade quiz to find your nude. Popular shades sell out before the holidays, so order early.
How do I protect my natural hair under a winter hat?
Choose a satin-lined beanie or hat, or wear a satin scarf or cap under a regular one. Grace Eleyae, a brand built around satin-lined caps and beanies, says the lining reduces friction and helps hold in moisture. Plain wool and acrylic can rub and dry out hair and edges.
What do you wear for Kwanzaa?
Kwanzaa runs from December 26 to January 1 and was created in 1966 by Maulana Karenga. Kente and kaftans are traditional, and the colors are black, red, and green, which stand for the people, the struggle, and the earth. Many people wear an African print piece, a kaftan, or the three colors as accents, especially for the Karamu feast on December 31.
