What to wear to DH corporate Christmas party at a golf club hotel?

[EnergySauce]

We have just been invited and I have not been to a party like this for many years. No idea if women still dress up to these events? The unregulated workwear looks so different now. What type of outfit should I look for not to appear dated? I am 5.4 size 8, no insecurities to minimise, enjoy heels but feel even they are “out” now. Thank you.

Hi OP ,firstly do you want to buy something new will you be buying on Vinted. Are there any photos of last year's vent. I imagine that those who like sequins etc will wear it and for those like my Mum who hates such things you could wear typical winter colours, reds ,greens and so on .It will be interesting to se what others suggest. Enjoy the party when it happens.

First question should be do you wish to go to something out of the last century? If you feel you can, then agree don't bother with anything new.

There is nothing from last year to benchmark and I will be buying new. I am not so much after a specific item but more of a how dressed up these events are in 2026.

Ref. last century - I don’t know. I have a lace pencil dress from Hobbs in dark pine green that I wear every Christmas Day for the last 4 years because it’s perfect and I love it, and I’m still a sucker for the power dresses of Karen Brady Apprentice years.

But in every day life I am more Reiss, VB inspired, Mango sleek…

There was a short black dress in Zara with big puff shoulders, they had them in windows last year, I admired but had nowhere to wear. I would consider something like this. The only thing is I am 48, DH is a manager, would a short dress be inappropriate?

It is August.

Id come back to this a fortnight before the party.

Enjoy the rest of the summer for now.

This is my Hobbs dress, it really suits me, but I feel like it has Hobbs Mom written all over it. However, I wore a lace Self Portrait dress to me wedding which DD knew and when she saw me wear Hobbs dress, she asked if it was another SP treat. So, I am not sure…

@Shedmistress Why? I enjoy the process of looking for something, why shouldn’t I drag it out?

The dress

For a Christmas party in a golf club, I'd try to find an old littlewoods catalogue from years ago and take my inspiration from there.

@JacknDiane I genuinely not sure if it’s a joke and should I take offence😂

Lot of undeserved nastiness here. It’s Style and Beauty not AIBU.

On dress, I suspect it’s a case of ‘anything goes’ now really.

At my office do’s women still dress up - even heels or at least pointy flats - perhaps because they don’t do so as much as formerly during the day. Last year there was lots of velvet, sequins and the usual black. Dresses or flowy wide trousers.

For length again , anything goes. Last year Whistles ( which I usually find on the ball for our age group) had both knee length velvet numbers and the midi slightly more flowy silhouette.

Why would a short dress be inappropriate at 48?!!

The Hobbs dress is fine. Most importantly, you feel comfortable and confident in it.

I don’t know why posters are being sniffy about the event.

Hey OP, my favourite outfits at corp events are the ones worn with confidence. One junior lady on another team always wears killing eve level outfits and I swear she’s my favourite. You’re only ever overdressed if you hunch your shoulders and recheck your outfit a load of times.

so find something you feel good in. If unsure go medium dressy but Christmas party typically women love to dress up after a year dressing corporate.

There are lots of VB inspired dresses coming in to the shops for Autumn Winter, so why don’t you go for something like that? A midi in either satin or stretch crepe, in green as you like your lace dress? Burgundy pretty much suits everyone too. Or even trousers and a satin top?

Your dress is lovely but I like suggestions from @minnowonthesayDresses are a little more “flowy” atm - and why not treat yourself. Great organisation, by the way. I leave everything to the last minute!

You can’t go wrong with an elegant black dress. Always classy. Does it say whether it’s cocktail dresses (short) or evening wear (long)?

Wow, that’s an unnecessarily cutting remark, although it did also make me laugh.
Are you the wife of my former colleague who went to Eton and came out with the classic: “Golf is for people who don’t have land.” Still makes me smile years later.

Anything you'd wear to a standard office Christmas party in a hotel, you don't need to overthink it. At my recent ones the women have worn mostly dark dresses in wintery colours (black, blue, red, burgundy, green), some with sequins, some gold and silver, some velvet.

Something like this would work well, and it comes in lots of colours - https://www.next.ie/en/style/su963828/y90044

Over the last few years I’ve gone more trousers or long satin skirt, pointy flats and subtle sparkly top or silk shirts. But I definitely think it’s too early to look for Christmas party wear, I’d wait till all your favourite retailers start on their ‘party wear’ collections to get some inspiration. There’ll be a lot more choice in a couple of months. I’d say you can still dress up for a Christmas party, but there’s less of a party dress and heels vibe these days.

This isn’t for the party but just such a dupe of a VB dress in Tescos yesterday for £22.50! I think there’ll be lots more to follow this winter..

https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/349822703

I love these. I got one like that from Mango with that ruching effect at the waist and it also had an asymmetric seam down the side and an asymmetric hem. I'm wearing it with VW pirate boot dupes. Too casual for a golf club though!

I agree about your Hobbs dress. It’s lovely. Wear it if you don’t find an alternative. Add lots of bling too.

If you haven’t been to an “event” for a while I actually think you might be quite taken aback by how casual some attendees will dress. It’s disappointing sometimes but …

Get out there and slay ‘em. Have fun!

Thank you, all! I love those satin dresses and will some lovely scrolling!

At our work’s Christmas party last year everyone was dressed up! Lots of sequins and feathers. It was fabulous! We don’t get much of an opportunity to dress up these days so go for it.