Christmas Market Outfit for Women: warm, comfy and festive

For a Christmas market outfit for women, one simple rule applies: warmth first, then the festive touch. Several thin layers, a winter jacket or coat and boots with a sturdy sole are the basis.

You spend hours outside at the Christmas market, often in the wind and with cold feet. At the same time, the outfit should feel cosy and a little festive. Here you will find how to build layers, which jacket and shoes work, and which colours suit the mood.

Warm Christmas market outfit: how to build your layers

At the Christmas market you hardly move and stand in one spot for a long time. That speaks for several thin layers instead of one thick piece. Layers can be opened as soon as you step into a café or a marquee.

• Base: A long-sleeved top or a blouse sits directly on the skin. It should feel pleasant, because you wear it all evening.
• Middle: A jumper or a cardigan is the warming layer. You will find a selection in the knitted jumpers and the cardigans.
• Outer: A winter jacket or a coat keeps the wind out. It is the last layer and usually stays on until the end.
• Lower half: Under a skirt or dress you wear thick tights. Under trousers, a second thin layer can make sense in sub-zero temperatures.

A good rule of thumb: several thin layers often keep you warmer than one thick piece. How to combine layers all winter long is explained in the guide Winter outfits for women.

Christmas market outfit: which jacket or coat works?

The jacket is the most important piece of a Christmas market outfit. You wear it almost all evening. So it matters that you can move well in it and that it goes with your other pieces.

• Winter jacket: It is the easiest choice in cold and wind. You will find a selection in the winter jackets.
• Coat: A coat is seen as the more festive classic. It goes with a dress, skirt and trousers alike.
• Short jacket: It ends at the hip and goes well with trousers. With a skirt or dress you then need thick tights and tall boots.
• Colour: Camel, beige, brown, black and red go well with knitwear in cream or burgundy.

Which shoes for the Christmas market? Boots with a sturdy sole

At the Christmas market the ground counts: cobblestones, mud and cold pavement. Boots with a sturdy sole are the obvious choice. Thin trainers or ballet flats cool down quickly.

• Boots: Mid-height and tall boots go with trousers, skirts and dresses. You will find a selection in the boots.
• Socks: Thick socks or thick tights keep your feet warm. Shoes you have already broken in are the better choice for long evenings.
• Colour: Black and brown boots go with almost all winter colours.

Christmas market outfit for women: trousers, skirt or dress?

All three work if you keep the cold in mind. The choice depends on how long you stay outside and how festive the evening should be.

• Trousers: Trousers with a jumper are the calmest solution. They are easy to combine with a second layer underneath.
• Skirt: A skirt needs thick tights and boots. How that looks is shown in the guide Wearing a skirt in winter.
• Dress: You wear a dress with thick tights, a cardigan, a coat and boots. That keeps you warm and still looks right for the occasion.

Festive and cosy: colours, knitwear and small accents

Festive does not have to mean glitter at the Christmas market. Warm colours and soft knitwear are often enough. The mood is cosy, not formal.

• Colours: Red, burgundy, dark green, camel, brown and cream are seen as typical winter colours. One main colour plus one accent looks calm.
• Knitwear: Chunky knit, cable knit and ribbed knit suit the season. Tips on combining knitwear are in the guide Styling knitwear.
• Accents: A scarf, a hat or gloves in red or cream set a festive point. Small jewellery or a touch of glitter works too.

Christmas market or Christmas Eve: what is the difference?

The Christmas market takes place outside, the dinner on Christmas Eve inside. So at the Christmas market warmth comes first, on Christmas Eve the festive touch. Ideas for the holidays are in the guide Christmas outfits for women. You will find ideas for a party with colleagues or friends in our guide Christmas party outfit for women.

You can combine both: a dress or knitwear in red works on both days. Outside you add a coat and boots, inside you take the jacket off.

Three Christmas market outfits for women

Classic and warm. Dark trousers, a cream jumper, a coat in camel and brown boots. Add a scarf and gloves in red. The colours stay calm, the red accent makes the outfit festive.

Cosy with a dress. A dress with a cardigan, thick tights and black boots, with a winter jacket over the top. A hat finishes the outfit. You take the cardigan off indoors.

Relaxed after work. Comfortable trousers, a blouse, a cardigan and a winter jacket, with boots with a sturdy sole. Your office outfit is ready for the Christmas market with two additions: knitwear and a jacket.

Matching items in the shop: trousers and winter fashion for women.

Frequently asked questions

What do I wear to the Christmas market when it is just above freezing?

A jumper, a winter jacket and boots are usually enough. A thin base layer underneath makes the difference when you stand for a long time.

Are boots with a thick sole enough for a long evening at the Christmas market?

Yes, if you wear thick socks or thick tights with them. A sturdy sole keeps the cold from the ground out better than a thin shoe.

Can I wear a dress to the Christmas market?

Yes, with thick tights, a cardigan, a coat and boots. That way the dress stays the festive part of the outfit and the layers over it provide the warmth.

How do I avoid getting too hot in a marquee or café?

Wear layers you can take off one by one. A cardigan under your jacket is quickly removed without changing the whole outfit.

Does a Christmas market outfit have to be festive?

No. A warm, cosy outfit is enough. A red scarf, a jumper in a winter colour or small jewellery already add a festive accent.

What do I wear to the Christmas market straight after work?

You add a cardigan, a winter jacket and sturdy shoes to your office outfit. Thick tights or a second layer under trousers keep you warm late in the evening.