Party glasses: what to wear to a Christmas party
24 November 2025
In summary: The right party glasses depend on the event. Choose red or green frames for festive colour, gold or silver metal frames for sparkle, oversized retro shapes for the dance floor, designer tortoiseshell for black-tie and rimless styles for a pared-back look. Not sure? Try four frames at home for free with the Glasses Direct Home Trial.
Whether you've been invited to an office party, Christmas drinks or a winter ball, the festive season is a chance to jazz up your outfit and treat yourself to new glasses. Here's how to pick a pair that suits the occasion, the outfit and your face shape.
What glasses should you wear to a Christmas party?
Match the frame to the dress code first, then have fun with colour. Use this table as a quick starting point.
| Occasion | Frame style | Colours to try | Wear with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office Christmas party | Slim metal or semi-rimless | Gold, silver, gunmetal | Tailoring, smart knitwear |
| Christmas drinks | Bold acetate | Crimson red, pine green | Black or dark neutrals |
| Black-tie or winter ball | Designer or embellished | Tortoiseshell, black, crystal | Tuxedo, evening dress |
| Dinner with friends | Rimless or clear | Clear, rose gold | Glitter tops, statement earrings |
Festive colours: red and green party glasses
Red and green frames are the easiest way to look festive without a Christmas jumper. Deep pine green and crimson red are bold but flattering, and both sit well against the darker fabrics most of us wear in winter.
- Wear them with: black, navy or charcoal so the frames stand out.
- Go further: try a green outfit with red frames, or the other way round.
- Who they suit: warm skin tones suit crimson and olive green; cool skin tones suit berry red and emerald.
Frames to try: Persol® PO3318V, a phantos acetate frame in transparent olive with a keyhole bridge and flexible Meflecto temples. The Collection Jessie, an extra-large crimson red cat-eye.
Metallic frames: gold, silver and rose gold
Metal frames catch the light, which makes them the natural choice for a party with sparkle. Gold, silver and rose gold all work. Slim metal frames add polish without competing with a statement outfit.
- For full glamour: acetate frames with metallic temple details.
- For a subtler look: thin gold or silver wire frames.
- Comfort tip: metal frames with adjustable nose pads stay put through a long night.
Frames to try: Scout Lamar, a round acetate frame in translucent brown with gold metal temples. Coach HC5185, a lightweight rimless cat-eye in gold metal with subtle branding on the temples.
Retro glasses for the dance floor
Oversized 60s and 70s shapes are back, and they suit a night of dancing. Extra-large square frames, round frames and pilot shapes give a party look personality, while geometric frames bring a bit of disco.
- Shapes to try: oversized, pilot, round and geometric.
- Wear them with: sequins, flared trousers or a velvet blazer.
Frames to try: Oakley® Holbrook™, a bold black square frame with a retro, sporty edge. The Collection Madeline, a large burgundy geometric frame with a hexagonal shape.
Designer glasses for black-tie events
For a winter ball or black-tie dinner, a designer frame adds polish. Tortoiseshell is a safe choice: it pairs with creams, blacks and pastels, and looks striking against deep red or lilac. For more glamour, look for crystal or diamanté details on the temples.
- Frames to try: Tiffany & Co. TF2257BU, a chunky square Havana frame with a diamanté ‘T’ on each temple. Ray-Ban® RB5154 Clubmaster, with a transparent top and metal rims.
- Brands to explore: Tom Ford, Gucci, Burberry and Oakley® in our designer range.
Rimless and semi-rimless glasses for an understated look
Rimless and semi-rimless frames keep the focus on your face, outfit and makeup. They're light, which helps if you'll be wearing them for six hours or more.
- Why they work: fewer lines across the face, so makeup and jewellery show clearly.
- Wear them with: sequins or a glitter top for contrast.
Frames to try: Finelight August, an ultra-small rimless frame with curved bronze-coloured temples. Harrington Joe1, a matte black semi-rimless rectangle with tortoiseshell tips.
What glasses to wear to a Christmas party: men
For men, browline, tortoiseshell and slim metal frames suit most Christmas parties, from the office to black-tie. Start with the dress code:
- Black-tie: the Ray-Ban® Clubmaster browline shape looks sharp with a dinner jacket. A transparent or light-toned version feels more current.
- Smart-casual: tortoiseshell or black frames work with a shirt and knitwear.
- Something different: a deep green or burgundy acetate adds festive colour without looking like fancy dress.
What glasses to wear to a Christmas party: women
For women, cat-eye, metallic and colourful acetate frames are reliable party picks, but the best pair is the one that suits the outfit. Some starting points:
- Glamorous: a cat-eye frame in crimson, black or tortoiseshell.
- Sparkly: gold or rose gold metal, or acetate with metallic details.
- Bold: an oversized retro or butterfly shape.
- Minimal: rimless or clear frames that let makeup and jewellery stand out.
Christmas party makeup tips for glasses wearers
Glasses frame the eyes, so a little makeup goes a long way. Your prescription also matters: ZEISS explains that lenses for long-sightedness can make eyes look larger, while lenses for short-sightedness can make them look smaller. Adjust how bold you go to suit.
- Glow: gold or champagne highlighter on the cheekbones adds radiance beneath the frames. Pair it with a soft pink blush.
- Lips: a cherry or burgundy lip matches red frames. For contrast, try it with forest green frames instead. Tortoiseshell and black frames go with any shade.
- Glitter: gold or silver shimmer on the lid shows up well behind lenses. Apply a neutral base first and use a damp brush so it lasts all night.
- Colour: gold, bronze and green suit warm skin tones; silver and berry purple suit cool ones. Swap black eyeliner for plum or emerald for a festive twist.
- On trend: Pantone named Cloud Dancer, a soft white, as its Colour of the Year 2026. It works as a clean, bright base for festive shimmer.
- Gems: small crystal gems look great with rimless frames, which won't hide them.
Quick makeup tips for glasses wearers
- Use a magnifying mirror if you can't see clearly without your glasses.
- Keep foundation light on the nose so it doesn't transfer to your nose pads.
- Curl lashes before mascara and choose a waterproof formula to avoid marks on your lenses.
- Match makeup tones to your frames or contrast them on purpose.
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Keep brows tidy, as frames draw attention to the brow line.
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Wash your hands before applying eye make-up and remove it fully at the end of the night, as the College of Optometrists advises.
Try party glasses at home before you buy
With the Glasses Direct Home Trial, you can try up to four frames at home for free. Hold them up against your party outfit, see how they look with your makeup and only order the pair you love. Prefer to try now? Use our Virtual Try-on.
Every pair is checked by our opticians, and you get 120-day free returns.
Two pairs for the party season with 2-for-1
With our 2-for-1 offer, you can pick one pair for the office and another for nights out. Or choose two party looks and swap between them from one celebration to the next.
Find your festive party glasses
The best party glasses are the ones that match the occasion and make you feel confident. Pick a bold colour for drinks, metallic frames for a night of sparkle or a designer pair for black-tie. Then browse the full glasses range or order a free Home Trial and find your festive favourite.
FAQs: party glasses
What glasses should I wear to a Christmas party?
Match the frame to the dress code. Red or green acetate frames suit festive drinks, gold or silver metal frames suit parties with sparkle, and designer tortoiseshell frames suit black-tie. Rimless frames are a safe choice for the office.
What is the best eyewear for festive parties?
Frames that fit comfortably and suit the outfit work best, as you may wear them for several hours. Lightweight metal or rimless frames with adjustable nose pads are comfortable for long evenings.
What glasses should men wear to a Christmas party?
Browline frames such as the Ray-Ban® Clubmaster, tortoiseshell acetate and slim metal frames suit most events. A dark green or burgundy frame adds festive colour.
What stylish glasses suit festive parties for ladies?
Cat-eye frames, gold or rose gold metal frames and oversized retro shapes are popular picks. Rimless frames suit bold makeup because they don't hide it.
Do glasses change how party makeup looks?
Yes. Lenses for long-sightedness can make eyes look larger and lenses for short-sightedness can make them look smaller, so adjust eye makeup to suit.
Can I try party glasses before I buy?
Yes. The Glasses Direct Home Trial lets you try up to four frames at home for free before you order.
