9 Christmas Party Costume Ideas for Work (Office-Friendly)

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A work Christmas party costume has a tricky job. It needs to be fun, but you’ll be standing next to your boss, eating cheese cubes, possibly giving a toast. So it should be festive, easy to move in and totally safe for HR.

Every idea here passes the office test. Most can be worn over your regular work clothes, which helps if the party starts right after your last meeting.

Jump to a Costume

  1. Elf
  2. Reindeer
  3. Santa Claus
  4. Human Ugly Sweater
  5. Christmas Tree
  6. Gingerbread Person
  7. Ebenezer Scrooge
  8. Snow Queen
  9. Candy Cane

1. Elf

Illustration of a Christmas elf costume: a cheerful person in a green tunic with a red zigzag pointed hem and collar, a black belt with a gold buckle, red and white striped tights, a pointy green hat with a red trim and a jingle bell, pointed ears, curled-toe felt shoes.

The office favorite. An elf is cheerful, comfortable and fits over a work outfit in two minutes.

How to do it: Elf hat with a bell, pointed ears, a felt collar and striped socks. If you want to commit, a green vest over your work shirt. Bonus points for offering to “help” wrap the gift exchange.

Worth buying: elf ears and a jingle-bell hat.

2. Reindeer

Illustration of a cozy reindeer costume: a person in a brown fleece hooded onesie with a cream chest patch, soft plush brown antlers and small ears on the hood, a short tail, a painted red nose and freckle spots on the cheeks, brown boots.

Antlers and a red nose turn any brown sweater into a reindeer. It’s the lowest-effort costume that still counts.

How to do it: Antler headband, red clown nose and a brown sweater. A whole team in antlers makes a great group photo. Assign someone to be the lead reindeer.

Worth buying: a reindeer antler headband.

3. Santa Claus

Illustration of a classic Santa Claus costume: a jolly man in a plush red velvet suit with thick white fur trim, a wide black belt with a gold buckle, black boots, a full soft white beard and mustache, a red hat with a white pom-pom, round wire glasses, white gloves, rosy cheeks.

Somebody has to be Santa, and it might as well be the person running the gift exchange.

How to do it: A plush Santa suit if you’re going all in, or just a Santa hat, beard and red sweater with a black belt. Hand out candy canes and you’re the most popular person at the party.

Worth buying: a plush Santa suit.

4. Human Ugly Sweater

Ugly sweater parties are the default office theme, so go one step further and become the sweater.

How to do it: Hot-glue (or pin) tinsel, small ornaments, pom-poms and a string of battery lights onto an old sweater. The tackier the better. Add matching earrings or a headband.

Worth buying: battery-powered fairy lights.

5. Christmas Tree

Illustration of a Christmas tree costume: a smiling woman in a flared green tiered dress wrapped in gold tinsel and fairy lights, decorated with red and gold baubles, with a gold star headband.

Easy to see across a crowded conference room. It’s festive, and it’s fun to decorate with coworkers.

How to do it: Green top or dress, tinsel garland wrapped around you, clip-on ornaments and a star headband. Let coworkers “add an ornament” as the night goes on.

Worth buying: a Christmas star headband.

Full guide: our full Christmas Tree costume guide

6. Gingerbread Person

Illustration of a gingerbread man costume: a child in a cookie-brown sweatshirt and pants with wavy white icing rickrack trim at the neck, wrists, waist and ankles, three big round gumdrop buttons in red and green down the front, rosy pink cheeks, a big smile, arms out.

Cute, harmless and very photo-friendly. A gingerbread costume works for any role from intern to CEO.

How to do it: Brown top and pants, white ric-rac or puffy paint along the cuffs, and three big buttons. Rosy cheeks and a drawn-on icing smile.

Worth buying: a gingerbread man headband.

7. Ebenezer Scrooge

Illustration of an Ebenezer Scrooge costume: a thin scowling old man with round spectacles, a long gray nightshirt under a faded brown dressing gown, a tasseled nightcap and slippers, holding a lit candle.

Perfect for the finance department. Funny, a little self-aware and very easy.

How to do it: Dark coat, vest, cravat or scarf, round spectacles and a nightcap. Carry a ledger and a candle. Mutter about the budget all night.

Worth buying: a Victorian top hat.

Full guide: our full Ebenezer Scrooge costume guide

8. Snow Queen

Illustration of an original Snow Queen costume from the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale: a regal woman with sleek loose platinum hair in a long shimmering ice-blue satin gown, a sheer white floor-length cape, a white faux fur stole at the shoulders, a tall spiky silver crown of ice crystals and snowflakes, icy silver eye makeup, a cool stare.

For a dressier party, the Snow Queen looks elegant and festive without being a full costume.

How to do it: Pale blue or silver dress, a sheer white cape or wrap, a silver snowflake crown and icy eyeshadow.

Worth buying: a silver snowflake crown.

9. Candy Cane

Red and white and simple. It works for any body type and any dress code.

How to do it: Red or white top with diagonal stripes of ribbon or tape, red-and-white striped socks or tights, and a candy cane to carry. Peppermint earrings for extra credit.

Worth buying: red and white striped tights.

How to Pick a Costume for a Work Christmas Party

Go festive, not edgy. Save the inside jokes and anything revealing for parties with friends.

Choose something you can sit, eat and shake hands in. Inflatable costumes and big props get old fast in a crowded room.

Coordinate with your team. Matching reindeer or a whole department of elves always wins the costume contest.

Want more holiday looks? See the full Christmas costumes section, or browse the costume encyclopedia from A to Z.

Work Christmas Costume FAQ

What’s a good costume for an office Christmas party?

An elf, reindeer, Santa, Christmas tree, gingerbread person, Scrooge, Snow Queen, candy cane or a human ugly sweater.

What’s an easy Christmas costume for work?

Reindeer antlers with a brown sweater. It takes two minutes and fits over regular work clothes.

What’s a good Christmas group costume for coworkers?

Santa and his elves, a full reindeer team, or a gingerbread family.

What should I avoid wearing to a work Christmas party?

Anything revealing, political, or that needs explaining. If you’d hesitate to wear it in front of HR, skip it.

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