Christmas card season is here, and if the thought of family photos makes your stomach drop a little, you're not alone. Picking an outfit that photographs well, looks good next to everyone else, and still feels like you is a lot to ask of one closet.
Here's what we tell every woman who walks into our store with the same worry: you are beautiful just as you are, and the photos are about the people in them, not the size on the tag. Your family will treasure these pictures for years. So let's make getting dressed the easy part, with plus size Christmas photo outfits that look great on camera.
Start With a Color Palette
The easiest way to great family Christmas picture outfits is to pick two or three colors and let everyone pull from them. Look at this group: olive, cream, brown and soft grey, with one deep green as the pop. Nobody is wearing the same thing, but every outfit belongs in the same picture.
Warm neutrals like these are forgiving on camera and glow in winter light. Pieces like the Floral Sherpa Boxy Fit Vest in Oatmeal and Brown and the Varsity Stripe Crewneck Sweater with matching Ribbed Sweater-Knit Pants in Bark and Oatmeal make it easy to stay in the palette and still feel cozy.
Coordinate, Don't Match
Matching sweaters are cute for one silly shot. For the rest, coordinate. In this photo, everyone sticks to black, brown and cream, then mixes it up: a polka-dot skirt, a floral dress, a chunky knit, a cropped sweater. It reads polished and nobody feels like they're in a uniform.
A print with a little movement, like the Floral Flocking Semi Sheer Mesh Dress in Caramel and Black, is a beautiful anchor. Let the people around it wear solids and soft textures in the same colors.
Cozy Knits in Warm Neutrals
If your family leans neutral, a soft sweater in camel, taupe or cream is the dream. It looks warm on camera, never looks dated, and you can wear it all winter.
Tuck the front of a relaxed sweater into a midi skirt or dark denim to give your shape a little definition without anything feeling tight. Browse our Sweater Weather collection for knits in every warm neutral.
Let One Pattern Lead
One bold pattern makes the whole group look intentional. Here, a single plaid jacket over a solid green outfit pulls the eye without competing with anyone else.
If you're the one in plaid, stripes or a big floral, keep the rest of your outfit solid so the pattern can shine. Everyone else can echo one color from it.
Finish With a Cardigan
A cardigan is the secret weapon of holiday photos. It adds a layer of warmth for outdoor shots, gives you a little coverage through the arms, and comes off easily if the photographer moves you inside.
A simple black cardigan over a long floral dress, like this one, works for family photos, Christmas Eve service and dinner after. Find your favorite in our Cozy Cardigans and Knits.
What to Wear for Holiday Photos: What to Avoid on Camera
A few things that rarely photograph well: tiny busy prints (they can blur on camera), large logos or words, neon colors that cast color onto faces, and anything you keep tugging at. If you have to adjust it, you'll be thinking about it instead of smiling.
When in doubt, choose the outfit you feel most comfortable in. Comfort shows up in your face, and that's what everyone will remember.
Love our fall picks too? See our Fall Family Photo Outfit Ideas for Plus Size Women.
Shop Plus Size Christmas Photo Outfits at Love Marlow
Come see us at 2400 S Marion Rd in Sioux Falls and we'll help you put together a look for the whole family, in sizes M–4X (8–28). Or shop our Holiday Collection online anytime at shoplovemarlow.com.
Need more inspiration? Follow us @shoplovemarlow on all social platforms!
