Holiday Outfit Inspiration from Your Favorite Movies

Mar. 15, 2025

There’s nothing quite like a holiday movie to make your spirits bright, especially if you, like us, end up fawning over the fashion.

When it comes to festive silver-screen classics likeThe HolidayandSerendipity, the clothes are one of best things about watching a Christmas movie (next to all the decorations and heart-melting romance of course).

01of 10Amanda Woods in ‘The Holiday’Cameron Diaz in “The Holiday”.AlamyEven when she’s in Surrey, England, Amanda Woods (Cameron Diaz) still has that sophisticated Hollywood flair about her. Upon arriving in the quant English town with her baggage (interpret that how you will), she looks incredibly chic in aDior chocolate brown and white shearling coatand one of best-fitting turtlenecks to ever exist.Costume designerMarlene Stewarttells PEOPLE that she wanted to create a “luxurious and fun” wardrobe (think quiet luxury ahead of its time) for Amanda who is a “strong, independent, creative woman.“Marlene also explains why that coat still has such a hold on us, years later: “It didn’t look like it was over the top and ridiculous in some way. It looked very practical. She takes it off and wraps it around her waist. It is something that [was] both feminine” but also “functional’.”

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Amanda Woods in ‘The Holiday’

Cameron Diaz in “The Holiday”.Alamy

Alamy

Even when she’s in Surrey, England, Amanda Woods (Cameron Diaz) still has that sophisticated Hollywood flair about her. Upon arriving in the quant English town with her baggage (interpret that how you will), she looks incredibly chic in aDior chocolate brown and white shearling coatand one of best-fitting turtlenecks to ever exist.

Costume designerMarlene Stewarttells PEOPLE that she wanted to create a “luxurious and fun” wardrobe (think quiet luxury ahead of its time) for Amanda who is a “strong, independent, creative woman.”

Marlene also explains why that coat still has such a hold on us, years later: “It didn’t look like it was over the top and ridiculous in some way. It looked very practical. She takes it off and wraps it around her waist. It is something that [was] both feminine” but also “functional'.”

02of 10Sierra Belmont in ‘Falling for Christmas’“Falling for Christmas”.Lindsay Lohan/InstagramLindsay Lohanbrings maximalist holiday fashion to life as heiress Sierra Belmont inFalling for Christmas.While the ending to this particular scene isn’t so stylish (Sierra ends up having amnesia after tumbling down a mountain after she and her fiancé Tad attempt to get the perfect post-proposal selfie), her glam hot pink ski suit is one of the best fashion moments in the film.Costume designer Emerson AlvareztoldPage Sixthat it was a subtle nod toMean Girlsand that Lohan was so obsessed with the getup that she ended up taking one home with her.

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Sierra Belmont in ‘Falling for Christmas’

“Falling for Christmas”.Lindsay Lohan/Instagram

Lindsay Lohan/Instagram

Lindsay Lohanbrings maximalist holiday fashion to life as heiress Sierra Belmont inFalling for Christmas.While the ending to this particular scene isn’t so stylish (Sierra ends up having amnesia after tumbling down a mountain after she and her fiancé Tad attempt to get the perfect post-proposal selfie), her glam hot pink ski suit is one of the best fashion moments in the film.

Costume designer Emerson AlvareztoldPage Sixthat it was a subtle nod toMean Girlsand that Lohan was so obsessed with the getup that she ended up taking one home with her.

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Juliet in ‘Love Actually’

You might think nothing can top Juliet’s wedding dress inLove Actually.But if you look elsewhere in the film, there are a ton of casual costumes that vie for top billing, like this oh-so-2000s moment. This laid-back look on Juliet (Keira Knightley) includes low-rise jeans and a cableknit infinity scarf, and it’s so convincingly good that it almost distracts us from the lovesickgesture from Mark(Andrew Lincoln) —¸ almost.

04of 10Georgia Byrd in ‘Last Holiday’“Last Holiday”.AlamyOf course no holiday rom-com is complete without a “prepare to be wowed” ensemble, which is exactly what Georgia Byrd’s chiffon evening gown achieves inThe Last Holiday. It’s romantic and celebratory, with its red-and-magenta color scheme, and like any good holiday look, it’s topped with tons of bling.

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Georgia Byrd in ‘Last Holiday’

“Last Holiday”.Alamy

Of course no holiday rom-com is complete without a “prepare to be wowed” ensemble, which is exactly what Georgia Byrd’s chiffon evening gown achieves inThe Last Holiday. It’s romantic and celebratory, with its red-and-magenta color scheme, and like any good holiday look, it’s topped with tons of bling.

05of 10Aunt Sandy in ‘Single All the Way'‘Single All the Way”.Philippe Bosse/NetflixIs there a lookJennifer Coolidgedoesn’t absolutely kill? InSingle All the Way, the actress plays Aunt Sandy who has a theatrical personality with a fabulous closet to match. If you’re ready to ditch the reds and greens this year, go for a sexy leopard print like she did.

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Aunt Sandy in ‘Single All the Way’

‘Single All the Way”.Philippe Bosse/Netflix

Philippe Bosse/Netflix

Is there a lookJennifer Coolidgedoesn’t absolutely kill? InSingle All the Way, the actress plays Aunt Sandy who has a theatrical personality with a fabulous closet to match. If you’re ready to ditch the reds and greens this year, go for a sexy leopard print like she did.

06of 10The Griswolds in ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”.Warner Bros/Kobal/ShutterstockThe 1989 cult classicNational Lampoon’s Christmas Vacationis a vault of nostalgic Christmas-wear. Beverly D’Angelo’s Ellen Griswold wears many seasonal outfits that are sure to transport you back in time (there’s nothing like a Victorian ruffle blouse and flared skirt to return you right to the ’80s). But her ugly Christmas sweater game is strong, making a case for any and all intentionally cheugy crewnecks.

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The Griswolds in ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’

“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”.Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock

Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock

The 1989 cult classicNational Lampoon’s Christmas Vacationis a vault of nostalgic Christmas-wear. Beverly D’Angelo’s Ellen Griswold wears many seasonal outfits that are sure to transport you back in time (there’s nothing like a Victorian ruffle blouse and flared skirt to return you right to the ’80s). But her ugly Christmas sweater game is strong, making a case for any and all intentionally cheugy crewnecks.

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Sybil Stone in ‘The Family Stone’

“The Family Stone”.20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock

20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock

We’re the first ones to agree that holiday dressing doesn’t necessarily mean piling on all the sequins imaginable. Case in point: Sybil Stone’s classic New England wardrobe inThe Family Stone.

08of 10The Guys of ‘The Best Man Holiday’“Best Man Holiday”.Let this be your sign to wrangle your friends in a group chat and get started on your matching party outfits. TheBest Man Holidayoffers a heart-warming tale of friendship and one sexy"Can You Stand the Rain"rendition from some of the guys (Terrence Howard, Harold Perrineau, Morris Chestnut and Taye Diggs). Yes, their suave dance moves are impressive, but they’re made even better with their sequin suits (#friendshipgoals).

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The Guys of ‘The Best Man Holiday’

“Best Man Holiday”.

Let this be your sign to wrangle your friends in a group chat and get started on your matching party outfits. TheBest Man Holidayoffers a heart-warming tale of friendship and one sexy"Can You Stand the Rain"rendition from some of the guys (Terrence Howard, Harold Perrineau, Morris Chestnut and Taye Diggs). Yes, their suave dance moves are impressive, but they’re made even better with their sequin suits (#friendshipgoals).

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Harry Burns in ‘When Harry Met Sally’

“When Harry Met Sally”.Castle Rock/Nelson/Columbia/Kobal/Shutterstock

Castle Rock/Nelson/Columbia/Kobal/Shutterstock

Billy Crystal’s iconic cableknit sweater fromWhen Harry Met Sallyhas been in the pop culture zeitgeist since it debuted on screen in 1989. And every fall and winter since then, it comes back around to remind us why chunky dad-core sweaters aresoin, especially when worn with a pair of jeans.

“UCLA, if you’re watching, maybe would you check the archives and see if it’s in the wardrobe department?” he jokingly pleaded in anOctober interviewwith PEOPLE.

10of 10Sara Thomas in ‘Serendipity’“Serendipity”.AlamyInSerendipity,we’re introduced to Sara Thomas (Kate Beckinsale) in a mismatched outfit of sorts that doesn’t exactly make sense for an N.Y.C. winter night. But it ends up being …serendipitous… for the evening she stumbles across.In the first few scenes, we see Sara and her love interest Jonathan (John Cusack) hit Big Apple hotspots such as Serendipity 3, Central Park, the Waldorf Astoria, as they test the invisible string theory on their connection. If you were in her shoes, comfort, coziness and just a little bit of cuteness would be in order, right?

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Sara Thomas in ‘Serendipity’

“Serendipity”.Alamy

InSerendipity,we’re introduced to Sara Thomas (Kate Beckinsale) in a mismatched outfit of sorts that doesn’t exactly make sense for an N.Y.C. winter night. But it ends up being …serendipitous… for the evening she stumbles across.

In the first few scenes, we see Sara and her love interest Jonathan (John Cusack) hit Big Apple hotspots such as Serendipity 3, Central Park, the Waldorf Astoria, as they test the invisible string theory on their connection. If you were in her shoes, comfort, coziness and just a little bit of cuteness would be in order, right?

source: people.com