How to Pick the Perfect Outfit for Holiday Pictures

Candy’s been passed out. Turkey dinner’s on your mind. Black Friday shopping plans are in place. Bell ringers are out collecting change. Decorations are being displayed. You’re wondering how you’re going to get everyone to smile in the same picture so you can put it on your holiday card. ‘Tis the season right? If you’re also wondering what everyone’s going to wear in those pictures, I’m going to share some of my experience with you as well as share some suggestions so you can find the perfect outfit for holiday pictures for your own family.

We were invited to our local Tanger Outlets to see what we could find for photo ideas. Before we get to that, let’s start with a few tips:

Everyone doesn’t have to match.
Don’t be afraid of color.
You don’t have to have the same photo as everyone else.
It’s ok to have a little bit of fun with your pictures!
Pick a family of colors so things go together but aren’t all the same color.
Don’t be too serious.
You don’t have to stick to red and green just because you’re having pictures taken for the holidays.
Go through your closets before you go shopping. You don’t need a brand new wardrobe just for pictures.
Want professional pictures but it’s not in the budget? See about splitting the cost with other families (you hire the photographer for a period of time, and split that between the families splitting the cost) or find a friend to take some pictures (even phone cameras can do a great job!).
When you’re picking your appointment time, keep your family’s schedule in mind. Don’t schedule during nap or meal times if you can avoid it.
Bring snacks or a special toy to encourage the kids to participate.

And now on to some outfit ideas:

Plaid

Y’all plaid is in this year. Just about every store we visited at our local Tanger Outlets had some kind of version of plaid. I had no problem at all finding things for everyone in your family while I was at the Outlets. Brooks Brothers, H&M, and J Crew all had great options for the guys, regardless of age. Carters and The Children’s Place had lots of choices for the little people in your life.

Dressy

I get it. I really, really do. Maybe this is the only time of year you’re going to have the family together. You’d like a picture of you all dressed really nicely. Put those fancy dresses you bought for holiday parties to use once more before you’re done with them for the season. Try stores like H&M, Saks Off 5th, Brooks Brothers, Gymboree, and J Crew to make your shopping as easy as possible. They’ve got lots of different options so you’re sure to find something to match your vision.

Casual

Jeans or khakis and white shirts are a very popular thing here at the beach. It’s cute but it can be over done. Pick casual clothing but put your own spin on it. Add a jean jacket over a sparkly tank top. Great boots with a sweater dress would be beautiful. So many of the store at Tanger Outlets have casual options for your family. J Crew, Lane Bryant, H&M, and Carter’s are just a few to start with.

Solids

Not everyone will want to be in a plaid shirt. That’s ok! Tanger’s got you covered with lots of solid options too. The Children’s Place had an entire wall of plain pants for boys and Brooks Brothers had beautiful solid colored dresses. Undershirts in a variety of colors were found in stores like Talbots, Jockey, and H&M.

PJs

Matching Christmas pjs are such a fun tradition. Why not make them part of your holiday cards? Visit stores like The Children’s Place, OshKosh B’Gosh, and Carters for kids pajamas. Check out Brooks Brothers, Saks Off 5th, and Talbots for jammies for the adults. Even with pajamas in your pictures, they can still be a little more serious. Plaid pajama pants and plain tops would look nice. Or go completely fun with the emoji pjs from Justice – complete the with hood!

Outwear

I can hear you now. But it’s not fair! We don’t live where it’s warm and you can play on the beach after you open Christmas gifts. Having a great outfit is awesome but it’ll be covered up by hats, gloves, and coats. Trust me – I can totally relate! The first 25-ish years of my life were spent in Michigan so I’m familiar with the ice, cold, and snow. Tanger Outlets can help with that too. Vests, fleece, and sweaters were easy to find too!

Cute Accessories

Want to stick with more plain outfits? Then focus on your accessories. Gloves with glitter are adorable and you can grab them at Justice. Or maybe a cute holiday headband from H&M or Claire’s. Jewelry can add some style to your look too. H&M and Claire’s both had lots of cute choices. If you’re working with the pj suggestion, how about cute fuzzy socks or slippers? New York & Company has great scarf and glove sets that you’ll be able to use throughout the winter season.

When Everyone Can’t Be Together

So your family lives all around the country (or the globe) and you’re bummed you can’t send out a holiday card. Don’t be!! It’ll take a little planning but you can do it! A quick email, Face Time, or text to get everyone on the same page and you’re all set. Have your family take their pictures wherever they are, in everyone’s matching outfits and email or text them to you. It won’t be hard for you all to find coordinating pieces because there are Tanger Outlets everywhere. Not keen on matching outfits? Totally ok. Maybe everyone holds a different letter to spell out your family’s last name or a holiday word like peace or joy. Once you’ve got everyone’s pictures, you can send them wherever you’re printing your cards from. Easy peasy.