Christmas card pictures are one of those holiday traditions you look forward to all year, but figuring out what everyone is going to wear can be a little less magical. You want your children to look festive and polished, but you also want their outfits to feel like them. And when you have multiple children, the goal is usually to coordinate without making everyone look like they are wearing the exact same outfit.
The good news is that dressing children for Christmas card pictures does not have to be complicated. Start with classic silhouettes, choose a cohesive color palette and add a festive print or two. Whether you are taking pictures at home, in front of the Christmas tree or outside with a holiday backdrop, the right kids’ Christmas outfits can make your photos feel timeless for years to come.
What Should Kids Wear for Christmas Card Pictures?
The best outfits for Christmas card pictures are festive enough to feel special without being so themed that they look dated a few years from now. Classic dresses, polished boys’ outfits, holiday prints and timeless colors like red, green, navy, cream and pink are all easy choices.
For girls, a classic Christmas dress is always a great option. Look for details like Peter Pan collars, bows, ruffles and traditional silhouettes that photograph beautifully. For boys, classic pull-on pants paired with a knit top, polo or button-down create a polished look without feeling too dressed up.
You can also mix solids and prints between siblings. One child can wear a Christmas print while another wears a coordinating solid color. This keeps the photos visually interesting while still making everyone look like they belong together.
Outfits Pictured:
Spencer Quarter Zip Green Stripes
Christmas Dresses for Girls
A Christmas dress is one of the easiest ways to create a festive holiday look for girls. Rather than choosing something that is specifically designed for one Christmas, consider a classic silhouette that can be worn throughout the holiday season.
The Emersyn Girls’ Dress in Whimsical Santa is a particularly traditional choice. The long-sleeve Pima cotton dress features a vintage-inspired silhouette with a crisp woven overlay, lace trim and a grosgrain ribbon bow. The Whimsical Santa print gives it a distinctly Christmas feel while the silhouette keeps the overall look timeless.
For something a little more colorful, Christmas Candy Pink brings a playful holiday palette to classic girls’ silhouettes. The Carlin Girls’ Dress features a flutter-ruffle hem and is made from 100% Peruvian Pima cotton, making it an easy option for holiday photos, Christmas parties and other seasonal occasions.
Another option is Tree Topper Bows, which pairs a classic holiday print with a sweet, traditional silhouette. The Carlin and Lillian dresses both feature the print in Pima cotton styles designed for girls from toddler sizes through age 10.
Christmas Outfits for Boys
Boys’ Christmas card outfits do not have to be complicated. The goal is to make him look polished and festive while keeping him comfortable enough to actually enjoy the photo session.
A classic pair of boys’ pull-on pants is a great foundation. From there, add a knit top, polo or other classic shirt in a coordinating holiday color. If your family is wearing a Christmas print, choose a solid top or bottom for his outfit so the photos do not feel too busy.
For younger boys, a holiday short set can also work beautifully for Christmas pictures, especially for warmer climates or indoor photos. Tree Topper Stars, Whimsical Santa and other Lila and Hayes holiday prints make it easy to coordinate boys’ outfits with sisters’ dresses and the rest of the family’s Christmas looks.
The key is coordination rather than exact matching. If your daughter is wearing a detailed Christmas dress, your son does not necessarily need to wear a matching print from head to toe. A simple navy, red, green or cream outfit can pull the whole family photo together.
Matching Christmas Outfits for Siblings
When you have more than one child, matching Christmas outfits can be adorable, but they do not have to be identical.
Instead, look for sibling outfits that share a print, color palette or design detail. A sister can wear a Christmas dress while her brother wears coordinating pants and a knit top. Or one child can wear a holiday print while the other wears a solid color pulled directly from that print.
This approach works especially well when children are different ages. A baby might wear a one-piece holiday outfit, a toddler might wear a dress and an older boy might wear trousers and a polo, but the photos can still look cohesive.
For families who love a more coordinated look, Lila and Hayes offers holiday clothing across baby, girls’ and boys’ sizes, with prints including Whimsical Santa, Christmas Candy Pink & Blue, Tree Topper Bows & Stars, Floral Noel and Christmas at the Club.
Outfits Pictured:
How to Coordinate Kids’ Christmas Card Outfits
You do not have to put every child in the same print to get that pulled-together Christmas card look. In fact, mixing complementary outfits often creates a more polished photo.
A few easy combinations:
Traditional Christmas
Pair a classic girls’ Christmas dress with a boy’s outfit in red, green or navy. Add a coordinating look for younger siblings and keep the adults in neutral or classic holiday colors.
Festive and Feminine
If you love bows, pink and traditional Christmas details, choose a pink holiday print for your daughter and coordinate her siblings in navy, red, cream or a complementary Christmas print.
Classic and Neutral
For a more timeless Christmas card, stick to navy, cream, forest green, burgundy and subtle holiday prints. This combination works especially well for outdoor family photos.
Matching Holiday Prints
If you love the matching pajama look but want your children dressed up for the Christmas card, choose one of Lila and Hayes’ holiday prints across different silhouettes. A daughter can wear a dress while her brother wears a coordinated boys’ style in the same print.
What Colors Photograph Well for Christmas Cards?
Traditional Christmas colors are popular for a reason. Red, green, navy, cream, burgundy and soft pink all photograph beautifully during the holiday season.
That does not mean every child needs to wear red and green. A better approach is to choose two or three main colors and repeat them throughout the family’s outfits.
For example, a girl in a red Christmas dress can be paired with a boy in navy and cream. A pink holiday dress can be paired with a sibling in classic green or red. If your Christmas tree or photo backdrop is already colorful, neutral clothing can keep the final image from feeling too busy.
Prints can also add visual interest without requiring additional colors. A classic Santa print, Christmas floral or holiday bow print can act as the focal point while the rest of the family wears coordinating solids.
Choosing Comfortable Outfits for Holiday Photos
Christmas card pictures can take longer than expected, especially with younger children. Outfits that look beautiful but are uncomfortable, itchy or difficult to move around in can make the entire experience harder.
Soft fabrics are especially important for babies and young children. Lila and Hayes’ Pima cotton styles are made from 100% Peruvian Pima cotton, which gives holiday dresses and other children’s clothing a soft, breathable feel. The brand’s girls’ collection includes everything from baby and toddler clothing to dresses and sets for older girls and tweens.
It is also worth thinking about what your children will do after the pictures are finished. An outfit that can go from Christmas card photos to a holiday party, family dinner or Christmas Eve gathering is much more useful than something they will only wear for an hour.
Christmas Card Outfit Ideas for Every Child
Whether you have one little one or a whole crew, there are plenty of ways to build a Christmas card outfit around classic Lila and Hayes styles.
For baby girls, look for a festive one-piece or classic holiday dress that photographs well from every angle. For toddler girls, traditional Christmas dresses, ruffled silhouettes and seasonal prints make getting dressed for pictures easy.
For older girls and tweens, consider a Christmas dress, pant set or skirt paired with a coordinating top. For boys, start with classic pants or shorts and build the outfit around a knit top or polo. If your children are wearing holiday prints, mix the prints with solids so the overall photo feels coordinated rather than overly matched.
And if you are taking family Christmas card pictures, remember that your children's outfits are only one part of the picture. Choose a location, backdrop and family wardrobe that complement one another so the finished photo feels intentional.
Make Your Christmas Card Outfits Part of the Tradition
The Christmas card photo may only take a few minutes, but the picture itself can become something your family keeps for decades. That is why classic kids’ Christmas outfits are worth choosing carefully.
A beautiful Christmas dress, a polished boys’ outfit or a favorite holiday print can become part of your family’s annual tradition. You may even find yourself looking back at old Christmas cards and remembering not just what everyone wore, but how little they were, how much they had changed and what that Christmas looked like for your family.
From classic Christmas dresses to boys’ holiday outfits and coordinated sibling looks, Lila and Hayes offers timeless children’s clothing designed to be worn, loved and remembered long after the Christmas cards have been mailed.
Shop Lila and Hayes Holiday Styles
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