Intro
Have you ever looked at a family Christmas photo and thought, why do we look like a group of strangers who met in a parking lot? Same. Matching outfits are not the answer. A family of five in identical red sweaters looks like a team uniform, not a family. Coordinated outfits are the answer. Same palette, different pieces, everybody looking like themselves.
Here is the system that works. Pick one palette with three colors: a main color, a neutral, and one accent. Give everybody two of the three colors, never all three at once. That is it. The photo looks planned because the colors repeat. Nobody looks like a copy because the pieces are different.
This guide gives you 12 palettes that photograph beautifully, plus who wears what in each one, and where to start shopping. Start with the hardest size first, always. Find the outfit for the person who is hardest to shop for, then build the rest of the family around that palette. Your photo will thank you.
1. Burgundy and Cream Palette with Velvet Dress and Knit Sweater
Burgundy and cream is the most flattering family photo palette there is. Burgundy is rich on camera. Cream softens it. This palette works indoors by the tree and outdoors in snow light. Who wears what: Mom wears the burgundy velvet dress with a cream knit cardigan over her shoulders. Dad wears a cream sweater with burgundy scarf. Kids wear burgundy tops with cream bottoms or cream tops with burgundy bottoms. Grandparents wear cream with a burgundy accent.
Shopping tip: find the hardest size first. If Mom is the hardest to fit, buy her velvet dress first, then match the burgundy tone for the rest of the family. Burgundy shades vary a lot, so buy swatches in the same tone family or shop one store for the whole group.
2. Forest Green and Camel Palette with Plaid and Denim
Forest green and camel looks like a Christmas card without trying. Forest green is deep and calm on camera. Camel warms it up. Denim keeps it relaxed. Who wears what: Mom wears a forest green sweater with a camel plaid scarf and dark denim jeans. Dad wears a camel sweater with dark denim. Kids wear forest green tops with denim bottoms. Grandparents wear camel with a forest green scarf.
Shopping tip: denim is the neutral here, so keep all denim in the same wash family. Dark denim photographs cleaner than light denim. If one person has light denim and another has dark denim, the photo will look uneven. Pick one wash and stick with it.
3. Navy and Gold Palette with Satin Dress and Blazer
Navy and gold is the dressy palette. It looks formal without looking stiff. Navy photographs like black but softer. Gold adds the Christmas glow. Who wears what: Mom wears a navy satin dress with a gold blazer. Dad wears a navy blazer with a gold tie or scarf. Kids wear navy with gold shoes or a gold hair bow. Grandparents wear navy with gold jewelry.
Shopping tip: gold can go yellow or brassy fast. Keep gold accessories in the same tone. Soft antique gold photographs better than bright yellow gold. If you are buying gold pieces for several people, buy them from one store so the tones match.
4. Black and Ivory Palette with Sequin Accent
Black and ivory is the palette for a studio photo or a formal living room photo. It is clean, modern and very flattering. A sequin accent keeps it festive. Who wears what: Mom wears a black dress with an ivory cardigan and a silver sequin scarf. Dad wears a black sweater with ivory shirt. Kids wear black bottoms with ivory tops. Grandparents wear ivory with black trousers.
Shopping tip: ivory and white are not the same color. Mixing bright white with ivory in one photo looks uneven. Pick ivory for everybody and keep bright white out of the photo. This palette also works beautifully for a second photo by the tree after the main session. For a cozy morning photo after the big one, see our plus size Christmas morning outfit ideas.
5. Rust and Cream Palette with Corduroy and Knit
Rust and cream is warm, earthy and perfect for a rustic photo. Rust flatters many skin tones. Cream keeps it light. Corduroy adds texture that photographs beautifully. Who wears what: Mom wears a rust corduroy midi skirt with a cream knit sweater. Dad wears a cream sweater with rust scarf. Kids wear rust tops with cream bottoms. Grandparents wear cream with rust accessories.
Shopping tip: corduroy comes in wide wale and fine wale. Fine wale corduroy photographs smoother and looks more polished. Wide wale corduroy can look bulky on camera. Pick fine wale for the photo, especially for Mom and anyone who wants a slimmer line.
6. Emerald and Black Palette with Velvet and Leather
Emerald and black is bold, modern and a little glamorous. Emerald pops on camera. Black grounds it. Who wears what: Mom wears an emerald velvet top with black trousers and a black leather jacket. Dad wears a black sweater with emerald scarf. Kids wear black with emerald tops. Grandparents wear black with emerald jewelry or a scarf.
Shopping tip: emerald shades vary from blue green to yellow green. Pick one emerald tone for the whole family. If Mom wears blue emerald and a child wears yellow emerald, the photo will look off. Buy emerald pieces together or carry a fabric swatch when you shop.
7. Plaid and Solid Palette with Matching Scarves
One plaid piece is charming. Five plaid pieces are chaos. This palette uses one plaid pattern and solid colors for everybody else. Matching scarves tie the group together without matching outfits. Who wears what: Mom wears a red and black plaid shirt with solid black jeans and a matching red plaid scarf. One other person wears the same plaid scarf. Everybody else wears solid black, red or cream.
Shopping tip: pick one plaid pattern and use it twice at most. Two scarves in the same plaid are enough to tie the photo together. If you want plaid for kids, give them the scarf, not a full plaid outfit, so the pattern does not take over the photo.
8. Winter White and Grey Palette with Cozy Knits
Winter white and grey is the softest palette in this guide. It looks like fresh snow and warm light. It works beautifully for a bright indoor photo with a white tree. Who wears what: Mom wears a winter white chunky knit sweater with grey wide leg trousers. Dad wears a grey sweater with winter white shirt. Kids wear winter white tops with grey bottoms. Grandparents wear grey with winter white scarves.
Shopping tip: winter white is cream white, not bright white. Bright white can blow out on camera and wash out skin tones. Winter white is softer and more flattering. Keep all whites in the winter white family and skip bright white sneakers or bright white shirts.
9. Red and Denim Palette with Casual Sweaters
Red and denim is the relaxed family photo palette. It says Christmas without a single costume piece. Red is the main color. Denim is the neutral. Who wears what: Mom wears a red knit sweater with dark denim jeans. Dad wears a red and denim plaid shirt or a denim shirt with a red scarf. Kids wear red tops with denim bottoms. Grandparents wear denim with a red sweater or scarf.
Shopping tip: red is a strong color, so keep it to one red piece per person. A red sweater plus red shoes plus a red hat is too much. One red piece each, denim for the rest, and the photo will look balanced. Dark denim photographs better than faded denim for this palette.
10. Jewel Tone Palette with Velvet and Satin Mix
Jewel tones are teal, mustard, plum, emerald and ruby worn together. This palette looks rich and joyful, and it works when your family does not want one single color. The rule is simple: everybody wears a different jewel tone, and black or navy holds the group together. Who wears what: Mom wears a teal velvet dress with a mustard satin scarf. Dad wears navy with a plum scarf. Kids wear ruby, emerald or mustard tops with dark bottoms. Grandparents wear plum or teal with dark trousers.
Shopping tip: jewel tones work best when the tones are equally deep. A pale pastel next to a deep jewel tone will look out of place. Keep all colors rich and saturated. If one person loves pastels, give them a pastel scarf as a small accent, not a full pastel outfit.
11. Tartan and Cream Palette with Coordinated Accessories
Tartan is the classic Christmas pattern, and cream keeps it calm. This palette works for a formal living room photo or a photo by a stone fireplace. Who wears what: Mom wears a green tartan midi skirt with a cream sweater and a cream beret. Dad wears a cream sweater with a tartan scarf. Kids wear cream tops with tartan accessories. Grandparents wear cream with a tartan scarf or shawl.
Shopping tip: tartan patterns must match in tone. A bright tartan and a muted tartan in the same photo will clash. Pick one tartan pattern and buy all tartan pieces from the same collection if you can. If you cannot, carry a photo of the pattern on your phone when you shop for the rest.
12. Neutral Palette with One Pop of Red for Photos
This is the simplest palette in this guide and the hardest to get wrong. Everybody wears neutrals: beige, camel, grey, cream, black. One person wears one pop of red. That red draws the eye and gives the photo a focal point. Who wears what: Mom wears a beige knit sweater with camel trousers and a single bright red scarf. Everybody else wears neutrals with no red at all. The red scarf is the only red in the photo.
Shopping tip: pick the person who sits or stands in the center of the photo for the red pop. If the red is on the edge, the eye wanders out of the photo. If the red is in the center, the eye stays. This palette is also the easiest to shop because neutrals are everywhere. For more holiday outfit planning, see our plus size holiday capsule wardrobe and our plus size holiday party outfits.
How the Palette System Works
Pick your main color first. This is the color that shows up most in the photo. Pick a neutral second. Cream, camel, grey, navy, black or denim all work as neutrals. Pick one accent third.
The accent is the pop: gold, red, mustard or emerald. Give each person two of the three colors. Mom might wear the main color with the neutral. Dad might wear the neutral with the accent.
Kids might wear the main color with the accent. Grandparents might wear the neutral with the main color. Nobody wears all three. The colors repeat across the group, and the photo looks calm and connected.
Find More Ideas on Pinterest
Family photos are stressful enough without outfit stress. Save this guide, then head to Pinterest for more plus size family Christmas photo outfits. Search for coordinated family photo palettes, burgundy and cream family photos, and navy and gold Christmas photos. Save the palettes you love, start with the hardest size first, and lay all the outfits out together the night before photo day. A ten minute lay out check will save you a retake.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should family Christmas photo outfits match exactly?
No. Matching outfits look like a uniform. Coordinated outfits look like a family. Pick one palette with a main color, a neutral and one accent. Give each person two of the three colors. The colors repeat across the group, and everybody still looks like themselves.
What colors photograph best for family Christmas photos?
Burgundy and cream, navy and gold, forest green and camel, and black and ivory all photograph beautifully. Deep rich colors look better on camera than pale pastels or neon brights. Keep whites in the ivory or winter white family, because bright white can blow out on camera.
Who should I shop for first for family photos?
Shop for the hardest size first. Find the outfit for the person who is hardest to fit, then build the rest of the family palette around that piece. This is the most important rule in this guide. If you start with the easiest sizes, you may end up with a palette that has no good option for the person who needed it most. Retailers like Lane Bryant and Dia and Co carry extended sizes that make the hardest size easier to find.
What should I avoid in family Christmas photos?
Avoid five people in the same plaid, avoid mixing bright white with ivory, avoid neon colors, and avoid busy prints on everybody at once. One pattern is charming. Five patterns are chaos. Keep prints to one or two people, keep the rest in solids, and let the palette do the work.
