Last Updated on July 15, 2024

These lust worthy sustainable formal dresses for the holidays will have you looking and feeling sexy while still wearing something sustainable and ethical!

We have gathered some sexy and sustainable party dresses that are better for the environment and look amazing too. Wow your significant other by choosing a sustainable cocktail dress that will have you looking totally gorgeous. Then, keep these ethical brands in mind for all of your sustainable formal wear, regardless of the occasion!

sustainable cocktail dresses

I started looking for an ethical holiday dress for a party and fell in love with so many options for sustainable formal wear that I thought you might want to see them too. Whether you are on the hunt for some elegant Christmas party dresses or love looking at sexy, sustainable cocktail dresses in general, we have some for you!

I’ll start with the two dresses that I bought this year. One of my favorite sustainable formal dresses I found and bought was this wrap dress from Amour Vert. It’s from an ethical company that focuses on sustainable organic fabrics made locally in San Francisco.

Then, I continued shopping for another holiday party dress and found the Reformation dress in Navy, but the green is SO very festive, which makes it the perfect sustainable cocktail dress for the holidays. Reformation uses dead stock fabrics and their garments are made in Los Angeles.

tips to get the best sustainable cocktail dress

You can always head into your local thrift store to buy insanely gorgeous, sustainable formal dresses, but I also wanted to share some tips for online shopping. After all, your local thrift shop isn’t always going to have what you’re looking for in the correct size — and sometimes buying new is unavoidable.

• Get measured or measure yourself before shopping. You’ll need to know your measurements for your hips, waist, and bust. Having these measurements will ensure that when you go through the selection of sustainable formal dresses, you pick one that fits well.
• Consider all the different styles out there. You can pick fitted dresses, wrap dresses, scoop necks, a-line skirts, and so much more. Having a style in mind will help you stay focused and avoid overwhelm.
• Remember, when shopping for sustainable cocktail dresses, you need something you can wear multiple times to get lots of use out of it, or it’s not really that sustainable at all.

If you’re looking for some styling tips, check out this post.

sustainable party dresses

Is it really such a big deal if your dress isn’t ‘sustainable?’ Yes, actually! Fast fashion is a sinkhole for environmental initiatives, with cheap, harmful practices affecting waterways, air quality, landfill production, and more.

It’s tempting to buy a cute, cheap dress that you’ll only wear once. However, the cost of that cheap dress is much more than I’m willing to pay.

While these dresses have a bit more of an upfront cost, the goal should always be to choose dresses you can re-wear to weddings, birthdays, bachelorettes, work parties, etc. I feel as though these dresses fit the bill: relatively affordable, beautiful, re-wearable, and sustainable!

All of these dresses are linked in order, left to right and top to bottom! Some of them might be affiliate links.

top row

• This red velvet Karen Kane dress with ties around the wrists is made in Los Angeles

• Black Halo is one of my favorite sustainable designers made in Los Angeles. They have an amazing selection of sustainable cocktail dresses that are perfect for the holidays, but I think this one is particularly festive.

• This burgundy cowl neck Michael Stars sustainable cocktail dress looks so cozy and is made in Los Angeles.

second row

• Son De Flor is a sustainable designer I just found that works with lots of linen and has plastic-free packaging! This dress is especially on-theme for the holidays with embroidery around the collar.

• This flowy party dress is definitely more of a cool California vibe for the holidays.

third row

• I LOVE all of the sexy party dresses from Reformation. Especially this slinky red holiday party dress. It feels so sexy and chic but not inappropriate for holiday gatherings.

• This is a new designer I just found called Emerson Fry, and I’m LOVING this disco ball dress made in NYC. It’s just what I want to look like on NYE.

• This dark green dress from Reformation is the one I linked above. I love the high slit and peek-a-boo back opening, which make an otherwise chaste dress (with the cap sleeves and high neck) sexy, but still classy.

bottom row

• The hot pink dress from Nanette Lepore may feel like an odd selection for the holidays, but I think it’s perfect for sipping champagne and waiting for the ball to drop — especially if you’re trying to stand out in a sea of greens, reds, blacks, and silvers. You can find Nanette Lepore’s sustainable formal dresses at Nordstrom, Saks 5th Avenue, and Bloomingdale’s.
  

• Black Halo has to have the BEST holiday selection. Emerson Fry had a silver sparkler, but Black Halo has a slinky gold number and even one in forest green. If you want to sparkle, you’ve got to check out their site.

faqs about sustainable formal dresses

how can I save money buying sustainable formal dresses?

If you don’t want to spend the money on these party dresses, I totally get that. Instead, check with friends and borrow a dress. Head to a thrift store or consignment shop or look on your local Facebook Marketplace. You can find lots of gorgeous used dresses that would normally be thrown away but still have lots of life left in them.

what kinds of events can I wear these ethical party dresses to?

Naturally, you can wear them to Christmas and other holiday gatherings. They are also great for weddings, formal dinners, and any other events you have. It’s important to get lots of wear out of them!

And if you’re worried about looking the same in all your photos, all you have to do is style them a bit differently. Change up your accessories, wear a different color shoe, or add a wrap to make it look totally new!

where can I find sustainable formal wear for men?

Naturally, my search for sustainable formal wear focuses on myself. However, I occasionally find myself looking for formal wear for Justin as well!

Try Moss for sustainable suits in any cut you can dream up (though they have a robust line of casual wear as well). Carpasus has a lovely selection of dress shirts, and Ministry of Supply has a cult following for a wide range of clothing options for both men and women!

what’s the difference between a cocktail dress and a formal dress?

Cocktail dresses are simply a type of formal dress! Gowns tend to be floor length or even have a train, whereas cocktail dresses are typically shorter, usually no longer than knee-length.

They also tend to be made out of lighter material, such as thin satins, lace, or chiffon. Gowns are often made from heavier materials like silk.

how do you know these dresses are truly sustainable?

The brands tell me so! And not just with clever marketing and greenwashing. Brands like reformation and Carpasus literally have a sustainability report available on their website to review and research, so I can see these brands’ business practices and environmental impact.

You can also look for brands that are certified B-corps or contribute to environmental initiatives!

I love supporting sustainable and ethical brands because I want to see ethical and sustainable companies succeed. But, I also love shopping secondhand too! I’m sure you could find something extra festive at ThredUp – a great place to order the perfect festive dress.

I had so much fun putting this guide together. I hope that you enjoyed it and maybe stumbled onto a new sustainable fashion brand.

Let me know in the comment section if you’d like to see more guides like this in the future.