2026 Holiday and Santa Session Style Guide
It’s hard to believe my Holiday & Santa Sessions are just around the corner! This year, I wanted to make my Style Guide even more helpful by including styling tips, outfit inspiration, and the best part—direct shopping links! Instead of spending hours searching online for the perfect outfits, you can simply click on a look you love and shop the pieces directly. One less thing to check off your busy fall to-do list!
Keep reading for plenty of inspiration to make planning your family’s holiday outfits a little easier this year!
I always recommend doing either pajamas or your Christmas best. These two options give two very different looks, but both are timeless, classic, and photograph so well. I suggest you avoid the “in-between” look – for instance, a shirt and jeans, in my experience, do not photograph as nicely.
Let’s talk colors: When dressing more than two children, it’s best to avoid putting everyone in the same color. Instead, create balance by incorporating a mix of complementary tones or subtle patterns. This combination feels cohesive while also adding visual interest and dimension to the overall look.
Pajamas
The PJ look is so easy, comfy, and yet so cute. Whether you keep it solid or go with a simple pattern, you can’t go wrong with this look.
Below are links for Pajamas shown above! Petite Plume along with the Clara night gowns are both timeless looks that year after year, never get old!
Christmas Best
For those who love a more formal, dressed-up look, I always recommend dressing your little ones in their Christmas best! Think beautiful dresses or bubbles for girls, and khakis paired with button-down shirts for boys. Blazers are another fantastic option for a classic, polished look! For baby and toddler boys, sweater overalls are always an adorable choice.
Red and green plaid are two of the most timeless and traditional choices for Christmas outfits, and for good reason! They photograph beautifully and never go out of style.
A few styling tips to keep in mind: If you’re incorporating red, I recommend avoiding dressing all of your children in solid red. When photographed next to Santa, the colors can start to blend together. Instead, try mixing in a plaid, subtle pattern, or neutral piece to create a little contrast while keeping everything coordinated.
Hues of Blues & Green- Believe it or not, hues of blue pair SO nicely with Santa’s suit. Whether it’s soft hues of muted blue or dark navy, this color palette pairs very well with the big guy in red!
Also, blue & green plaid is a great alternative to the red & green standard plaid.
Neutrals
You can never go wrong with neutrals! If you prefer to keep it simple, stick with whites, creams, and pops of gold!
Shoes & Accessories
Easy to forget about but also very important! If you opt for pajamas, I recommend bare feet. If you go the dress route, nice shoes are preferred. Make sure the bottom of the shoes are clean as we can often see them when the children are sitting.
If you have girls, don’t forget headbands and/or bows if that is something you would like her to wear. Some of my favorite places to find bows/headbands are Etsy & Little Poppy Co.
Where Should I Shop?
I’ve rounded up some of my favorite holiday looks for 2026 and linked everything through my ShopMy to make shopping as easy as possible! A few of my favorite places to shop for timeless holiday outfits include Janie & Jack, Petite Plume, Nordstrom, Gap, J.Crew, Ralph Lauren, Jamie Kay, and Nora Lee.
And as always, if you’re feeling stuck or need a little help pulling outfits together, please don’t hesitate to reach out! I’m always happy to help with styling and making sure your family’s outfits coordinate beautifully for your session.
