Updated, 8:38 a.m.

Good morning on this frigid Friday.

It’s party time.

But asking New Yorkers how they get dressed for holiday balls, office celebrations and other seasonal affairs is like asking them what makes a good bagel: You won’t hear the same answer twice.

“Black tie optional” is baffling. “Holiday festive,” also a head-scratcher. Should you wear a Christmas sweater? Wrap yourself with lights and tinsel? Put on some pine-tree perfume?

To help clear up our winter wardrobe questions, we turned to some New York fashion experts for advice: Vanessa Friedman, chief fashion critic for The New York Times; Stacey Bendet, the founder of Alice & Olivia; Cassandra Jones, a senior vice president at Macy’s; Davidson Petit-Frère, a founder of the men’s custom suit label Musika Frère; Anna Wisniewski, a director at the clothing subscription service Trunk Club; and Sarah Tam, head of fashion at Rent the Runway.

What is the one dress phrase people are using on invitations this season?

Friedman: “Festive Dress” still seems to be the most popular. Sometimes “Creative Black Tie.”

