What to Wear to the Office Christmas Party

Section: Men's Style - Blog

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Whether it’s drinks down the local pub or a grand ball at the Shangri-La, there’s no doubt that the office Christmas party can be a veritable minefield of potential fashion disasters. Being either completely overdressed or underdressed can lead to an evening of pure awkwardness that’s something akin to hell on earth. But luckily for you, we’ve put together a few pointers on what to wear to the four most common types of office Christmas parties.

The In-Office Party

If your company has (bravely) decided to allow you and your colleagues to enjoy a few drinks in the office then your party outfit is a quite straightforward choice. In this case, you should wear what you always wear to work. Nothing more, nothing less. If jeans and a t-shirt are the norm then stick with those. There’s no need to look too much of an eager beaver and show up at the office in full party regalia at 8am.

If, however, your regular workwear is more formal then we’d suggest your best work suit. But only wear a suit that you would usually wear to work, after all you’re going to have to spend the day working in it before the first bottle is opened.

The Evening Meal

These days many smaller companies will fork out for a nice meal at a decent restaurant. The chances are that your boss has already let you know how to dress but just in case no-one has thought to mention it, you should check out the restaurant in question’s website or give them a call. Some fine dining establishments have strict dress rules and your custom made suitwill look far better than a restaurant loaned jacket.

If it’s a casual dining experience, then we’d go with the smart casual look of a casual suit in a lighter shade. Remember it’s the height of summer so you can easily get away with a linen effort or any other light summer suit material. Just try not to spill anything on it.

The Grand Ball

It seems rather odd to call a black-tie event an office party, but some of the luckier souls among us have one of these affairs to attend each year. This is not a time for sartorial daring, but a time for the tried and trusted. A tuxedo is a must and if it’s your first time wearing one then check out our infographic on tuxedos.

As this is a work event, we recommend that you go with the flow and don’t try too hard. There’s a time and a place for a burgundy tuxedo, and the Christmas office party is not that time. Stick with the black tuxedo, white shirt, and black bow-tie. You might find this strange as we would usually advise a certain amount of rule-bending in the name of style, but trust us when we say that you won’t want to draw too much attention to yourself at this party. Dress well but keep it subtle and enjoy your night without too many eyes on you.

The Local Pub

The polar opposite of the Grand Ball and possibly the most relaxed and enjoyable is the after work drinks party down the local pub. In this instance, if work allows it, then we’d suggest wearing something smart casual to work that day. A fitted shirt and a pair of chinos or jeans with a pair of brogues or dress boots make for a perfect casual look. You’ll look like you made an effort but still feel comfortable enough to enjoy yourself.

Remember though that it’s entirely possible to go too far down the casual path. This is not a regular night down the pub so leave the football shirt and trainers at home no matter how comfortable they are.

Whatever type of Christmas office party you’re going to attend this year, the men of Montagio would love to help you out with your seasonal dapper look. Pop into the showroom for a chat or take a look at our entire range for some inspiration.