It’s that time of year again: eggnog filled cocktails, bite-sized quiches, and the Secret Santa gift exchanges we all love to hate. These days, it seems there is a Christmas party for every circle of acquaintances—the best buds from University you rarely get to see, the family-friendly party with your kids, their friends and parents, and of course, the infamous office party.

While these festive get-togethers might clutter your December schedule, you shouldn’t pick out one outfit and think you can get away with wearing it all holiday-long. Different venues and groups of people require different attire and it is important to dress the part. Overwhelming? Not to worry. The following is a guideline on how to dress for your various holiday parties and ensure you’re not the one with the tacky sweater in the corner of the room.

Get-together with the buddies at the pub
The holidays are a great time to catch up with friends you haven’t seen in awhile. With many restaurants and pubs offering holiday menus, it’s a perfect place for a low-key get together. Don’t stress too much about an outfit for this occasion—a nice pair of dark denim jeans paired with a crew or v-neck sweater couldn’t be more appropriate for a few beers and shared memories.

Alpaca sweater, JCrew, $114

The family-friendly get-together
With the kids off school for a couple of weeks, chances are parents will want an excuse for adult conversation while the kids have a play-date. Since this type of event will most likely occur in someone’s home, you can expect a rather casual dress code. Pull on a pair of neutral coloured slacks with a t-shirt and cardigan combo, or cozy knit sweater and you’re good to go.

Half-zip sweater, Banana Republic, $69.50

The office party
Whether it is for your own office or your significant other, the office party is not an event you want to under dress for. Depending on your company’s budget, the event could take place anywhere from a golf course to a five-star hotel ballroom. Double-check your invitation for any special instructions on attire. Black tie means suit, tie, dress shirt, and jacket—maybe even a vest would be appropriate. If you’re not heading down to the Four Seasons, opt for a classic dress shirt, festive tie (no tacky Rudolf ties please), and dress pants combo for an easy put-together look.

3-piece Navy suit, Indochino, $449

Activity party
To avoid being like all other holiday parties, some hosts have begun to incorporate fun activities into their party celebrations. From wine or chocolate tasting to a casino-themed party, the key to dressing for one of these parties is location, location, location. If you’re unsure, it is always better to overdress. You can never go wrong with dress pants and a dress shirt, simply pair it with a pullover sweater or blazer and you’ll be the hit of the party.

Italian Moleskin blazer, the Gap, $118

The holidays are for spending time with loved ones and of course, indulging in way too many shortbread cookies. Don’t let your holiday parties stress you out. In the end, the host will be glad to see you no matter what you decide to wear. Relax and enjoy the festivities!

 

by Tanya Colledge
Stimuli Magazine Contributor