Men's Guide On What To Wear To An Office Christmas or Holiday Party

It’s said that the office Christmas party originated in the 1840s in Victorian England. You can bet there was just one dress code and those straight-laced old boys partied in silk waistcoats and stuffy cravats worn under tweedy wool frock coats. Thankfully, dress codes for today’s holiday parties are far more creative and flexible.

Whether it’s a relaxed, casual party or a formal black-tie event, holiday office gatherings are a great way to connect with colleagues and share the joys of the holiday season. But if you’re struggling over what to wear to a work Christmas party, our guide has the answers.

If you’ll be attending one or more Christmas parties this holiday season, you’ll want to make sure you strike the right note with your attire, aiming for just the right balance of style, professionalism, and festivity.

You really can’t go wrong if you follow the party’s dress code (there’s sure to be one!) and here at The Tie Bar, we’ve curated sharp men’s outfit ideas so you’ll hit a stylish home run at your holiday party.

Understanding the Dress Code

Before deciding what to wear to your office holiday party, make sure you have a clear understanding of the party’s dress code. If your boss is hosting a holiday soiree in her high-rise penthouse complete with champagne and oysters on the half shell, best to forget about wearing your comfy cords and favorite fisherman knit pullover.

Dress codes typically range from formal, to semi-formal, to casual. Each category has specific attire requirements:

• Formal Attire: If the formal specification is “black-tie,” you’ll wear a tuxedo. Otherwise, a dinner suit can be worn when a party specifies a formal dress code.
• Semi-Formal Attire: A dark suit or a blazer with dress pants is de rigueur for semi-formal attire. Dark seasonal colors such as charcoal, navy, black, and burgundy are the best choices for semi-formal attire in the winter season.
• Casual Attire: Cords or chinos with a polo, sweater, or long-sleeve shirt are examples of items meeting a casual dress code. Casual party attire means you can wear clothing that’s more laid back and relaxed, but we’re not talking sweats or athletic casual. Put together a smart-looking outfit appropriate for a festive party.

Outfit Ideas for Different Dress Codes

Now you have the dress code nailed down, but if you’re looking for a spark of style inspiration for what to wear to your office holiday party, check out our handsome outfit suggestions for men.

How to Dress for Formal Office Holiday Parties

When you receive a holiday party invitation that states “formal attire,” it’s likely to specify black-tie or black-tie optional. Sophistication is the key word for formal wear.

For black-tie, you’ll look elegant in our Tuxedo Black Jacket, a crisp white pleated tuxedo shirt that accommodates shirt studs, leather slip-ons, and maybe even a black cummerbund.

Black-tie optional gives you the choice to wear a dinner suit or a smoking jacket. Pair your midnight blue dinner suit with a white French cuff dress shirt, cufflinks, and a silk tie.

Explore our formal ties in solid black, navy, or burgundy silk to add just the right degree of polish and formality to your dark suit.

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How to Dress for Semi-Formal Office Holiday Parties

Semi-formal holiday office party attire can run from a more traditional look to cocktail attire. Either way, you can’t go wrong if you complete your look with a blazer or jacket.

For the traditional slant, you’ll look distinguished in a navy wool blazer with dress pants, a dark blue button-down shirt, and a navy tie.

For a bit more glitz, you could go with a black double-breasted jacket, grey pants, and a grey stripe dress shirt accented with our Dotted Report Charcoal Tie.

It’s easy to add a festive touch by switching out a traditional tie with a textured or patterned tie in a holiday color. Go even further and rock one of our new holiday ties like our Mushroom Forest Cedar Tie.

Still, check out our semi-formal ties for more ideas, and don’t forget to choose a tie that’s dressier than what you usually wear to work. After all, you’re not heading to work — you’re going to a holiday party!

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How to Dress for Casual Office Holiday Parties

If your holiday office party will be a casual affair, you’ll have the freedom to release your creative fashion sense and have fun mixing and matching pieces that may already be in your closet. However, a casual dress code doesn’t mean that “anything goes.” Opting for a tasteful sweater is one way you can strike that balance.

Top a burgundy merino turtleneck sweater with a casual blazer and chinos or dark jeans. Another sharp casual look pairs cords with our Navy Cable Shawl Cardigan Sweater over a patterned shirt.

Choose a knit tie for a more relaxed look or, depending on the setting, you may get by without wearing a necktie.

For additional ideas on relaxed neckwear, see our casual wool knit ties or ties with festive and novelty patterns.

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Adding Festive Flair to Your Outfit

Walk into your holiday office party feeling special by adding a hint of festive flair to your outfit. The key is to be selective and restrained — we’re not talking about funky light-up Christmas sweater here.

A Christmas-patterned tie, a holiday-colored pocket square, or a festive lapel pin can add just the right amount of tasteful flair. However, for formal wear, keep your flair understated as a discreet accent.

Festive Ties

The Tie Bar features an imaginative range of ties in holiday patterns and colors. Shop festive ties here, but remember — keep the rest of your outfit neutral to achieve an overall balanced look. Our Repp Stripe Fraser Fir Deep Blue Tie is a great example of a refined necktie with a subtle but festive flair. Just don’t pair it with red pants — you may be mistaken for one of Santa’s elves.

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Accessories

A thoughtfully selected accessory can elevate an outfit, especially at the holidays. Select a colorful pocket square, cufflinks, or a holiday themed lapel pin to enhance your look.

Our Grosgrain Solid Burgundy or Festival Red Solid Textured Suspenders definitely will add character and pizazz to your semi-formal or casual outfit. As with festive ties, keep your accessories understated to maintain a professional appearance.

SHOP MEN’S ACCESSORIES

What to Avoid Wearing to a Christmas Party

It may be tempting to don a red Santa hat with plastic mistletoe or a silly cartoon Grinch tie for your office holiday party. But trust us, best to save those wacky items for your family Christmas get-togethers.

Even with a casual office Christmas party dress code, you should maintain a sense of professionalism. Overly casual attire like heavily distressed jeans or hoodies should be avoided.

You can’t go wrong if you follow our outfit suggestions for different dress codes. Choose timeless, well-cut clothing that’s styled in natural fabrics like wool, flannel, cotton, silk, and cashmere. Essentially, avoid flashy overly bright colors, lots of sparkle, and keep novelty holiday items to a bare minimum.

Find Outfit Ideas for Office Holiday Parties at The Tie Bar

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! And luckily, you don’t have to wear a musty old frock coat or a fancy silk cravat when you celebrate the holidays. Our beautifully curated selection of men’s ties and accessories will ensure you’ll look stylish and festive at your Christmas or holiday office party.

But The Tie Bar isn’t limited to just ties and accessories. Explore outfit ideas incorporating our 100% cotton dress shirts, Merino Wool Polos and Sweaters, elegant wool tuxedo jackets and pants, and so much more. From formal wear to casual, The Tie Bar has the stylish and quality clothing and accessories you need to look fabulous at your holiday office party. It’s time to go shopping!