What to wear to a work holiday party
For a work holiday party, men should dress one step above their usual office outfit: a blazer or suit with dress trousers and a collared shirt, with at most one subtle festive touch. When in doubt, match what senior leaders usually wear.
The outfit
Example photo: Steez Visualz / PexelsGrey tweed sport coat
- JacketGrey tweed sport coat
- TrousersStone wool trousers
- ShirtWhite button-down, collar open
- NeckwearNone
- ShoesDark brown chukka boots or loafers
- ExtrasBrown belt
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Tips
- Dress a step above daily office wear: in a business casual office, add a blazer; in a suit office, add a festive tie or pocket square.
- Keep festive touches subtle, like a burgundy tie or velvet loafers rather than a full velvet suit.
- It’s still work. Skip anything too tight, too loud or too casual, and anything you’d regret in photos.
- If the party is at a nice restaurant or hotel in the evening, lean toward a suit.
If the invite names a dress code
Business casual
Business casual for men means dress trousers or chinos, a collared button-up shirt and leather shoes. A blazer is optional, and a tie usually isn’t needed.
Smart casual
Smart casual for men means a jacket without a tie: a blazer or sport coat, a collared shirt or fine knit, chinos or wool trousers, and leather shoes or clean minimal sneakers.
Festive attire
Festive attire for men means cocktail-level dressing with a seasonal touch: a dark suit or blazer with one festive element, like a velvet jacket, a burgundy or green tie, or a patterned pocket square.
Cocktail attire
Cocktail attire for men means a tailored suit in navy, charcoal or grey, a dress shirt, a tie and leather dress shoes. It sits between business casual and black tie: dressier than the office, but no tuxedo.
Common questions
Should I wear a suit to the office holiday party?
If your office wears suits or the venue is formal, yes. In a business casual office, a blazer with trousers is usually right.
Can I wear jeans to a work holiday party?
Only if the party is in the office and casual dress is the norm. For anything at a venue, wear trousers.
Is a holiday sweater okay at a work party?
Only if the party has an ugly sweater theme. Otherwise, keep it professional.
Have the invite?
Paste it into Dress the Part and get the dress code decoded, an outfit for your season and venue, and where to buy each piece at any budget.