Work Christmas parties are a strange mix: a bit office, a bit nightclub, a bit family gathering. You want to look sharp, festive and confident – but still professional. Think: upgraded version of your weekday self, with a touch of party.

Below are style formulas, grooming tips and outfit ideas – plus suggestions for images you can use in your article.

1. Start With the Dress Code (Even If No One Wrote It Down)

Before you even think about sequins or velvet, read the room:

• Hotel ballroom / sit-down dinner: smart or semi-formal – suits, crisp shirts, leather shoes.
• Bar or rooftop party: smart casual – blazers, chinos, dark denim, loafers or boots.
• Office drinks after work: elevated office wear – add a better shirt, swap shoes, lose the backpack.
• Themed “Christmas jumper” night: fun knitwear, but still fitted and grown-up.

If in doubt, it’s better to be slightly overdressed than the one guy in a logo hoodie.

Alt text: “Three men in different work Christmas party outfits: one in a navy suit, one in a velvet blazer and turtleneck, one in smart shirt and chinos in a bar setting.”

Use a photo or illustration showing three levels of dressiness – formal, smart, and smart-casual.

2. The Foolproof Formula: The Modern Christmas Suit

A full suit still wins for many work parties, especially if you’re in finance, law, corporate or you’ve got partners and clients around.

The suit

• Colour: Navy, charcoal, deep bottle green or even a subtle check.
• Fit: Tailored but comfortable – you should be able to sit, dance and eat.
• Fabric: Wool or wool-blend. Avoid shiny cheap polyester; it looks bad in photos.

The shirt

• Classic white always works, but Christmas is the moment to bring in:
  • Pale blue or soft grey
  • Micro-pattern (tiny dots, subtle check)
  • Black shirt with a dark suit for evening drama (only if the suit is sharp and well-cut).

The tie (optional now, but powerful)

• If your office is more traditional: a silk tie in burgundy, forest green or navy with a small pattern.
• If your office is relaxed: skip the tie and open one button. Make sure the shirt has a good collar that sits right.

The shoes

• Black Oxford or Derby for formal settings.
• Dark brown brogues or loafers for a softer, stylish look.
  Make sure they’re polished – nothing kills a good outfit like dusty shoes.

Alt text: “Close-up of a man in a navy suit with a white shirt and burgundy tie, holding a champagne glass at a Christmas party.”

This works nicely near a section about classic tailoring or suiting.

3. The Velvet Blazer: Christmas Hero Piece

If there’s one fabric made for December, it’s velvet. A velvet blazer instantly says “evening” and “festive” without sticking tinsel on your lapels.

How to wear it

• Colours: Deep burgundy, midnight blue, forest green, or classic black.
• Underneath:
  • Black fine-gauge rollneck (turtleneck) for a sleek, fashion-forward look.
  • Crisp white shirt for something more classic.
• Bottom half:
  • Black tailored trousers to keep things sharp.
  • Or dark, clean, non-distressed denim for a smart-casual party in a bar.

Shoes that work

• Black Chelsea boots
• Leather loafers
• Minimal leather trainers (only if the venue is casual and the rest of the outfit is sharp).

Alt text: “Man in a burgundy velvet blazer, black turtleneck and black trousers standing under fairy lights at a Christmas party.”

Place this near your velvet blazer section to inspire readers visually.

4. Smart Casual: When the Party Is in a Bar or the Office

Not every Christmas party needs a suit. For start-ups, creative industries or relaxed teams, smart casual is the sweet spot: polished, not stiff.

Top half

• Button-down shirt in white, light blue, or a subtle pattern.
• Fine knitwear: merino crew neck or turtleneck in navy, camel, grey, olive.
• Overshirt / lightweight jacket over a tee if it’s really casual – but make sure the tee is clean, thick cotton and plain.

Bottom half

• Chinos in navy, stone, camel or dark green.
• Dark denim (no rips, no whiskering, not spray-on tight).

Layering ideas

• Shirt + fine knit jumper + tailored coat
• Shirt + blazer + scarf
• Turtleneck + wool topcoat

This is your chance to play with texture: wool, knitwear, suede, cotton – it all reads richer in winter.

5. The Christmas Jumper Question

Yes, Christmas jumpers can be cool – if you treat them like knitwear, not a costume.

Do:

• Choose good fabric: wool or cotton, not thin acrylic.
• Keep patterns graphic and stylish – Nordic patterns, geometric snowflakes, bold stripes in festive colours.
• Make sure it fits well (no sagging sleeves, no stretched neck).

Avoid:

• Flashing lights, 3D reindeer noses, rude slogans. Funny for five minutes, regrettable in photos for years.
• Anything so big and bulky you can’t wear a coat over it.

Pair your knit with smart trousers and decent shoes so you still look like an adult, not an overgrown elf.

Alt text: “Man in a fitted fair-isle Christmas jumper, dark chinos and leather boots holding a drink at an office Christmas party.”

Perfect for a section on Christmas jumpers done well.

6. From Desk to Dancefloor: Quick Upgrades After Work

Many office parties start straight after work. You might not have time to go home, so think in terms of upgrades.

Pack these in your bag

• A better pair of shoes – leather loafers or Chelsea boots.
• A sharper shirt or turtleneck to swap with your daytime one.
• A fragrance – subtle but confident.
• A lint roller and breath mints. Small, but they change everything.

Simple switches

• Swap your work shirt for a darker, evening shirt.
• Lose the bulky work backpack; carry a slim leather brief or nothing at all.
• Roll up shirt sleeves slightly at the bar (if the atmosphere is relaxed) to look more off-duty.

7. Grooming: Your Face Is Part of the Outfit

You can wear the best blazer in the room, but if your grooming says “rolled out of bed”, that’s all people will notice.

• Hair: fresh cut a few days before the party so it looks natural, not just chopped.
• Beard: trimmed, shaped, neck tidy. If you’re usually clean-shaven, shave carefully – no angry red patches.
• Skin: a hydrating moisturiser, especially if it’s cold and dry.
• Hands: trimmed nails. You’ll be holding glasses, shaking hands, possibly ending up in photos.

Fragrance wise, aim for warm notes – woods, spice, leather, amber. A couple of sprays, not a fog.

8. Colour & Accessories: Festive Without Looking Like the Tree

You don’t need tinsel to look festive. Use colour cleverly:

Colours that work

• Deep reds (burgundy, wine)
• Forest or bottle green
• Midnight blue
• Gold accents (tie pin, watch, subtle jewellery)
• Rich neutrals: camel, chocolate brown, charcoal

Smart accessories

• Slim leather belt matching your shoes.
• A discreet bracelet or ring if it suits your style.
• Pocket square in a dark blazer for a hint of personality.
• A good watch – not mandatory, but always elevates a look.

Avoid anything that jingles, flashes or looks like a novelty shop exploded on you.

9. What Not to Wear to the Work Christmas Party

There’s always one guy. Don’t be him.

• Gym trainers or muddy sneakers
• Wrinkled shirts – if you can’t iron, use a steamer or get it pressed.
• Overly tight spray-on jeans – especially with a short blazer.
• Offensive slogan tees – you still work with these people on Monday.
• Too much cologne – one hug and they shouldn’t be gasping for air.
• Anything you’d wear to a nightclub at 3am (mesh tops, massive logos, etc.).

The goal is elevated version of you, not a totally different character you’ll cringe about next week.

10. Confidence Is the Best Thing You Can Wear

The perfect Christmas party outfit for men is a balance of:

• Respect for the workplace and the people paying for the party
• Your personal style and comfort
• A little festive energy – richer fabrics, deeper colours, maybe one fun piece

If you feel good in what you’re wearing, you’ll stand taller, smile more, and connect better – and that’s what everyone actually remembers.