Choosing Men’s Suits for the Holidays
The holiday season usually ranges from the end of November all the way to the beginning of January, and it features tons of events, parties and other functions where you’re expected to dress a certain way. Women can mostly get away with wearing whatever they want and dressing their outfit up or down with accessories, but what is expected of men? We’ve done the hard work of figuring out what to wear for you with our guidelines to choosing mens suits for the holidays.
Formal Holiday Parties
For most holiday parties, whether casual or formal, men are expected to at least wear a sports coat and slacks, although the tie is optional. For a casual party you could ditch the jacket and wear a nice sweater over a collared shirt. If the holiday party is at a more up-scale location, or if the invitation specifically dictates that the dress code is “formal” or “festive” (and no one will be wearing tuxedos), try a velvet jacket with gray slacks, or a dark gray or dark blue suit with a tonal tie. For a bit of holiday cheer, throw in a holiday-themed tie or socks.
Office Holiday Parties
The thing to always remember about office parties is to stay tasteful. If you’re celebrating in the office, whether during the workday or directly after business hours, you probably won’t be expected to get dressed up, but you should put some extra thought into what you wear to work that day. You never know which of the higher-ups will be attending the party, so you want to be confident about your outfit.
If your office is business casual on most days, the day of the party should be your day to dress more on the side of “business” and less on the side of “casual.” The trick is to look polished (i.e. no wrinkles in your clothes, combed hair, etc.), but not overdone. Remember that you are sending out a message about yourself professionally in the way you dress, and to conduct yourself as if it was any other day at work.
Christmas Eve
Even if you’re with your family, and especially if you are celebrating with someone else’s family, it’s important to dress modest, yet festive on this holy night. Think casual blazer or men’s suit jacket, a collared shirt, and wool slacks; add on a tie if it’s more of a cocktail party. While all day is generally referred to as Christmas Eve, this is technically an evening celebration, so darker colors are welcome.
Christmas Day
If your celebration takes place during the day, feel free to wear lighter colors, like heather gray, lighter blues, red or camel, but keep it formal. You may be sitting down for “dinner” at one, followed by watching a few football games on TV, but there will be churchgoers likely in your midst, so dress accordingly and leave the jersey at home.
New Year’s Eve
If the invitation says “black tie optional,” wear a dark men’s suit that’s a little on the flashy side. Consider wearing a shiny tie or a crisp collared shirt with sharper details. If the invitation says “black tie” that means it’s your chance to wear a nice-fitting tuxedo and party the night away.
As mentioned above, these are just guidelines for what to wear to holiday functions. Because dress codes can vary wildly depending on when and where the event is taking place, as well as who will be at the event, there are no “set in stone” rules for holiday party attire. To be on the safe side always wear a basic men’s suit with a suit jacket or blazer, a dress shirt, a tie and a nice pair of shoes. You will never be underdressed in this ensemble, and if you find you are overdressed, just take off the tie and throw on a pair of sneakers you keep in the car for a cool and casual look.
Resource Box:
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