Holiday Attire Fashion Guide for Men
When the holidays roll around, most men receive at least one invitation to a holiday party. Other than the address, the second most important thing men should pay attention to is the specified dress code. Understanding what to wear to which party can help the attentive man ensure he's dressed more than appropriately, while potentially catching a few eyes along the way. Does this Spark an idea?
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The Office
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Depending on the professional environment, office holiday parties may run the gamut in terms of dress appropriateness. In business-casual or creative workplaces, wearing dark-colored denim jeans or gray flannel trousers for added polish is a solid and appropriate base. A plain black or white button-down shirt works well, sharpened with a cashmere V-neck in a muted neutral such as charcoal. Shoes can be loafers or lace-ups, but, as always, should be polished and devoid of a square toe. With formal professions, such as legal or financial, office parties will probably mean a dark suit, with tie removal acceptable only after the boss takes off his.
Unfamiliar Territory
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Heading to a holiday party filled with guests you don't know is stressful enough. If the invite doesn't extend a dress code, or if a guy is meeting his significant other's parents for the first time, that only adds to the anxiety. However, there are things men can wear to simultaneously appear put together and semi-casual. Brown monk strap or lace-up shoes, charcoal wool slacks and a navy blazer always look appropriate. Wear a shirt with a little pizzazz, perhaps incorporating a tasteful check or stripe. Don't make the blazer such an integral part of the ensemble that you can't take it off without upsetting the look -- which you will want to do if you're the only one wearing a jacket or if Grandma keeps the thermostat cranked up.
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Black Tie and Black Tie Optional
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A New Year's rolls around, so do the party invites. Many of these are formal occasions, indicated with dress codes such as "black tie," "formal" or "black tie optional." The latter description is where most of the confusion comes in for many men. In general, a well-fitting navy suit from your closet looks better than a rental tuxedo, both in terms of expressing your personal style and in the material used. Black tie, of course, means a black or midnight blue tuxedo, patent leather shoes and a vest or cummerbund.
What Not to Wear
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Unless it's directly specified for a "tacky sweater" or similarly themed party, leave the chunky Rudolph sweaters, Santa hats and festive bibs at home. Treating a holiday party like a business casual meeting is never a poor approach, so dress the same way. Holiday sweaters have become caricatures of themselves, drawing the wrong type of attention. However, seasonal colors are recommended, such as deep emeralds, blues and reds. Punch up an otherwise tasteful outfit with a pair of red or colorful striped socks, but make sure they don't clash with what's going on above.
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References
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