The Christmas Party Question
8 December 2025
December is when I field the most questions from clients. The Christmas party — whether corporate, social, or somewhere in between — creates a specific anxiety. Too formal feels stiff. Too casual feels disrespectful. The sweet spot is narrower than people think.
The safest foundation is a dark suit — navy or charcoal, not black — with a slight twist in the details. A textured tie, an interesting pocket square, a shirt with a subtle pattern rather than plain white. This reads as dressed-up without looking like you\'re attending a funeral.
For more relaxed gatherings, the blazer-and-trouser combination works. A velvet blazer in deep green or burgundy adds seasonal character without being costumey. The key is that only one element should be "interesting" — if the jacket is the statement, everything else should be quiet.
New Year\'s Eve is the exception where more is acceptable. Black tie, properly done, is one of menswear\'s great pleasures. A well-fitted dinner jacket, grosgrain bow tie, patent shoes. No novelty, no irony. The formality is the point.
The men who dress best through December are the ones who plan ahead rather than grabbing something on the 23rd.
The safest foundation is a dark suit — navy or charcoal, not black — with a slight twist in the details. A textured tie, an interesting pocket square, a shirt with a subtle pattern rather than plain white. This reads as dressed-up without looking like you\'re attending a funeral.
For more relaxed gatherings, the blazer-and-trouser combination works. A velvet blazer in deep green or burgundy adds seasonal character without being costumey. The key is that only one element should be "interesting" — if the jacket is the statement, everything else should be quiet.
New Year\'s Eve is the exception where more is acceptable. Black tie, properly done, is one of menswear\'s great pleasures. A well-fitted dinner jacket, grosgrain bow tie, patent shoes. No novelty, no irony. The formality is the point.
The men who dress best through December are the ones who plan ahead rather than grabbing something on the 23rd.