Work Christmas party outfits for men: what to wear to the office party

Choosing a work Christmas party outfit is trickier than dressing for any other event in December. You’re among people who know you in office clothes, your manager is in the room, there may be photographs, and the venue could be anything from a meeting room with mince pies to a hotel ballroom. Dress too casually and you look as if you didn’t bother. Dress too loudly and you’ll be remembered for the wrong reason. The right work Christmas party outfit for men sits one step above what you wear to work, with a single festive detail. This guide explains how to read the dress code, what to wear to a Christmas party at the office, a restaurant, a bar or a formal dinner, 12 complete outfits, the colours and fabrics that feel festive, and the mistakes that follow people into January.

Work Christmas party outfit: the quick answer

• Dress one step up from your normal workday. If you wear a shirt and chinos, add a blazer. If you wear a suit, choose a better one.
• Check the invitation for a dress code, venue and start time.
• Add one festive detail: a burgundy knit, a velvet jacket, a dark green tie or a pocket square.
• Stay in dark, rich colours. Navy, charcoal, black, burgundy and forest green.
• Wear comfortable, polished shoes. You’ll be standing.
• Bring a proper coat.
• Keep novelty to a minimum unless the invitation asks for it.

What to wear to a Christmas party at work: read the dress code

What to wear to a Christmas party depends on what the invitation says. These are the terms you’re likely to see.

Dress code on the invitation	What it means	What to wear
Black tie	Formal evening dress	Dinner jacket, white dress shirt, black bow tie, black Oxford shoes
Formal or lounge suit	A dark suit	Navy or charcoal suit, shirt and tie
Cocktail	Smart and a little festive	Dark suit, tie optional, or a velvet jacket with tailored trousers
Semi-formal	Between a suit and smart casual	Blazer, shirt, tailored trousers, leather shoes. Tie optional
Smart casual	Relaxed but polished	Blazer or fine knit, shirt or roll neck, chinos or dark jeans
Festive	Seasonal colour or detail expected	Any of the above with a festive jumper, tie or jacket
Christmas jumper	Novelty knitwear	A Christmas jumper with dark jeans and boots
Casual or no dress code	Your choice	One step above your workday clothes

If nothing is stated, ask the organiser or a colleague who went last year. The venue is a strong clue: a hotel or restaurant with tablecloths means a jacket.

Dress for your workplace

Your office	Normal dress	Party outfit
Corporate, law or finance	Suit	Your best dark suit, a festive tie or pocket square, polished Oxfords
Business casual office	Shirt and chinos	Blazer, shirt or roll neck, tailored trousers, leather shoes
Creative or tech	Jeans and trainers	Dark jeans, a fine knit or overshirt, a smart jacket, boots
Retail, hospitality or healthcare	Uniform	Smart casual: blazer, knit and dark trousers
Remote team meeting in person	Varies	Smart casual. First impressions count
Trades and site work	Workwear	Dark jeans, a shirt or knit, clean boots

See our guides to business casual for men and business attire for men.

12 work Christmas party outfits for men

1. The blazer and roll neck

A navy or charcoal blazer over a black or burgundy roll neck, with grey wool trousers and Chelsea boots. Smart, warm and no tie to loosen.

2. The dark suit with a festive tie

A navy or charcoal suit, a white shirt and a tie in burgundy, forest green or a small pattern. Add a white pocket square.

3. The velvet jacket

A velvet blazer in navy, burgundy or bottle green, a white or black shirt, black tailored trousers and black shoes. It’s the classic festive piece, and it suits cocktail and semi-formal codes.

4. The festive knit and chinos

A crew-neck jumper in burgundy, forest green or cream over a shirt collar, with navy chinos and brown boots. Right for office-based parties.

5. The suit without a tie

Your work suit, an open-necked shirt in pale blue or white, and a pocket square. Swap office shoes for suede loafers or boots.

6. Tweed or flannel

A tweed or flannel jacket, a fine knit or checked shirt, dark trousers and brogues. It looks seasonal without a single decoration.

7. Tartan

Tartan trousers with a plain black or navy knit, or a tartan tie with a plain suit. One tartan piece only.

8. Smart casual with dark jeans

A blazer, an Oxford shirt, dark indigo jeans and brown leather boots. For casual offices and pub parties. See smart casual for men.

9. All black

A black shirt or fine knit, black trousers and black boots, with a black blazer. Add a watch or a textured jacket so it doesn’t look like a waiter’s uniform. See all-black outfits for men.

10. The knitted polo and tailored trousers

A long-sleeve knitted polo in navy or dark green, pleated trousers and loafers.

11. The Christmas jumper

If the invitation asks for one, wear a well-made Fair Isle or snowflake pattern over a shirt, with dark jeans and boots. Keep everything else plain.

12. Black tie

A black or midnight-blue dinner jacket, matching trousers, a white dress shirt, a black bow tie and black Oxford or patent shoes. A velvet dinner jacket is the festive option.

Semi-formal Christmas party attire

Semi-formal Christmas party attire causes the most confusion, because it sits between two clear codes.

• Wear a jacket. A blazer or suit jacket is expected.
• A tie is optional. Bring one in your pocket if you’re unsure.
• Choose tailored trousers, not jeans.
• Wear leather shoes: Oxfords, Derbies, loafers or smart boots.
• Add a festive touch through colour or texture: velvet, burgundy, dark green or a pocket square.

A dark suit with an open collar, or a velvet blazer with black trousers, is correct at any semi-formal event. See dressy casual for men.

Office holiday party outfit by venue

An office holiday party outfit should suit the room as well as the dress code.

Venue	What to wear	Notes
In the office, daytime	Festive knit, shirt, chinos	Change your jumper or add a tie after work
In the office, evening	Blazer, shirt or roll neck, tailored trousers	Bring the jacket in the morning
Restaurant	Blazer or suit, leather shoes	You’ll be seated, so the top half matters most
Pub or bar	Dark jeans, fine knit, smart jacket, boots	Expect to stand
Hotel ballroom	Dark suit and tie, or black tie if stated	Check for a cloakroom
Bowling, karaoke or an activity	Smart casual with comfortable shoes	Wear clean socks for bowling
Outdoor market or ice rink	Wool coat, knitwear, scarf, lined boots	Warmth first
Manager’s home	Smart casual, good socks	You may be asked to take off your shoes

Holiday party attire: colours and fabrics

Holiday party attire looks festive through colour and texture, not decoration.

• Colours: burgundy, forest green, navy, charcoal, black, cream and deep red.
• Fabrics: velvet, tweed, flannel, corduroy, cashmere and merino.
• Patterns: tartan, Fair Isle, herringbone and small dots.
• Metallics: a little gold or silver in a tie, a watch or cufflinks.

How to dress up a suit you already own

You don’t need to buy anything for most parties. A work suit becomes a party suit with small changes.

• Change the shirt. Swap a plain work shirt for crisp white, pale pink or black.
• Change or remove the tie. A burgundy, green or knitted tie looks festive. An open collar looks relaxed.
• Add a pocket square in white linen or a rich colour.
• Replace the shirt with a fine roll neck in black, navy or burgundy.
• Wear the jacket with different trousers, such as tartan or black.
• Change the shoes to Chelsea boots or loafers.
• Add a waistcoat or a fine cardigan underneath.

Christmas parties around Europe

Work parties differ from country to country, which matters if you work for an international company.

• Britain and Ireland: often a lively evening in a restaurant, pub or hotel. Smart casual to cocktail, with Christmas jumper days in the office beforehand.
• Germany and Austria: the *Weihnachtsfeier* is usually a dinner, sometimes after a visit to a Christmas market. Smart casual, with a warm coat and good shoes.
• Denmark: the *julefrokost* is a long Christmas lunch or dinner. Smart but relaxed.
• Sweden: the *julbord* is a festive buffet. A jacket is common.
• France and Italy: typically a dinner or an aperitif. Elegant and understated, with a jacket.
• The Netherlands: often a *kerstborrel*, drinks with snacks. Smart casual.
• Spain: company dinners run late. Smart, with a jacket or fine knit.

See our guides to German fashion and British fashion.

Shoes, coats and accessories

Shoes

• Black or dark brown Oxfords with a suit.
• Chelsea boots with tailored trousers or dark jeans.
• Loafers in leather or suede, with fine socks.
• Brogues with tweed and flannel.
• Clean leather trainers only for casual codes.

Polish them. Party lighting is unforgiving, and you’ll be on your feet for hours.

Coats

A wool overcoat in navy, charcoal or camel suits every outfit here. See winter coats for men.

Accessories

• A festive tie in burgundy, green or a discreet pattern.
• A pocket square.
• Fun socks, the safest place for novelty.
• A watch and cufflinks for formal events.
• A scarf.
• A Santa hat or paper crown, if everyone else is wearing one.

Coming straight from work

Most office parties start at the end of the working day.

1. Wear the base outfit to work: tailored trousers, shirt and good shoes.
2. Bring the upgrade: a blazer, velvet jacket, festive tie or knit on a hanger.
3. Keep a small kit in your desk: deodorant, comb, mints and a shoe cloth.
4. Change your shirt if the day has been long.
5. Leave your work bag and lanyard behind.

How festive is too festive?

• Fine anywhere: rich colours, velvet, tartan, a tasteful Fair Isle jumper, festive socks.
• Fine if the invitation says so: novelty jumpers, Christmas suits, flashing accessories.
• Risky: rude slogans, costumes and anything that mocks a religion or a colleague.
• A good test: would you be comfortable talking to the chief executive in it?

Dressing for your role

• Managers and hosts: dress slightly smarter than the team. A jacket is expected.
• New starters: play it safe with smart casual. Observe this year, and experiment next year.
• Interns and graduates: a blazer over a shirt or knit shows respect without overdoing it.
• Client-facing staff at a client’s party: follow the client’s dress code, erring on the formal side.
• Guests and partners: ask your partner what colleagues will wear.

Dressing for your build

• Bigger men: a dark, structured blazer, a fine knit and straight trousers. Avoid tight shirts and chunky jumpers under a jacket. See fashion for big guys.
• Shorter men: matching or close colours top and bottom, a shorter jacket and trousers with little or no break.
• Slim men: texture adds presence: tweed, flannel, velvet and knitwear.
• Tall men: check sleeve and trouser length, and wear a longer coat.

What to wear if you don’t celebrate Christmas

Many companies now call it an end-of-year or winter party. The same guidance applies without seasonal symbols: dark, rich colours, a jacket or fine knit and one special detail, such as velvet or a patterned tie.

Grooming and etiquette

• Get a haircut a few days before.
• Iron your shirt and check for stains.
• Wear a light fragrance.
• Eat before drinking, and keep your jacket on for the speeches.
• Remember the photographs. They’ll be shared on Monday.

Mistakes to avoid

Mistake	Why it’s a problem	Do this instead
Wearing ordinary work clothes	It looks as if you forgot	Add a jacket, a knit or a festive detail
Under-dressing	It can seem disrespectful	Go one step above your workday
A full novelty outfit, uninvited	It dominates the room	One festive piece
Rude slogans	Colleagues may be offended	Keep humour gentle
New shoes	Hours of standing will hurt	Wear broken-in shoes
A creased or stained shirt	Photographs last	Bring a fresh one
Too much aftershave	Close quarters	Two sprays
No coat	You’ll queue outside in December	Wear an overcoat

For other December events, see Christmas outfits for men and New Year’s Eve outfits for men.