The invite lands in your inbox with a font that has snowflakes in it. Somewhere near the bottom it says festive attire encouraged, which tells you nothing. You will walk in from the cold, shake hands with the CFO, stand at a bar for two hours, and eventually find yourself explaining your job to someone's husband. Figuring out what to wear to a holiday work party as a man comes down to that room: dressed enough for the boss, easy enough to still be yourself.
It is a work event with a cocktail in it. Treat it like one.
What should a man wear to a holiday work party?
Wear a crisp collar, one soft knit layer, and a trouser that is not your everyday jean. Most company holiday parties land at a restaurant, a hotel bar, or the office itself, and the dress code is business casual turned up a notch. Start with a white or oxford button-up that holds its shape after a full workday. Pull a fine quarter zip over it so the collar sits clean at the neck, which reads polished without reading like a suit. Below, a tailored trouser in tobacco, navy, or charcoal with some stretch for two hours on your feet. Finish with suede loafers or leather boots. Keep the palette to navy, white, brown, and deep green, and let one texture do the festive work. Skip the novelty sweater, the hoodie, and anything you would not wear to meet a client.
How dressy is a company holiday party?
Dressier than the office, more relaxed than a wedding. The safe read is one step above what you wore on your best workday that month. If the invite says cocktail attire, add a blazer. If it says casual, keep the collar and lose nothing else. Nobody has ever been sent home from a work party for being slightly overdressed.
The Rhone Commuter Shirt, Slim Fit ($138) in White is the foundation. It is a performance woven that looks like a proper dress shirt, but it does not wrinkle at the elbows or wilt by seven. Wear it straight from the office if the party starts at five.
Is a quarter zip appropriate for a work holiday party?
Yes, when it is fine-gauge and worn over a collar. A chunky athletic half zip says Saturday. A soft, close-knit quarter zip over a white shirt says you thought about it. It also solves the temperature problem: the walk from the parking garage is cold, and the private room at the restaurant always runs warm.
The TravisMathew Cloud Quarter Zip 2.0 ($149.95) in Heather Blue Nights is the one we would wear. It has a brushed, almost sweatshirt-soft hand with a polished face, and the heathered navy works next to every trouser color in this guide. Zip it halfway so the collar shows.
| The party | The outfit | The pieces |
|---|---|---|
| Office party, right after work | White shirt, fine quarter zip, tailored trouser | Commuter Shirt in White, Cloud Quarter Zip 2.0 in Heather Blue Nights, SoHo Trouser in Heather Tobacco |
| Restaurant private room | Knit button-up tucked, tailored trouser, suede loafers | Generation Heathered Knit Shirt in Beige, SoHo Trouser in Marine Navy |
| Hotel bar, cocktail attire | White shirt, tailored trouser, add a blazer | Commuter Shirt in White, SoHo Trouser in Marine Navy |
| Rooftop with outdoor heaters | Quarter zip over a collar, trouser, a real jacket | Cloud Quarter Zip 2.0, SoHo Trouser in Heather Tobacco, Yukon Hybrid Jacket |
Can you wear jeans to a holiday work party?
You can. You probably should not. Jeans are what you wear every Friday, and this is the one night a year the whole company sees each other dressed for something. A tailored trouser is the easiest upgrade in the outfit.
The Cuts SoHo Trouser ($126) is built for exactly this. It has the drape and crease of a dress pant with a waistband that stays comfortable through dinner and a long toast from your VP. Heather Tobacco is the warmer, more festive choice with navy up top. Marine Navy is the safe bet if the room skews formal.
If you would rather skip the quarter zip altogether, a knit button-up does the same job in one piece. The 7 Diamonds Generation Heathered Knit Shirt ($125) in Beige has a real collar and placket but the softness of a sweater. Tuck it into the navy SoHo and you are done.
What should you wear over it to get there?
Something warmer than you think, and something that looks fine on a coat rack. The Greyson Yukon Hybrid Jacket ($298) is a clean, quilted-front layer that sits flat over a quarter zip. It handles a December walk from the train without the bulk of a parka you then have to babysit all night.
What should you not wear to a work holiday party?
The ugly sweater, unless it is an ugly sweater party and HR has said so in writing. Anything you would wear to the gym. Shoes you cannot stand in for two hours. And cologne strong enough to reach accounting before you do.
One more thing. Someone will take photos, and they will end up in the company slideshow in March. Dress for that.
The same knit-and-collar logic runs through our men's guide to fall dinner parties and what to wear to Thanksgiving. For the weekend after, see what to wear to an outdoor holiday market, and if she is spending Black Friday hunting gifts, her plan is in what to wear Black Friday shopping. Everything here lives in the men's collection, stocked a few units per size, so the holiday colors move.
Frequently asked questions
What is business casual for a holiday party?
A collared shirt, a fine knit layer such as a quarter zip or sweater, tailored trousers, and leather or suede shoes. No tie or suit required. Add a blazer if the invite mentions cocktail attire.
Can a man wear a quarter zip to a work Christmas party?
Yes. A fine-gauge quarter zip worn over a button-up collar is polished enough for most office and restaurant holiday parties. Avoid bulky athletic zips or anything with a large logo.
What colors should men wear to a holiday work party?
Navy, white, tobacco brown, charcoal, and deep green all read festive without trying. Let texture carry the season, like a brushed knit or heathered trouser, rather than red and green head to toe.
Should you dress up for an office holiday party?
Dress one step above your best normal workday. Most people underdress for these, so a crisp collar and a real trouser puts you comfortably ahead without looking out of place.
Shake the hands. Skip the third drink. Dress for the room and you will (out)last the slideshow.
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