How To Nail Your Office Christmas Party Style

Ah! The office Christmas party, where inhibitions are lost, lines crossed and humiliation reigns supreme. From interns throwing up at the feet of the CEO, to the obligatory make-out sessions in the copying room – theres a lot to contend with and that’s before you’ve even deciphered the dress code and picked your outfit. As a general rule of thumb when it comes to the office christmas party we see it as an excuse to dress up a little, rid yourself of your usual blue suit and white poplin shirt and go for something a little more fun. Of course, deciding exactly what to wear can only begin once a multiple of other factors that come into play have been analysed. Think about where you work and what’s therefore appropriate, where you are actually going for your office party and what the day or night will entail. While some offices treat the Christmas party as an excuse to rack up an enormous bar tab and let the chaos unfold, others a more demure scene entirely. Whilst we can’t help you maintain your dignity on the dance-floor, we can certainly help in the wardrobe department…

INFORMAL:, If you work in a Soho based media-type office then we’ll hazard a guess and say you’re probably going to a trendy Gastropub for overpriced craft beers before heading out to an achingly cool bar to let your well groomed hair down. Ditch your jeans and chinos and try a pair of festively spot-on tartan trousers and keep your top half dressed down with a thick knit jumper and a casual blue shirt., , Trousers, Hackett, £225 hackett.com / Jumper, Sunspel, £250 sunspel.com / Shirt, Boss, Harrods, £89.95 harrods.com / Boots, Brunello Cucinelli, Harrods, £599 harrods.com / Belt, Anderson’s, £70 mrporter.com

SMART-CASUAL:, If you work in the city then you can probably get away with taking off your tie and undoing a button or two on your shirt, but whilst this is the easiest option it hardly screams “I’m here to have fun”, and you can say goodbye to any chance of successful flirting with the blonde in accounts. Instead, we suggest the hottest look of the season – the suit & roll-neck combination. Choose a subtle check or square patterned suit and pair with a luxurious cashmere roll neck for easy style points., , Shoes, Canali, £379 harrods.com / Jumper, Sunspel, £140 sunspel.com / Suit, Alfred Dunhill, £2290 mrporter.com

FORMAL:, For some offices, the Christmas party is a lavish affair, where full blown black tie is essential, which makes standing out from your fellow comrades a little trickier – use this as an excuse to try out an alternative black tie option. We can’t get enough of this beautiful blue velvet jacket, which will have heads turning in the best way possible. Team with well tailored black trousers and smart shoes and add some rebellious fun with a skull-print bow-tie., , Bow Tie, McQueen, £105 harrods.com / Jacket, Alexander McQueen, £1199 harrods.com / Trousers, Burberry, £225 harrods.com Shoes, Churches, £300 matchesfashion.com