The Secret to Being the Best-Dressed Guy in the Room This Winter
You’ll need no reminder, we’re sure, but festive gatherings are a mere few weeks away. And like the plot of any decent holiday rom-com, such occasions tend to come with their fair share of headaches. There are the office parties to navigate, family reunions to endure, and at least one occasion where you'll inevitably bump into someone you'd rather best avoid. The least you can do is make sure you look bloody good doing it.
Because while you can't control the guest list, the music, or your uncle's increasingly questionable political opinions, you can control what you turn up wearing. And a little sartorial confidence goes a long way. Get the outfit right and suddenly you're not just another face by the cheese board. You're the belle of the ball. Or at the very least, the best-dressed bloke in the vicinity.
First things first, figure out what you're dressing for. A black-tie soirée is a very different beast from a few quiet drinks with the office crowd, and nobody wants to be the guy who turns up in a tux when everyone else is wearing their best knits. We've called on our friends at MR PORTER to help put together a few fail-safe uniforms, whatever the festive calendar throws your way. Lucky you.
The Big Guns
If you are going to commit to the bit and are expected to rock up in some fancy-ass suiting, it's best to treat it less like a scene out of 007 and more like an invite-only fashion-industry soirée. That means looking beyond the standard black tux and having a little fun with color and texture. A jacket with some embroidery is all it takes, perhaps a tie that isn't entirely your dad's taste. The aim is to look like you know a thing or two about getting dressed, not like you're waiting for someone to hand you a (shaken, not stirred) martini.
Holiday Heavyweights
If it’s a more low-key event (a few quiet ones in the local, say), a knit will be your best bet. Admittedly, it might not sound like the most exciting thing to wear, but that's precisely the point. A good sweater, particularly one with a bit of texture or a gossip-worthy hue, has a funny way of making the rest of your outfit look considerably more considered. And it's practically guaranteed to get a few "Where'd you get that?"s across the evening.
The Big Steppers
Now, whichever camp you fall into, don't let the shoes ruin a perfectly good outfit. A decent pair of leather shoes or a timeless loafer will do the trick. Just please, whatever you do, don't rock up in a pair of beat-up Sambas. There's a time and a place, and the office Christmas party isn't it.
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