Dress from Day to Night During the Festive Season
‘Tis the season to cram as many cocktail parties as you can into one month. You’ve got your office party, family parties, friend parties, acquaintance parties and, hell, if you’re feeling really festive, you might pop into a few ‘dos thrown by strangers because, really, who can turn down eggnog? If you’re like most people and work 9 to 5, this usually means 30 days of costume changes.
So how do you prepare for a workday followed by an evening of crantinis, cookies, and Christmukkah jokes? No matter where you work, nor what kind of party you’re hitting, we’ve got tips to take you from business bland to fashionable fête.
If the party is a Chips, Dip, and Beer Bash and your work dress code is:
Every Day Is Casual Friday (You wear whatever the heck you want)
You’re more or less set. Sure, you could throw on your best reindeer sweater, bedazzled skank top, or mistletoe-adorned crown, but based on just how casual your office is, you might already be wearing them. Remember to bring a little red lipstick so you can keep track of who you’ve cornered wearing that crown.
Style Central (You probably don’t wear a suit everyday and jeans are acceptable if paired with sleek shirts and shiny shoes. Basically, everyone looks polished)
You might want to actually consider dressing down for the Chips, Dip, and Beer Bash. You don’t want to spill on those newly dry-cleaned designer duds when you’re doing a keg stand. Don’t worry about shoes, you’ll probably take them off outside the party anyway, but bring a festive yet slightly less pricey top to throw on pre-party.
Totally Buttoned Up (Pencil skirts, blouses, and low-heeled mary janes are de rigueur. Sigh)
If you’re weary of being labelled a bore, bring a full change of clothes. Jeans and a T-shirt will do. If you really don’t care, throw a tie on the morning of the Chips, Dip, and Beer Bash so you can wear it around your head later.
If the party is a Cocktails and Canapés Soirée and your work dress code is:
Every Day Is Casual Friday
Take your usual work wear up a notch. Try a nice pair of black pants, heeled boots, and a pretty camisole/cardigan combo so you can take off the cardi later. Bring big earrings, eyeliner, and lipstick and primp in the bathroom before you leave. If you must wear jeans, keep the cami/cardi combo and be sure that your shoes and accessories elevate the look. And big earrings means hoops or chandeliers, not pearl-sized gold studs.
Style Central
Besides sex-potting it up a bit by removing unnecessary layers, painting on some more makeup and putting on even higher heels (unless you’re already known as the office hussy), you’re probably already wearing the perfect post-work party ensemble.
Totally Buttoned Up
Going from Totally Buttoned Up to Cocktails and Canapés is a matter of a few discreet alterations that, together, make a huge difference. There’s no need to bring a change of clothes, just switch your tights for fishnets, ditch the blazer and hike up that skirt. Let your hair down and unbutton your blouse. You’ll come off looking like a naughty secretary not an office drone, and that is just about as chic and sexy as you can get.
If the party is a Dinner and Drink Tickets Affair and your work dress code is:
Every Day Is Casual Friday
Don’t change a thing if this is your work party and there’s been no mention of party dress code. People may switch to the jeans without rips in them and upgrade the sneakers to some sort of leather boot but, for the most part, you’re probably safe in what you usually wear to work.
If this is someone else’s work party, find out their work dress code and dress accordingly. Warning: If you’re dating a Buttoned-Up boy, you’ll have to find yourself something respectable to wear.
Style Central
If you think your coworkers try to outdo each other with work wear, just wait until the holiday party. You can bet that there will be trips home after work to put on party dresses and get quick blow-outs. No one is worried about showing up on time because, of course, fashionably late is the only way to be. Don’t worry about blending your day wear into evening. If you don’t go home after work, a garment bag is the only acceptable accessory pre-party.
Totally Buttoned Up
This is a toughie. The bosses will stay at the office until party time and will show up in their regular boring stuff. The minions, however, might rush home to change into something more festive. A knee-length shift dress, perhaps? This all sounds very boring but, rest assured, the Totally Buttoned Up holiday party is the best of all because once those super-professional drones have dipped into their drink ticket supply, all hell will break loose. Don’t worry so much about what to wear as who to avoid. You don’t want to get stuck in the corner with that creepy guy from Accounting who broke the rules and wore his mistletoe crown.
Written by: Vanessa Grant
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