December · office party
What to wear to a work Christmas party
Festive enough to feel like a party and calm enough for your manager. The trick is one festive piece and everything else from your work closet.
Read the invite before the closet
A drinks evening in the office, a dinner in a restaurant and a party in a rented venue ask for three different outfits. If the invite names a dress code, follow it. If it does not, dress one step up from a normal Friday.
Remember who will be there. You want to look like you made an effort, not like you came from a different party. One festive piece does that. Three festive pieces start to look like a costume.
The one festive piece formula
Pick one star: trousers with a sheen, a velvet blazer, a sequin top or a dress in a deep colour. Teal satin trousers are the archetype. They feel like a party and still look smart.
Build the rest from work pieces: a knit vest, a plain shirt or a fine jumper in ivory, black or camel. They calm the star down and you already own them.
Shoes you can stand in for three hours. A low heel, a loafer or a smart flat. Office parties are mostly standing.
One piece of jewellery. Earrings or a bracelet, not both.
Plan it on a quiet weekday
December fills up fast. Put the party in your Sleqk planner in November with the venue's city and the date. The stylist builds outfits from your own pieces for the occasion and that day's weather. Type one line like "teal trousers and something cream" to steer it.
See the options on your own photo and pick one. On the day you get dressed once and leave on time.
Questions people ask
Can I wear sequins to a work Christmas party?
Yes, on one piece. A sequin top with plain trousers reads festive. A full sequin outfit reads like a club night.
Is a dress better than trousers for an office party?
Neither. Choose what you can stand and move in for three hours. Satin or velvet trousers are as festive as a dress.
See it on yourself first
Render your options on your own photo, and decide with days to spare.