What should I wear to an office Christmas party?

Festive but still professional. Think [festive attire](/dress-codes/festive-attire): a velvet blazer or a richer-coloured outfit for men, a cocktail dress or elegant separates for women. You can add seasonal warmth and a little sparkle, but remember these are still colleagues. Keep it the version of festive you'd be comfortable seeing on Monday.

How dressed up should I get for a work party?

Read the venue and time. A bar after work is smart casual with a festive lift; a booked restaurant or a hired venue in the evening edges toward cocktail. When the invitation names a dress code, follow it. When it doesn't, a notch above normal office dress is the safe target.

Can I wear what I wore to the office to the party?

You can, but a small shift signals you're treating it as an occasion. Swap the work shirt for a knit and a sharper jacket, add a festive colour or a bit of shine, or change from flats to heels. You don't need a whole new outfit, just enough to mark the difference between the desk and the party.

What to Wear to a Work Party

A work party is a balancing act: festive enough to look like you’re enjoying it, professional enough to remember these are still colleagues. It bridges workwear and occasionwear, which is exactly what makes it tricky. The aim is to lift your usual register without abandoning it entirely.

Read the event

The venue and time tell you how far to go. Drinks at a nearby bar straight after work stay close to smart casual with a festive touch. A booked restaurant or a hired venue in the evening pushes toward cocktail. A named dress code (often “festive attire”) settles it. When nothing’s specified, aim a notch above your normal office look.

What to wear

Men

After-work drinks: tailored trousers or dark jeans, a fine knit or a crisp shirt, and a sharp jacket. Leather shoes.
Evening / festive: a velvet or richer-coloured blazer over a clean shirt, with dark trousers. The easiest way to look festive without a costume.
The lift: a bit of texture or a deeper colour reads as “occasion” while still looking like you.

Women

After-work drinks: smart trousers or a midi dress with a blazer, lifted with jewellery or a heel.
Evening / festive: a cocktail dress or elegant separates, with a touch of sparkle or a seasonal colour.
The lift: one festive element (metallic, velvet, or a bold shade) does the work without tipping into fancy dress.

Getting it right

Mark the occasion, keep your judgement. Festive, not unprofessional. This is still a room full of colleagues.
One step up from the desk. A small, deliberate change signals effort.
Comfort to last the night. Parties run long; wear what you can stand, sit, and dance in.

What to avoid

Anything you’d regret being photographed in on Monday morning.
Too revealing or too loud for a professional crowd, however informal the night feels.
Identical-to-the-office dressing that misses the moment entirely.
New shoes you can’t survive an evening in.

Shoes and accessories

For men, leather shoes and a simple watch; a pocket square if the jacket invites it. For women, a comfortable heel or a smart flat, a small bag, and one piece of festive jewellery. The goal is to look like you came to celebrate, while staying the version of yourself your colleagues will see again at work.