How Not to Dress for Your Office Holiday Party

With only one more weekend before Christmas, some probably have already attended their annual holiday party. But with December being travel peak season and overseas clients working all throughout the month, plenty of companies have organized their holiday parties past the 25th, with some even having plans to hold theirs in the new year. Whatever the case may be, it’s always helpful to know what constitutes as appropriate for these kinds of shindigs.

A couple years ago, we covered style tips for your Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties, but we have yet to discuss what a suitable ensemble would be for a company organized event.

You’ve likely already figured out that you can wear pretty much anything you would be okay with wearing to the office, even if it’s slightly dressier. However, we figured it’s best that we cover all the office party no-no’s, in case you needed a refresher.

All the things you should not wear at your office holiday party

1. Something that you’d wear to the club

Bars and clubs are places where you can totally experiment with your wardrobe, from the tightest of dresses to the lowest of plunging necklines.  One of the settings that should never see a bandage dress, or any other sexy silhouettes, is an office party.

There are tons of dresses you can wear that won’t cause a stir or attract any unwanted attention, just like these new additions to Pretty Me:

It’s not just party dresses though. Anything super glittery or sparkly, basically in your face saying that you are a human disco ball, should be off limits. They’re great for NYE when partying with friends, not your office mates.

2. An outfit that makes you look like you just left the office

We get that you might have to wear a pantsuit to the office, but for everyone’s sake, loosen up a little. Sure, you do want to maintain some level of professionalism given that you are attending an office Christmas party; however, it won’t hurt to add some festive touches to your ensemble. Perhaps a green skirt with a bow tie on it, or maybe something as a simple as a white shift dress? You don’t have to go as far as wearing a white top, black waist belt and red skirt, but at least look like you dressed up for cocktail party and not a meeting.

3. A holiday themed costume

This one might seem a little silly, but in every office, there’s always at least one big personality that loves to go over the top for these annual events. Santa hats are harmless, reindeer antlers are welcomed, and Christmas brooches and jewelry do give ensembles a nice holiday twist, and unless you’ve been assigned by the party committee to dress as Mrs. Claus or an elf, leave the costumes at home. We’re all for getting into the holiday spirit, but if the memo doesn’t state that there is a specific theme for the party, then leave the costumes at home.

Also, don’t show up with Christmas tree hair.

4. Anything that lights up or jingles

Here’s another outrageous one for the list. LED lights are a beautiful way to light up a tree and decorate the entire house, but they do not belong on clothing whatsoever. While the Christmas party is a more relaxed environment than your usual office setting, there is no need to wear anything obnoxious, such as a blinking-nosed Rudolph top. Plus, how inconvenient is it to wear something that needs to be plugged into a power source?

Another thing that’s probably more distracting than clothing with flickering lights is clothing or jewelry with bells on it. While sleigh bells may look cute around your neck or wrist, they’ll only get on your nerves later on in the evening. Bells ringing every time you move an inch? Doesn’t sound like a good time to us.

5. Ugly Christmas sweaters/vests

This one depends on how big the event is, whether it’s a company-wide party or a department get-together at a bar. The ugly Christmas sweater, or any warm weather alternative to it, works among friends and family, so if it’s decided among everyone in the group that the party is gonna be of casual nature, then there are no issues. Though just to be on the safe side, you might want to go for something that is deemed a little more professional.

Items mentioned in this post:

Sheena Dizon

Sheena is the lead fashion writer here at Pretty Me Philippines and has contributed articles for numerous lifestyle blogs and online publications. Other than keeping up with the latest trends, she loves baking and home DIY projects.

www.prettyme.ph