With Christmas just a few short weeks away and party season in full swing, many of you will be facing the yearly issue of what to wear for the office Christmas party! Of course, your choice of outfit will all come down to what type of venue the celebrations are held in. Some venues call for all-out glamour, whilst others require something a little more practical and comfortable. To give you some guidance on choosing the best outfit for any venue this Christmas, River Island have put together this helpful style guide:
1. Rooftop drinks
With summer officially over, many of us have chosen to wrap up warm and avoid the outdoors when possible – but that doesn’t mean we don’t still love a good rooftop party!
A party on the rooftop gives you a real chance to show off your glamorous side, so think little black dresses, ball gowns or something with lots of glitter. Why not go all out in a sequin maxi dress? Or pair an accordion skirt with a sequin top. Keep your feet warm in suede heeled ankle boots or a dressy loafer.
If you’re going to be spending most of the night outdoors, it’s definitely a good idea to bring a coat with you. This season it’s all about faux fur and we’re loving it! Keep it classic in a black or brown waist-length jacket or go big and bold with a coloured fur coat and chunky collar. If this isn’t your style, you can’t go wrong in a classic leather jacket — match with a cross-body clutch and your outfit is complete.
2. Bowling
Competing with your colleagues at the bowling alley is a great opportunity to let off some steam! If your Christmas party involves a bowling trip, chances are you’ll probably be heading out for a few drinks afterwards, so you need something that’s suitable for scoring a strike and for when you’re drinking cocktails later on.
Since you’ll be on your feet a lot, it’s important to choose a comfortable outfit. Think on-trend jumpsuits and trousers with a cute top. You’ve probably noticed that ‘80s fashion has been back with a bang this year, and it hasn’t stopped for AW18. It’s all about being bold with your colour palette and really owning it! It’s not often your colleagues get to see you outside of your workwear so show them your true colours in a bold jumpsuit. Choose one with a chunky belt to create that ‘80s inspired cinched waist and accessorise with statement hoops.
Culotte trousers were one of the hottest fashion trends of summer 2018. But there are so many varieties now that they certainly shouldn’t be kept for just one season. Play it safe with high-waisted black trousers and jazz it up top with a glitter-infused bodysuit or cute crop — pair with a sparkly clutch and your good to go.
3. Sophisticated stately home
If you’re one of the lucky ones, you could be celebrating your work Christmas party in a stately home or castle. Here, you might be greeted with a medieval banquet, take part in some activities or enjoy a ball in your surroundings. Of course, it depends on what’s lined up for you at your party but it’s nice to look the part.
If you’re going to be doing a lot of dancing, you may want to opt for something more comfortable. Plisse trousers have been on-trend in recent years — they’re comfy and fashionable! This style is perfect for flexibility in movement and keeping your legs covered for the cooler temperatures. Pair with a three-quarter sleeve fitted top or a bardot style crop to complete your look. This style goes great with flat or heeled shoes, so where what you feel comfortable in. The great thing about these pants too is that they’ve got an elasticated waist (ideal for tucking into a medieval buffet!).
4. Traditional restaurant meal
A meal and drinks is the traditional Christmas party format.
A traditional meal in a restaurant is the most common choice of Christmas party format. But, how should you dress for an occasion like this? It can be uncomfortable to eat a roast dinner in a tight bodycon, but you don’t want to be dressed informally for when you hit the bars later on.
If the little black dress just isn’t your thing, you may want to try something a bit more daring. Show off your pins in a midi dress and channel your inner party animal with leopard or snake print (two patterns that are very on-trend this season). Pair with barely-there sandals and a matching bag and your good to go!Of course, with the temperature being on the chilly side in December, you might want to try jeans with an embellished cami top. The covered legs will keep you warm when you’re moving from restaurant to bar and your fancy top will be admired over the dinner table. This season, it’s all about sequin embellishments and metallic camis — perfect for this years’ festivities.
This post was published with Mediaworks.
