Looking for ideas about Christmas attire for men? Check out this helpful guide to dressing for the holiday season for men.
The Christmas season isn’t just about decorating the house and putting up a Christmas tree — it’s also an excuse to upgrade your wardrobe with a little festive spirit. Do you have some holiday parties in your future that will require you to look festive and classy?
If you’re ready to learn how to dress well during the holiday season, keep reading to learn some helpful tips on the best Christmas attire for men!
Go With Seasonal Colors
We often think of red and green as the colors of the holiday season, but you shouldn’t stop there. When you’re dressing for Christmas gatherings, expand your color palette to create some rich and wintery looks.
Blue, white, and gold hold deeper religious significance when it comes to Christmas, and they also connect to the cool, quiet ambiance of winter. You’ll look sharp in some tailored tan corduroys, a crisp white shirt, and a navy sweater.
Burl Ives taught us that it’s okay to mix silver and gold in his classic holiday song, so go ahead and do it! Sprinkle in touches of gold with a new watch or pocket square.
And try variations on red and green. Burgundy and woodsier versions of green (forest green, ivy, fir tree) have more depth and sophistication. Look for sweaters in cranberry or moss, but don’t be afraid to add a punch of bright red or green to your closet, either.
A good rule of thumb is to keep the colors lighter during the daytime gatherings and intensify your look with darker colors at night. But remember that fashion is yours to own, so pull things together and go with it!
Pay Attention to Winter Fabrics
It’s also wise to pay attention to the fabrics in your holiday wardrobe. If you’re in a place where winter means cold weather, take advantage of the opportunity to layer warm, comfortable fabrics for some textured attire.
Pair a cotton button-down shirt with a merino wool sweater on top for a look that is cozy but professional. A pea coat always looks classy during winter, and it’s a clean way to dress when you’re heading to your company’s holiday party. Get a pea coat in wool, add a red plaid scarf, and put on some leather gloves, and you’ll be ready to go.
Materials like wool, cashmere, and cotton will keep you warm and look good. If you’re in a warmer climate, you can still add a wool cardigan or vest to your wardrobe for cooler nighttime parties.
Know What to Wear for a Christmas Cocktail Party
Holiday cocktail parties are an excuse to have a little fun with friends or colleagues outside the office. You want to look dressed up — but not too dressed up. So think about how you can mix and match some dressier elements with casual classics already in your closet. You don’t have to spend a fortune to look your best.
For a more casual affair, you can safely omit the tie from your ensemble — but if you have a Christmas tie you’ve been dying to share with the world, by all means, feel free to do so!
Go for a blazer, button-down shirt, and some nicer jeans. Try to wear clothing that is tailored to your physique, but give yourself some breathing room. After all, you’ll be pounding cocktails and cookies more than you normally do this time of year!
Try loafers (without the socks) if you live in a warm-weather climate or some handsome leather boots for a wintery look. A dapper newsboy cap or fedora and hefty scarf will complete your look.
Have a Fancier Christmas Option Ready
If your boss likes to host fancier affairs or you score reservations with your significant other at an upscale restaurant, you’ll want to have some formalwear ready to go. And since it’s the holiday season, don’t be afraid to add a splash of seasonal color.
Formalwear can vary from tuxedos to sherwanis for men, and you’ll want to make sure you have at least one super-dressy ensemble ready for a fancy event. Save yourself the stress and get it ready a season or two ahead of time.
A dark dinner suit should be in your closet for any sort of fancy occasion but feel free to add a tie with a holly or candy cane pattern to jazz things up. In the same vein, get bold with a patterned shirt or share some Christmas spirit with red and green socks.
Christmas Attire for Men Should Include One Festive Sweater
Ugly Christmas sweaters have become a Christmas wardrobe staple over the years, so you might as well make sure you have one. You’re likely to find a few while shopping in thrift shops, though plenty of clothier stores sell new ones if you want to save the time.
Your sweater doesn’t have to be over the top in its ugliness. In fact, there are a few patterns and motifs that can boost your festive spirit without making you feel foolish. A classic Scandinavian-style cardigan in bold red and white or a crewneck sweater featuring a reindeer pattern will signify that you’re ready for a big cup of egg nog.
Look Your Best
In any season, knowing how to dress your best means owning your style. It’s always smart to have some blazers on hand, a touch of wool, and a little flair for the holiday season. Christmas attire for men should be fun yet sophisticated so you can enjoy some gingerbread cookies in style.
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