Celebrate and make an impression at the office party with the right outfit.
Do you have an office holiday party coming up? It can be fun to get together with your coworkers and celebrate the holidays. But although the office holiday party is a party, it’s also an office function.
It is important to maintain certain decorum when attending an office holiday party. Dressing appropriately is important when attending any office function and some people get a bit confused when it comes to attending an office party.
Right or Wrong Types of Dress
We all have a different idea of what to wear to a party. Some of us like to wear flashier clothing. Others like to wear more conservative clothes. Some like to wear shorter skirts. Others like to wear clothing that they have had for a long time. Each of these groups of people thinks they are wearing the ‘right’ clothes for a holiday party.
While you might think that a certain group mentioned is wearing the ‘right’ clothes, depending on the circumstances, you could be incorrect. Here are some guidelines to consider when dressing for the office holiday party:
— Keep the office culture in mind. This is the most important.
— What type of office do you work in?
— Do you work for a very casual company?
— Do you work for a Fortune 500 company?
— Do you work for a conservative company?
— Do you work for a progressive company?
Your corporate culture is a big hint on how you should dress for your office holiday party.
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Take Hints from a Fashionable Co-worker
Think of who is well dressed at work. If you are feeling unsure of what to wear, think of who you consider to be well dressed at work. A good rule of thumb is to think of someone who might be an executive or even someone at your professional level. Now think of some of the outfits they have worn. Think of what they have worn to past holiday parties. What do you think they could wear to the upcoming holiday party?
Consider the Location
Where is your party being held? This is a key factor in getting dressed. If your office party is a black tie affair and you normal work for a very casual company, you don’t want to show up dressed in very casual clothing. You want to show up dressed in black tie clothing. Consider the location of the event. If you are unsure of what type of place it is, ask your boss.
Always dress nicer. It is a compliment to management and to your company for you to dress nicely for the holiday party. A well-dressed person will be noticed no matter your position with the company. Dressing well shows that you are there to celebrate the function and that you take the function as important. If you need to buy a new outfit, do so with the understanding that it is important and helpful to your career.
Colors of the Season
Wear holiday colors. A great idea for a holiday party is to wear traditional holiday colors. This does not mean simply wearing red or green. Silver, gold, green, blue and purple are also lovely holiday colors. You can wear items that have holiday or winter motifs on them. Adding jewelry or pins with holiday or winter motifs on them can also be a nice idea.
Remember that the idea for dressing for the holiday party is to stand out in a positive way. You don’t want to select an outfit that people will remember in a negative way or an outfit that sends some sort of message about your personality or habits. If you work for a conservative company, do not wear a low cut outfit to the holiday party.
Many department stores have personal shoppers that can help advise you for no extra charge if you need additional assistance finding the perfect thing to wear for your office holiday party.