Men's Holiday Party Outfits for Every Dress Code, From Black Tie to the Office

The right men's holiday party outfit is decided by a few words on the invitation. Black tie means a tuxedo in black or midnight blue, a white dress shirt, a black silk bow tie and gleaming black shoes. Cocktail attire means a dark suit and, in most rooms, a tie. Festive attire keeps the tailoring but gives you license for velvet, deep color and a seasonal tie. The office party sits at business casual: a blazer over a fine knit or an open collar. If the invitation says nothing at all, dress one step above what you expect everyone else to wear.

Below, each dress code is set against Emily Post's attire guide, then sharpened with the tailoring details that separate a good outfit from an adequate one: where a velvet jacket belongs and where it doesn't, when a knit can stand in for a shirt and tie, and how to choose between patent oxfords, loafers and velvet slippers. Pieces to shop sit under each section.

Men's holiday party outfits by dress code, at a glance

Most holiday invitations use one of six dress codes. The jacket, shirt and shoe columns follow Emily Post's attire guide; where the guide doesn't name a shoe, the entry is marked as our pick.

The guide has no separate men's cocktail code; most cocktail invitations mean what it calls semi-formal. Two rules cover the gaps. Evening events lean formal: for semi-formal events that start after 6 p.m., the same guide advises erring on the side of formality. And a host's word beats any chart, so if the invitation says "festive black tie", ask whether velvet is welcome before you commit to it. When in doubt, Debrett's, the British etiquette authority, puts the general rule plainly: it is better to look over- than under-dressed.

Black tie: the tuxedo, done properly

A tuxedo is defined by its silk. Debrett's specifies silk peaked lapels or a shawl collar, covered buttons and trousers with a single row of braid; in practice the lapels are faced in satin or grosgrain (a finely ribbed, matte silk), and the trouser stripe matches them. That is what separates a tuxedo from a black suit, and it is why a suit doesn't satisfy a black-tie invitation.

• Color. Black or midnight blue. Emily Post's list says black; Gentleman's Gazette's Black Tie Guide, a specialist reference on evening dress, makes the case for midnight: it keeps its richness under artificial light, where black can take on a greenish or grayish cast, and black can look dull in daylight, so midnight is the better choice for a party that starts before sunset.
• Lapels. Peak or shawl, as Debrett's specifies. The Black Tie Guide treats the two as equally correct and describes the notch lapel, borrowed from the business suit, as a fashion-forward alternative rather than the classic.
• Trousers. Braces or side adjusters, never a belt. Emily Post lists braces for a good fit, and the Black Tie Guide rules belts out altogether. A black cummerbund that matches the bow tie, or a waistcoat, covers the waistband; Emily Post's list calls for one or the other.
• Cloth. The Black Tie Guide recommends a matte base cloth, such as barathea, so the silk facings do the shining. Wool-mohair blends have a slight luster of their own and hold a crisp line through hours of sitting and dancing.
• Shirt and bow tie. White, with a piqué or pleated bib, studs and French cuffs. Debrett's advises against clip-on and ready-tied bow ties: learn to tie your own. A self-tied silk bow sits slightly irregular, which reads as tied by hand; a pre-tied one looks too symmetrical from across the room.
• Fit. The jacket should cover the seat, the sleeve should show a quarter to half an inch of shirt cuff, and the trousers need only a slight break over the shoes.

Allow time for a tailor. Several tuxedos in our edit ship with unfinished hems or sleeves, and fit notes vary by house: on the product pages we checked, Zegna flags its wool-mohair tuxedo as running small, while Tom Ford flags its O'Connor shawl-collar tuxedo as running large. For midnight, Zegna's Sartorial tuxedo is wool and silk with peak lapels, and Tom Ford's Windsor is a shawl-collar tuxedo in wool-mohair, in a shade the house calls ink. Browse every cut in our men's tuxedos.

Three black-tie formulas

• The classic: black peak-lapel tuxedo, white piqué-bib shirt, black silk self-tie bow tie, onyx or mother-of-pearl cufflinks, black patent oxfords.
• The winter evening: midnight-blue shawl-collar tuxedo, white pleated shirt, black grosgrain bow tie, fine black over-the-calf socks, plain-toe patent oxfords.
• The creative black-tie version: midnight tuxedo with a fine black roll-neck in place of shirt and tie. Wear it only when the invitation says creative or festive black tie.

The finishing pieces carry as much weight as the suit. Zegna's tuxedo shirt pairs a piqué bib with a spread collar and French cuffs; Tom Ford's satin bow tie is a true self-tie in a butterfly shape; and Christian Louboutin's Greggo, a cap-toe, and Tom Ford's wholecut Elkan are both patent oxfords, the shoe the black-tie rules were written around. Our complete guide to black-tie events covers the rest of the evening, from outerwear to what your date might wear.

Creative and festive black tie: where the velvet jacket belongs

The velvet jacket takes its evening credentials from the smoking jacket, which the Victoria and Albert Museum describes as a short, easy-fitting coat in soft materials such as silk, velvet or wool, in dark reds, greens, blues, brown or black, often worn in place of the dinner jacket for an informal evening at home. That history explains its place today: velvet reads as evening, but relaxed. Debrett's lists a velvet smoking jacket in place of the standard black dinner jacket among the variations a relaxed or creative black-tie invitation allows, and velvet is just as right at a festive party or a dinner you are hosting. For a strict black-tie gala, wear the tuxedo: the Black Tie Guide confines alternative dinner jackets to less formal occasions, such as a private party at home or at a club.

Before you buy, look at the details, because they decide how a velvet jacket can be worn:

• Evening details make it a dinner jacket. Peak or shawl lapels, covered buttons and pockets without flaps belong to evening dress. Tom Ford's Shelton in green velvet has sharp peak lapels and fabric-covered buttons; Canali's cotton-velvet jacket has a satin shawl collar, a single button and discreet welt pockets. Wear either with black tuxedo trousers, a dress shirt and a bow tie.
• Everyday details make it a blazer. Patch or flap pockets, notch lapels and several buttons belong to the sport coat. Etro's green cotton velvet has patch pockets, and Jil Sander's washed cotton-linen velvet has notch lapels. Wear these with flannel trousers or dark denim; the satin stripe of tuxedo trousers has nothing to answer to.
• Double-breasted sits in between. Brunello Cucinelli's burgundy pinstriped cotton velvet has peak lapels and welt pockets on a six-button front: right for festive attire, with a roll-neck or a shirt and tie.
• The belted smoking jacket is for hosting. Dolce & Gabbana's velvet version ties with a sash and has satin lapels and cuffs: perfect at your own party, too much at someone else's.

Fabric changes the look, too. Cotton velvet has a dense, matte pile and holds its shape, which suits structured tailoring. Silk and silk-blend velvets drape more and shine more. The cotton-linen mix in the Jil Sander jacket has a drier, softer surface, which makes it the most casual of the group and the easiest to wear with denim at a dinner party.

How to wear a men's velvet blazer

• Creative black tie: black or midnight velvet dinner jacket, black tuxedo trousers, white dress shirt, black bow tie, patent oxfords.
• Festive party: burgundy or bottle-green velvet blazer, mid-gray flannel trousers, white shirt or a fine black roll-neck, black suede or velvet loafers.
• Dinner at home: cotton velvet blazer, dark clean denim or charcoal trousers, a long-sleeved knit polo, suede loafers.

Keep velvet to one garment and, if you like, your shoes; the shirt should be plain. Velvet crushes, so steam it rather than press it, hang it on a broad hanger with space on either side, and brush it lightly with a soft brush after wearing. Our men's blazers include more velvet in every color.

Black tie optional: wear the tuxedo if you own one

Emily Post's definition is plain: men are asked to wear a tuxedo but may choose a dark suit with a white dress shirt and a conservative tie. If you own a tuxedo, wear it; nobody at a black-tie-optional party is overdressed in one. If you wear a suit, make it the darkest you own, midnight or charcoal, with a white shirt, a dark silk tie in black or navy and black oxfords. Skip the bow tie with a business suit: it signals a half-attempt at black tie rather than a deliberate choice.

Cocktail attire for men: the dark suit, sharpened

Emily Post's guide has no separate men's cocktail code; its semi-formal list, which is what most cocktail invitations mean, is a dark business suit, a dress shirt, a tie, leather dress shoes and dark socks. Debrett's reads cocktail attire more loosely, letting men swap the dinner jacket for a smart lounge suit or a velvet jacket. The details are where it gets interesting:

• The suit. Navy or charcoal in a smooth worsted. A micro-texture, such as the fine herringbone on Zegna's Trofeo Selection suit, catches evening light without reading as a pattern. Black works too, with a sharper, more nightclub feel.
• The cloth label. "Super" numbers are regulated: under the Wool Products Labeling Act (15 U.S.C. § 68b), a wool product labeled Super 120s must have an average fiber diameter of 17.75 microns or finer. Finer cloth feels softer and drapes beautifully but creases more readily; for a night of standing, sitting and dancing, a mid-range number or a wool-mohair blend holds its line better.
• Shirt and tie. White or pale blue, a spread collar, and a silk tie in a deep color: burgundy satin, black knit or navy grenadine. A white linen pocket square, folded flat, finishes it.
• The knit alternative. A fine roll-neck or long-sleeved knit polo under a suit works for a fashion-minded crowd, but the dress code as written asks for a tie. If in doubt, wear it; you can always take it off later.

Three cocktail formulas

• Navy suit, white shirt, burgundy satin tie, white pocket square, black calf oxfords.
• Charcoal suit, pale blue shirt, black knit tie, black suede loafers.
• Black suit, black fine-gauge roll-neck, black velvet loafers, for the most creative room you'll attend this season.

For more on reading a cocktail invitation, see our guide to cocktail party dressing, and browse men's suits.

Festive attire, and what to wear to a Christmas party

Emily Post defines festive attire as cocktail dressing with a seasonal touch: a sport coat or blazer in a color of your choice, trousers, an open collar or a dress shirt, and a tie that is festive or holiday-themed. Read "festive" as permission for color and texture, not costume. Velvet, corduroy, flannel and a silk tie in bottle green or deep red do the job; a novelty sweater belongs only at the party that asks for one.

What to wear to a Christmas party at someone's home

A dinner or drinks at a friend's house usually lands at what Emily Post calls dressy casual: a sport coat or blazer with trousers, and a dress shirt, open collar or polo, with the tie optional. Plan for the room. A full house runs warm, so choose a fine-gauge knit over a chunky one and a jacket you can keep on comfortably. If shoes come off at the door, your socks are part of the outfit: plain, dark and without holes.

• Formula one: green velvet blazer, ivory roll-neck, charcoal flannel trousers, black velvet loafers.
• Formula two: navy blazer, burgundy long-sleeved knit polo, mid-gray flannel trousers, black suede loafers.
• Formula three: charcoal flannel suit, white shirt open at the collar, a burgundy pocket square, dark brown suede loafers.

The office holiday party: business casual, one notch up

Emily Post's business casual for men is a sport coat or blazer with trousers, a dress shirt, open collar or polo, an optional tie, and loafers. At the office party you are still at work, so aim for the top of that range. The easiest move: if the party starts straight from the office, keep your work trousers and jacket, and bring a fine roll-neck or knit polo to change into in place of the shirt and tie.

Choose the knit by the jacket. A polo collar sits neatly under a lapel and keeps some of the structure of a shirt. A roll-neck needs a fine gauge to lie flat under tailoring, and the higher the gauge, the finer the knit. Zegna's Cashseta roll-neck, in cashmere and silk, is knitted at 18 gauge, and Kiton's wool roll-neck at 36. Keep colors quiet (black, ivory, gray, taupe, a muted blue) and let the jacket carry the interest. See more in men's roll-necks, and our guide to the best men's cashmere sweaters for how to judge the knit itself.

Loafers, oxfords or velvet slippers?

Shoes follow the dress code as strictly as jackets do. Emily Post's black-tie list calls for black patent shoes; the finer points below draw on the Black Tie Guide's rules for evening shoes.

• Black tie: patent oxfords. Patent has a long history in evening dress: The Met's Costume Institute notes that patent leather reached footwear in the 1790s and has been a popular choice for men's formal dress ever since, and its collection includes dressy black patent shoes from about 1848. Well-polished black calf is the accepted alternative. Among lace-ups, the Black Tie Guide allows only oxfords: derbies, wingtips, brogues and loafers are too close to everyday shoes. A plain toe beats a cap toe, and a wholecut, cut from a single piece of leather, is the sleekest of all.
• Creative black tie at home, or at a club: velvet slippers. The Black Tie Guide calls velvet Albert slippers the classic alternative for casual black-tie events at home or a club, in the same dark colors as the smoking jacket, and appropriate only for private occasions. They are made for the velvet jacket, and they are the shoe to wear when you are the host.
• Cocktail and festive: loafers or oxfords. Black calf oxfords with a dark suit, dark suede or velvet loafers with a blazer. A patent loafer is a modern compromise at a creative party, never a substitute for an oxford at a formal one.
• The office: suede loafers. Black with navy or charcoal tailoring. Brown with gray, charcoal or olive tailoring and an ivory, gray or taupe knit. Either way, socks that match the trousers.

Check sizing before you order. John Lobb sizes in UK numbers: on the product page for its Bill velvet loafer, a UK 9 is listed as a US 10. The page for Ferragamo's velvet Gancio loafer notes that the brand fits slightly large and suggests half a size down, while Saint Laurent's velvet Le Loafer and Manolo Blahnik's Mario are listed in US sizes. See the full range in men's loafers.

If you'd rather start from what you already own, ask our AI stylist: give it the invitation wording and the jacket in your closet, and it will build the rest of the outfit around them. For the walk from the car, pair the tuxedo with a dark overcoat from our guide to the best men's winter coats.

How we chose

We checked every dress-code rule against Emily Post's attire guide and Debrett's, with the Black Tie Guide for the finer points of evening dress and the V&A and The Met for its history, then chose pieces that meet those rules: tuxedos with silk-faced peak or shawl lapels and jetted pockets, patent oxfords rather than derbies, velvet jackets whose details match their job, and knits fine enough to sit under a jacket. Every piece comes from a top luxury house, from Brunello Cucinelli and Zegna to Tom Ford and Saint Laurent; sized pieces were available in at least three sizes when we checked, and we viewed each one image by image to confirm color and cut. We also read the fit notes and hem details on each product page, because a tuxedo that needs tailoring needs ordering early.

Frequently asked questions

What should a man wear to a holiday party?

Follow the dress code: a tuxedo for black tie, a dark suit and tie for cocktail attire, a velvet or colored blazer with trousers for festive attire, and a blazer with a fine knit or open-collar shirt for the office party. With no dress code stated, a dark suit covers almost every evening party.

What is cocktail attire for men?

A dark business suit in navy or charcoal, a dress shirt, a tie, leather dress shoes and dark socks. A fine roll-neck in place of the shirt and tie works for a fashion-minded crowd, but the tie is the safer reading of the code.

Can I wear a black suit instead of a tuxedo?

At black tie optional, yes: a dark suit with a white shirt and a conservative tie is acceptable. At black tie, no. A tuxedo is defined by its silk-faced lapels and trouser stripe, and a black suit, however sharp, is still a suit.

Can you wear a velvet blazer to a black-tie event?

If the invitation says creative or festive black tie, yes: a velvet dinner jacket with peak or shawl lapels, black tuxedo trousers, a dress shirt and a bow tie. At a strict black-tie event, wear the tuxedo and save the velvet for the after-party.

Can you wear loafers with a tuxedo?

Traditional black-tie guidance says no: patent oxfords are the correct shoe, and velvet slippers are the accepted alternative at relaxed evenings at home or a club. A patent loafer is fine at a creative party but not at a formal one.

Do I need a tie for a Christmas party?

For cocktail attire, yes. For festive attire, a festive tie or an open collar both fit the code. For an office party or a dinner at a friend's home, the tie is optional.

Keep reading

• Holiday party outfits for women, by party type
• How to dress for black-tie events
• A guide to luxury men's accessories
• The best men's winter coats