What to Wear at Holiday Parties

Holiday season is upon us and for men that means the inevitable round of parties begin. Dressing for the annual run of festivities can seem daunting, but it really isn't once you take the time (all of five minutes) to decide what a particular party is all about, which tells you what to wear.

Not wanting to look under-dressed or so dandied-up people think you never get out you should aim for the comfortable middle matched to the event. Divided by setting, here's a quick guide to get you dressed up and out to your social gatherings with no worries about your own wardrobe.

Office Parties

For office parties look to the invite for clues about which way to dress. If the invite says black tie you have to wear a tux, no compromise. If it says formal you can go with a nice suit. Business casual allows you to slip down to a sports coat or a really nice cashmere sweater. Unless you wear jeans to work stay away from them entirely at the office party and go with nice slacks at a minimum. The same applies to sneakers. If you lack the guidance of an invite then keep the office dress code at the office party.

Family Parties

Family parties are the time to break out the dark wash straight jeans if you aren't going to go with slacks. Depending on your location you might want to do layers, so make sure you have a nice shirt on under your sweater and don't go with a logo T-shirt underneath. As far as sweaters go it's hard to go wrong with crewneck and wool (and a hint of angora). Don't buy a holiday sweater with all the colors of the rainbow (or Christmas tree) but instead sport basic colors and look sharp in casual gray, brown, tan, navy or hunters green.

Formal Parties

Formal parties mean formal wear and dressing down is not an option. Again, you look to the invite: black tie is tux, formal is suit. Dress casual lets you dial it down to sports coat or sweater but no jeans and no logo sweatshirts or Tees. The Calvin Klein black sport coat is a dress casual lifesaver, and even let's you forgo the tie if you undercut it with a nice crewneck shirt.

Open House

At a come and go open house party you can do dress casual right. Here you sport slacks and it's hard to beat thetailored khaki relaxed fit wrinkle free Gap option. This is also a time for the Tommy Hilfiger style sweaterwhich allows you to sport a nice undershirt in case you need to shed it as things get late.

Sports Parties

Whether it's the Super Bowl or a slate of college games, the sports party gives you an opportunity to dress down without worry, but you shouldn't take things to extremes. Jeans are fine and so are university and sport logo sweatshirts, but both should be clean and without holes or wear. You can go with sneakers here although lace-up casual shoes such as Rockports are an even better idea.

No matter which type of party you attend you should always sport a nice watch. A good wristwatch is the icing on the cake of your party attire.