5 Rockin' Holiday Party Outfits for Every Type of Shindig
GQ RecommendsDrinks with the top brass? Brunch with the in-laws? Dinner with the homies? Here's how to make the right impression.By Gerald OrtizDecember 5, 2024Collage by Brittany LogginsSave this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.Looking for more inspiration to guide your biggest, brashest holiday party outfits? Start here, here, and here.You could spend the duration of December worrying about holiday party gifts—y'know, what to get that colleague you barely know for your office's annual Secret Santa exchange. At GQ, though, we prefer to spend this time of year worrying about holiday party fits—or what, exactly, we'll be wearing to the flurry of shindigs piling up on our calendars as Q4 comes to a close. The added pressure, off course, is enough to inspire a breakdown worthy of its own Netflix mini-series. How formal are we talking? Who’s coming to the party? Will anyone notice if I wear the same pants twice?Before you start to spiral, remember that you’re in a safe place. And also: these parties are nothing if not phenomenal reasons to get dressed the hell up. It’s time to break out that special-occasion suit, those mirror-shiny dress shoes, that extra-fancy shirt. A holiday bash is a prime opportunity for you to dress to impress, whether that means catching the eye of your office crush from across the water cooler, earning the grudging respect of your father-in-law over brunch, or blowing up your boy's social feed with box-fresh loafers he can't resist flicking up.Luckily, we've been to our fair share of shindigs over the years, and harnessed the collective power of our soiree expertise to break it all down nice and easy for you, big fella. No matter where you're headed (or who's going to be there), here are 5 foolproof holiday party outfits to help you make the right impression.1. The Dreaded Work PartyWork parties are funny. They’re meant for employees to loosen up and shake off the stress of the last four quarters, but they're essentially adult pizza parties, self-serving corporate devices to keep the cogs lubed and the profits boosted. (John from accounting is a total rat.) Even with subsidized booze, you can only limber up so much with your boss around. But take advantage of what free libations and hors d'oeuvres there may be and try not to make a fool of yourself until your work besties coordinate a proper afters. Which, as you might expect, starts with your outfit.Show up with a full suit and you’re a brown-noser. Show up in jeans and a hoodie and you’re gonna hear about it from HR. The move is to go into the schmedium sartorial space that is between biz-cas' and a night out. Think a patterned sportcoat and a turtleneck sweater atop dark jeans. Or an off-kilter blazer with a plucky shirt and contrasting tie. We’d avoid sneakers here, so throw on some oxfords, loafers, or a dressier pair of boots.Banana RepublicPlaid Flannel Sport Coat$400 $240 Banana RepublicHowlin'Moonchild Wool Rollneck Sweater$265 Mr PorterBuck MasonB008 Japanese Loomstate Selvedge Full Saddle Jean$248 Buck MasonMiansaiLennox Light Jasper Ring$165 MiansaiJacques SoloviereMark Zip Boot$548 HuckberryDavid YurmanWheat Chain Bracelet$395 David Yurman2. The New Year’s BashOut of the multitude of December soirees and shindigs, New Year’s Eve is the one you really show out for (assuming you’re not at that age where your bedtime is in the single digits). It’s the one night that folks put on their glitziest getups, ready to party the night away with champagne, and, if you’re lucky, a midnight smooch. Think of it like a masquerade ball, but instead of wearing a mysteriously sexy mask, you’re wearing dorky 2025 glasses.You want to show up in your fanciest black suit—if not a full-on tuxedo!—to greet the new year looking your best. Or don your silkiest, sexiest shirt and dancing shoes for a raucous night of rug-cutting. Because what’s hotter than doing the walk of shame the next morning in your flyest outfit?GucciWool Twill Jacket With Interlocking G$3,500 GucciGucciWool Blend Pant With Gucci Web Label$1,300 GucciBodeSolarium Bead-Embellished Broderie Anglaise Tulle Shirt$1,080 Mr PorterTecovasCaiman Belly Cowboy Boots$645 TecovasChanelEau de Cologne$325 ChanelOur Legacy2 CM Croc Belt$225 SSENSE3. The Hometown ReunionThis is it: is your chance to show your family and the homies how well you’re doing in the big city. More importantly, it’s your chance to show your hometown crush what they’re missing. Desperate? Maybe (yes). But if you do it right, all the pieces will fall into place and you’ll finally get together like you’ve dreamt about for years. (Move on).A swaggering, billowy top coat gives metropolitan vibes straight off the bat—start here. Underneath, it’s all a blend of your old ties and new roots. Try a knit tie mashed-up with a denim shirt, plus some dressy pants, and a chunky cardigan. Hopefully what you end up with is some
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Looking for more inspiration to guide your biggest, brashest holiday party outfits? Start here, here, and here.
You could spend the duration of December worrying about holiday party gifts—y'know, what to get that colleague you barely know for your office's annual Secret Santa exchange. At GQ, though, we prefer to spend this time of year worrying about holiday party fits—or what, exactly, we'll be wearing to the flurry of shindigs piling up on our calendars as Q4 comes to a close. The added pressure, off course, is enough to inspire a breakdown worthy of its own Netflix mini-series. How formal are we talking? Who’s coming to the party? Will anyone notice if I wear the same pants twice?
Before you start to spiral, remember that you’re in a safe place. And also: these parties are nothing if not phenomenal reasons to get dressed the hell up. It’s time to break out that special-occasion suit, those mirror-shiny dress shoes, that extra-fancy shirt. A holiday bash is a prime opportunity for you to dress to impress, whether that means catching the eye of your office crush from across the water cooler, earning the grudging respect of your father-in-law over brunch, or blowing up your boy's social feed with box-fresh loafers he can't resist flicking up.
Luckily, we've been to our fair share of shindigs over the years, and harnessed the collective power of our soiree expertise to break it all down nice and easy for you, big fella. No matter where you're headed (or who's going to be there), here are 5 foolproof holiday party outfits to help you make the right impression.
1. The Dreaded Work Party
Work parties are funny. They’re meant for employees to loosen up and shake off the stress of the last four quarters, but they're essentially adult pizza parties, self-serving corporate devices to keep the cogs lubed and the profits boosted. (John from accounting is a total rat.) Even with subsidized booze, you can only limber up so much with your boss around. But take advantage of what free libations and hors d'oeuvres there may be and try not to make a fool of yourself until your work besties coordinate a proper afters. Which, as you might expect, starts with your outfit.
Show up with a full suit and you’re a brown-noser. Show up in jeans and a hoodie and you’re gonna hear about it from HR. The move is to go into the schmedium sartorial space that is between biz-cas' and a night out. Think a patterned sportcoat and a turtleneck sweater atop dark jeans. Or an off-kilter blazer with a plucky shirt and contrasting tie. We’d avoid sneakers here, so throw on some oxfords, loafers, or a dressier pair of boots.
2. The New Year’s Bash
Out of the multitude of December soirees and shindigs, New Year’s Eve is the one you really show out for (assuming you’re not at that age where your bedtime is in the single digits). It’s the one night that folks put on their glitziest getups, ready to party the night away with champagne, and, if you’re lucky, a midnight smooch. Think of it like a masquerade ball, but instead of wearing a mysteriously sexy mask, you’re wearing dorky 2025 glasses.
You want to show up in your fanciest black suit—if not a full-on tuxedo!—to greet the new year looking your best. Or don your silkiest, sexiest shirt and dancing shoes for a raucous night of rug-cutting. Because what’s hotter than doing the walk of shame the next morning in your flyest outfit?
3. The Hometown Reunion
This is it: is your chance to show your family and the homies how well you’re doing in the big city. More importantly, it’s your chance to show your hometown crush what they’re missing. Desperate? Maybe (yes). But if you do it right, all the pieces will fall into place and you’ll finally get together like you’ve dreamt about for years. (Move on).
A swaggering, billowy top coat gives metropolitan vibes straight off the bat—start here. Underneath, it’s all a blend of your old ties and new roots. Try a knit tie mashed-up with a denim shirt, plus some dressy pants, and a chunky cardigan. Hopefully what you end up with is something akin to a charming romantic lead from [insert our favorite Christmas movie here].
4. The Friendsmas Dinner
As you settle deeper into adulthood, your circle of friends begins to feel more like a chosen family. Your roots become more detached from your hometown and more intertwined with your grown-up homies and the city you live in now. Enter Friendsmas. Wine, beer, pizza, charcuterie, cookies, etc. etc. It’s a mish-mash of cultures, stories, and vibes that stew together for one big hot pot of celebration. The energy should be laidback enough to feel comfortable, but dressed up intentionally enough to know it’s an end-of-year shindig.
If the work party is like a ‘social gathering’, Friendsmas is somewhere between a soiree and a capital-F Function. I myself would show up with a sportcoat over a textured button-up, jeans, some moccasin-esque shoes, and a bottle of red.
5. The Brunch with the In-Laws
Whether you’re meeting the in-laws for the first time or the fiftieth, it pays to make a good impression. Some crisp chinos or chunky corduroys should show your father-in-law that you’re not so different, you and him. A cable-knit sweater with a button-up collar peaking out confirms that you’re a nice, young man. If you don’t wear a watch (like a grown-up who knows the value of a person’s time, or whatever), it would behoove you to do so. As for the shoes, a classic pair of loafers always signals maturity.
