First and foremost, always keep in mind that any holiday event sponsored by your employer remains an office event. Anyone attending a company holiday party should dress and act in an office appropriate manner.

 

If your holiday event is scheduled to take place immediately after work hours, wear the same outfit to the party that you wore into the office that day. Before leaving for the party, gentlemen may switch into a holiday tie and ladies may add a holiday pin or broach to their outfits. Ladies should avoid changing into outfits made of revealing fabrics, sequins or any fabric that glitters.

 

Some holiday events may be held at an employer’s home on a non-work night. In those cases, business casual attire is most appropriate. Both men and women may opt to wear slacks and shirts/blouses made of quality fabric. Do not wear jeans and a tee-shirt. A tasteful holiday-themed sweater or tie may complete an outfit. Gentlemen should skip the bow ties that play “Jingle Bells” whenever someone approaches.

 

If the invitation to the holiday party specifies “formal attire,” gentlemen should plan on donning a tuxedo, complete with a bow tie, cuff links and a cummerbund. Ladies may wear a formal length or cocktail length dress. They should, however, avoid any dress that will reveal more cleavage or leg (forget those thigh high slits) than would normally be revealed at work. Ladies, please do not pull “a Britney.” At all times, wear appropriate undergarments.

 

Beyond dressing appropriately, employees should also plan to comport themselves as they would at the office. Choose topics for social conversation that you might use during normal office hours. (“Are the kids getting excited about Santa?” “Are you planning to take a few days off during the holidays?”) Address the boss’s spouse, partner or significant other with respect. (“In addition to your work at home, do you work out of the house?”)  And make sure you are not the person that everyone else talks about on Monday morning because you over-imbibed throughout the event. (“Did you see Heather open and close the bar Friday night?”)

 

One last thought. Please remember that any invitation to a holiday party is not an invitation for guests to hook-up with fellow employees. A little fling behind the office Christmas tree may yield repercussions that may not become obvious until long after the party ends.