‘Tis the Season to be Jolly Well Judged

As the winter weather gains its frosty chill, we all breathe a sigh of relief as the unforgiving skimpy tops and hot pants march their way to the back of the wardrobe and we embrace our chunky knits and full coats. Yet amidst the winter months comes a seasonal style staple that packs the pressure.  The winter’s version of summer’s bikini. The office Christmas party outfit.

Harking back to school days past, the office party presents a similar opportunity to the mufty day, when you were able to break free from the regimented uniform and showcase your true style. However, attempting to showcase your true style with only one outfit made for one hell of a challenge, knowing that an ill-advised fashion slip-up could haunt the rest of your school days, leading to a series of blushes whenever the words ‘pedal’ and ‘pushers’ cropped up in conversation…

The office Christmas party offers an opportunity to break away from the normal office attire and sport something other than a crisp white shirt and sensible pencil skirt. But once again, this freedom is married with panic-fuelled decision making. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to impress your colleagues and prove that without the morning rush and sweaty tube journey you can actually look somewhat decent, but going overboard with your look can make you seem like you haven’t had another night out all year.

It’s also vital that you consider the location of the event. If a lack of funds has caused your party to take place within the office, then your ‘far too expensive but on-trend and makes me look skinny’ dress and six-inch heels that cause you to remain stationary all night will not pack the same punch with static carpet and fluorescent lighting.

Ensuring that you look fantastic and on-trend is a message drilled into us as soon as the summer collection moves to the sale and the autumn winter collection makes its way onto the racks. You may think it’s a tad drastic to get so flustered about what to wear – we all judge and will inevitably be judged.

I remember one Debenhams Christmas party as a teenager. One unfortunate soul from Accessories turned up sporting a calf length pink summer dress, white tights and brown sandals. And I’m not talking schoolgirl cute as perfected by the likes of Alexa and Fearne, I’m talking an outfit so bizarre you could only assume she was part of a dare.

Harsh yes, but for the next year that outfit haunted her and she was known for eternity (and by that I mean her Debenhams days) as ‘sandal girl’. Granted the nickname was lacking in any real wit or originality but it was catchy none-the-less.

So this party season, how can you rid of the ghost of Christmas party past and ensure you get your look right? My mantra: be bold, be brave but by no means be blind. If your outfit gives you the slightest moment of caution, get approval from those close to you, who will answer honestly and won’t be afraid to vilify the outfit with too many bells and whistles that leaves you looking like a prized twit.

Other than that, drink, dance, be merry and under absolutely no circumstances wear white tights with brown sandals.

Image by Dyna Moe courtesy of Flickr