23 Ideas to Look Your Best at the Work Holiday Party

Office holiday parties are tricky dress-code wise. On one hand side, one wants to dress up, but still has to navigate the HR dress code. This post provides some outfit ideas for an office holiday party. Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post. Stay within the Office's Dress Code at the Holiday Party Office parties are tricky with respect to the dress code. Thus, keep the rule Yes, even when or especially when it is a corporate cocktail party. Stop! Let's do one step at a time. There are corporate parties, festive office cocktail parties and end-of-the-day parties. A general rule is to within the broad lines of the office dress code's limits with respect to showing skin. Skin in the sense of toes, heels, cleavage, belly, legs, and arms. Pay attention to the invitation. Often it has a hint for the dress code. If so, go with it to dress for success. For instance, when it says festive business casual style, go for business casual style, and add longer earrings or a festive top. Read on ... What to Wear to a Festive Office Party Let's start with the festive office party because of the holiday season. Here you can go for sequins, metallic, and embellishments. Even a holiday dress that does not show too much skin works. When it is strapless, wear it with a matching bolero, thin fine fabric stole, or a nice leather jacket. Black slim pants with a metallic, embellished or sequin top are also fine. What about a sequin or brocade skirt? A holiday dress, would also meet the dress code for a festive office cocktail party. Go for a big clutch or nice evening bag (see photo below), i.e. something different than your usual day bag. Embellished stilettos or open toe pumps fit the bill. In cold climate regions, have a large satchel or around town tote to carry your shoes and a clutch inside that you place on the table. Leave the satchel with the coat clerk if possible. What Not to Wear to a Festive Office Holiday Party Outside the Office Stay away from informal fabrics, daytime outfits, corporate clothes, suits, or anything denim. You are never wrong with a little black dress. But if you go for one, stay out of the crowd by festive rhinestone jewelry. Also steer away from anything that is too short or too long (e.g. maxi dress), shows too much cleavage (back or front, it does not matter). Recall the attendees are your colleagues. Thus, try to still look professional. The corporate office cocktail party reads more or less gray or dark corporate style as foundation given a twist with jewelry and/or accessories as shown in the first two photos of this post. One statement piece of jewelry only. Avoid double blink. In other words, stay on the road of classics with a twist. Tights or pantyhose are a must! Sheer pantyhose as well as opaque work depending on climate. Cover your arms in agreement with your office's dress code. In cold climate regions, wearing a layering top underneath is acceptable. Straight skirts with a feminine blouse, or straight slacks in gray or black with a shell and bolero or Chanel-type jacket, or a classic shift dress with patent leather belt and a statement brooch are save options too. Go for closed toe pumps. Anything less would look too casual with tights on. In cold climate regions, classic boots will be acceptable on cold days with snow outside. Stiletto booties are risky, but may work when they are the only "twist" in the look, i.e. the statement. What Not to wear to a Corporative Office Holiday Party Again stay away from anything informal like knits, jersey, too short or too much skin. A shiny clutch in silver, gold or patent leather is perfect. Any bright color is risky. Neon is a No-No. In recent years, many work places celebrate their office holiday party in their meeting room. They either make it a potluck or outsource the cooking to a party service. These kind of work holiday parties at the office are as tricky to dress for as going from work to a picnic. These parties typically start at the end of business, or in the hour before. This means your outfit must do double-duty. It must work for your typical work duties, but should also have some holiday spirit or at least be switched into a Thanksgiving or easy Christmas outfit by just swapping some accessories. You can not block the restrooms for a full change at the office. When the party starts about 1 hour before end of business (EoB), your work outfit must do double-duty. In this case, it's ok to wear knits or jerseys in cold climate regions. Go with the spirit. Red, green, black, white, plaid. Create the festive aspect with accessories like earrings, necklaces, belts or scarves for style. If the work dress code is business casual and/or you have a Casual Friday culture and the party falls on a Friday afternoon, even dark denim is ok when styled festive. It's best to have a look where you can swap the jewelry to some statement crystal costume jewelry like in this post or exchange a scarf or jacket in the restroom prior to the party. A total change of your outfit would be a hassle in the small stalls. Moreover, you do not want to outdress your boss, right? Err around a dressed-up work outfit with a twist to festive. Like these outfit ideas? If so, please feel free to pin them to your own Pinterest board. When you wo not have a meeting that day, you may even dare to wear a sequin skirt, especially as wearing metallics at day is a hot trend right now. Here is another solution: Riot your closet for items in holiday colors or colors close to the traditional holiday red, green, black and white. Typical holiday associated patterns like plaid are a good choice too. By all means, stay away from the holiday sweaters. When you like these holiday outfit inspirations, let your friends know by tweeting them to A traditional retro-style holiday dress is a save idea when it can be made work appropriate with a sweater (see photo below) or cardigan. Wearing a little black dress is always a good idea. Therefore, it bears the risk that many other colleagues have also this good idea. This fact is especially true, as a LBD can easily swap the vibe by exchanging a scarf, dress pumps and pearl studs with chandelier earrings or a long Swarovski crystal statement necklace and pointy toe silver pumps. When you like these outfit inspirations, you will like the outfit inspirations for all kind of midlife dressing situations given in my style book How To Dress For Success in Midlife. Buy your book now. When you liked any of the outfits, please feel free to pin them to your own pinterest boards so your friends, colleagues and family can see them too. Sharing is careing. Try a Look with Sequins What kind of holiday party do you have at work? What are your fashion and style dressing challenges? Let me know, I am curious how I can help you and add more on what you want to read more about. Get the support dress to your best in midlife. Subscribe to High Latitude Style. Deep inside you know you can do it too.

1. Holiday Party: need cooking ideas and recipes!?

Appetizer, salad, pork main dish, starch, dessert..... all WONDERFUL! Cheese Logs 1 - 8 ounce package cream cheese - softened 1 jar cheddar cheese spread - softened 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar teaspoon garlic salt 1 cup finely chopped pecans Mix 1st 4 ingredients thoroughly, roll in chopped pecans. Wrap in waxed paper and chill until serving. Broccoli Salad 1 large bunch of broccoli - use the flowerets, discard stems 1 small red/purple onion - finely chopped 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese # bacon, cooked well and crumbled Mix all well in a large bowl Dressing (add just before serving) cup sugar 1 tsp vinegar cup Miracle Whip Mike's Pork Chops 4 boneless pork chops 1/2-3/4" thick C Parmesan cheese, finely grated 1C plain or Italian bread crumbs 2 eggs - lightly beaten 4 T oil 1T butter Wash pork chops, pat dry Salt and liberally pepper the pork chops Dip in Parmesan cheese, coat well, shake off any excess Dip in eggs both sides, get off excess Dip in bread crumbs Heat oil and butter in pan over Medium to Medium HI heat. Put pork chops in skillet; cook 6-7 minutes on each side until crisp. Do not keep flipping them. Cook one side then the other. Remove and serve Sweet Potato Fries Sandra Lee 2 pounds sweet potatoes 1 tablespoon canola oil 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 1 tablespoon low-sodium chili seasoning Salt and pepper Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line baking sheet with aluminum foil; set aside. Use peeler to peel sweet potatoes. Cut potatoes in half lengthwise then cut into 1/2-inch thick fries. Place sweet potato fries in a large mixing bowl. Add oil and spices. Toss until they are thoroughly coated with spices. Spread fries in a single layer on prepared baking sheet. Place in preheated oven. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes turning once to ensure even cooking. Remove from oven and serve hot. Raspberry Tiramisu Giada De Laurentiis 1 cup seedless raspberry jam 6 tablespoons orange liqueur (recommended: Grand Marnier) 1 pound mascarpone cheese, at room temperature 1 cup whipping cream 1/4 cup sugar 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 28 soft ladyfingers or 2 (12-ounce) pound cakes, cut into 3 by 1 by 1 1/2-inch pieces 3 (1/2 dry pint) baskets fresh raspberries (about 3 3/4 cups total) Confectioners' sugar, for serving Stir the jam and 4 tablespoons of the orange liqueur in a small bowl to blend. Combine the mascarpone and remaining 2 tablespoons of orange liqueur in a large bowl to blend. Using an electric mixer, beat the cream, sugar, and vanilla in another large bowl until soft peaks form. Using a large rubber spatula, stir 1/4 of the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture to lighten. Fold the remaining whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture. Line the bottom of a 13 by 9 by 2-inch glass baking dish or other decorative serving dish with half of the ladyfingers. Spread half of the jam mixture over the ladyfingers. Spread half of the mascarpone mixture over the jam mixture, then cover with half of the fresh raspberries. Repeat layering with the remaining ladyfingers, jam mixture, mascarpone mixture and raspberries. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours or overnight. Dust with the confectioners' sugar and serve.

2. Should parents take their kids to an adult holiday party, why or why not?

NO, it's a bad influence on the kids i do not support such idea

3. What do I bring/ wear to my job's holiday party at my boss's house??? PLZZ it's tomorrow!?

wear something dressy and conservative take a appetizer and special beverage could mean alcohol or anything you like to drink its sounds like more of a work get together then a formal party so relax