It has come to that time of year where we get to give ourselves a pat on the back for a job well done. We’ve spent many months travelling through the tunnel of deadlines, stress, malfunctioning copiers, ‘temperature control’ and innumerable emails, but we’re finally seeing the light that is the festive break. What better way to celebrate seeing the light at the end of that tunnel than with the people who are just as happy to see it as we are; our colleagues.
Happily we in the southern hemisphere get to have our party season in the summer, spare a thought for northern hemisphere friends who have to juggle the delicate balance of looking cute and not freezing off vital bits of anatomy. With the better weather comes the opportunity for different types of office party; your company might opt for a casual day out or for drinks-and-dancing after sunset.
So let’s look at outfit options for different office party scenarios.
1. The casual daytime get-together.
A chilled and casual day out in the sun, perhaps picnicking at a warm farm, is a great summer office party option. It’s also the least stressful when it comes to getting yourself ready; no worries about whether you’ll have enough time to get your hair done or your face on. While the occasion might be chilled and casual it’s best to remember that you are still at a company event so maybe choose a pair of embellished flat sandals instead of flip-flops, a cute top instead of a T-shirt and a pair of jeans that’s more denim than rips.
Jeans are most people’s go-to items when they’re building a casual outfit and an easy way to dress them up a little would be to ditch the T-shirt for dressier top that calls out the season’s trend details like ties at the waist or the ever popular Bardot neckline. A pair of flats is a great alternative for sneakers when wearing jeans and a pair of mules would be the fashionable choice, but know where you’re be spending the day beforehand because if there’s any uneven terrain about you’ll want to swop out the mules for a pair of pumps or lace-ups.
There are also ample ways to dress up a pair of shorts for your day out. Firstly, as before, swop out wearing a T-shirt for a fun little top; ones with button-up detailing provide a stylish contrast to the casualness of the shorts. Finish off your look with an embellished pair of sandals – look out for a pair with braiding, metallic or wooden bead details instead of the dressier gem detailing – and if you’re looking to add some French girl flair, tie a silky printed scarf in your hair or around your neck. Très chic.
If you’ve decided that you’re absolutely going to be wearing a pair of sneakers, elevate them by wearing them with a dress. Combining a casual maxi dress and sneakers makes for a surprisingly perfect blend of casual chic. The key to pulling off a sneakers-and-dress look lies in the accessories; leave the backpacks and bum-bags at home and opt instead for a shaped cross-body bag (chain and tassel details are a plus).
2. Lunch with a view.
If you’re heading to brunch or lunch at a great restaurant for your office party this year, there is a bit of a fashion line you’re going to have to straddle. You’re likely still going to be in the office in the morning so looking office appropriate is still a must but you’re also going to want to dress up a little without looking like you’re heading to a midday wedding.
Two dress shapes that perfectly toe this line you have to straddle are the shirtdress and the printed maxi-dress. A crisp white shirtdress is the ideal mix of casual and chic but if you’d like to break its starkness, pair it with some pastel or print accessories. To keep a printed maxi-dress from looking to dressy, accessorise it with items in a print or colour pop in a complementary shade.
If you’re opting for separates instead of a dress, shorts – especially tailored ones with a paperbag waist – make a great alternative to jeans or trousers while a wrap skirt steps away from the formality of a pencil skirt. To complete your look accessorise with the season’s must-have straw embellishments.
3. The night out.
If your office party is a night time affair, it’s more than likely you’ll have to head to it straight from the office or have minimal time to get yourself ready. Should this be the case, a LBD (little black dress) will be your best friend. The LBD is endlessly adaptable and can readily take you from office to party with just a quick change of shoes and accessories. But an LBD isn’t the only garment that can pull off this trick; a little-black-anything should be able to get the job done. The black trousers you wore to the office can be elevated with the addition of a cute top and statement accessories; a playsuit transforms from youthful chic to vampishly sexy with the addition of some gems and a pair of killer heels.
The key to dressing for a night time office party is to not go too over the top; it’s not New Year’s Eve. Glitz, glam and sparkle are great for ringing in the New Year, so save it to do just that. If you don’t want to look like a wallflower however, consider adding colour and print instead of beads and sequins to achieve a bold party look.
If you are going straight to your staff or office party after work, then here are some useful tips what to wear to the office when you know you’re heading out after
