Style : Tips to Look Sharp For The Holidays

Photo : Zara

Most of you are gearing up for a busy holiday season with work parties, family parties, New Years Eve party, friends parties and more! Some can be torn between wearing the same outfit for all parties, other are concerned about their Instagram pictures if they wear the same outfit, and some are planning on investing in wayyyyy too many items which will end up making them broke. I have few suggestions for you to help you looking swell and making you save money.

1. First of all, the biggest expense for a man during the holidays would be to buy a suit. But don’t break the bank! Why not simply wear your office suit, but simply invest in accessories like bow ties, pocket squares or ties. Make your regular suit look more festive by adding a dash of colour. Get yourself a nice pocket square that you love and match it with a nice festive tie. I would not suggest to buy the same pattern, it would look terrible, but in this case below, I matched an Alexander McQueen pocket square with a polka dot tie from the same collection. It doesn’t look too matchy/matchy but we keep the navy theme going on.

You can also get cheaper sets on Nordstrom Rack, the discounted Nordstrom website. This set sells for under $20, is made in silk, and looks great and festive.

2. We also love the woven flower lapel pins. Those are definitely not to wear on a Monday morning at the office but for the Christmas season, they are perfect. Simply attach it to to your lapel to add a dandyish touch to formal attire. They come in all sizes, fabrics and colours. This one on the left is from Lanvin but I also suggest to check out discount stores like Nordstrom Rack for cheap versions, like the burgundy one shown on the right below. Wear it with your office suit with a nice black or white shirt, and people will definitely notice it.

3. Another option would be to buy a festive jacket. Velvet is very trendy this season, especially for the holiday season. Transform your everyday suit, into a nice black tie look with this awesome velvet blazer. I’ve seen Dolce & Gabbana blazers over $2,000 but this one shown below is Ralph Lauren and sells for $129.99 at Macy’s. I think that since it is considered to be a trendy item, you should not spend more than that on it. It is available in black, burgundy and dark green, all three colours are nice, but I personally prefer burgundy. Wear it with a white shirt, a black bow tie and black trousers and you’re good to go.

4. If you are more fashion forward, another option would be to buy an eclectic evening blazer that you could match with your black suit pant. Many of us gay men are more “willing” to play with fashion and this will surely steal the show at any parties. Check out this amazing jacquard tuxedo jacket from Zara below. It’s not subtle, I agree, but it is certainly festive! Pair it with a black turtleneck and you’re all set! People will think that it is right from the runway of a nice designer brand, when it is simply Zara.

If you are not into suits, shirts, blazers, ties and bow ties, or if your party is held in a more casual location like a cabin or a sky resort, I would still recommend you keep the Christmas spirit by getting a nice sweater. Fair Isle sweaters are always a good option. They come in tons of styles, colours and price. This one below left is from Thom Browne, quite expensive, but I’ve seen some very affordable ones around $30-50 at Fran&Oak and many other stores too. And what about this Gucci Snoopy wool sweater? So cute and perfect for a warm Christmas morning, but get ready, it’s more expensive than a mortgage!

I hope you enjoyed my suggestions, let me know your thoughts about them and have a nice holiday season guys!