Holiday parties and New Year's Eve

December is the one month a man can dress up and nobody asks why. Here's how to read the invitation, and what to wear for each one.

The velvet dinner jacket

The look of the season. A velvet jacket in black, burgundy, deep green or midnight blue, with:

• Black tuxedo trousers. Never matching velvet trousers.
• A white shirt and a black bow tie.
• Polished black shoes.

The jacket is the star, so everything else stays plain and dark. We carry velvet in black, burgundy, blue and navy. It's a winter cloth: perfect now, too heavy for summer.

Midnight blue

A tuxedo in midnight blue looks rich under evening light and in the photos. A quiet way to stand out at a black tie party.

Read the invitation

• Black tie: a tuxedo, or a velvet dinner jacket with tux trousers. See our black tie guide.
• Cocktail or festive: a dark suit with a tie, or a velvet jacket over a fine black knit.
• Office party: your best dark suit, a crisp shirt, and a tie with a little colour: wine or green.
• A house party: a velvet or dark sport coat with a knit, no tie.

New Year's Eve

The most formal night of the year for most people. When in doubt, go black tie: midnight blue or a velvet jacket makes it feel like a celebration, not a work event.

Renting for a party? Come in about a month ahead, so your size is reserved.