Dan's Papers - December 14, 2007 - Men's Holiday Fashion

When the invitations to holiday parties start flooding your mailbox, it's time you begin preparing your wardrobe. The situation requires more thought than your basic party as there are a few routes to go. Now I'm not saying to head out and buy yourself a Bugs Bunny Christmas tie or a Santa hat for the big event - the way you should differentiate yourself from the other partygoers should be a little subtler (read: tasteful).

A great place to start your wardrobe shopping is at J. McLaughlin. They are hailed for their seasonal, embroidered, corduroy pants. A staple is Christmas tree cords, but also look for cords embroidered with ornaments - a huge seller last year. Get them now because they require having the legs altered. The good news about these pants is that a lot of men aren't secure enough to wear them, so there is a nice chance you'll be the only one rocking them at the party. The downside is that you may not be the only one at the party wearing them. The other options are to simply break out the Nantucket reds from this summer or a pair of plaid wool trousers. Nothing says winter like a pair of wool trousers.

Looking for subtler, a tie isn't a bad idea. First of all, it depends on whether or not the party requires a tie. Second, find one that says what you want without looking like a used-car salesman. If you're going to buy a Christmas or Chanukah tie, make sure it's not over the top. Avoid a giant picture of the nativity scene and opt for small iconic images in repetition. Vineyard Vines is a good company to start with - for those who can't get enough of their whale ties, they've got a tie with a whale wearing a Santa hat. After all, I just said you couldn't wear a Santa hat, I didn't say anything about the whales. They've also got a great tie with more dreidels than the song. It comes in pink, green, light and dark blue, which means it can go with almost anything.

Want even more of a low-key expression of holiday cheer? Cufflinks are the answer. Knot cufflinks come in a variety of colors - blue, gold, red or green. Some are even multicolored. Check out Polo, and J. McLaughlin to see what they have in stock. If you want to get a little crazy, use two sets of cufflinks, red on one arm, green on the other. The untrained eye might not notice it, but the ones who should, surely will.

If you're not into the holiday colors, that's okay. Actually it's probably best if everyone at the party is in red trousers and a green blazer (not a good look by the way). Being stylishly dressed in basic winter clothing creates a great contrast to those who have decided to get all decked out. The colder days call for monochrome. But monochrome doesn't translate into boring. A beautiful white sweater is perfect for a winter get-together. First of all, white attracts the eye, so when you're standing under the mistletoe and you want to get that special someone's attention, don't worry, in the right white sweater, you've already got it. Just grab a wreath and candlestick to fend off all the other suitors who will be cuing up for a smooch. Throw on a black and grey herringbone jacket and you've got a timeless look. If you want to spice it up a little more, the kids love velvet these days. Black is the obvious color for your jacket, but dark color (hunter green) will do nicely.

For pantaloons, today's lifestyle allows you to wear jeans to practically any occasion except weddings and funerals. Don't wear jeans and a tie please. It is just something that makes me want to drown myself in eggnog. Olive khakis or thin-wale cords are also swell. If you decided to go monochrome, look for black trousers with some sort of texture or pattern - houndstooth, herringbone, etc. Don't mix weaves though so you have herringbone on bottom, houndstooth on top. People will be dizzy enough off the apple cider.

If you're concerned about attire (and it isn't mentioned on the invitation), call the host of the party and ask their thoughts. Remember, it's better to be overdressed than underdressed. You can always take a tie or jacket off.