Christmas! The mooooost wonderful time of the year! Well, questionable, but let's run with it. It's definitely one of the most sociable times of the year as we reconnect with friends, celebrate with colleagues, and reunite with the rarely seen family satellites that come out from under their strange rocks each year to remind us just how diverse and bizarre human breeding can be. This year, we'll have the spectacle-steaming pleasure of doing all of this with a mask on. Such a proliferation of face-covered events and gatherings requires one to be looking his festive best in rapid-fire succession. Saying that, even if you aren't the social butterfly, it's still good practise to dress well when nobody's looking!
Millman Hooded |
Blenheim Jumper |
Drawstring Trousers |
Our formula for dressing for Christmas is as follows: Comfort plus warmth are the non-negotiables, but these must be tempered with tailoring finesse and texture/tactility. So not too smart (unless the event dress code calls for it), but certainly smart enough. And rather than getting all trussed up like a turkey in classic tailoring, Christmas calls for a more relaxed approach, with unstructured jackets in tactile fabrics such as velvet and corduroy. Same goes with the trousers, too.
Let's address knitwear now before there's any confusion. One has to draw the line at "Festive" jumpers. If there's a requirement to wear one, ie your workplace has deemed it necessary (it happens), then good luck to you. Otherwise, steer well clear. There is a wealth of amazing knitwear pieces in our winter collection that summon the wholesome, outdoorsy vibe that works so well this time of year, from chunky cable knits and mock turtle necks, to beautiful shawl collar cardigans. They bring a warm and versatile textural quality that you can complement with corduroy or wool trousers and make for great layering pieces when venturing outdoors thanks to the beautifully soft extrafine wool they're constructed from.
Talbot Roll Neck Jumper |
Talbot Roll Neck |
Mock Turtle Neck Jumper |
For the smarter shindig (work xmas lunch we're looking at you), then we would confidently suggest plumping for some casual tailoring in either velvet or corduroy. Both fabrics take the formal edge off the tailoring, while adding a really nice textural element to the look. Opt for the two-piece suit if you want to drop in at the smart end, and wear it with a fine gauge roll-neck or a soft brushed cotton or flannel wool shirt, but nothing too stiff or formal. Otherwise go the route of separates and complement your blazer with jeans, chinos, or wool trousers. If you don't want the formality of a blazer, then a tailored blouson is a great alternative. Oliver Spencer's Buffalo and Pathfinder jackets are both brilliant options and are easy to style with a shirt, rollneck or crew neck jumper.
Finsbury Jacket |
Fishtail Trousers |
Finsbury Jacket |
Colourwise, it's always a good idea to add a pop of a bolder hue here and there but don't overdo it or someone might mistake you for a bauble and no one likes to be left hanging. Ochre, burnt orange and tan and goof versatile tones that contrast well with most other neutral tones such as charcoal, cream and grey, whereas rich navy and racing green tones provide a more subdued but no less impactful alternative.
Solovair x Oliver Spencer |
Solovair Burgundy |
Paraboot Michael |
Footwear can sometimes be a tricky element when you're dancing the fine line between casual and smart but it really needn't be. Classic Oxfords or Derbys are too formal so scratch those. Loafers are a much better option, particularly the chunkier variety, and if you can find a chunky Derby then that'll work too. French shomaker Paraboot are an excellent choice, so too British shoemaker Solovair who Oliver Spencer teamed up with earlier this season for an exclusive monkey boot.