And so we reach November, which means one thing –  the start of the Christmas season. TV ads, shop windows and dark night start the countdown and the nation gets excited for 6 weeks of shopping and parties.

Getting the right outfit for your Christmas party that is in keeping with the dress code and your personal style is important, especially if you are trying to woo that special someone. Remember that everyone looks good in a suit and black tie needn’t be boring. Follow our guide below and choose the outfit that’s best for you.

1. Know your shape.

Whether choosing hire or buy, our dinner suits are offered in slim, tailored or classic fits. Those with athletic and fuller figures may feel most comfortable wearing a suit jacket with side vents, this gives more movement around the middle which allows the jacket to sharpen the contours of the body. Similarly, pleated trousers give that much needed space around the thighs and seat to ensure you don’t rip them during a tequilla-infused dance off.

If you have a leaner build, opt for slimmer cuts for a more streamlined look. Narrower lapels, darted jackets and flat front (no pleats) trousers will help you achieve a sharp and attentive style.

2. Hire or buy?

This is probably the most popular question our style advisors get asked and our answer is simple. If you need to wear a dinner suit (tuxedo) more than twice a year, it’s worth making the investing in buying one. If you only ever need one for the annual Christmas party and the odd wedding, take the hassle out of the occasion and just hire it. If you know your sizes or have hired from us before, you can even now order online and have it delivered straight to your office. Simple.

Some understated options, such as the French Connection (tailored fit) and Ventuno 21 (slim fit) are available to hire or buy. If you are looking for something a bit more adventurous, the new Moss London collection offers some more seasonal options to buy, such as velvet dinner jackets and tartan dinner suits.

3. The right accessories.

Bringing a look together harmoniously is the job of accessories. Whether to highlight a particular design feature or divert the attention from elsewhere, it’s all in the detail.

Always try to keep the width of your bow tie in proportion to that of your lapels, but don’t feel compelled to wear black. If you do wear black, choose something with a self pattern such as our Moss London black lace bow tie or Moss 1851 black paisley silk bow tie or with interesting textures such as leathertte or velvet. Braces are also a great addition to great eveningwear (as historically, dinner suits do not have belt loops) and can rightly or wrongly give an element of fun. Finish with a pocket square that accents your glasses, cufflinks, or mod.

4. Great shoes.

Shoes are another important element and the rules have changed in recent years. Years ago, patent shoes used to be the only acceptable option, but recently there has been a move towards softer dress shoes, such as those in suede, velvet or ostrich. Even if none of these options do it for you, choose your smartest black shoes and treat them to a date with the polish and fluffy cloth. Apple polish liberally and cover evenly, leave to stand until dry then buff in a circular motion.

Moss Bros.