We’re calling it: the roaring ’20s will be making some noise once again as we enter the twenty-first century’s take on the decade. Whether it’s for a Great Gatsby-themed wedding, a big birthday bash or a friend’s housewarming, we bet you’ll need your braces and baker boy cap at least once this year.

The roaring 1920s were about throwing caution to the wind. So what should you wear if anything goes?

Luckily parties, champagne towers, trombones and tuxes all go hand in hand. It means you can play it safe with a classic tux, finished with a dress shirt and a bow tie. Maybe nod to 1920s men’s fashion with a pinstriped waistcoat. Sorted.

You could go more out-there by choosing something double-breasted. Or a suit in anything but black. Neutral tailoring works well for the ’20s theme. Men used to go for the pristine shade to show they had wads of cash, seeing as they’d have to have the staff to keep it clean.

Another option is midnight blue. It was originally the dinner jacket colour of choice because it looked darker than black under the lights. Velvet and satin detailing will bring extra luxe to the theme.

The 1920s produced Al Capone. That’s all you need to know. The era had its fair share of gangsters, and there are loads of ways to get the look.

For British gangsters, it’s all about the sharp double-breasted suit made from heavy fabrics like tweed, Donegal and herringbone. These looks are in style at the moment, so it could be worth investing in a heritage-inspired suit if it’s your kind of style.

Famously, baker boy and flat caps shout 1920s tough guy. But if you’re more rich-American gangster than British badass, choose a fedora.

They knew how to accessorise in the 1920s. Take your tux to Gatsby’s level with a wing collar shirt, complete with silver armbands. If you’ve gone down the thick tweed route, choose a striped shirt and braces. A pocket watch works for both the gangster and the gentleman.

You’ll get a lot of outfit inspiration from this golden age, so chances are you’ll put yours on and think you look great – but not necessarily fully 1920s.

Quite often the final trick comes down to your hair. Slicking it to one side with a little quiff will make the difference between looking ready for a party and looking ready for a 1920s bash.

It’s that time again: party season is here. And with it, the best excuse you’ll have all year to dress up. Don’t wait until the formal ball invitation arrives though – get in the festive spirit and make any time party time.

Pre-Christmas catch-up with friends? Add velvet! The in-laws’ annual festive gathering? Go bold! The much-anticipated office party? You get the idea.

Whatever you’ve got planned this going-out season, use our handy scale to make sure you always bring the party.

Picture this: you’re heading to the pub to meet your friends after work. So far, so normal. But it’s party season, so why not dress like it? Even if you’re just going to your local, it takes very little effort to top corduroy trousers and a cable knit jumper with a velvet jacket. And make it one in a festive colour – not just because you can but because you should. Add a casually ruffled pocket square in a contrast colour and you’ve successfully made a few friendly pints feel like the party it should be at this time of year.

Your party piece this going-out season? A really good party jacket that’ll take your look from the day job to a night out with impressive ease. This one’s combination of luxe velvet and a neutral hue means it does a great job of dressing up semi-casual kit – like this white rollneck and side-stripe trousers that you could easily wear to work. Come 6 p.m., throw on the jacket, pull out the coordinating pocket square lining and you’ve effortlessly transitioned into party mode. Now that’s a good trick to have up your sleeve.

When the office Christmas party comes around, it’s time to take it up a notch. Depending on where you work, you’ll have varying degrees of dress code to work to. If the dress code is more relaxed, don’t take that as a reason to make less effort – if anything, this is your opportunity to go bold! If you can’t wear a velvet jacket with satin lapels at Christmas, then when can you? A suit this bold does all the talking for you (metaphorically, we mean – you’ll still have to practise your small talk), so keep everything else pared-back with a white t-shirt and suede trainers.

Office do likely to be a more restrained affair? You can still bring the party without shocking senior leadership with your blatant disregard for the dress code. A festive green jacket adds touchable texture (lucky you) and will show up beautifully under soft lighting. Style it with head-to-toe black so the look’s refined rather than flashy. Skip the tie and instead keep a couple of your collar buttons undone – this is the one time of year you’ve got your boss’s permission to literally loosen your collar, so use it.

The invitation says ‘black tie’ so you need to step it up. A tuxedo is non-negotiable. But nobody said it had to be black. Navy is actually the tradition (it came about when electric lights went mainstream, looking better as it does under artificial light) but you’ll still stand out in a crowd of more common penguin suits. A brighter hue, like the dusty pink above, is party-ready (like you), so all you need is a crisp white shirt, black satin bow tie and patent dress shoes.

And finally, we reach all-out black tie. This is off-the-scale dressing up. If you’ve got this invitation – the Elton-John’s-Christmas-party-level invitation – you need the full works. It’s rare as men we get the chance to go for glamour, but that’s what you’re aiming for here. Start with a pin-sharp tuxedo, a formal shirt and smart shoes, like patent Oxfords. Then dial up the drama. An oversized floppy bow tie feels straight out of golden-age Hollywood, while a double-breasted overcoat with peak lapels is unapologetically high-impact.

Like it or not, it’s almost that time of year again when the party season will soon be in full swing. If you’re feeling especially bah-humbug about the whole thing, some of these shindigs you’ll be able to swerve, others maybe not. But what there’s no escaping, if your chosen knees-up demands it, is that you’re going to be the most dressed-up you’ve probably been all year. All of which means you’ll have to find something to wear that has a little more bite than your usual day-to-day suit.

SO WHAT SHOULD BE MY PARTY FABRIC OF CHOICE?

One particular fabric that will tick all of your party season boxes and was once traditionally the reserve of royalty, is velvet. Thankfully, in these slightly more egalitarian times, velvet no longer holds such lofty connotations. And perhaps most surprising of all for such a luxe fabric, it can be worn in any number of ways, proving its versatility to boot.

CAN I WEAR VELVET TO A BLACK TIE EVENT?

You most definitely can, and indeed should. For any formal events, break the mould and switch your tried-and-tested black tuxedo for one in claret or chocolate velvet. Not only will you be adding all of the extra bells and whistles needed at this time of year, but you’ll also be dialling up that old-school glamour too. All that’s required of you is a guarantee that your velvet tux is cut on the slim side and that you’re primed and ready to step in and play at being James Bond should the occasion require it. Vodka Martinis are entirely optional.

BUT WILL WEARING VELVET MAKE ME THE CENTRE OF ATTENTION?

Almost certainly. And if you’re something of a shrinking violet, one major downside to wearing velvet is that many of your fellow party guests will, without doubt, want to stroke you as the night wears on. The solution? Never forget that the devil is always in the details and the addition of a simple velvet bow tie worn with a more traditional tux will still more than pass muster.

WHAT IF MY PARTY ISN’T BLACK TIE?

If your soirée doesn’t require the above amount of swish, then you could always wear your velvet jacket as a separate instead. Break up your look with a lambswool roll-neck sweater. Or go one step further and wear it over a jazzy printed shirt. Finish your outfit off with your finest pair of black denim jeans and shoes, safe in the knowledge that your velvet jacket will make whatever else you’re wearing swankier by association.

All of which goes to show, that whatever velvet combo you decide upon, it’s the golden ticket when dressing for any parties you have pencilled into your diary. Just remember two things: arrive fashionably late and don’t hog the karaoke machine.