HOLIDAY DRESS CODES, DECODED 

Whether a dress code derails your sense of creative direction or provides useful and stress-relieving sartorial parameters, it’s a concept that's part and parcel with holiday celebrations. To help you navigate December, we’ve created a definitive guide to every dress code in the book. After all, dressing up should be as enjoyable as the occasion itself.

Black-tie attire often implies tuxedos for men, but for women, it's all about the hemline, which almost always implies a formal gown that is floor-length. If you really want to wear something knee-length, opt for something that is otherwise very formal—no wispy, casual fabrics—and dress it up with your most glamourous shoes and handbag. You absolutely should be breaking out your best jewels, too.

Formal dressing is very similar to black-tie, but here, knee-length dresses are more acceptable and there’s more room to play. Keep the style stakes high with embellished clutches, high stiletto heels and head-turning accessories. For men, a tuxedo still ticks the box.

Panic-inducing yet surprisingly simple. Here, you could opt for traditional black-tie, or you could steer into formal territory where, along with knee-length dresses, something more modern is perfectly suitable (and encouraged), like a crowd-pleasing pants suit. Men can stick to a tuxedo or a black suit that looks similar to one.

This dress code is open to interpretation, and aside from too-formal gowns or super casual fabrics like linen or jersey, options abound. Now might be the time to debut your favourite mini dress, chic flats or heeled boots. For men, cocktail attire is comparable to business attire, so anything you would wear to an interview goes. Think suit, tie and Oxford dress shoes.

Business casual is often the dress code for work-related soirees, and lands somewhere in between a tee and jeans, and a suit. This is also one of the trickiest as it varies between industries. For men, if your work normally sways casual, a relaxed suit fits the bill. If your workplace is fairly formal, treat business casual as cocktail attire and don a sharper suit. For women, a dress with sleeves or with a jacket draped over the top is always a safe bet.