Men’s holiday party outfit – black dress shirt, dress pants & brown loafers

Where to wear it

Company holiday parties, a friend's December drinks, a dinner that moves on to a bar. It suits evenings where a suit would feel stiff and jeans would feel underdressed.

How the pieces work together

An all-black base is simple to put together, and the brown pieces keep it from looking severe. The Calvin Klein shirt has a herringbone weave, which gives a solid color some visible texture up close. Venetian loafers are the plainest kind of loafer, with no tassel or strap across the top, so they stay clean next to a dark outfit. Their brown is echoed by the Timex Expedition Scout, and if you add a belt, make it brown too. Wear the shirt tucked in with the top button open.

Fit

Both shirt and pants are slim fit. With a slim shirt, sit down and reach forward in the fitting room: if the buttons pull open across the chest, size up and have the waist taken in. Slim dress pants look best with a short break over loafers, or none if you like a bit of ankle showing. Loafers have nothing to tighten, so they should feel snug from the start; trying them on late in the day, when feet are larger, avoids buying them too small. The 40mm watch case is a middle size that sits comfortably under a shirt cuff.

Alternatives

For a more formal party, add a charcoal or black blazer; the loafers still work. If black on black feels too dark, swap the shirt for deep burgundy or forest green and keep the brown accessories. On a cold night, a black crewneck sweater over the shirt with the collar out keeps the same palette.

Care

Dark shirts and trousers generally fade more slowly when washed inside out in cold water. Shoe trees help loafers keep their shape between wears.