Black tie style guide this Christmas season

It's the party season, a time when many of us worry about squeezing into a dusty suit or rooting through our tie collection before a fancy do. But fret no more, with our advice from the experts.

By Emmet Purcell

Whether it’s Christmas parties, work functions or particularly fancy nights out over the next couple of weeks, ‘tis the season to arrive suited and booted. So how can you turn up turned out at your next event without looking like a penguin? We decided to ask the experts.

According to Louis Copeland of Louis Copeland and Sons, consumers are reacting to the current economic climate and ensuring they can garner a lot more bang for their buck. “There are a lot of people that are buying black suits now; they’re getting two bites of the cherry” he told JOE.

“For €295 or €395, you can kill two birds with one stone.” We didn't have time to press Louis further on his avian-slaughtering side-project (for €295, how big is the stone?) but his advice could also apply to buying dress suits for all occasions.

It’s hardly a surprising trend – after all, why buy an outfit for just one particular type of event when you can co-ordinate your outfit to suit numerous events? So what does this consumer practice mean for the suit hire market? Unsurprisingly, Louis is dismissive of suit hiring and believes there are three main reasons why men should avoid parting cash for a temporary fix.

“A. because of fit, B. because you’re wearing someone elses’ suit and C because if you’re hiring you could be nearly halfway through an investment. You’re better off buying the suit and keeping it.”

Louis also recommends avoiding flashy bowties and opting for a plain black tie to complete your suave attire this season.

For any men worried about squeezing into an ill-fitting and long dormant suit from their wardrobe, the answer, Louis says, is to call in the professionals. “Go to somewhere where you’ll have professional advice on what style and fabric that suits a particular shape," he says. "These are things that professionals can do for you.”

Choosing the right style

At this point we asked Laura-Anne Mooney, JOE's resident fashionista, for her thoughts.

According to Laura-Anne, "three piece suits have never been more embraced." "They are very flattering when done right, a snug fit not a tight fit is a must. The waist coat must sit neatly on the waistline." Our fashion guru also remembers two seperate looks - slim-fit suits with lined lapels (as frequently worn by Mark Ronson) or the Tom Ford-inspired velvet jacket and leather elbow patch look recently sported by Colin Firth.

The devil is in the detail, however, and Laura-Anne advises us to add personality to a potential outfit through "pocket- watches, cuff links, pocket squares (never to directly match with your tie, more of a complementary colour )" while steering clear of wide ties which can potentially ruin an entire look in an instant. Finally, she stresses that 'a well-ironed shirt is a must!'

There's no reason that you can't turn heads at your Christmas party this season. However, if you're finishing this article while simultaneously eyeing a pair of white socks beside you at this very moment, we're afraid you're beyond help!