The list starts with a velvet tuxedo, moves through a white double-breasted jacket and a classic black tuxedo, and finishes with a formal overcoat and leather gloves for the trip in and out.
After the 4 looks come fabric choices, winter accessories and picks for specific kinds of events.
1. Velvet Tuxedo and Satin Gown
Velvet is the one tuxedo fabric that looks better in winter than in summer. A black velvet jacket with plain black trousers keeps the outfit dark and quiet, and the nap catches light in a way wool can’t.
A white shirt, a black bow tie and black leather shoes are all the velvet needs beside it.
Pair it with a satin dress and the 2 textures play off each other without competing. Velvet is warmer than a standard dinner jacket, which suits a heated room and a cold walk from the car.
2. White Double-Breasted Tuxedo
Off-white reads as a deliberate choice, not a rental, and the double-breasted cut gives it weight. I like it with a white shirt and a black bow tie, since the one dark accent sharpens the whole look.
Keep the jacket buttoned when standing.
Shirt cuffs should show just beyond the sleeve. White shows every spill, so it suits a short, controlled evening better than a long buffet night.
For a winter party, add a dark overcoat for the trip in and out.
3. Classic Black Tuxedo
Satin peak lapels are what make a black tuxedo a tuxedo, and wider ones look more dramatic.
A square of silk or linen in the breast pocket is the one place for personality.
Pink, as here, softens all that black, though plain white is the safer choice. I would spend the money on tailoring before anything else: sleeves and trouser length matter more than the label.
4. Formal Overcoat and Leather Gloves
Over a suit or tuxedo, a tailored black overcoat does the work of keeping you warm without ruining the line. Choose one that closes cleanly over your jacket, with sleeves long enough to cover your cuffs.
Black leather gloves finish it.
Take them off when you greet someone and tuck them into a pocket, never wear them indoors. A white shirt and tie underneath keep the look sharp once the coat comes off at the coat check.
Choosing the Right Fabrics
Velvet, brocade and wool blends earn their place at a winter party because they hold heat and hold their shape. Thin, flimsy fabrics do neither, and they cling and wrinkle once you add a coat and a crowded room.
Velvet works best in deep, dark tones: emerald, navy, burgundy or black. Those colors look rich under party lighting, and the plush texture adds a little extra warmth.
Brocade has a woven pattern, so let it be the one loud piece and keep everything around it plain.
Wool blends are the quiet option, and they suit a long evening where you will be standing, sitting and moving between rooms.
Before you buy, hold the fabric up and check that it doesn’t look see-through or sag. If it feels light in your hand, it will feel cold outside.
Accessorizing for Winter Parties
Start with where you are going, what you will be doing and who will be there. Those answers decide your shoes, your layers and how much shine you can get away with.
Closed-toe shoes are the practical choice in winter. If the evening involves walking or a stretch outdoors, a flat boot or ballet flat beats a heel you will want to take off by 9 p.m.
Tights add warmth under a dress or skirt without changing the line of the outfit. Choose a shade close to your shoes so the leg looks long and unbroken.
Pick one piece of statement jewelry and let it do the talking. A bold earring or a heavy necklace is enough, and anything more starts to compete with your fabric.
Calendars are filling up with jolly occasions, and you need the right winter outfit to complement the event. For a festive dinner in the city, opt for a little black dress, with a pop of red clutch from Toteme.
— Vogue
Event-Specific Outfit Choices
Read the venue before you read the invitation.
A hotel ballroom or a restaurant with a dress code calls for a sharper outfit, with a jacket and leather shoes, while a friend’s living room or a casual bar gives you room to relax.
Formal events call for more structure: a tailored jacket or a floor-length or midi dress, dark colors and shoes that look finished.
Semi-formal sits one step down, where a good sweater or a simple dress with a coat still looks deliberate.
If the invitation gives no dress code, ask the host. A one-line text saves you from being the only person overdressed or underdressed.
When you can’t tell, dress a notch up. Taking off a blazer is easy, but there is no way to add one you left at home.
