Strike a balance between stylish and seasonal with a jolly red jumper and some sturdy shoes.

Work and fun are like Mentos and Diet Coke. They were never designed to be mixed together; when they are, things get messy. Especially under the auspices of phrases like “’tis the season”, which tends to be used as a catch-all excuse for a lot of revolting behaviour at this time of year. Having said that, while you have little control over how embarrassing you or others are likely to be at whatever your office has planned party-wise, this holiday, you can make sure that your outfit at least starts the night off well. Hit the sweet spot between festive fun and understated style with our edit below.

For a festive event, it’s nice to get into the spirit of things with your outfit. But at the office, you don’t want to go too full-on with your seasonal knitwear, or you’ll make a name for yourself, and not in a good way. So instead of charming Fair Isle, go for red cashmere, courtesy of laid-back LA brand The Elder Statesman. To sharpen it up further, you could add a pair of sleek black jeans, and this clean, minimal bomber from Prada – which will help you be remembered for all the right reasons.

You might not want to whip out a pair of colourful socks for a board meeting, but for a party, they’re a subtle bit of fun, and particularly good for informing any terrified minions you might have that you don’t take yourself entirely seriously 365 days a year. But lest they become that little bit too pally, match your chosen pair (we like Missoni for this, by the way) with a pair of sturdy, serious shoes from British expert Tricker’s.

It’s very important at office holiday parties to keep an eye on the time. So if it’s 1.00am and the official event has actually finished, you need to go home, immediately. You’ll thank us in the morning. Stay on top of your schedule with a sleek, minimal watch from British brand Sekford. On a more positive note, remember that festivities can also be a good opportunity for networking, particularly if clients or external colleagues are invited. A cardholder stuffed with business cards is therefore just the ticket – and we think there’s something rather jolly about this example from Thom Browne.

For more festive dressing inspiration, check out our holiday edit on MR PORTER, here