Tis the season to be jolly – and for the dreaded office Christmas party. Have no fear, though: Miss Manners knows how to make you into the belle of the ball.
There are few aspects of modern life more potentially humiliating than the office Christmas party. There’s always somebody who, in front of their bosses and co-workers, makes a faux pas: wears reindeer ears to a formal event, gets drunk and gropes Craig from Accounting, is overheard loudly commenting on the boss’ wife’s facelift.
The key to making a swan-like impression rather than a massive belly flop at a work party is to remember that it is, in fact, work. Networking, interacting with your co-workers, and putting up a professional and sophisticated front are all part of being a decent employee. Play the part.
This stretches to all areas. With dress, now is not the time to break out the short sparkly cheap thing you bought for Christmas pub-crawls. Nor is it the time to venture out in massive heels if you aren’t sure how to wear them. Find out the dress code and stick to it. Ask other co-workers (ones who look like they know what they’re doing) what they’re wearing if you’re not sure or are new.
Generally a decent dress or slightly higher-quality blouse and skirt or pants are the way to go. Christmas colours are only for Santa, and if you wear them you’ll get coal in your stocking. Wear some statement jewellery – it’s a conversation-starter (and have an intelligent response to ‘Where did you get that?’, not just ‘Um, er, Westfield’).
Groom properly, but don’t go over the top. Leave glitter, party hats, fascinators, lurid make-up and fingernail decals of mistletoe at home unless you happen to work in a really casual workplace or are self-employed.
If people you know are organising it, ask if you can help, or bring something. PR people in big corporations won’t appreciate your offer to make cupcakes, though, so know the line between contributing and interfering with somebody else’s job.
If you’re the nervous type, prep yourself. Carry tissues in case of sweaty palms when shaking the hand of the boss’s partner. Know his or her name beforehand (do NOT call the second wife the name of the first). If you’ve brought along your own partner (only bring along long-term mates with whom you’re comfortable – now’s not the time to bring a ‘date’), introduce them confidently and don’t cling to them the whole evening.
For god’s sake don’t get drunk or be overly affectionate with people you don’t really know. When they say ‘this is a chance to let your hair down’, they don’t mean ‘now is a chance to show us you’re a bit of a wastrel who can’t conduct herself at work events’. Trust me, everybody always remembers that one person who ended the night sobbing on the stairs wearing a halo of streamers.
Yours sincerely,
Miss Manners