Blog

Planning the 12 Pubs of Christmas in Dublin? Find tips on choosing a route, festive outfits, friendly challenges, food stops and getting home safely.

Choosing a Christmas shirt should be the fun part of festive planning. Unlike untangling fairy lights or organising a group dinner, it doesn’t need a spreadsheet, a committee or a very deep breath.

But with colours, prints and different occasions to think about, where do you start? The best choice is a shirt that suits your plans and feels like you. Here’s how to narrow things down without taking all the joy out of getting dressed.

Start with your festive diary

Think about where you’re most likely to wear your shirt. A relaxed afternoon with friends might call for something different from a smart restaurant dinner or a work celebration.

Check any dress codes before choosing. If you want one shirt for several occasions, picture it with both jeans and smarter trousers. Being able to dress it up or down gives you more opportunities to wear it, rather than reserving it for one photograph beside the tree.

Choose your level of festive

Some people like their Christmas spirit subtle. Others would happily arrive accompanied by a brass band and a small snow machine. Neither approach is wrong, although one is considerably easier to fit through a doorway.

Think about the clothes you already enjoy wearing. If you usually favour understated outfits, look for a design that feels like a comfortable step towards festive dressing. If bold prints are your thing, embrace that personality. You’re choosing a shirt, not auditioning to become somebody else.

Work with your wardrobe

Before deciding on a colour, take a quick look at your trousers, jackets and shoes. Which pieces would you actually wear with it?

Plain navy, black, grey or neutral trousers can provide a simple backdrop for a lively print. You could also pick up one colour from the shirt elsewhere in your outfit. There’s no need to match everything perfectly; the aim is a look that feels intentional, not a festive uniform with compulsory inspections.

Give fit proper attention

A great print can catch your eye, but fit is what helps you enjoy wearing it. Check the product’s size information rather than assuming your usual size will always be the right choice.

Where measurements are provided, compare them carefully, noting whether they describe the garment or your body. A shirt you already like can be a useful reference for garment measurements. Think about how you’ll wear your new shirt too, including whether you want room for a layer underneath.

Read the practical details

Take a moment to check the listed fabric information and care instructions before ordering. Choose according to your own preferences rather than assuming every Christmas shirt will feel or wash the same way.

If you’re shopping for a specific event, check the delivery information and leave yourself time to try the outfit on. Review the returns information too, so you know what to expect if the fit isn’t right. A little preparation now beats a last-minute wardrobe scramble later.

Pick something you’ll wear again

The most useful question is simple: can you imagine looking forward to wearing it? Think beyond the main party to family lunches, friendly catch-ups and Christmas Day itself.

Christmas party shirts can bring personality to more than one celebration. Choose a design you genuinely enjoy, style it with familiar favourites and let the occasion supply the rest of the sparkle.

Ready to find yours? Browse our Christmas shirts at The Christmas Shirt Company and choose a festive look that feels like you. No committee meeting required.

A Christmas shirt deserves more than one outing in December. With a few simple changes, it can take you from a relaxed lunch with friends to Christmas dinner without making you feel like you’re wearing the same outfit on repeat.

The trick isn’t buying an entirely new wardrobe. It’s letting your shirt bring the festive character while familiar pieces do the supporting work. Here are five easy ways to style yours, plus a few tips for keeping the whole look comfortable and unmistakably you.

1. Keep it relaxed for a pub catch-up

Meeting friends for a festive drink? Pair your Christmas shirt with dark jeans and clean trainers or casual boots. Simple trousers give a lively print room to shine without turning your outfit into a competition for attention.

Wear the shirt tucked or untucked according to its length and how you prefer it to sit. Add a plain jacket for the journey, and you’ve got an outfit that feels put together without looking as though you’ve mistaken the local for an awards ceremony.

2. Dress it up for dinner out

For a restaurant booking, swap the jeans for tailored trousers or neat chinos. A plain blazer can sharpen the look, especially when its colour picks up a darker shade in your shirt.

Finish with tidy shoes and keep accessories simple. You don’t need a tie to look considered, unless the dress code calls for one. Check the venue before heading out: a festive print is fun, but it doesn’t automatically override a formal dress requirement.

3. Make Christmas Day comfortable

Christmas Day dressing has several responsibilities: family photographs, helping in the kitchen and sitting down to a meal that may require strategic pauses. Comfort earns its place on the guest list.

Try your shirt with comfortable chinos or your favourite smart jeans. Choose a fit that lets you sit and move easily, and keep a plain cardigan nearby if you feel the chill. You’ll look ready for the occasion without spending the afternoon adjusting your waistband under the table.

4. Layer up for a festive day out

If your plans involve a Christmas market or a winter stroll, start with the forecast rather than the photograph. Your shirt can add a festive touch, but your outer layers need to suit the conditions.

Wear it beneath a plain jumper, allowing the collar and a little of the print to show. Add a suitable coat and comfortable footwear for the weather. Keep scarves and other accessories understated if you want the shirt to remain the focal point when you head indoors.

5. Bring personality to a games night

A festive gathering at home is the perfect opportunity to keep things easy. Pair your shirt with casual trousers and skip the extra styling if it doesn’t feel like you.

If friends fancy dressing up too, suggest a festive theme rather than insisting on matching outfits. Everyone can interpret it their own way. Your shirt supplies the Christmas spirit; your board-game tactics can supply the mildly questionable competitive spirit.

Make the look your own

Whatever the occasion, start with one standout piece and build around it. Neutral trousers are an easy option, while repeating one colour from your shirt can make the outfit feel coordinated. Try everything on together before the day so you can check the fit, layers and shoes.

Christmas party shirts don’t need to be saved for a single big event. Browse our Christmas shirts at The Christmas Shirt Company, find a look that feels like you, and give it a few dates in the festive diary.

The office Christmas party: your chance to swap spreadsheets for sparkling conversation and discover who takes the dance floor seriously. But first comes the annual wardrobe question. How festive is too festive, and can you look smart without feeling like you’re heading into a board meeting?

The answer is to start with the venue, check the dress code and add a little personality. Here’s how to put together an outfit that feels comfortable, looks considered and leaves plenty of room for Christmas cheer.

Check the invitation first

A pub lunch, an evening restaurant booking and a hotel celebration call for different outfits. Look for clues on the invitation, or ask the organiser if you’re unsure. “Festive” isn’t always a dress code, although it is an excellent excuse to have fun.

If the event follows a normal working day, plan an easy change. A fresh shirt, different shoes or a smarter jacket can help you switch from desk mode to party mode without packing an entire suitcase.

Keep casual outfits intentional

For a relaxed pub gathering or informal team lunch, try a Christmas shirt with dark jeans or chinos. Choose trousers that fit comfortably and keep the rest of the outfit simple, letting the shirt bring the festive energy.

Clean trainers can work for genuinely casual venues, while boots offer a slightly smarter alternative. Check the venue’s requirements before deciding. Add a plain jumper or overshirt for the journey, especially if part of the celebration involves standing outside discussing whose taxi is arriving first.

Give smart-casual a festive twist

Smart-casual doesn’t need to mean stiff or forgettable. Pair a Christmas shirt with tailored trousers or neat chinos, then add a blazer if the setting calls for it. A simple jacket gives a playful shirt a more polished frame.

Keep your shoes tidy and your accessories understated. Loafers, brogues or smart boots can finish the outfit, depending on the venue and your own style. If you’re wearing a busy print, plain trousers and a neutral jacket make everything feel balanced rather than competitive.

Let one piece do the talking

You don’t need festive socks, a flashing tie and a novelty hat to prove you’ve understood the assignment. One standout piece usually does the job beautifully.

Christmas party shirts are an easy starting point because you can build the rest of your outfit around them. Pick colours you enjoy wearing, then repeat one shade elsewhere in your outfit if you want a coordinated look. Or keep everything else neutral and let your shirt take centre stage.

Dress for the whole evening

An outfit should survive more than the first group photograph. Think about sitting through dinner, travelling between venues and potentially demonstrating dance moves nobody requested.

Try everything on together beforehand, including your shoes. Check that you can sit, move and lift your arms comfortably. Layers are useful when the weather outside and the temperature inside appear to be celebrating entirely different seasons.

Finish with your own style

The best party outfit still feels like you. If you usually dress simply, add a festive shirt rather than attempting a complete personality transplant. If you love bold looks, enjoy yourself while keeping the venue and dress code in mind.

Ready to find your festive starting point? Browse our Christmas shirts at The Christmas Shirt Company and choose a look you’ll enjoy wearing. Then all that’s left is remembering your colleagues’ partners’ names. We can’t promise to help with that bit.