Open Thread: Holiday Parties in 2022

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festive holiday drinks are photographed from above; the brown table decorated with green sprigs is visible

I was interested to notice that Ann Taylor has a ton of holiday party stuff in right now, as do the other workwear stores! I'm busy picking some of my favorites, but thought I'd ask: Is your office throwing a holiday party this year? (Did they last year?) What will it look like — all staff, or just lawyers or whatnot? Big gala party, conference room, or your boss's home? Do you have a lot of other holiday parties to go to this year?

Some interesting trends I'm noticing while I'm going through the products available at the stores:

  • Statement necklaces (for holiday parties, at least) are back in a big way, as are blingy earrings
  • sequins, lace, satin, and velvet, oh my.
  • Tons of velvet blazers (SO. MANY.), which I always associate as the perfect thing to wear to an all-staff holiday party.
  • Tons of strappy, sparkly/shiny heels and flats
  • (I mean, these pants have already sold out at Talbots!)

13 Comments

  1. I haven’t gone to any holiday parties in 2 years and probably won’t this year since it’ll be prime surge – European cases are already ticking up.

  2. My office is finally having a real holiday party. It is at someone’s house, so still low key, but up until now it has just been an office lunch. I don’t mean to brag, but generally I am everyone’s favorite in our fairly small office, so I really need to go. But this is the one kind of event when I hate being single. Generally I like being single and dating and carefree. But I have had terrible things said about my single status and single status generally by co-workers in this office and others and the holiday party is the one time I feel like it is really on display. I even had someone in another job say that I made people uncomfortable by being at the holiday parties alone, so I am pretty much dreading this. I don’t have anyone I could take as a plus one. I also hate dressing up for these kinds of one-off events but it is at least good to hear there is a good selection of party wear this year. Maybe finding a great outfit will help make me less anxious.

  3. To answer some of the Qs – Everyone at the law firm is invited with a plus one; party is at a partner’s house, which is a nice family home but not a Biglaw partner’s estate or anything; I suspect lawyers will stay late and staff will leave earlier. I am a partner so I should really go. Any other parties will be casual affairs among my casual friends. I will skip any gala affairs this year if they happen.

  4. Found out ours is going to be on a Sunday 5-9pm! Two departments merged = more people, but now we have to basically give up one day of our weekend.

  5. I am now a sole proprietor with no staff, so no office holiday party for me, but that is something I really miss about office life.

    Maybe I can just make a holiday party for my business and invite some friends in the industry? I’m thinking a fun lunch. Thanks for sparking the idea!

  6. I’m planning to go to outdoor holiday parties only. (I’ve read that scientists are investigating whether new omicron sub-variants may be able to evade immunity from vaccinations and prior infections.) I live in the SF Bay Area where December weather is chilly but generally above freezing. I’m interested in getting others’ views on how to look at least somewhat holiday festive in outerwear.

    1. Where are you going to find those parties? No one I know here is planning outdoor parties in December. I’m in San Francisco.

  7. We are having a holiday party at the manageing partner’s house in the Hamtons. It is actually after New Year’s so I hope it won’t be snowy. We are all staying over at the local Hampton’s Inn since our firm is now to big to house everyone at the house. I am in charge of the food and decorations since Margie is pregnant again. The manageing partner is so proud that he is still fertile, since he is over 75 years old!

  8. So I started at this mid-size firm in september. Noone has mentioned if they’re having a holiday party. It’s weird, right? Don’t know what the norm is here. Bought a velvet blazer just in case. I look like elvis, in his late years. Yikes!

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