You're likely to see some style disasters around the office this time of year. Not that there's anything wrong with being festive, but trust me -- the blinking Rudolph sweater is best left in the closet.
But while most fashion foul-ups are easy to spot, others will sneak up on you -- especially as you're asked to socialize with co-workers outside the office (like at your annual holiday party, for instance). Dress too wacky, too sexy, or just plain bad, and the boss is likely to see a side of your personality you'd probably rather they didn't.
Follow these tips to make sure you don't find yourself applying for a new job in the New Year:
- Keep it under control-- dress up too much and it'll look like the office party is the only night out you've had since last year.
- If you want to show off, use your accessories (nice watches for guys, a stylish bag for the ladies).
- Stay true to your company culture. If you work at Google, I'm sure you can wear whatever you want. But if you're a Wall Street financial analyst, you'll probably want to err on the conservative side -- even if the invitation says "casual."
- Remember: just because you're not at the office, doesn't mean the normal office rules don't apply.
Essentially, be careful. Because your co-workers only see you in "work mode," it's tempting to go overboard with an outfit that says "this is who I really am!" But on Monday you'll be back in the office -- hopefully with no regrets.