Live Action Getup: Smart Casual Holiday Work Party

Live Action Getup: Smart Casual Holiday Work Party
Celebrate the end of a great year with the team. Meet the higher-ups. Look great.
1 December,2015By / Photos By Emerson Miller
What to wear to a company holiday party

Lambswool Sweater: J.Crew Factory, $36 / Gingham Shirt: Stantt, $98 / Tie: The Tie Bar, $19 / Textured Pants: Old Navy, $40 / Shoes (Similar): Cole Haan, $98

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Andrew is the founder and editor of Primer. He's a graduate of American University and currently lives in Los Angeles. Read more about Primer on our About page. On Instagram: @andrewsnavely and @primermagazine.

  • Ray Ballance

    Great look, one of your best yet!

    • http://www.primermagazine.com/ Andrew

      Thanks Ray, happy you like it!

  • Chris Scott

    Great look. Kind of shocked to see those trousers are from Old Navy. Going to have to pick up a pair. It seems like they are trying to pick up their style game a bit with better fits and designs. My wife has even noticed this and bought a few of their sweaters this season. She usually avoids their stuff because they are always to baggy on her. This year they had a quite a few things she liked and were slimmer fitting. The materials still leave a little bit to be desired but you get what you pay for.

    • browneagle44 ロベルト

      I’m wearing these very pants right now, and they look and feel a lot more expensive than they really are (bought for $20 this weekend). I’ve picked up some shawl collars over the past few years that are really well made (though their wool sweaters feel thinner/cheaper this year), and my go-to peacoat is an Old Navy piece from a few years ago that I picked up at a thrift store. Their coats feel limpier than years past, but they’ve learned a thing from Gap re: construction, fits and colors. My wife grabbed a bunch of things over the weekend as well.

      • http://www.primermagazine.com/ Andrew

        Yes, absolutely!

    • http://www.primermagazine.com/ Andrew

      Yeah, they’ve definitely been fine tuning the styles and quality. There stuff used to shrink much more than they do now. I was always frustrated because I seem to be an inbetween size there, medium is too big, small is too tight and then adding shrinkage on top of that. The styles are more along the lines of J.Crew Factory (not all of it of course, there are still plenty of ugly things haha) and I take care to not use the dryer, or at the very least tumble dry, but only for 10-15 minutes, which gets them dry enough.

  • Jimmy_Johansen

    Why buy anything from Old Navy when GAP or Banana Republic have a similar offering for $5-10 more after sales that’s usually 2-5 times as stylish and well made????

  • bucajack

    Those are some great looking pants. Not sure how well they would hold up though.

    • John

      Hold up to what? No offense to you, bucajack, but sometimes I wonder what you guys subject your clothing to or what kind of performance you expect. Is this going to be the only pair of dress casual pants you own and are you wearing them everyday all day, playing with the kids, working on the car/house? I don’t know of many that can take that kind of abuse regardless of price point or fabric. Everything is a compromise between price/cost and durability. The pants Andrew posted cost $40, probably less at discount. I know I would only wear them at meetings and dressier casual get-togethers. If they aren’t soiled, don’t wash them. Unless I put on more weight, I could see them lasting several years. If they last 4 years, that’s $10/year investment. Not bad.

      • bucajack

        When you break it down like that I suppose they are good value. Unfortunately I can’t seem to find them in that dark color here in Canada.

        • John

          Even online? I almost never go to brick and mortars anymore. The cost of gas and not finding what I want in stock, more than makes up for shipping and returns, if necessary. IMO, YMMV, SAR

          • bucajack

            I actually found a pair in my local store and tried them on. Great pants! Got them on sale too for $28.

    • http://www.primermagazine.com/ Andrew

      As John, mentions below, it does depend on what kind of wear you’re going to put them through.

  • Gary Burt

    Dont have a jcrew anywhere near me. Anywhere else i can pick the sweater up for this weekend? Also anyone know a good store to pick up some similar wing tips?

    • http://www.primermagazine.com/ Andrew

      Here’s one in a lighter color: http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=1040044&vid=1&pid=801008012 You can try a store like DSW for wingtips.

      • facelessghost

        Are those the Williams wingtips you’re wearing?

        • http://www.primermagazine.com/ Andrew

          No I don’t think so. I bought these at Saks Off 5th, which is an off-price department store with things that didn’t sell out at the main Saks. I can’t find them anywhere else.

  • Butch_Zee

    That sweater is hiding a great shirt. I dunno, I don’t dislike this outfit. I just feel it’s a little drab for a holiday party, even a smart-casual dress code party.

    • http://www.primermagazine.com/ Andrew

      Are you thinking in terms of having more festive colors?

      • Butch_Zee

        Yeah, I guess that was my line of thinking. By the way, I’m not saying go full “ugly sweater.”

    • Ross

      I disagree. I think the sweater is key here to breakup the overwhelming pattern of the shirt. I like Gingham, but sometimes it needs a contrast to balance the outfit. But whatever you’re comfortable with.

  • browneagle44 ロベルト

    I have a heather grey shawl-collar sweater. Do you think it would look good with the pants (which I’m wearing at this very moment actually :D)

  • Ross

    Awesome Job again Andrew!!

    The Getups and especially the Live Action Getups are the best columns on this site. I can’t get enough of em.

    Wondering what shoes you are wearing in this one? The tagline says similar but I prefer the darker look of yours compared to the wingtips listed.

  • Bernardo

    Nice getup, Andrew! What are the sizes of the sweater and pants? Are they true to fit? I happen to be about your size. This would help.

  • Oscar Parada, Jr.

    Hey Andrew!!!

    Loving this site and the material you’re producing. Very informational and loving the styles. I wanted to get your take on Combatant Gentlemen. Have you ever heard of them? If so what do ya think?

    I’ve been buying shirts, ties, a peacoat, and a jacket from them and, with your awesome advice, was looking to mix it up.

    Many thanks!!!!

    • Bernardo

      I’ve not had any experience with them but am willing to try.

      • Oscar Parada, Jr.

        Definitely would like to know what you think.

        • Bernardo

          Just had a look at their website and was surprised. Pretty good stuff for even better prices!

        • Bernardo

          I was looking into the website and just keeps getting better! Thanks for the tip!

  • Domenic Magazu III

    Do normally go one size smaller than your normal shirt size for the sweater?

    • Bernardo

      I normally go with the same size for both. Consider that you will probably layer beneath the sweater.

  • http://Batmannananana.com/ Caesar Merlin

    stafford logans are cheaper (40 bucks on sale) and will work just as well as the cole hanns

    http://www.jcpenney.com/stafford-logan-mens-wingtip-oxfords-/prod.jump?ppId=pp5003861327

  • Gary Burt

    Not able to get ahold of the pants, recommend any other color/pants for this get up? Thanks

  • Ross

    Perfection! Great look Andrew, Any suggestion for a winter hat or headwear to wear that will both work with the outfit but also keep my head warm without leaving the dreaded hat head look?

    • http://www.primermagazine.com/ Andrew

      Hmm, unfortunately I haven’t had much luck with any hats preserving my pre-hat hair.

  • Nick Parnell

    The link to those pants no longer works, any chance you could provide a link to a pair that’s available now?