It is that time again when holiday parties are in full swing. To get you through the holiday’s festivities, today I’m going to introduce the top five holiday party styling tips for the fashion-conscious men.

* Tailored Black Suit
The path to classy holiday style begins with a nicely tailored black suit, the cornerstone of men’s fashion. Whatever the holiday occasion—formal or low-ley—you can’t go wrong with a black suit. Depending on your preference, you can go all out in a suit or pair a black blazer with a good pair of dress slacks, and match a white dress shirt underneath. Whatever the choice, you will always look great in your favorite suit.

* Bolder Colors & Patterned Suit
If you want to do a suit and a tie but don’t want to blend in with the crowd, ditch your regular black suit and try bolder shades—such as navy blue, crimson, or deep green. For a formal holiday party, opt for suit in a bolder shade of blue and team up with a crisp white buttondown. Skip the tie for a not-too-dressy look and top off the outfit with a pair of nice dress shoes. In addition, patterned suits are perfect for any holiday occasion. To try something different, opt for a checkered grey suit worn with a well-fitting black turtleneck—the perfect not-too-dressy, not-too-casual alternative to a white collared shirt.

* Play with Textures
Textured blazers in plush fabrics like velvet, satin or corduroy are definite must-haves for holiday occasions. In particular, velvet is all the rage this season. To add a little more oomph to your party outfit, opt for a velvet blazer and instantly take your look from plain to polished. As for the color, you can go for timeless colors such as black or grey or opt for seasonal colors such as deep reds or greens.

* Seasonal Items
If you are doing a holiday tie featuring snowflakes, candy canes and reindeers, be sure to pair with a sophisticated blazer, a classic shirt, and tailored pants and keep the look toned down. In addition, consider incorporating the seasonal colors in a stylish way. Remember, there is a fine line between festive and tacky. To keep things chic, dispense with an ugly holiday-themed sweater and opt for a bright red cable knit cardigan over a grey turtleneck or a deep green sweater with a pair of dressy slacks. Also experiment with rich hues such as burgundy, dark greens, deep plum, and golden browns and keep your look festive and stylish.

* Mix High & Low
Another option is to mix and match high and low fashion, which is perfect for less formal events such as your company’s afternoon year-end party. If you are the kind of person who dreads getting dressed up, you don’t have to go all out in a suit. Instead, opt for a pair of dark grey jeans and team up with a grey button-down shirt. Top off the outfit with a textured black blazer and a pair of black high top boots and you will look superbly stylish!

Play with these tips and turn heads at any holiday party!