The Christmas period brings with it many things: frosty morning commutes, too much food, big electricity bills and, of course, plenty of parties. While we could quite happily live without two of those things, the latter presents a timely opportunity to get festive with your clothing and your footwear. But we’re not talking ironic reindeer jumpers and snow boots – we mean tastefully styled tailoring and casualwear complemented by slick, seasonally appropriate shoes. Ted Baker knows what we’re talking about, as evidenced by the British brand’s party-season collection of timeless, winter classics and eye-catching festive favourites. So, whether it’s an office party, Christmas dinner at your nan’s or a James Bond-esque cocktail party in palatial settings, you can find the perfect shoes for the job right here.
This Christmas, Ted Baker’s formal footwear collection includes everything you need to march confidently through the colder months. From winter classics like leather Chelsea boots right through to jazzy patterned loafers, there’s something to match every wardrobe. And these are shoes for life, not just for Christmas. They’re smart enough to get you through party season and, unlike your liver, they won’t need a rest in January – you can carry on wearing them with your work wardrobe or at the weekend.
Four Key Party Season Styles
Here are the four key styles for winter and beyond, along with notes on how to wear them.
Bhenn Leather Chelsea Boots
One of the unfortunate facts of winter is that on the whole, the weather’s not exactly great for sunbathing. Rain, cold, rain, rain, cold and more rain is generally how it goes down, so it pays to be equipped with a pair of boots that aren’t afraid of the wet. Chelsea boots are the obvious choice. They provide extra warmth around the ankles and are great for keeping the rain out. It’s just a convenient bonus that they look great too. Especially, we think, when worn with cuffed wool trousers, knitwear and a winter-ready overcoat to complete the look.
Vaisev Suede Loafers
Christmas, at its core, is about lounging around at home with friends and family. The thing that separates it from an ordinary day doing that (aside from the paper hats and all the turkey) is the fact that everyone makes a real effort where their outfits are concerned. And what better way to loaf in style than a pair of suede loafers? Take this handsome pair, for example. They’re smart, but not too smart. Detailed, but not too detailed. And above all else, they’ll look great with anything from a shirt and jeans to a blazer and dress trousers.
Vihan Patterned Loafers
Aside from all the Christmas tree decorations and illuminations, winter is a pretty drab and dreary time of year. Regardless, that’s no excuse for your footwear to be. Add a subtle splash of colour to your partywear with these tastefully jazzy loafers. They key to pulling these off is to pull from the heel. No, jokes aside, the key to wearing a style like this is in ensuring other garments in your outfit aren’t fighting for attention. That means opting for classic block colours, like smart black trousers, and leaving the novelty jumper firmly in the wardrobe.
Jyanis Patent Leather Slippers
Cocktail attire as a dress code is probably the one most likely to cause confusion among men. However, at its core it’s about making a statement and keeping things smart at the same time. This considered, there’s no better shoe for the job than a patent leather loafer. The shiny leather keeps things formal while the slip-on styling and intricate detailing add a splash of something different to even the simplest outfits. For best results, team a pair with cropped suit trousers, a roll neck jumper and a textured statement jacket.
For more style advice and inspiration, follow Ted Baker’s dedicated menswear Instagram channel @Ted_Baker_Menswear
